[Although this article is four days old I didn’t want you to miss it.]
By Zalman Shoval, Israel Hayom, July 22/13,
Just as in a B movie, the (artificial) tension only broke at the very last minute. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that he had reached an agreement with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which would serve as a basis for resuming peace talks. American pressure on PA President Mahmoud Abbas, with a little help from the Arab League, did its job, and Kerry went back to Washington satisfied. Still, Kerry is no doubt aware that he still has to overcome, if not the seven gates of hell, then at least a Palestinian steeplechase.
The Palestinians — emboldened by the European Union directive this past week over Israeli economic activities beyond the Green Line — continued to play deceitful games until the last minute, until Kerry signaled that his patience was wearing thin. Despite their forced acquiescence to Kerry’s proposals, the Palestinians haven’t given up on their strategic decision to avoid real negotiations, where they would have to compromise on or renounce critical (to them) issues such as refugees, Jerusalem, borders and recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.
The Palestinian strategy is unwavering and consistent, it’s the tactic that adapts to the circumstances: terror and violence, raising preconditions to begin negotiations, petitioning the U.N. or other international organizations. And now, so as not to come off as refusers and potentially jeopardize their American lifeline, they have apparently accepted Kerry’s proposal, though they’re probably ready to try and distort the agreement down the road.
And it’s not just Kerry who ought to be satisfied. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should also be pleased with his lot. Netanyahu’s consistent position completely paid off. Negotiations will hit the ground running without preconditions, just as he always demanded. To resume peace talks, our negotiators won’t have to pay “Israeli currency” for Palestinian demands: pre-’67 borders and development beyond the Green Line. Negotiations will start from zero, contrary to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s proposals, which would have had far-reaching consequences. (Abbas rejected those as well, anyway).
Israel truly showed flexibility over the issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners, but not to the extent that the Palestinian Authority had wanted. It’s very possible that Washington, as it has in the past, offered the Palestinians certain assurances, however ambiguous, over some of these issues (maybe this is what Kerry conveyed to Netanyahu in their phone conversation). Still, Israel is not obligated to what was or was not offered. Israel has been operating this whole time at its maximum diplomatic prowess (the government certainly won’t accept the Left’s shallow advice to announce concessions in advance over the issues to prevent “hurting any chance for peace,” or the delusional Right’s preconditions or desire to annex portions of Judea and Samaria).
As far as Kerry has led us to believe, a breakthrough wasn’t achieved. Rather, a narrow window to introductory negotiations was opened. We know that the devil’s in the details (and we’re not just talking about any old details, actually, we’re talking about the issues at the heart of the conflict). The dispute that broke out between the Left and the Right in the Knesset is unnecessary at this point in time. Even if we reach a decisive phase in this peace process, the Green Line won’t be Israel’s eastern border. The political border won’t be demarcated by the Jordan River. (Israel cannot concede its secure position on the eastern front.) Still, it’s way too early to talk about these things. Just as Dennis Ross (Bill Clinton’s former emissary to the Middle East) said, “Nothing’s over until it’s over.” Apparently, it’s very difficult to see how we could achieve a permanent peace in the near future without resolving any of the core issues of contention, such as refugees, borders, Jerusalem, etc. (The claim that “we already know the solution, we just have to decide” is totally baseless.)
If we were to judge the current circumstances, this round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, taxiing and ready to take off, could at most yield interim agreements based on timetables, or partial ones based on substance, which would effectively mitigate the incendiary elements of the conflict. But that’s something, too.
@ yamit82:
@ bernard ross:
Did yawl listen to John Bolton ,this morning on Fox, discuss Egypt and the Israeli prisoner release. I always listen to what he says,and he is sssooo cute with that little white mushtace!!!!!!!!!
yamit82 Said:
what was the lie: socialism, Israel, idealism?
yamit82 Said:
In america there is no requirement for an SOS to have any international knowledge. They figure their ignorance is the worlds problem not theirs, and they would be right. The ME is already suffering kerry who arrives complete with dunce cap and past scandals. Like so many before him he expects to get points for a future presidential bid(LOL) I think that messingup the globe is a presidential qualification. US politics is like a cesspool where shit floats to the top. Then again it looks the same most everywhere else.
@ yamit82:
the blue thunder people rumbelimg,Loki is up to no good.
Imprisoned Terror Chief Calls for Protests Against Peace Negotiations
Sour Grapes!!! He’s not on BB’s List. Maybe next time?
Win Win For Israel:
Israel Security Officials: Weapons Smuggled Into Gaza to Attack Israel, Now Used Against Egypt
WHY NOT???
Ashrawi calls for release of jailed Fatah, PFLP leaders
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi on Thursday demanded European intervention to secure the release of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Sa’dat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Barghouti is serving five life terms in an Israeli prison for his role in armed attacks during the second intifada. Sa’dat is serving a 30- year term for his role in the assassination of then-tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001
Release them all then there won’t be any more to bargain over and save us further humiliation and disgrace.
Kerry prejudges ‘negotiations,’ declares ‘Palestine’ a ‘country’
At a press conference with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry declared ‘Palestine’ a ‘country.’
And finally, the granddaddy of them all, I guess, the question of the possibility of peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Both leaders in the region, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, have made a courageous decision to try to return to final status talks. And it’s my hope that that will be able to happen as procedures are put in place by both countries in order to empower that.
So, Mr. Secretary-General, it’s a privilege to be here in this institution which dedicates itself day-to-day to ending violence, to enforcing people’s prospects for peace, and to trying to live by a code of universal values that I think all of us are proud to be affiliated with. So thank you for your leadership, and thank you for welcoming me here today. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
@ yamit82:
Do the own a drugstore and plumbing buisness? Did you read my responce to “My Dog and”Ol’Red? “Ol’Red is an excelent primer on the training of a man,Sweetie,trust me!!!!!!!!!!
Assad uses chemical weapons against ‘Palestinians,’ Obama’s buddy @AliAbunimah silent
‘Peace partners’ protest in New York City
“Gee, I wonder how they really feel..”
honeybee Said:
So do I.
@ bernard ross:
Mundane politics and personal interests always trump principle and doing what’s right. The public has never penalized our politicians for releasing terrorists and there is no reason to expect them this time. They will be criticized but fear of BB is greater than fear of we Israeli people. That’s the way things work around here. Does not matter what polls say they all feel insulated where it counts, their seats and ministerial portfolios.
Prisoner release all but guaranteed to pass in cabinet
The right is fuming over the move to free terrorists who murdered Israelis, but the arithmetic shows Netanyahu has the votes
http://www.timesofisrael.com/prisoner-release-all-but-guaranteed-to-pass-in-cabinet/
A Times of Israel tally of the cabinet arithmetic shows the prime minister’s majority is all but assured.
Yesh Atid’s five ministers and Hatnua’s two are planning to vote for the measure. In the Likud, Netanyahu will obviously vote in favor, as will those ministers who are politically dependent on Netanyahu for their positions, including Minister for Intelligence, International Relations and Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz and most likely also Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat.
Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Communications Minister Gilad Erdan and Water and Energy Minister Silvan Shalom are thought to support the release, or at least to be willing to grudgingly vote in favor in order to permit Netanyahu to move ahead with American-brokered peace talks. More to the point, none of them would welcome a fight with Netanyahu as they scramble to hold on to their positions in the Likud list. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is expected to vote in favor. Ya’alon has opposed prisoner releases in the past, and his security credentials — he is a former chief of staff of the IDF — may ease the worries of many ministers who are hesitating to vote with Netanyahu.
yamit82 Said:
Rummor has it the Huma and Hilary were an item,which would account for Weinners indiscretions. I have relatives named Weinner.
@ bernard ross:
I made a short reply to you and it got zapped by the spammer.
bernard ross Said:
The IDF like all militaries has contingencies for everything but before they would even consider driving them out all other methods of management and control need to be exhausted. They need to provoke Israel into doing that which Israeli leaders and military would never entertain otherwise.
BB is a disciple of the theory that well fed and prosperous people will not be or support militarism. Therefore he does all he can to support the palis economy. He reminds me of the Arabs who tell a lie so often they begin to really believe it is true.
My in-laws were socialists who lived on a Kibbutz and were true believers; till late in life the truth of the lie was staring them in the face but to accept the truth they would have had to admit that their whole lives, effort and personal sacrifices were for nothing. They couldn’t do that. Few can.
Analysts: Abbas Interested in PA Political Gains, Not Peace
PA chief Mahmoud Abbas has very clear and attainable goals for the new round of negotiations, Israeli analysts said
PM’s Open Letter to Citizens: Full Text
In a rare communication, Netanyahu spells out his rationale for releasing terrorists, despite opposition by the public.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 😛
Dep. Min. Danon: Release of Terrorists is ‘Lunacy’
Deputy Defense Minister asks ministers to vote against the planned release Sunday, citing “consensus in Likud.”
‘Israel agrees to release 24 Israeli-Arab pre-Oslo prisoners’
If true, Israel Radio report means all ‘serious’ longterm security inmates, including major terrorists, will go free as new talks move forward