HAARETZ
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the international community’s Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, announced Friday a series of gestures that Israel will make to the Palestinians, including a promise to support Arab construction in East Jerusalem.
“In respect of East Jerusalem, the Government of Israel has agreed to encourage the implementation of all projects that abide by municipal regulations that will improve infrastructure there for Palestinians, including in particular housing, starting with two projects in East Jerusalem,” Blair announced.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Blair on Friday comes a day before a summit of the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers – the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia – for whom Blair is the envoy. The Quartet is meeting to discuss the stalemate in peace talks between Israel and the PA.
The package of confidence-building measures that Israel will offer the Palestinian Authority is seen as a bid to moderate the Quartet statement at the end of its deliberations, which is expected to criticize Israel for its continued construction in West Bank settlements.
“On the West Bank, there will be an extension of Palestinian Authority security presence in Area B – with 7 towns approved in principle; an agreement to fast-track the construction or reconstruction of schools and health clinics in Area C on the basis of plans submitted by the Palestinian Authority,” Blair said.
In the end, Netanyahu’s offer did not include measure that would enable the PA to take over land required to build the new town Rawabi. Blair added, however, “5000 Gaza-registered residents of the West Bank will be given West Bank identity cards.”
Israel’s forum of seven senior ministers discussed the proposed gestures to the Palestinians last week. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and minister Dan Meridor supported the gestures, while ministers Benny Begin, Moshe Ya’alon, Avigdor Lieberman and Eli Yishai objected.
The gestures will also ease the blockade on Gaza, permitting more items for export and permitting a limited amount of construction materials. Blair also announced the agreement to establish “mobile desalination plants to meet Gaza’s needs for clean water and approval in principle for a larger permanent desalination plant.”
Netanyahu agreed to the Palestinian Authority’s request to renew discussions on the development of an offshore natural gas field opposite Gaza’s shores, and agreed in principle for the gas to power the new power plant to be built in Gaza, which he also specifically approved.
Netanyahu said that although Israel’s natural gas needs will be satisfied by its Leviathan and Tamar gas fields in ten years’ time, it needs other sources of natural gas in the interim, and it is currently dependent upon supply from Egypt. Netanyahu pointed out that the profits from the Palestinian gas field will go to the Palestinian Authority, and not to Hamas, who rules Gaza.
“I am pleased at the package of measures agreed today with the Government of Israel,” Blair said in response to Netanyahu’s offer, but later added, “Obviously, agreement to all this is not the same as implementation.”
Netanyahu began discussing the proposals with Blair last month. Blair, who recently visited Israel and met with Netanyahu, Barak and Shalom, urged the prime minister to publish details of the gestures before the Quartet’s meeting.
Due to its difficult international situation, Israel must do something, Blair says.
The American, Russian and European Union’s foreign ministers are to take part in the Quartet’s meeting in Munich to discuss the complete standstill in the peace talks. The talks would also touch on the U.S. administration’s apparent confusion about a solution to the crisis.
The Quartet’s closing statement is expected to support the World Bank’s prediction that the PA will complete setting up institutions in the coming months to enable it to establish a state.
The Americans have indicated to the European Union that they would not object to an especially harsh statement if the Europeans were the ones behind it, Jerusalem officials said.
Israel hopes the gestures would also encourage the Palestinians to reconsider their refusal to negotiate with Israel.
Nu, so you thought I was being argumentative just for the “halibut”?
I mean, I truly was making a real point in that part of the post (albeit, in context, a point of secondary significance).
Anyway, though, my thanks for the addition to my “lexicon b’ivrit.”
??? (pronounced Stam (sta like in “STUff”)) is probably my favorite hebrew word, ever. Mainly because its diversity and its ability to express so much in just a single word, and also because its vocalization fits so nicely (IMO) to what it means, in an onomatopoeian way.
The general translation of it to english, would be: “with/for no particular reason, purpose or cause”. For example, I could be picking-up a wooden-stick in the middle of the street; somebody would ask me: “why did you pick-up that stick?, and I’ll reply: “stam…”
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Stam can also come after a certain sentence or passage (of any length and subject), meaning – “I didn’t really mean any of that stuff I just said”. For example, I could say:
“I have a million dollar in my bank acount. [short pause…] Stam…” (or “no, stam!”).
In the same sense it also means “I was only kidding!”. e.g.
“You are bleeding from the eye!! [longer pause…] Stam…”.
But, again, these are just few of many of its useages in the spoken hebrew. Another example: I could return from a party and be greeted with a question from a friend (who wasn’t at that party): “how was it?”. I can say “stam”, meaning “It was non-interesting, pretty boring and dull…”
It’s not a noun. Definitely not a verb. It’s kind-of a “super-adjective”
Stam is also used as a part of a popular expression: “Min HaStam” (“from the stam”). Which is even harder to translate and explain, since it is used in a variaty of different situations. Sometimes it means “Duh!” or “obviously”, like: – “Do you work here?”. – “I’m wearing the store’s uniform, so Min HaStam I work here…”. Sometimes it means “probably” or “most likely”: e.g. “They already went on 4 dates, so Min HaStam they are sleeping with each other…”
This word is also used in another deviant form: Stami, which is an adjective describing something as being “without any particular nature”, something not defined and purposeless.
Argumentative? — Moi?
A little closer, yes — although I’m sure you meant Mexico where you wrote “Spain.”
Fine, yes. I got the point when you made it. (Recall that I BEGAN that reply [#9] by acknowledging , up-front & w/out reservation, the obscene sanctimoniousness implicit in the Quartet’s meddlings.)
However, I still maintain what I said afterward: that “the idea that anybody is native [or ‘indigenous’] to anywhere , tends to fall apart after you start thinking about it.”
Expansive.
Though I must say, “stam” is a new word for me.
Maybe you were just being keyboard sloppy & meant “damn” — but w/out asking, I guess I’d never know.
….decaf, Yamit.
Make the transition gradually, though, because going cold-turkey off of caffeine generates a helluva headache that lasts for days on-end.
I prefer the modern Robinson projection which shows the entire world at once as a flat image.
Lets say that the Indian concept of ownership was different than the European and at first ewere willing to share what they had until the technologically superior Europeans along with massive immigration displaced the Indian from lands he considered part of their heritage. Those lands known as Turtle Island from the Pacific to the Atlantic. How the Europeans accomplished their take over is what I was referring to not the differences of concept of ownership or who if anyone the Indians displaced if anyone? Maybe they were Neanderthals? America stole through war and forced treaty all of the south western States from Spain. Is that closer to relevance for you?
My point is that all nations were created by conquest and subsequent assimilation or extermination of the indigenous populations and Israel should not be chastised by nations who behaved either similarly or more ruthlessly than Israel has to date.
You are being stam argumentative in your comment above. 😉
Yes, absolutely and in every particular.
Well, we do often get that line from the Left, and — with the assistance of the lame-stream media — they’ve contrived to implant it like a poison in the body politic by way of the school system. However, like so much of what Lefties say, it’s a notion based on a Mercator-projection view of a world that was made for a round, three-dimensional globe. The truth is that among most (if not all) Indian tribes, there was no concept of property (real OR chattel). So to speak of taking land “from” them is itself problematic.
As to whether the Indians are “native,” that’s another proposition that’s taken all-too-often for granted. There’s that little matter of the Bering Strait….
The Indians may have arrived earlier than, say, the Europeans, but the idea that anybody is “native” to anywhere , tends to fall apart after you start thinking about it.
I do treat America with the respect she deserves.
I still consider myself an American and have my passport to prove it. That gives me certain rights to criticize. You don’t like it ? Up Yours.
I made no obscenities in the comment you refer to. I have insulted none except maybe you. I never claimed the Indian by our pseudo Christian standards were not brutal to their enemies, but no more brutal than their White European Christians who invaded their tribal historical lands.
My point was if it is not clear that no country and certainly none of the members of the quartet have a moral right in view of their own histories to dictate or condemn Israel for what they have all done exactly what they themselves have in the past. using much more violence and killing.
What gives them the right is the equilibrium of power and our weak leadership that has allowed them.
Stating these truths elicits your invective and pique at me?
I know American history but I also know the unvarnished myth reduced history as well. Reduce the popular myths and a different America emerges from the history pages. I might add some of my ancestors arrived on the shores of America way before any of yours.
When Your ancestors were living in trees and caves and painting their faces blue mine were priests in the Temple of Solomon. (Disraeli)
Yamit, you said,
I usually pass over your obscenities; but, besides insulting Americans, both white and red, you display a remarkable ignorance of US History. If you want to know about my country’s history, please ask me; for my family has been on this continent for thousands of years. For your information, my Indian ancestors were very adept at slaughtering whites, and were proud of it. They were also experts at torture, and proud of that. If you would have been captured by them with your jaw flapping the way you flap it here, you would have had your entrails pulled out and tied to a tree, then goaded to run around it until they all came out. If you survived that, they would have stuck wooden splinters into your pores and set them on fire. The whole tribe would have watched the spectacle and enjoyed it.
My Indian ancestors lost their lands, because they were defeated while fighting bravely against overwhelming odds. That did not bring shame upon either side. America is obviously not your country, or you would know its history. Israel is your home, and it is there that you have a chance to be a brave man. All I’ve seen from you, is a willingness to continually insult your own chief. Very well: Go fight him; but if you can’t do that, shut your mouth.
I am also upset with my own President. I fought against him with my ballot, and with money to support his opponent. In the next election, I will do the same. You did not fight Obama, but cast your ballot for him; and you complain about him. You act like a crazy man.
If I were an Israeli, I would not criticize Mr. Netanyahu the way you do. He has ruled Israel much more wisely than Livni, Olmert, Sharon, Barak, Peres and Rabin did. He has not evicted thousands of Jews from their homes like Sharon, nor sent Cossacks against the settlers the way Olmert did; neither has he offered Judea and Samaria up on a plate to the Arabs the way most of the others did. He did not invite terrorists into Israel, betray his Christian allies in Lebanon, nor release hundreds of terrorists from prison. You just criticize him, but do not support a viable alternative. That is very foolish; but you may undermine your own country all you want: It is your country.
America is my country, and I expect you to treat it with the respect it deserves.
I have lost all respect for Netanyahu who is nothing more than a bowing and scraping wimp unable to stand up to those who want to send Israel into an ash heap. Revolutions are sweeping the Arab world. It’s time for the Israelis to do the same and send Netanyahu into exile. Let him join his friends at the Quartet.
When you have an invertebrate for a PM anything negative is possible.
Since when is Tony Blair the boss over Israel? And why is Israel even considering making gestures to coax the PA into negotiations in light of the turmoil in Egypt?
The Quartet’s moralizing and arbitration attempts are obscene. The United States comfortably exists on land it took from slaughtered Native Indians, even their far-left liberals do not argue for returning the land to its rightful owners the Indians. How is the administration of the Occupied United States concerned with the Israeli “occupation” of a tiny strip of land alongside an unimportant river? Both the United States and Britain retain colonial possessions against the islanders’ will. France lost its colonies despite making every effort to maintain them, and cannot in good faith argue against the Israeli “occupation.” Russia occupies Japanese (the Kuril Islands), German (Koenigsberg), and until recently, Polish and Romanian territories, as well as many other ethnically distinct regions. The UN, another member of the Quartet, has no problem with the world’s many monarchies, nationalist regimes, atrocious governments, border wars, and ethnic persecutions, but has become obsessed over Israeli issues.
What normal country ever relied on some “international community” to establish its borders? Is Israel a colony whose borders are established by imperial power? Even so, the original Balfour plan allocated all of Palestine and Jordan for the Jewish state.
A Jewish government would have rejected any arbiter because we want the land rather than justice for the Arabs; let the Americans restore justice to their Native Indians first. We don’t need any arbiters, especially those with built-in biases against us; Forget the Quartet!
Netanyahu, now is not a good time for any negotiations with the Palestinian state until the Islamic nations calm down and it is proven that the governments will not be seized by terrorists. Peace is their tool to move in for the kill against the Jewish state and you can’t trust them with your lives or the lives of your children. I say, “No negotiations with Palestine until Israel’s enemies calm down, shut up, and step aside.”