State Department urges Israel to reconsider withholding PA tax revenues; Ashton reportedly ‘shocked’ by Liberman statement comparing Europe’s stance on Mashaal speech to Holocaust era inaction
By RON FRIEDMAN, TOI
US State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland denied on Wednesday that the US is secretly holding talks with Hamas
“There have been some bizarre claims out there that Hamas has a back channel to the US Government or that the US Government is dealing with ex-officials to have some kind of a back channel to Hamas. I want to say here that these assertions are completely untrue. There is no such back channel. And our position on Hamas has not changed,” said Nuland in a press briefing.
Nuland added that “recent remarks by Hamas leaders during Khaled Mashaal’s visit to Gaza reinforce the fact that Hamas is not a partner for peace. And unless Hamas unambiguously accepts the Quartet principles for peace, it cannot be a partner in any negotiations.”
Nuland was referring to a speech Mashaal, Hamas’s political leader, gave in Gaza Saturday, at a ceremony marking the terror organization’s 25th anniversary. “We are not giving up any inch of Palestine. It will remain Islamic and Arab for us and nobody else. Jihad and armed resistance is the only way,” said Mashaal during his first visit to the Gaza Strip after years in exile.
Israeli leaders have made the speech calling for Israel’s destruction and the world’s lack of condemnation of it a major talking point in recent days, as Israel faces a wave of international censure over announcements it will advance construction plans in the West Bank and particularly in a controversial strip of land known as E1, connecting Jerusalem with the settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim.
Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman blasted the international community for its “deafening silence” in the wake of Mashaal’s speech, with Liberman comparing the mild response in recent days to European countries’ failure to act to save Jews from extermination by Nazis during the Holocaust.
“As far as they’re concerned, the destruction of Israel is a matter of course,” said Liberman in a response to a statement by EU foreign Ministers that condemned Israel for its settlement construction plans but did not heavily rebuke Mashaal for avowedly seeking Israel’s destruction.
According to an Israel Radio report Wednesday, Denmark, Finland, Portugal and Ireland opposed an official condemnation of Mashaal’s incitement-filled speech at a meeting of the body’s foreign council Monday.
In the end, the statement included a brief rebuke of Hamas’s call for Israel’s destruction, after an 11th-hour intervention by Germany and the Czech Republic, Israel Radio reported.
Liberman’s words drew sharp criticism. “The comparison Liberman made is infuriating and hurtful to all Europeans,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Kocijancic said Ashton was “shocked” when she heard what he had said. “Europe’s commitment to Israel’s security cannot be doubted.”
Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-on reportedly sent a missive to Ashton, expressing dismay at Liberman’s statement. Gal-on condemned his comparison and accused him of ruining Israel’s ties with Europe to serve his political interests head of January’s elections.
Nuland also addressed Israel’s decision to withhold tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, a decision it announced in the wake of the Palestinians’ successful bid to gain nonmember observer status at the UN, last month.
“We are making clear to the Government of Israel that we think funding of the Palestinian Authority is necessary, and that it should work with the PA to address the issues that they have, and that all sides need to take steps to reduce tensions, to build trust, to produce the kind of climate that’s going to get us back to direct talks,” said Nuland.
Earlier Wednesday Liberman said Israel would withhold some NIS 450 million at least until March. The money will be used toward paying off a NIS 700 million debt the PA owes the Israel Electric Corporation.
“Israel is not prepared to accept unilateral steps by the Palestinian side, and anyone who thinks they will achieve concessions and gains this way is wrong,” Liberman said, according to Reuters. “The Palestinians can forget about getting even one cent in the coming four months; in four months’ time we will decide how to proceed.”
Nuland said the State Department is also working with the US Congress to release foreign aid to the PA.
“We’re continuing to work with Congress, we’re continuing to make our views known about this, that we think this money is important. We think it supports important work by the Palestinian Authority and to support the needs of the Palestinian people and it should move,” said Nuland.
Liberman’s words drew sharp criticism. “The comparison Liberman made is infuriating and hurtful to all Europeans,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Kocijancic said Ashton was “shocked” when she heard what he had said. “Europe’s commitment to Israel’s security cannot be doubted.”
Cannot be doubted, eh?
Well, I doubt it. The Europeans will cast the Jews adrift without so much as a blink.
We should have more such statements from Netanyahu and Liberman.
@ yamit82:What you say is true and hagel is probably on arab payrolls. I also read that Obama may be interested in Hagel cutting Pentagon budget as the only republican who felt it should be cut. Panetta was against cuts, scheduled to be 500 mil if automatic cuts.
Terence: Pardon me for asking-but did you just give Yamit the middle finger?
@ yamit82:
The nerve of the U.S. governing administration to have other considerations other than Israel in selecting Hagel. Is there any other issues to consider?
Report: Despite Controversial Israel Policy, Chuck Hagel Is Frontrunner for Defense Secretary Position
December 13, 2012
CNN is reporting that Sen. Chuck Hagel has met with both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and is the front runner for the Secretary of Defense position soon to be vacated by Leon Panetta.
One Democratic source familiar with the process told CNN Hagel is “the frontrunner.” Another Democrat with knowledge of the process told CNN Hagel’s nomination is “almost a done deal.”
As The Algemeiner reported last month, Hagel’s policy towards Israel has been roundly criticized .
“He is one of the most hostile critics of Israel that has ever been in the Senate,” Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America told The Algemeiner bluntly.
A few years ago the NJDC outlined Hagel’s record on Israel:
In August 2006, Hagel was one of only 12 Senators who refused to write the EU asking them to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
In October 2000, Hagel was one of only 4 Senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel.
In November 2001, Hagel was one of only 11 Senators who refused to sign a letter urging President Bush not to meet with the late Yasir Arafat until his forces ended the violence against Israel.
In December 2005, Hagel was one of only 27 who refused to sign a letter to President Bush to pressure the Palestinian Authority to ban terrorist groups from participating in Palestinian legislative elections.
In June 2004, Hagel refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to highlight Iran’s nuclear program at the G-8 summit.
And here’s what the anti-Israel group, CAIR wrote in praise of Hagel: “Potential presidential candidates for 2008, like Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and Newt Gingrich, were falling all over themselves to express their support for Israel. The only exception to that rule was Senator Chuck Hagel…” [Council on American-Islamic Relations, 8/28/06]
An article posted to the Republican Jewish Coalition’s website last week details Hagel’s murky Israel record (keep in mind that Hagel is a Republican). The article stated that “for the President to elevate Hagel to a position of trust would be construed as a gesture of indifference – if not outright contempt – toward Jewish Americans and every American who supports a strong U.S.-Israel alliance.
@ Laura:
Here is a reminder to Ms. Ashton: Europe’s conduct has been hurtful to the Jews for at least 1000 years. And especially to this former European Jew whose father was murdered while Europe (and the US?) did nothing to stop the carnage.
As to Europe’s commitment to Israel’s security – ha ha ha!
One has to be “stupid” to believe that the US are not talking to Hamas. Until the fanatics stop to brainwash their kids to become human IEDs there is little hope for real progress.
EU antisemitism is a major drag on any solution to the Pal-IL problem.
The West having no leverage on the crazy Muslims and Pal in particular have no apparent choice but try to coerce IL to be more flexible. IL must time and again make her red lines clear to the West. Crazy/fanatics (religious and secular)belong to the asylum no matter how many they are. They must be dealed with soon or later. Their fanatic leaders mus be eliminate. They are the most dangerous of all.
Livni wannabe shows Euro butt smooching par excellence!
@ Laura:
This just in- foreign minister Liberman just charged with fraud. There out to get him.
Tough shit. It is an accurate comparison. The treatment of Jews by Europeans is similar to that of the 1930’s.
This statement is laughable. Europe has no concern for Israel’s security or even its existence.
Shut up yenta. There is no friendly relationship with Europe to ruin. Europe is an enemy of Israel. When will the Israeli left get that?