While Israeli Prime Minister Olmert was in Washington during the week of May 22^nd, he held  meetings with President Bush and senior members of the Administration and addressed a joint session of Congress.  While Mr. Olmert did discuss his “convergence” or “realignment” plan, he stopped short of seeking US approval for it, but rather announced his intent to pursue negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before embarking on any unilateral action.  This is in line with the desire of the Bush Administration, as well as the preferences of the Israeli people (a recent survey conducted on behalf of the Geneva Initiative found that 58.8% of Israelis want the government to start negotiations). 

 “Israeli Prime Minister Olmert Addresses U.S. Congress: Expresses hope for negotiated peace, readiness for unilateral action”, Phillip Kurata, Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State, May 24, 2006

“Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress May 24, said Israel is willing to negotiate a permanent peace with the Palestinian Authority but is prepared to move unilaterally to secure its borders in the absence of a negotiating partner.  ‘I extend my hand in peace to Mahmoud Abbas, the elected president of the Palestinian Authority,’ Olmert said, drawing applause from U.S. legislators.  ‘On behalf of the state of Israel, we are willing to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority.’…”

USinfo.State.gov

Full Speech: http://www.israelemb.org/articles/2006/May/2006052400.htm

“President Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel Participate in Joint Press Availability”, Office of the Press Secretary, May 23, 2006

“President Bush: …Prime Minister Olmert and I discussed peace and security in the Middle East, which the people of Israel seek and the American people support. In 2002, I outlined my vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security. Prime Minister Olmert told me that he and his government share this vision…I believe, and Prime Minister Olmert agrees, that a negotiated final status agreement best serves both the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the cause of peace. Palestinian Authority President Abbas favors and speaks out for peace and negotiations. Yet, the Hamas-led Palestinian government does not. Hamas needs to make a strategic choice for peace…Today, Prime Minister Olmert shared with me some of his ideas -- I would call them bold ideas. These ideas could lead to a two-state solution if a pathway to progress on the road map is not open in the period ahead. His ideas include the removal of most Israeli settlements, except for the major Israeli population centers in the West Bank. This idea would follow Prime Minister Sharon's decision to remove all settlements in Gaza and several in the West Bank.  I look forward to learning more about the Prime Minister's ideas. While any final status agreement will be only achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes, and no party should prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final status agreement, the Prime Minister's ideas could be an important step toward the peace we both support…” 

“Prime Minister Olmert:…I intend to exhaust every possibility to promote peace with the Palestinians, according to the road map, and I extend my hand in peace to Mahmoud Abbas, the elected President of the Palestinian Authority. I hope he will take the necessary steps which he committed to in order to move forward.   Unfortunately, the rise of Hamas, a terrorist organization which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, and regards terrorism as a legitimate tool, severely undermines the possibility of promoting a genuine peace process...If we come to the conclusion that no progress is possible, we will be compelled to try a different route.  I presented to the President ideas which I believe could help advance his vision and prevent a political stalemate. According to these ideas, we will remove most of the settlements which are not part of the major Israeli population centers in Judea and Samaria. The settlements within the population centers would remain under Israeli control and become part of the state of Israel, as part of the final status agreement. This process of realignment would reduce friction between Israelis and Palestinians, ensure territorial contiguity for the Palestinians, and guarantee Israel's security as a Jewish state with the borders it desires. The implementation of these ideas would only be possible with the comprehensive support of the United States and the international community…” 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060523-9.html

On May 25^that a conference aimed at achieving national unity, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called for a referendum on recognizing the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders if agreement could not be found on a political program.  The announcement was seen by many as a bold and risky move, one that would place internal Palestinian pressure on Hamas.  The “National Reconciliation Document” was drawn up by Fatah and Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails.  The recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, thereby implicitly recognizing Israel, would be a very significant move for Hamas and would create internal Palestinian cohesion.  It is unlikely that the document itself would serve as a starting point for negotiations with Israel; one possibility is that if the factions agree on the document, then the Arab League Initiative could be used as a medium to launch negotiations.  So far, Hamas has rejected Abbas’ demands and plans are already underway for how a referendum might be conducted.  The deadline has been extended to the end of this week, Friday, June 9th.  Recent polls show 75-80% of the Palestinian people support the referendum idea, consistent with previous polls that have shown that a majority of Palestinians support a two-state solution to the conflict. 

“Palestinians referendum text”, The Associated Press, May 25, 2006

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has given Hamas 10 days to endorse a plan accepting the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel or he will submit the plan to a referendum. Here is the text of the 18-point plan, drafted by senior Palestinian militants imprisoned in Israel…” 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060525/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_referendum_text

“Risky Gambit by Abbas Raises American Hopes, Israeli Worries”, Ori Nir, Forward, June 2, 2006 

“Despite U.S. expressions of hope that a new gambit by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority could pave the way to negotiations with Israel, fears persist in Washington and Jerusalem that the maneuver could backfire and end up strengthening the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas.  Bush administration officials believe that Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, of the secular nationalist Fatah movement, took a key first step toward becoming an effective interlocutor for negotiations with Israel by pressuring Hamas, which refuses to accept Israel, to endorse a joint platform that implicitly recognizes Israel in the 1967 borders…Bush administration officials are telling diplomats and Middle East experts in Washington that the ultimatum could cause a further splintering of Hamas and eventually lead the group to adopt a more pragmatic approach to Israel and running the P.A. But at the same time, according to those in regular contact with administration officials, the White House is worried that if Abbas blinks in the standoff with Hamas, his credibility will be severely damaged on the international stage and in the territories…Israeli officials, meanwhile, worry that if Hamas accepts the proposal, it will increase pressure on the Israelis to negotiate directly with the Palestinians before key demands are met, including the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure in the territories…”

http://www.forward.com/articles/7876

With the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories quickly deteriorating, the Quartet announced plans in early May to begin exploring a new temporary funding mechanism, “that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability, and ensures direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people”.  At a high-level meeting held in Brussels on May 24th, donors agreed to move forward on the mechanism but no agreement has yet been reached on the details of such a mechanism.  

“Transcript of Press Conference on Middle East by Secretary-General Kofi Annan”, Quartet Principals, United Nations Headquarters, May 9, 2006

“…The Quartet underscored its continued commitment to a two-State solution, as embodied in the Road Map, as well as the need for both parties to avoid actions which could prejudice final status issues.  We reiterated our grave concern that the Palestinian Authority Government has so far failed to commit itself to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Road Map.  The Quartet’s donor members expressed their willingness to work toward the restoration of international assistance to the Palestinian Authority once it has committed to these principles…The Quartet expressed serious concern about deteriorating conditions in the West Bank and Gaza, and about the delivery of humanitarian assistance, economic life, social cohesion and Palestinian institutions…We also expressed our willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism, limited in duration and scope and fully accountable, that ensures direct delivery of any assistance to the Palestinian people.  The Quartet welcomed the EU’s offer to develop and propose such a mechanism, and invites donors and international organizations to consider participating…”

 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10453.doc.htm

Full Statement: http://www.un.org/news/dh/infocus/middle_east/quartet-9may2006.htm

“Donors agree to move ahead on Palestinian plan”, David Brunnstrom, Swiss Info/Reuters, May 24, 2006

 “Donor nations agreed on Wednesday to move ahead with an aid mechanism to prevent the collapse of essential services to Palestinians, but still differ its scope, making a June start date uncertain, diplomats said.  Major Western donors, led by the United States, froze direct aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas Islamists won January elections and refused to recognize Israel, renounce violence or embrace interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals.  However, deteriorating conditions in the Palestinian territories and worries about unrest prompted the Quartet of Mid-East peace brokers to agree to set up a temporary mechanism to channel aid while bypassing Hamas, which Washington and Brussels list as a terrorist organization…” 

Swiss Info/Reuters

 5. humanitarian situation in the west bank and gaza

Below are some resources on the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza as well as information on the Palestinian health and education sectors. 

“Humanitarian Conditions in the Palestinian Territories: Short- and Long-Term Perspectives on a Developing Crisis”, Mohammed El-Samhouri, PHd, Former Senior Economic Advisor, Palestinian Authority, The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, May 2006 (Part of a series of working papers produced by participants in an Israeli-Palestinian Working Group). 

“This paper attempts to shed some light on the underlying causes and the potential consequences of the ongoing developing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories, and reflects on both short- and long-term policy measures needed to confront it. The paper argues that (1) the rapid deterioration in the Palestinian living conditions in West Bank and Gaza is not solely the product of the surprise ascent of Hamas to power, and that an already precarious humanitarian situation existed long before the sudden change in the Palestinian political landscape in January 2006; (2) that the abrupt cut off of the much needed financial resources to the post-election Palestinian Authority (PA) has led to a crippling financial crisis with potential grave adverse consequences on all fronts; (3) that the attempt by Western donors to "bypass" the Hamas-led government by channeling aid directly to the Palestinian people through other agencies, UN or NGOs, may not be as easy as thought due to real-life limitations; (4) that all parties share moral responsibility in the short term to take urgent measures to alleviate Palestinian mounting human suffering; and (5) building on the experience of the past decade, and given the political and territorial realities that exist today in the West Bank and Gaza, foreign aid, at best, may help mitigate Palestinian hardship, but it will not end it; nor will it enable the Palestinian people to build a self sustained economy without first altering the conditions that underpin their current misfortune. Only a fair, negotiated political settlement will.”  

http://bakerinstitute.org/Pubs/rp_2006_004.pdf

 “UN report: Unemployment and poverty in PA are worsening, 40% of Palestinians earn less than $2.10 a day”, Haim Bior, Ha'aretz, May 30, 2006

“Poverty and unemployment in the Palestinian Authority continues to worsen, according to a United Nations annual report to be presented in Geneva Tuesday.  The report relies on data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, universities, and research institutes, as well as information collected by International Labor Office Director Juan Somavia during a visit to the PA in early April.   While the PA economy rebounded moderately last year following a very sharp dip, four out of 10 Palestinians in the territories live under the official poverty line of less than $2.10 a day. In addition, the number of poor people in the PA rose from 600,000 in 1999 to 1.6 million in 2005, the new report says.  Open unemployment reached 23.5 percent in 2005. However, based on the number of those who were employed prior to the start of the Palestinian uprising 2000 and are neither employed nor actively seeking work, the ILO estimates the jobless rate to be 40.7 percent of the Palestinian labor force…”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/721086.html

“FACTBOX-Facts about Palestinian health, education sectors”, Reuters, May 25, 2006

“European diplomats met in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss plans to set up an international mechanism to channel funds to the Palestinian health sector, and possibly to schools, while bypassing the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.  The Palestinian ministries of health and education together employ 40,763 workers, about a quarter of the Authority's 165,000 workforce. None have received salaries since the Islamic militant group took power in March.  Below is a breakdown of the two sectors and their funding needs, according to figures compiled by U.N. agencies…”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12934040/from/RL.5/

“Plans for Jerusalem split outlined”, Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press/Portsmouth Herald, May 5, 2006

Creative ideas about possibilities for sharing Jerusalem are currently being considered by the Israeli government.  A mutually agreed upon formulation for sharing the city will be the key to any negotiated resolution of the conflict. 

“Israel’s new government is drawing up a blueprint for dividing the holy city of Jerusalem - a once inconceivable notion - giving the Palestinians nearly all the Arab neighborhoods while holding onto Jewish areas and disputed holy shrines. Otniel Schneller, an architect of the plan, described it in interviews this week with The Associated Press, giving the clearest picture yet of how Israel plans to separate from the Palestinians, abandoning most of the West Bank.   ‘We will not divide Jerusalem, we will share it,’ he said. Most of Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods would go to the Palestinians, he said. ‘Those same neighborhoods will, in my assessment, be central to the makeup of the Palestinian capital ... al-Quds,’ Schneller said, calling Jerusalem by its Arabic name.  Israel would keep Jerusalem’s Old City with its shrines sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians alike - an unacceptable plan to Palestinians, particularly if carried out unilaterally. Still, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert determined to draw Israel’s final borders by 2010, likely without waiting for Palestinian agreement, a division of Jerusalem looks realistic for the first time. The plan reflects a sea change in the thinking of most Israelis, who once considered sacrilegious the idea of abandoning any part of the holy city…”

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/05052006/world/101162.htm

"The Battle for Jerusalem's Old City and Holy Basin", Settlements in Focus - Vol. 2, Issue 8, Americans for Peace Now,  Produced by Lara Friedman, Government Relations Director, Americans for Peace Now, in collaboration with Daniel Seideman, Ir Amim, Israel, May 19, 2006

This report details recent settlement activity in Jerusalem’s Old City, including where the settlement initiatives are taking place, whom they are supported by and what effect they are having on the fragile city. 

http://www.peacenow.org/policy.asp?rid=&cid=2602

“A Plea for Palestinian Christians”, Robert D. Novak, The Washington Post, May 25, 2006 

“Rep. Henry Hyde, showing the courage that has typified a political career now in its final months, is pleading the case of endangered Palestinian Christians to President Bush.  A faithful supporter of Israel over many years, Hyde said in a letter sent Friday to the White House: ‘I cannot be blind when Israeli actions seem to go beyond the realm of legitimate security concerns and have negative consequences on communities and lands under their occupation.’  He urged the president to take up this issue with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during his visit to Washington this week.   Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, sent along with his letter a five-page, single-spaced report prepared by his staff based on visits to Israel and Palestine over the past two years.  It contends that ‘the Christian community is being crushed in the mill of the bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict.’  The Israeli security wall and expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the report continues, ‘are irreversibly damaging the dwindling Christian community.’…” 

http://www.cmep.org/documents/Plea_for_Palestinian_Christians.htm (Because this is a syndicated column, it is not available on the Washington Post website).

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The views expressed by the authors of the items included do not necessarily reflect those of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).  CMEP is a coalition of 21 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant church bodies and organizations that work together in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.