podesta_email_13793.txt

podesta-emails 2,890 words email

P17 V11 D8 V16 P20

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http://www.centerpeace.org ** Israel and the Middle East News Update ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Monday, November 9 ------------------------------------------------------------ Click here for a printer-friendly version. (http://centerpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/November-9.pdf) Headlines: * Netanyahu: 'I Will Talk to Obama on Improved Israeli Security' * Biden Says ‘No Tolerance’ for Comments from PM’s Media Czar * Knife, Vehicle, Rocket Attacks Continue as Terror Victim Dies of Wounds * IDF Calls Up Four Reserve Battalions * 53% of Israelis Support Killing Palestinian Terrorists on the Spot * Israel Moves to Green Light 2,200 New Settlements Units * Abbas, Sisi Discuss 'Deteriorating' Palestinian Situation * Optimistic News: Bridge to be Built between Israel and Jordan Commentary: * Ha'aretz: "Act Now: The Greatest Threat to Israel is Continuing the Status Quo" - By S. Daniel Abraham * Al-Monitor: "Negotiate Jerusalem First, Not Last" - By Uri Savir ** Jerusalem Post ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Netanyahu: 'I Will Talk to Obama on Improved Israeli Security' (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-I-will-talk-with-Obama-about-improved-security-for-Israel-432384) ------------------------------------------------------------ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would talk with US President Barack Obama about ways to improve security for Israel when the two men meet in Washington on Monday morning for the first time in over a year. Among the central issues will be the renewal of the ten-year Memorandum of Understanding that expires in 2017, by which Israel received $3.1 billion a year. Israel expects to renew the deal, but wants to expand it to $50 billion over ten years. See also, “Top Obama Adviser: Israel to Face Growing Pressure Over Settlements, Peace Process Impasse” (Ha’aretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/peace/.premium-1.684915) ** Times of Israel ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Biden Says ‘No Tolerance’ for Comments from PM’s Media Czar (http://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-says-no-tolerance-for-comments-from-pms-media-czar-pick/) ------------------------------------------------------------ While defending the strength of US-Israel ties as a relationship that can overcome policy disagreements, Vice President Joe Biden lashed out Saturday night against what he called “terrible comments” made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s media czar appointee Ran Baratz. Addressing the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial conference, Biden told the audience during his keynote speech that “there is no excuse, there should be no tolerance for any member or employee of the Israeli administration referring to the president of the United States in derogatory terms. Period. Period. Period.” See also, “Netanyahu, Obama and an offensive media advisor who must be dropped now” (Times of Israel) (http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-obama-and-an-offensive-media-adviser-who-must-be-dropped-now/) ** BICOM ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Knife, Vehicle, Rocket Attacks Continue as Terror Victim Dies ------------------------------------------------------------ The wave of stabbing and vehicle attacks continued yesterday as six Israelis were wounded in three separate incidents, while a fourth attack occurred early this morning. On Sunday, four Israelis including a pregnant woman were wounded when a Palestinian rammed his car into a hitchhiking stop at the Tapuach Junction in the West Bank. The attacker was shot at the scene. Later that morning, a Palestinian woman approached a guard at the gate to Beitar Ilit attempting to gain entry. In a video widely shared online, the woman can be seen talking calmly to the guard until she reaches into her bag, produces a knife and lunges at him. Sgt. Benjamin Yaakovovich, a 19-year old border guard, died yesterday of wounds sustained in a vehicle ramming attack at Hilhul Junction last Wednesday. ** Yedioth Ahronoth ------------------------------------------------------------ ** IDF Calls Up Four Reserve Battalions ------------------------------------------------------------ Against the backdrop of the ongoing wave of terrorism, the IDF has issued call-up orders to the reservists from four battalions. The plan is to have the reservists replace troops from the standing army who were dispatched to operational activity in Judea and Samaria. Despite the fact that they knew the chances were slim, some IDF officials had hoped that the wave of terrorism would subside and that the plans to call-up reservists, which Yedioth Ahronoth first reported about in October, would be shelved. However, the isolated attacks have since evolved into a reality of daily terrorism, and no solution is currently visible on the horizon. ** Ynet News ------------------------------------------------------------ ** 53% of Israelis Support Killing Palestinian Terrorists on the Spot (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722628,00.html) ------------------------------------------------------------ A majority of Israeli Jews support the killing of Palestinian terrorists “on the spot,” while 58 percent were against Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount during times of heightened tensions, a survey conducted by the Peace Index (http://www.peaceindex.org/indexMonthEng.aspx?num=298) in October revealed. Fifty-three percent of Israeli Jews agreed with the statement, “Any Palestinian who has perpetrated a terror attack against Jews should be killed on the spot, even if he has been apprehended and no longer poses a threat.” This finding may give credence to fears expressed by Israel’s Arab public, with 78 percent saying they were “apprehensive of being harmed” in the ongoing violence. ** Ha'aretz ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Israel Moves to Green Light 2,200 New Settlements Units (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.684929) ------------------------------------------------------------ Israel's civilian planning committee for construction in the West Bank moved last week to green light some 2,200 new housing units within existing settlements and retroactively recognize two outposts, most likely in a bid to preempt legal attempts by Palestinians and rights groups to see the sites evacuated. The move is only preliminary and is still subject to changes before the new units break ground." The Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration agreed to advance a master plan for the Ma’aleh Michmash area east of Ramallah that will retroactively approve two outposts and add thousands of homes to the settlements in the region. ** Ma'an Palestinian News ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Abbas, Sisi Discuss 'Deteriorating' Palestinian Situation (http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=768718) ------------------------------------------------------------ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday met his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in Cairo to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, Sisi's spokesperson said. The statement said that a comprehensive solution could help relieve tensions across the Middle East. The two presidents also discussed ongoing activities on Egypt's eastern borders, where the Egyptian army has helped maintain's Israel's crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian president added that if the PA were to take control of the Gaza Strip it could improve living conditions in Gaza and allow for borders to operate "normally," allowing the people of Gaza their daily needs. ** Yedioth Ahronoth ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Optimistic News: Bridge to be Built between Israel and Jordan ------------------------------------------------------------ A new bridge will be built over the Jordan River to facilitate the establishment of new industrial and employment zones. The Regional Cooperation Ministry issued a special tender for the construction of the new bridge over the Jordan River, connecting Israel and Jordan in the framework of the new Jordan Gate Project—a new joint industrial and employment zone. This is the first and only infrastructure project being undertaken jointly by Israel and Jordan. It is to be comprised of an industrial and employment zone on either side of the Jordan River that will be connected to one another by the new bridge. The establishment of the new industrial zone is designed to deepen economic and commercial ties between Jordan and Israel, See also, “Government Advances Plan for New Bridge Linking Israel and Jordan” (Ha’aretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.684895?utm_content=Government+advances+plan+for+Israel-Jordan+bridge&utm_medium=Daily&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=newsletter) ** Ha'aretz – November 9, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** ------------------------------------------------------------ If it retains the West Bank, Israel can be Jewish, but no longer democratic. Or, it can be democratic, but no longer Jewish. For those who love Israel, time is running out. By S. Daniel Abraham When it comes to Middle East peace, I admittedly have a strong bias: I am a lifelong Zionist with a profound love for Israel. It’s precisely that love that drives me to say emphatically that Israel faces a threat not only from those who want to see it destroyed, but also from demographic realities that can accomplish what those enemies can’t. For me, ahavat Yisrael, the love of Israel, was instilled at an early age — before the birth of modern-day Israel. I remember first hearing the horrifying news of the Nazis’ systematic murder of Europe’s Jews. I remember reading about refugees struggling to get to the Holy Land, of ships turned away, not only from Palestine, but also from my own country. I remember the thrill and excitement of the founding of Israel, and the knowledge that Jews no longer would be turned away, that we had a refuge and our own homeland, that we Jews now were responsible for our own survival. It is those memories and love for Israel that motivate me today to do what I can to point out the existential threat of today’s demographic realities, to push for Israel to get back to the peace table, to ensure that people remember the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s words that “separation between Israel and the Palestinians is the best solution for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” and that, given the choice “between the whole of the land of Israel, which meant a binational state … and a state with less territory, but which would be a Jewish state,” as Rabin declared: “We chose a Jewish state because we are convinced that a binational state with millions of Palestinian Arabs will not be able to fulfill the Jewish role of the State of Israel, which is the state of the Jews.” In a few more years it will be too late for Israel to make that choice. The dream of a Jewish democratic state will be lost. For those who love Israel, and want it to remain a Jewish state, the time to act is now. The greatest existential threat to the Jewish, democratic state of Israel is continuing the status quo. The numbers speak for themselves. Simply look at the Jewish population, which continues to shrink compared with greater Israel’s Arab population. Today’s population, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, is 52 percent Jewish. By the year 2020, the population is projected to be 49 percent Jewish and by 2030 just 44 percent Jewish. With those diminishing percentages, it is simply impossible for the state to control all of the biblical land of Israel while remaining both Jewish and democratic. If it retains the West Bank, Israel can be Jewish, but no longer democratic. Or, it can be democratic, but no longer Jewish. There is, of course, a third choice: Stay a majority Jewish and democratic nation by working with the Palestinians to create a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, with the two living side by side in security and peace. Israelis, Palestinians and the international community are all in desperate need of a two-state solution. We know that we can only reach a lasting deal through international and regional cooperation, as well as direct negotiations. The time to act is now.S. Daniel Abraham is an American entrepreneur and founder of the Center for Middle East Peace in Washington. Follow the Center on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AbrahamCenter) . ** Al-Monitor – November 8, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Negotiate Jerusalem First, Not Last (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/jerusalem-holy-sites-oslo-negotiations-mukataa.html#ixzz3r0Gu98zY) ------------------------------------------------------------ By Uri Savir There is no doubt that among all permanent status issues to be resolved regarding the future between Israel and Palestine, the most difficult one by very far is the status of Jerusalem. Emotionally, it is the most loaded issue; politically, it is the most complicated one. From a religious perspective, reaching an agreement between the Jewish and Muslim worlds on the Jerusalem issue seems like "mission impossible." But pragmatically, this should not be the case. Analyzing today's situation, one can say that Jerusalem is already de facto a divided city (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/10/united-jerusalem-center-left-lapid-herzog-east-jerusalem.html) , between west and east. Most Arab neighborhoods, such as Jabel Mukaber, Issawiya, Shuafat and Atur, are now cut off by road blocks and the Temple Mount (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/jordan-palestinian-authority-sheikh-salah-islamic-movement.html) (Haram al-Sharif) is administered by the Jordanian Waqf (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/jordan-palestinian-authority-sheikh-salah-islamic-movement.html) in coordination with the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs; only Muslims are allowed to pray there. It is also an open secret that PA officials are active both socially and economically in East Jerusalem. The majority of Israeli public opinion supports giving up control over the East Jerusalem's Palestinian neighborhoods. According to a poll conducted on Oct. 27 by Mina Tzemach for the Israeli Knesset channel, 50% supports transferring (http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/politics-q4_2015/Article-b905a0680daa051004.htm) the Arab East Jerusalem neighborhoods to the PA, while 41% oppose it. These results stem from developments on the ground, namely those borne out of the conflict, and not following any negotiations. Nevertheless, they show the road to a resolution of the contentious Jerusalem issue; they could actually serve as the basis to such a resolution. If negotiations are one day resumed, what remains is to turn this de facto situation into a de jure division between two states (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/israeli-arabs-palestinians-rift-society-terror-attacks.html) and to deal with the future arrangements for the Old City and the holy sites. Jerusalem would become Israel's internationally recognized capital, also by all Arab states. (Today, no government recognizes it; not even the US administration (http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/06/congress-fails-jerusalem-israel-capital-150611051854830.html) .) East Jerusalem would become the internationally recognized Palestinian capital. The Palestinian government offices could be located in one of the Palestinian neighborhoods inside East Jerusalem. As for the holy sites, all Jewish sites would come under Israeli sovereignty and all Muslim sites under Palestinian sovereignty. The Old City should be divided according to the division of the city itself: the Jewish Quarter to Israel and the other quarters to Palestine. Given the historical importance and sensitivities of the Old City, no army or regular police force should be allowed to enter. Both sides should each establish special municipal police forces for public order, overseeing the freedom of worship at the respective religious sites. This will lead to a situation in which there will be two capitals, actually two Jerusalems: the Israeli Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) and the Palestinian Jerusalem (Al-Quds), which will be each forced to develop infrastructure and economic cooperation. The road to such a resolution is very difficult, even with political will — which is currently nonexistent. Yet, given today's status quo, it is not a long road. Rather, it is a road that needs very courageous decision-making on both sides, with the help of the international community. When asked about such propositions, a senior and pragmatic Fatah official who talked to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity rejected it out of hand. He said, "Jerusalem is to us — the Palestinians, the Arab countries and the Muslim world — not less important than to Israel and the Jewish world. East Jerusalem is occupied and should be returned. We insist that all symbols of Palestinian sovereignty will be present on Haram al-Sharif — a Palestinian police force and a Palestinian flag — and it should be administered by the Palestinian national government. Israel can do the same for the Wailing Wall." He added emphatically that the Palestinian president's office (Muqata, today located in Ramallah) must be relocated to the Old City and suggested Orient House (http://www.orienthouse.org/) as a suitable location. He acknowledged, however, that after the division of Jerusalem, Palestine could recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital. An Israeli confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was even more adamant in rejecting a pragmatic compromise formula. He told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, "Jerusalem will remain united as Israel's capital, with the existing special arrangements on the Temple Mount for the Jordanian Waqf." He said that once all other issues are resolved, primarily Israeli security in the face of Arab terror, Israel might show certain flexibility on some of the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhoods. Indeed, such a pragmatic solution of turning the de facto situation on the ground into the basis for a legally binding framework is impossible today. As aforementioned, it would require political will and tremendous civil courage on both sides. It would also demand intensive US diplomatic intervention that, today, is not realistic. Yet, as the diplomatic stalemate can only lead to further violent deterioration, including in Jerusalem, it might be time to reflect on innovative approaches to conflict resolution. If in the Oslo process Jerusalem was purposefully delayed to be the last negotiated issue, in the next peace process — which sooner or later will be born out of necessity — it could be wise to begin negotiations by tackling the Jerusalem issue first. Leaving it open is a dangerous time bomb. A gradual resolution of the Jerusalem issue will facilitate the resolution of the other issues — borders, settlements, security and refugees. Indeed, it might be time for another Oslo secret back channel (https://knesset.gov.il/lexicon/eng/oslo_eng.htm) ; this time with "Jerusalem first" instead of "Jerusalem last." Uri Savir has spent his professional life working on the strategies of peacemaking in Israel. In 1996, he established the Peres Center for Peace and is currently the center's honorary president. ============================================================ S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 ** www.centerpeace.org (http://www.centerpeace.org) 2015 S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, All rights reserved. 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