Panetta Speaks Out, Clinton Criticizes Israeli Democracy, Hamas Leaves Syria, Abbas May Reject U.S. Aid, and More
The Quartet Dance
Panetta Speaks Out
Clinton Concern on Israeli Democracy and Restrictions on Women
Israel Releases Money
The Future of U.S. Aid
Hamas Begins to Leave Syria
New Settlement Poses Threat to a Viable Palestinian State
Early Likud Elections in Israel
Extra Reading
The game of political hot potato continues as Palestinians continue to avoid direct talks with Israel and Israel declines to submit a proposal on borders and security to the Middle East Quartet.
Ynet News reported last week that Saeb Erekat submitted the Palestinian proposal on borders November 14 in a meeting with the Quartet representatives, well ahead of the January 26 deadline proposed by the Quartet in October. The map was marked with the 1967 borders, together with Palestinians proposals for a 1.9 percent land swap. Palestinians made a similar proposal to Israel in 2008.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu “balked” and has declined to submit a counterproposal, insisting that any proposal should be presented in direct negotiations with Palestinians, not through the Quartet. The Netanyahu government has not endorsed the 2008 proposals of its predecessor, nor has it as yet made border proposals of its own.
This week, the Israeli government explained their unwillingness to submit a proposal by criticizing the Palestinians and the Quartet’s process. Yoaz Hendel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s communications director said that the Palestinian Authority is avoiding direct negotiations by using the Quartet as a proxy. “The Palestinians are playing the blame game,” Hendel said. “They are presenting proposals to the Quartet, instead of to Israel, with their objective being to avoid direct talks and instead do everything through the Quartet.”
Palestinians are reluctant to enter into direct negotiations due to the inherent power imbalance, unless Israel agrees to the conditions set forth by the Obama administration in May.
On October 26, the Quartet called for the sides to present comprehensive proposals within 90 days. Palestinians interpreted that to mean that the sides were to present the proposals to the Quartet, but Israel interpreted it to mean that the sides would present the proposals to each other 90 days after the direct negotiations started.
The Quartet representatives will return to the region next week in hopes of finding the right formula to start direct talks.
In a speech December 2, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said, “it is profoundly in Israel’s long-term security interest to lean forward on efforts to achieve peace with Palestinians…”. “The dream of a secure, prosperous, Jewish and democratic state can only be achieved with two states living side by side in peace and in security … Now is the time for Israel to take bold action and to move towards a negotiated two-state solution”, he said.
Panetta also suggested that Israel has a responsibility to advance U.S. security interests in the Middle East. “… every strong relationship … demands that both sides work towards common goals. And Israel too has a responsibility… to build regional support for Israel and the United States’ security objectives.”
In addition he addressed Israel’s increasing “isolation” from traditional partners in the region. He encouraged Israel to “reach out and mend fences with those who share an interest in regional stability,” specifically Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
Clinton Concern on Israeli Democracy and Restrictions on Women
At the same forum, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concerns for Israeli democracy. The session was off the record, so there is no official word on what she said, but Ha’aretz cites a source who was in the room who said the Secretary of State, “explained that she is astonished by the legislative initiatives in favor of restricting left-wing NGOs, as well as by the exclusion of women from public spaces and other phenomena.”
She drew sharp criticism from some Israeli ministers. Minister Gilad Erdan said that "it would be better were elected officials to concentrate on affairs in their own countries." Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said that the criticism is "completely exaggerated." However, opposition leader Tzipi Livni defended Secretary Clinton’s remarks by saying she hoped the concern would, “awaken those still blind to the ugly wave washing over Israel from inside.”
The Israeli cabinet released $100 million in taxes and customs last week to the Palestinian Authority, after holding them for four weeks. The PA depends on the money to pay the salaries of about 150,000 employees. The transfer of the funds is required under the 1994 Oslo agreement, but some in the Israeli cabinet argue that unilateral actions by the PA, such as the UN bid and the reconciliation with Hamas, nullify parts of Oslo.
According to the New York Times, critics of the decision to hold the funds say, “such a policy only serves to undermine its own goals for the Palestinian Authority.” This includes functioning institutions such as the security forces.
According to a message from Mr. Netanyahu’s office sent to journalists, the decision was made, “after the Palestinian Authority stopped taking unilateral moves. The statement added, “If the Palestinians return to taking unilateral steps, we will weigh again the transfer of funds.”
According to Daoud Kuttab, writing for the Washington Post on November 24, President Abbas has been telling aides that he is planning to reject $150 million in U.S. funds set aside for Palestinian security. Members of Congress have been keen to punish the Palestinians for seeking recognition in the UN and this summer, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen placed a hold on $800 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development. This hold has affected education, health, and democratic governance projects in the territories. It was only after pressure from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that Congress released $200 million, $50 million for ongoing projects and $150 million for the security forces.
TAKE ACTION!. Write your member of Congress today to let them know that you support all continued U.S. economic assistance to the Palestinians. Tell your representatives in Washington that U.S. financial assistance is helping provide the building blocks for peace.
After pressure from Qatar and Turkey, Hamas is reported to be planning to remove its headquarters from Syria because of the brutal crackdown on dissent. Syria has been violently supressing protests demanding reform since March. Hamas has been centered in Damascus since being driven out of Jordan in the late 1990s. Now they will move their operations to Cairo and Qatar. Leader Khaled Meshal is planning to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss increasing Hamas’ presence in the kingdom. A Hamas official told the The Wall Street Journal (cited in Ma'an News), "Qatar and Turkey urged us to leave Syria immediately…they said, 'Have you no shame? It's enough. You have to get out.'"
The Syrian government and Hamas both deny these reports. According to Ma’an News, “Hamas has denied in recent weeks it is planning to move the Damascus headquarters, dismissing various reports of plans to relocate to Cairo or other, more stable Arab capitals.” Hamas receives support from Iran, but is not Shiite. The ruling Alawite minority in Syria, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are primarily Shiite and are heavily supported by Shiite Iran.
New Settlement Poses Threat to a Viable Palestinian State
According to Peace Now, the Israeli Minister of Defense is planning to approve a new Israeli agricultural farm called Givat Eitam, south of Bethlehem. Additionally, the Israeli Ministry of Housing reportedly has a plan to build 2,500 housing units in Givat Eitam. The plan would double the size of the settlement Efrat, which blocks Palestinian expansion in Bethlehem.
These construction plans could be a significant obstacle to the two state solution and creation of a viable Palestinian state. Under several plans for border adjustments, such as the Geneva Initiative, Efrat would be part of a Palestinian state. This development would also cut off the southern parts of the West Bank with the center by intruding on Road 60, which connects Hebron to Bethlehem
Early Likud Elections in Israel
In a surprise move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called December 5 for Likud party leadership primaries to take place early next year. This move seems designed to take advantage of the wave of his popular support after the release of Gilad Shalit and Palestinian failure to achieve statehood so far in the UN. There are also reports that he may call for Parliamentary elections as soon as June, in part to give him a fresh political mandate to deal with the U.S. administration after our elections in November.
Extra Reading:
*The Washington Post featured Hagit Ofran, the director of Peace Now's Settlements Watch project, in a story about the attacks on Israel's democracy and civil society.
*Bethlehem’s 1,500 year-old Church of the Nativity will undergo much needed renovations for the first time in 150 years.
*UNRWA provides details on positive developments in the first half of 2011 that provided marginal relief for Gaza’s depressed economy. However, the refugee unemployment rate remains high at 33.8 per cent.
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