New Housing Plans for East Jerusalem, U.S. Envoy Mitchell on Charlie Rose, Escalation of Violence at Egypt-Gaza border, Bishop Hubbard Returns from Jerusalem, and more…

~January 11, 2010~

1.    U.S. Envoy Mitchell on Charlie Rose
2     New Housing Plans for East Jerusalem
3.    Escalation of Violence at Egypt-Gaza border
4.    Bishop Howard Hubbard Returns from Jerusalem
5.    Arab American Institute Celebrates 25th Anniversary

1.    U.S. Envoy Mitchell on Charlie Rose

In a detailed interview with Charlie Rose on PBS January 6, George Mitchell confirmed that the Obama administration is seeking to get comprehensive negotiations between Israel and Palestinians started as soon as possible and to reach an agreement for peace, including all final status issues, within two years.  When pressed about "carrots and sticks" in promoting negotiations, he noted that "under American law, the United States can withhold support on loan guarantees to Israel.  President  George W. Bush did so…".  

According to ABC News, "in recent years the U.S. has provided Israel with up to $9 billion of annual loan guarantees. The deal provides Israel with competitive interest rates and guarantees U.S. payment should it default on the loan."  Some in Israel have regarded the comment as a threat and are criticizing Mitchell. The State Department was quick to respond to the criticism saying, "It's one thing to say that's a tool in the toolbox, and another to say it's one we are getting ready to use. We are not."

Additional Resources:

"Israel Criticises George Mitchell for Comments on Loan Guarantees."  Sheera Frenkel, Times of London, January 11, 2010.

2.   New Housing Plans for East Jerusalem

Israel confirmed last week that it plans to build almost seven hundred new homes in Jewish sectors of occupied East Jerusalem. The new housing plans include 198 homes to be built in Pisgat Ze'ev, 377 in Neve Yakov, and 117 in Har Homa.

In response, both Palestinians and the U.S. expressed strong objections.  Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Israeli move "further sabotaged international efforts to resume permanent status negotiations."  White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated the U.S. position that Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved by the parties through negotiations and said neither party should take actions that unilaterally pre-empt negotiations.

In November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10 month partial moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank but not including Jerusalem. Netanyahu specifically excluded East Jerusalem from the freeze.  Israel says East and West Jerusalem form part of its united capital which will not be divided. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state.

Additional Resources:

"US: East Jerusalem housing hampers peace," Tovah Lazaroff and Hilary Leila Krieger, The Jerusalem Post, January 6, 2010.

"Jerusalem Mayor: U.S. criticism won't halt construction in city," Haaretz, December 30, 2009.

3.   Escalation of Violence at Egypt-Gaza border

Gunfire broke out on Wednesday during a Palestinian protest related to the construction of an Egyptian underground barrier. The barrier is being built to block tunnels that have been a key smuggling route for Palestinians since the joint blockade of Gaza was imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007. The clashes along the border left one Egyptian soldier dead and dozens of Palestinians injured.

According to witnesses, several hundred protesters gathered in the city of Rafah and began throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Egyptian security forces across the border, who responded with gunfire.

The spokesman for Gaza's Interior Minister said the protest was "a natural reaction to the iron wall and against the policy of cutting the veins of life that is taking place there." Another Hamas member, Fauzi Barhoum, said that Wednesday's protests marked "the cry of the hungry."

The violence has heightened tensions between the Egyptian government and Hamas.

Additional Resources:

"Egypt steel border wall could choke Hamas in Gaza," Karin Laub, Associated Press, January 5, 2010.

"Egypt-Gaza border riot leaves Egyptian guard dead," Edmund Sanders, Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2010.

4.  Bishop Howard Hubbard Returns from Jerusalem

The Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of Albany and Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, returned last week from a weeklong interfaith trip to the Holy Land.  Bishop Hubbard was part of a delegation of 15 Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders organized by the National Interfaith Leadership Initiative (NILI).  

Upon return, the Bishop expressed a sense of urgency about reaching a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He said, "This trip was a reality check because that area is a tinderbox waiting to erupt, and if it does, there will no winners, only losers…There is a great sense of urgency in 2010 that all parties must come together with the assistance of the international community, the leadership of the United States and the cooperation of the Arab states. That is the only way a solution acceptable to all parties can be negotiated."

5.  Arab American Institute Celebrates 25th Anniversary

CMEP congratulates our friends at Arab American Institute for 25 years of service promoting the domestic and policy concerns of Arab Americans. CMEP cherishes our collegial relationship with Arab American Institute and deeply values its persistent work for justice and peace.  CMEP looks forward to working with Arab American Institute in the New Year toward the goal of a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land.