“The Sykes-Picot Agreement that shaped the borders around us almost 100 years ago has run its course,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu says • Netanyahu says Israel needs to support international efforts to strengthen Jordan and support Kurdish independence.
By Shlomo Cesana, Eli Leon and Israel Hayom Staff
In light of recent changes in the Middle East, Israel is going to have to construct a security fence along the length of its border with Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies conference in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said that in any future peace deal with the Palestinians, the Israel Defense Forces would be the entity protecting Israel in Judea and Samaria, including the Jordan Valley.
Israel “must stabilize the region west of the security line in Jordan,” Netanyahu said, adding that the territory of a future Palestinian state, up to the Jordan River, would have to remain under full Israeli security control for many years.
Netanyahu said he was updating his 2009 Bar-Ilan University address, in which he called for a two-state solution. The prime minister said he now advocates the notion that the Palestinians should have “political and economic control in the territories they control, but simultaneously there must be a continuation of Israeli security operations in these territories to ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups.”
“A withdrawal of our forces would likely bring about the fall of the Palestinian Authority, and the rise of Islamist extremists, like in the Gaza Strip, which would pose a serious danger for Israel,” Netanyahu said.
He cited four challenges ahead for Israel: defending its borders, stabilizing the region between the security border with Jordan and the population centers, regional cooperation to stop the spread of Islamist extremism, and preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state.
“The Middle East is witnessing a historic change, one with serious implications for Israel’s and the world’s safety. The Sykes-Picot Agreement that shaped the borders around us almost 100 years ago has run its course,” Netanyahu said.
With regards to developments in Jordan, and the looming threat of jihadist fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Netanyahu said Israel needs to “support international efforts to strengthen Jordan and support the Kurdish aspiration for independence.”
“Jordan is a stable country, moderate, has a powerful military and knows how to protect itself, which is in fact why international efforts to support it are worthy,” Netanyahu said.
“Regarding the Kurds, they are a fighting people that have proved their political commitment, political moderation, and deserve political independence,” Netanyahu continued.
Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of Turkey’s ruling party indicated last week that Turkey was willing to accept a Kurdish state in Iraq.
“The Kurds in Iraq can decide for themselves the name and type of state that they want to live in,” Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman Huseyin Celik said.
The statements mark a change of rhetoric for Turkey, which had until now opposed Kurdish independence in Iraq, in fear it would bolster nationalistic aspirations of the Turkish Kurds who make up more than 15 percent of its population.
@ mar55:
I have learned that their are some things best left in the ” Hands of the Almighty “. Vengeance is one of those.
@ honeybee:
I agree with your opinion. Political humiliation. I would love to see him leaving the White House in handcuffs and shackles.
Impeachment not only will make him a martyr but it is simply a slap on the hand.
@ bernard ross:
The Syria Strategies of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey – See more at: http://www.defenddemocracy.org/the-syria-strategies-of-iran-saudi-arabia-qatar-and-turkey/#sthash.5L1E82Zg.dpuf
Russia sends 5 fighter jets to Iraq; al-Maliki criticizes U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1MNRj2xbuo
@ bernard ross:
Russian Jets and Experts Sent to Iraq to Aid Army
bernard ross Said:
If We Want to Beat Al Qaeda, We Have to Stop Arming It
Obama Administration Oversaw Arms Shipments to Al Qaeda in Libya
bernard ross Said:
Jordanian Bedouin hoist Al Qaeda flag in Ma’an – 104 km from Eilat. US, Israeli forces on the ready
bernard ross Said:
OoooPs!!!
Turkey Opposes Independence for Iraq’s Kurds
Turkey opposes Kurdish independence from Iraq
http://www.abna.ir/english/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2014/07/01/620435/story.html
Turkish officials say that their government continues to oppose Kurdish independence, and wants a “unity government” in Iraq that would ensure Iraq’s territorial integrity.
Opposition to Kurdish independence anywhere in the world has been a long-standing policy of the Turkish government, but with close ties to Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and some serious business interests behind secession, there was growing speculation that Turkey was warming to the idea.
It was also believed that endorsing secession from Maliki’s Iraq, with which Turkey doesn’t have very warm ties, would improve the Turkish government’s standing with their own Kurdish minority leading up to elections.
yamit82 Said:
I posted an article today with turkey stating they were not against a turkish state and another one where Turkey was putting a law through parliament to legalize and formalize their talks with the jailed turk leader Ocalan. Push is coming to shove.
yamit82 Said:
no slap, the original negotiations between turkey and kurds were at least a couple of years ago and I am sure it was done at the behest of Obama and the EU. Turkey and kurds each had something to gain out of getting together as part of the proposed regional plan. Kuds get their state, turks get all the oil in their pipeline plus the sunni oil. the EU gets their energy to the med through Turkey and yet to come possibly through lebanon and syria. If you see the current affair as the end of a long plan you realize why each player signed on to the game. everyone got something out of it.
yamit82 Said:
Do you remember that I said way back when at gaza cease-fire that I beleived that the cease fire was part of arrangements involving understandings with the GCC likely at the time brokered by the US. Since then and long before this liberman story there have been a number of statements alluding to understandings between Israel and the GCC. do you remember that I said the 9 month end of the talks was pre agreed even if they walk away from the talks and that this was all part of the same deal? Now we can begin to see how it all is coming together: the players on the western side were all speculating on the current outcome of the redrawing of borders and spheres of influence wherein each player was expecting his cut..
yamit82 Said:
these deals did not just pop up yesterday, they are years in the making, just like the sudden emergence of ISIS. the rest is media hype and disinformation. How accurate was the media at the jenin Massacre?
yamit82 Said:
the answer to this question is obvious the minute you realize that ISIS is the “foot soldiers” of the western interests and the GCC. whether syria and Iraq are conquered or weakened by sunni a, sunnni b or sunni c, they are fulfilling the western and GCC interests. ISIS is what is providing a continuous unobstructed SUNNI territory from saudi to Turkey. ISIS is what is the bargaining chip when it comes to “representation’ for negotiations against Assad. It is all about what assad does not control, all that is within various sunni proxies or others. because ISIS is seen to be unconnected to the west it can use any military tactice to obtain its goals. I would not be surpised if in the end they fade out into other theaters. ISIS is an Obama chip at the iraq table with Maliki, Iran and Russia. Just like Russia does in Ukraine he can pretend that he has nothing to do with them.
yamit82 Said:
Your problem is that every sleight of hand they give you, they make you follow it as if that were their new policy or behavior. If you look at the long-term behavior you should be able to see what happened. The plan is exactly the same as at the beginning but they have taken you in a circle and have you believing their latest bit of BS. You appear to believe every time they tell you they are now having an argument, etc etc.
It’s very simple: The sunni groups work for the Western GCC alliance. They have many types of groups that they fund with a million names so you believe they are all independent. they are, but they all work for the same big boss. However, the big boss cannot be seen to be working with them or controlling them so he reinvents them as being a threat to himself. However, If you notice what has happened and forget all the BS speculations and obfscations you can see that the Sunni jihadis are EXACTLY where they were meant to be and that they EXACTLY where the GCC wants them. If you take away the BS story that they are threatening Saudi, Jordan, Turkey and the US you will see that the GCC now has a Sunni controlled swath of area as they originally wanted.
yamit82 Said:
Yamit, I told you this many , many months ago. I said that Turkey was on board with the regional plan and that they had made a deal with the Kurds that they would support their independence if they had a hands off in Turkey. Since then they have finalized the 50 year oil deal, are seeking to legalize their informal talks with Ocalan and are now overtly supporting Kurdish independence. Apparently you do not listen to me when I say it in the first place.
yamit82 Said:
Are you seriously buying the crap that Saudi is caught between ISIS and Iran? Since when did you start taking the bait that every fool on the street takes? Its even being written up in papers right now that Saudi is funneling arms to ISIL in Iraq. “As for Obama he is being “presidentia” appearing to be the peacemonger, Bengazi exposure necessitated that but he is not needed. l am sure that Iran and Russia and syria know the same but they have been using exactly the same tactics. ISIS will never be owned by the west overtly but you will see that what ISIS does will accrue to saudi and western interests. Their position on the saudi and jordanian borders allows jihadis and arms to flow freely across those borders with no hostile force in between. The beauty is that they can all rush troops to the border and even get money from congress on the basis of their own false flag threat. Please tell me you do not buy the BS.
yamit82 Said:
this is also pure BS. Just like the US and saudi, turkey is pretending to be threatened and against those who they supplied and armed from the north since long before Benghazi. Turkey is the last to pretend to be distant and just today they said that they would not provoke ISIS. Haven’t you noticed that no one on the western side is hitting ISIS, just talking BS. You have got to stop taking every ones BS rhetoric at face value. You have to realize that none of them can be seen to be running ISIS. ISIS has provided a continuous sunni swath from saudi arabia to Turkey within a week or 2. Do you believe this is accidental or serendipity. do you believe the Iraqi soldier walking away and the taking of Kirkuk was not planned? Every player is getting something out of the game for being in on the western side. It’s going as planned.
yamit82 Said:
Cause Vaseline is out of date !!!!!!!
honeybee Said:
My favorite!! How did you know?
yamit82 Said:
The smell of Vaseline is in the air, Darlin.
yamit82 Said:
Impeachment would only make him a Black martyr . Political humiliation would be a better option. So far the SOTUS is doing a so so job.
bernard ross Said:
If there was such an alliance, which I doubt, it doesn’t exist today. They are caught between Iran, ISIL and an unreliable Obama. If Obama loses both houses in Nov. My money is on impeachment. Obama will do anything and everything to reduce such a possibility even going to war.
Whose side he comes down on depends on who he believes will advance his own political agenda. GCC monarchies seem to be heading in the direction of Iran or at least trying to hedge their survival bets.
Turkey has abandoned Hamas and Gaza shtick and has begun to work with Israel again…go figure??? 🙂 Kurdish oil benefits Turkey and Israel. Israeli Gas and potential oil finds moves Turkey closer to Israel and they are not too fond of ISIL either. Lieberman now is calling for a regional Arab agreement with Israel before the Palis issue can be dealt with or a return to a modified Saudi plan. BB is supporting Kurdish Independence, a slap in the face to Obama and the EU. Apparently Turkey is on board as they are pretty quiet. The American objective is to attack the Russians not in Ukraine but in Syria but who will be their foot soldiers if ISIS controls the terrain? Assad seems secure for the Time being. Danger to Jordan is Internal more than external.
If Iran gets the Bomb they will call the shots and become the hegemon in the region.
@ bernard ross:
Israeli field may supply gas to Egyptian facility
Delek Drilling is in negotiations with British company BG for deal estimated at $30 billion
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-field-may-supply-gas-to-egyptian-facility/
the fence may be the red herring that ushers in the status quo with lipstick. I go back to my original idea of months ago: Israel will give some areas in c near population dense A&B locations for expansion which will keep future pal expansion close to current dense areas…..
It appears to me that the original regional plan, where there is something for everyone who participates in the Western/GCC alliance, is unfolding now.
a major shift, implying NO land sovereignty and a basic continuation of the status quo, with lipstick applied.
Long before these confrontations play themselves out, Israel’s eastern security “fence”, and, as a matter of fact, its state border, cannot be other than a defensible position running north and south in the Syrian Desert to the east of the city of Amman. And to Israel’s southwest, the same kind of border will have to be the Gulf of Suez and either the Suez Canal or Mitla Pass.
Some people will regard these statements as though the thinking that underlies them is preposterous. I think otherwise, and from a lengthy prospective.
In any case, Israel’s confrontations with the local and regional Arabs, if not all Islam, will be measures in centuries and possibly millenia.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI