Wataniya Mobile Company store, Nablus (AP)
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both addressed this week’s annual meeting of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington. Emanuel discussed his personal ties to Israel, the Obama administration’s position on settlements and the continuing and undiminished U.S. support for Israel, and called for a resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians without preconditions. Netanyahu, too, called for negotiations without preconditions.
On Monday, President Obama met with Netanyahu, though few details about the meeting have emerged in the media.
Following his announcement last Thursday that he would not run in upcoming presidential elections currently scheduled for January 24, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday spoke at an event commemorating the death of Yasser Arafat.
The Palestinian Authority marked two significant economic events this week: the launch of Wataniya, a second cellular operator, and the opening of Jalama, a crossing between Israel and Jenin, to vehicles.
Below are some analysis pieces that look at the recent developments in the efforts to re-launch Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
For more on the strategic importance of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, please see our recent interview with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, former chief of staff, Israel Defense Forces, MK and minister, “Fulfilling Rabin’s Legacy.”
To Do Nothing is an Insane Policy
by David Halperin, assistant director, Israel Policy Forum (The Mideast Peace Pulse)
In the past, when similar Arab-Israeli stalemates have gripped the region … many have turned to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to suggest new ideas or support thoughtful policy approaches for overcoming such a deadlock. … So, it was especially disheartening to read Thomas Friedman’s latest missive … in which he argues that in the absence of strong prospects for any real movement toward a two-state solution the United States should “take down our ‘Peace-Processing-Is-Us’ sign and just go home.” …
The reality is that the United States may indeed want peace more than the parties seem to—because it is critically important that it be achieved for our national interests as well. If we sit around and do nothing, the parties will not be the only ones to suffer. Our challenges to stabilize the Middle East, combat violent extremism, strengthen moderates, and halt Iranian nuclear ambitions would become far more difficult. Even more, when there is a vacuum in the region, someone inevitably steps in to fill the void. Access the full article>>
For more on the Obama Administration’s efforts towards Arab-Israeli peace, see our Background Basics.
At Arafat Memorial, Abbas Pushes Independence Fight
by Isabel Kershner (The New York Times)
Thousands of Palestinians turned out Wednesday for a rally here on the fifth anniversary of the death of the Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and to show support for his successor, President Mahmoud Abbas, who recently expressed an intention to retire.
The question mark hovering over his political future is shaking up Palestinian politics and places yet another block before any new peace talks. But Mr. Abbas, 74, spoke of a starting a new political battle and of perseverance in the pursuit of an independent Palestinian state.
He said that “on this occasion,” he did not want to talk about his “wish not to run in the upcoming elections.” Instead, in a 45-minute address to supporters of his Fatah movement, he focused on the tough challenges ahead and called for reconciliation with Hamas, the opposing Palestinian faction.
He said it was time for the Palestinians to reach their goal of an independent state, adding that “desperation will never reach into our hearts.” Access the full article>>
To Keep the Bond Strong
by Alexander Yakobson (Haaretz)
There is no real gap between the Obama administration’s positions on the settlements and those of the Bush administration. The only difference is that Obama has decided to focus public and diplomatic attention on this issue. From the moment this happened it became clear—beyond any ideological or political dispute—that it is an essential Israeli interest to find a way to reach an agreement with the Americans on a formula for a settlement freeze.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent statements reflect progress toward such a formulation, but the public disagreement, in which the Americans state that Israel is not keeping its commitments as set out in the road map, is not over.
Such a prolonged and public dispute with the United States over the settlements harms Israel. It is a battle where even victory would be a serious defeat. Netanyahu understands America well enough to know that. The question is whether such a critical national interest is a good enough reason in his eyes to confront the extremists within his coalition and party. Access the full article>>
The Partner Who Had No Partner
by Brigadier General (Ret.) Ephraim Sneh, chairman, S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue, Academic College of Netanya, former Israeli deputy defense minister (Haaretz)
Abbas, who courageously remained determined to pursue the path of negotiations, was not only discouraged by the turn of events in Israel which I outlined above. The Arab states, too, turned their backs on the Palestinian problem, and some of them have been in bed with Hamas. The United States, meanwhile, has gone soft and shown a conciliatory side that is not leading to any results.
The conduct of Abbas, the most courageous partner we have had, is in large measure a by-product of our missed opportunities. It is the result of an arrogance and lack of interest in what is happening within the PA, just five kilometers from the Israeli prime minister’s office in Jerusalem.
Abbas’ withdrawal from his leading role in contacts with Israel is good news for anyone who fears a solution to the conflict and anyone not ready to pay the price. For everyone else who still understands the world in which we live, and who fears for the fate of the Jewish state, this is a wake-up call. Access the full article>>
