1. Navigating a Complex Israeli-Palestinian Reality
2. Latest from the Quartet
3. The Humanitarian Situation in the West Bank and Gaza
4. Jerusalem News
5. Update on Holy Land Christians

A 12-member delegation of staff, Board and Leadership Council members of Churches for Middle East Peace recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, where we visited with religious leaders including church partners, Israeli, Palestinian and US government officials, US-based development NGOs and peacemakers on both sides.  We were greatly saddened by the grief, suffering and fear felt by both the Israeli and Palestinian people.  Unfortunately, as the need has become more urgent for a negotiated two-state solution that would end the conflict – a solution that polls still show a majority of both publics support – Israelis and Palestinians seem further away from reaching that goal. 

While President Abbas remains committed to peacemaking and nonviolence, the Hamas-led cabinet has still not fulfilled the demands placed on it by the international community, President Abbas or the Arab League.  The international cutoff of funding to the Palestinian Authority is already having an impact on the Palestinian people and a humanitarian disaster is predicted.  Policies toward the new Hamas-led PA are continuing to unfold.  A course of action should be pursued that encourages Hamas’ moderation, while maintaining engagement with the Palestinian people, through contact with Palestinian moderates and through the provision of assistance via NGO’s. 

Newly elected Prime Minister Olmert has pledged to carry out a significant withdrawal from the West Bank, a plan he will present to Washington during his upcoming visit on May 23^rd and which could be a positive step forward in the reduction of Israeli settlements. However, consistent with US policy, final borders along with other final status issues, including the future of Jerusalem, must remain items to be negotiated between the two parties.  One possible way forward might be through meaningful negotiations between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert.  The coming weeks are sure to bring continued debate regarding how best to pursue the long-term US objective of a negotiated two-state solution with a secure Israel living in peace alongside a viable Palestinian state. 

In the midst of the new and increasingly complex contours of Israeli-Palestinian relations, efforts by the international community through the medium of the Quartet have taken on an even more important, albeit complicated, role.  On April 28^th, Middle East envoy James Wolfensohn announced his decision to step down, reportedly because of “divisions within the Quartet of international mediators over his role now that Hamas controls the Palestinian Authority.”  Below are remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and James Wolfensohn upon Mr. Wolfensohn’s resignation and a press report about the upcoming meeting of the Quartet on May 9^th. 

“Remarks After Meeting With Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement James Wolfensohn”, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, The Treaty Room, Washington, DC, May 1, 2006 

“Secretary Rice: Good afternoon. I am here with my colleague and good friend, Jim Wolfensohn, who has served as the Special Envoy for the Quartet on matters initially of Gaza disengagement in the Middle East…

Mr. Wolfensohn:…in the recent two or three months, the political events are such that I think the issues above my pay grade, these are issues between the Israelis and the United States, the principals if you like, and with the government of Hamas having taken over with the Palestinians, it's a very difficult moment to be able to try and negotiate any independent type of arrangements that would affect the future of Gaza and the West Bank, because of the emphasis that Hamas puts on the destruction of the state of Israel and the less than communicative relationship with that state.…

Secretary Rice: …What we need to do is to try, over the next period of time, to get the political conditions right so that we can move forward.  Nobody wants to be in a situation in which the prospects for the two-state solution, to which we are all devoted, do not seem immediately before us… We will continue to work with President Abbas who is after all the elected president of the Palestinian Authority…Finally, we are accelerating our efforts to get humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people because we do not want the Palestinian people to suffer. They have needs and we're going to try to meet them…

Mr. Wolfensohn: Well, I would simply like to say that I think this last statement by the Secretary is really crucial because it would surprise me if one could win by getting all the kids out of school or starving the Palestinians. And I don't think anyone in the Quartet believes that to be the policy, although sometimes it is made to appear that that's what it is. I think that's a losing gambit.  But I do think that the Palestinians need to understand that it is not business as usual…." 

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/65571.htm

“Quartet to hold key talks on fate of its Mideast role, Akiva Eldar, Haaretz, May 1, 2006

”Heads of the international Quartet will convene at the office of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday to discuss the future role of the U.S.-UN-EU-Russian grouping in the Middle East conflict, with the talks centering on the possibility of backing away from the road map peace plan and ending Quartet mediation in the Mideast conflict…”

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=711766&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0

The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories was a major topic of discussion for CMEP’s recent delegation during meetings in Jerusalem with US-based development NGOs, church-related institutions, and USAID officials.  Following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian’s January elections, international donors, including the US and EU have suspended direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority, until the new Hamas government accepts the conditions set forth by the Quartet on January 30th to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous agreements.  In addition to the prohibition on direct aid, the State Department has released its new policies regarding US assistance through NGOs, which include program cancellations, suspensions as well as redirection of some funds for humanitarian purposes.  Below are details on recent US policy decisions regarding US assistance to the Palestinian people, the current humanitarian situation and predictions on what’s to come. 

"West Bank and Gaza Update", Quarterly Newsletter, April 2006, The World Bank Group

In This Issue:

1. West Bank and Gaza Economic Update and Potential Outlook /3

2. Land Administration in the West Bank and Gaza /8

3. The Role and Performance of Palestinian NGOs In Health,

Education and Agriculture /11

4. An Interim Assessment of Passages and Trade /15

5. Recent Economic Developments /19

6. Economic and Financial Developments By the IMF /30

7. World Bank Activities - Speech by the Country Director /33

8. Consultations with Palestinian Civil Society

on Improving Women’s Rights /36

9. Transparency and Good Governance in Tertiary Education /37

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWESTBANKGAZA/News%20and%20Events/20906729/WBGUpdateEng.pdf

Assessment of the Future Humanitarian Risks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, April 21, 2006

“This paper examines the humanitarian risks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the coming months. It warns of an extremely bleak humanitarian situation for the Palestinian people.  The analysis has been organised according to three scenarios. Scenario 1 reflects the current situation. A more critical forecast is related to the withdrawal of funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA). This has prompted humanitarian agencies to initiate planning based on two further scenarios (2 and 3). Scenario 1 The current situation follows patterns in recent months where restrictions on Palestinian movement and access to services continue and Israeli security measures have intensified. At the end of 2005, the UN and other humanitarian agencies launched a Consolidated Appeal for $215m to meet emergency needs arising from this situation. For the first three months of this year, this Appeal has largely been under-funded – funds received to date stand at 8%. Consequently agencies have not been able to implement many planned programmes. Scenario 2 Israeli-enforced movement restrictions and security measures continue and the Palestinian Authority's (PA) budget and services are only partially funded. Scenario 3 Continued movement restrictions and security measures and the PA budget and services are not funded at all…”

http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/Assessment%20of%20the%20future%20humanitarian%20risks_oPt_En.pdf

“Statement on Palestinian Assistance, Secretary Condoleezza Rice”, Washington, DC, April 7, 2006

“The United States remains committed to President Bush’s vision of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is also our desire to help provide for the basic human needs of the Palestinian people.  Consistent with these principles, the United States will increase its humanitarian aid to help Palestinians in need. Basic humanitarian assistance – including health, food, and education – will increase by 57 percent, for a total of $245 million. The United States will also provide $42 million to strengthen civil society and independent institutions. Assistance will be administered through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and non-Palestinian Authority actors, including local and international NGOs.  Because the new Hamas-led Palestinian government has failed to accept the Quartet principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and respect for previous agreements between the parties, the United States is suspending assistance to the Palestinian government’s cabinet and ministries.  The new Palestinian government must take responsibility for the consequences of its policies. The path back to the Roadmap is clear – acceptance of the three principles. If it accepts the Quartet principles, or a new government comes to power that accepts them, funding can be restored.” 
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/64237.htm

“Fact Sheet on Palestinian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance and Democracy Building”, Office of the Spokesman, Washington, DC, April 7, 2006
 

Basic Human Needs ($245 million):

Food Programs ($65 million)*
 • U.N. WFP ($30 million), Emergency Assistance ($25 million), Food Fortification and Nutrition Management ($5 million)
* Includes likely request to USDA to continue $5 million in food programs

Health Programs ($31 million)
 • Maternal and Child Health ($20 million), Emergency Medical Assistance ($11 million)

Avian Influenza Prevention and Containment ($500,000 in protective equipment and related supplies)
 • Delivered via NGOs in close coordination with Israel, in response to the exceptional transnational threat posed by AI

Education Programs ($14 million)
 • UNICEF or private schools ($5 million), Education and Cultural Exchange programs ($9 million)

UNRWA ($135 million)
 • $51 million for UNRWA's West Bank/Gaza Emergency Appeal; $84 million for UNRWA's general fund for refugees in West Bank/Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria
Securing and Expanding Democracy ($42 million):
 • Protects and promotes moderation and democratic alternatives to Hamas
Other ($13 million):
 • Includes project support costs ($12.7 million), of which $5 million is for operating costs and expenses of the Office of the Inspector General to verify proper use of USG resources.

Suspended/Cancelled Programs

 • $45 million in direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority

 • $130 million in infrastructure projects (roads, water infrastructure, construction)

 • $20 million in private enterprise development and revitalization, financial markets reform, trade programs, and information technology sector support

 • $17 million in electoral, political party, local government, and legislative support programs

 • $13 million in civil society development

 • $10 million in rule of law and judicial programs$7 million in technical assistance and vocational training

 • $4 million in community policing

 • $165 million in ongoing and planned projects subject to further review

 • $105 million in available funds from the above projects will be redirected to augment ongoing humanitarian and democracy building programs, detailed above
(Program based on data available as of December 31, 2005); http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/64234.htm

Jerusalem was a key focus of CMEP’s recent delegation’s meetings.  CMEP continues to promote the sharing of the city by the two peoples and the three faiths, and supports US policy that the future of the city should be decided on through negotiations.  The CMEP delegation held meetings with the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and Ir Amim (two Israeli NGOs), the office of the Mayor of Jerusalem, church leaders in Jerusalem, the US Consul General and a Christian member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for Fateh in the Jerusalem area.  Below is a recent article from the Economist that outlines the contours of current actions being taken in Jerusalem that threaten to prejudge the future of the city.    

“The Last Conquest of Jerusalem”, The Economist (Print Edition), April 12, 2006

“In the twilight of a Bethlehem evening, Jerusalem shimmers on a distant hilltop like the Wizard of Oz's Emerald City, its floodlit walls giving it a surrealist glow. Except that these are not the fortifications of ancient Jerusalem as seen above, but the appropriately named Har Homa (Wall Mountain), one of the new Israeli settlements that now ring the city.  After millennia of violent conquest and reconquest, Jerusalem, centre of pilgrimage, crucible of history and the world's oldest international melting-pot, is changing hands once more, but with a slow and quiet finality. Israel redrew the municipal boundary after the 1967 war to enclose some of the West Bank land that it had occupied, a de facto (though not internationally recognised) annexation.  Settlements like Har Homa gradually encroached on the empty spaces. In 2002, as the second intifada raged, and central Jerusalem took the brunt of suicide bombings, Israel started building the West Bank barrier or wall, supposedly to keep out Palestinian bombers. But its route, enclosing Palestinian as well as Jewish neighbourhoods of Jerusalem, suggested another purpose too…”

http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6795641

   5. UPDATE ON HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS

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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.