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Dec. 16, 2014
Daily summary- Monday, February 10, 2014
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Main News
PALESTINIANS NOT OPPOSED TO AMERICAN FORCES DEPLOYED IN THE JORDAN VALLEY
Informed Palestinian sources said yesterday that the solution to the Palestinian-Jordanian border issue could be through deploying American forces at the border in the Jordan Valley instead of Israeli, Palestinian or joint NATO forces. The sources confirmed that the PA was not opposed to the deployment of any forces that would protect the border and which would debunk Israeli excuses about preserving security in the region. (Al Quds)
KERRY LOOKING TO EXTEND NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL END OF THE YEAR; HIS AWAITED PAPER IS FACING SEVERAL DIFFICULTIES
A western diplomatic source told Al Ayyam yesterday that US secretary of state John Kerry was still facing difficulties in finalizing a paper that was acceptable to both the Palestinians and Israelis, adding that he is leaning towards extending the negotiations until the end of the year in order to reach an agreement. The source said the Israeli side had agreed and was also demanding an extension of the negotiations until the end of the year, but that the Palestinians were adhering to the original date of April 29 as the final date for these talks. The source added the Kerry was trying to find something that would encourage the Palestinians to accept the extension. The source, however, said it was unlikely that Israel would agree to freeze settlement construction as a means of convincing the Palestinians to extend the talks, saying the measures that could be taken included a release of prisoners, setting a specific timetable for negotiations and offering financial assistance to the PA, which is expected to face financial difficulties within the next two months if it does not receive assistance from the Arab countries. The source continued that in spite of the difficulties in reaching a framework agreement, he is now leaning towards presenting a paper to be put forth to both sides, which they can both record their reservations on, but at the same time continue negotiations based on this paper, until the end of the year. The source said the Israelis would most likely record their reservations on the 1967 border clause as a basis of the negotiations and any reference to the right of return, while Palestinians would express their reservations on the security arrangements in the Jordan Valley and also the ambiguity over East Jerusalem.
Finally, the source said during Kerry’s meeting with the Quartet members in Munich, the members expressed their appreciation for Kerry’s efforts but also told him that there were still positions adopted by these countries that they would not go back on, including the 1967 borders with slight border modification, in addition to Jerusalem as a mutual capital for both states. (Al Ayyam)
LIEBERMAN: I WOULD LEAVE MY HOME IN EXCHANGE FOR PERMANENT AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday that he would evacuate his home in Nikodim settlement east of Bethlehem in exchange for a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, according to Israel’s army radio, which conducted an exclusive interview with him. He said Israel must “strongly defend” Kerry, who has always defended Israel. While Lieberman said he would support the idea of a land and population swap, he would do so from a ‘practical” and not a ‘conciliatory” perspective. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
ONGOING MEETINGS BETWEEN FATAH AND HAMAS IN GAZA SIGNALS NEARING RECONCILIATION; HANIYEH MEETS WITH FATAH DELEGATION
Member of Fatah’s central committee, Nabil Shaath confirmed yesterday that the meetings between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza would continue in order to reach reconciliation between the two movements. In a joint press conference with Hamas leader Khaled Al Haya, Shaath maintained that the “coming days would see new and positive developments in implementing reconciliation.” He also said that Fatah leader Azzam Al Ahmad was ‘ready at any movement to visit Gaza and pick up reconciliation efforts where they left off.” He said there was “nothing to differ on or negotiate over” because the agreements had already been previously made, reaffirming that the meetings would spill over into today. Shaath said they were “very concerned” about the situation in Gaza in terms of the water and electricity conditions, unemployment rates and the overall economic difficulties it was facing.
On his part, Al Haya also said that there was a plan ready for implementing the reconciliation, saying Shaath handed him a list of Fatah cadres who wanted to return to Gaza, which Hamas had approved. Al Haya said that Hamas wanted a ‘strong Fatah and the legitimate one, led by Abu Mazen” adding that the problem with Dahlan was with Fatah and had nothing to do with them. Al Haya also said that Hamas does not tamper in Fatah’s internal issues, saying it wanted united. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
De facto prime minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh also met with the Fatah delegation yesterday, discussing ways of implementing the reconciliation and the situation in the West Bank. He pointed out that he was ‘surprised” over the ongoing arrest of Hamas operatives in the West Bank and the continued security coordination between the PA and Israel, saying these factors posed pressure on Hamas decision makers in regards to the reconciliation. (Al Quds)
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HOLDS SECRET MEETING TO DISCUSS INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT
Israeli PM Netanyahu held an emergency meeting last night in light of the growing international boycott of Israel, but without the attendance of ministers who are pressuring him to accept the American plan for reaching an agreement with the Palestinians. According to the Israeli daily Maariv, the meeting was extremely secretive and the ministers refused to make any comments about it. Strategic affairs minister Yuval Steinetz had previously requested the amount of NIS1 million to begin a wide-scale campaign against the boycott of Israel and to combat those who impose it. (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/265433/)
ISRAELI OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES DEMOLISH HOME IN JERUSALEM; SETTLERS PUNCTURE CAR TIRES
This morning, Israeli bulldozers tore down a house in the Jabal Mukkaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem under the pretext of not having a construction license. A large Israeli army force surrounded the area at dawn and then broke into the home of Mohammed Ja’afreh, forcing its residents out. Municipality teams then began taking furniture out of the home. According to Ja’afreh, the bulldozers came unannounced, saying the apartment building was built 18 years ago. He said he had been trying to get a license for the building for years, but to no avail. Immediately after he built the home, he was fined for NIS30.000, which he said he duly paid. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=672194)
In related news, extremist settlers punctured the tires of 30 cars in Silwan and wrote racist slogans on the walls. One affected resident, Mujahid Abu Khader said the neighborhood awoke to the sound of the tires being slashed and then found racist slogans on the walls, including “Arabs are for labor only” and “You better pray, Arabs.” (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/265434/)
EXTREMIST JEWS DIG UP GRAVES IN ARAB VILLAGE NEAR RAMLEH
The Aqsa Institute for Waqf and Heritage accused last night ‘extremist Jews’ of digging up and ruining 15 graves in an Arab village near Ramleh inside the Green Line. According to the institute, the vandalism took place Saturday night in the depopulated village of Muzeir’a. The Aqsa institute said it held the Israeli government fully responsible for the ‘crime”, adding that it would take all the necessary measures to restore the sanctity of the graves and graveyard. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=132107)
ORTHODOX JEW STABBED IN JERUSALEM
A 24-year old Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed and lightly injured yesterday evening in Jerusalem near Damascus Gate. According to Israeli police, the man was stabbed by a Palestinian, who thenfled the area. Israeli police searched the area looking for the perpetrator (Al Quds)
PRISONERS CLUB: RISE IN THE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETAINEES AND FEMALE PRISONERS
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said yesterday that the wide-scale arrest campaigns recently carried out by Israeli authorities had caused a spike in the number of administrative detainees being held without charge, saying the number had risen from 165 to 195 detainees. The number was given by prisoner Sami Hussein, also an administrative detained when a prisoners’ club attorney visited him. The attorney, who also visited Palestinian female prisoners in the Hasharon prison, said their numbers has risen to 18, following the arrested of Rasmiyeh Balawneh from Tulkarm camp. He said the female prisoners complained of the overcrowded cell in which they are placed, especially with the rise in the number of prisoners.
During his visit to the male administrative detainees in Ofer prison, the lawyer said that three of the prisoners’ health conditions had noticeably deteriorated. 35-year old Azzam Shweiki, who was arrested in January and given a six-month administrative detention sentence had undergone open heart surgery just before his arrest, he was taken to the Soroka hospital after his health deteriorated but was returned to Ofer after two days. The lawyer said prison services had only given him aspirin but said Shweiki looked very ill and sweat during the entire visit.
22-year old Waleed Hassasneh from Bethlehem, who is serving a two-month administrative detention sentence, suffers from epilepsy and sometimes passes out for periods of 5 hours at a time. He is never properly treated. As for Fouad Shweiki, 73 is also waiting for medical treatment after a mass was found in his left side. (Al Quds)
ONE RESISTANCE FIGHTER AND ONE CITIZEN INJURED IN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE ON MOTORCYCLE IN DEIR AL BALAH
Medical and security sources in Gaza said yesterday that an Israeli air-land missile was fired at a motorcycle in Deir Al Balah in central Gaza, hitting two young men. The targeted man on the motorcycle was seriously injured while the other passerby was wounded moderately. The Israeli army said they had targeted Popular Resistance Committee member Abadallah Kharti in response to ongoing rocket fire. Afterwards, the Israeli army declared a state of emergency in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip in anticipation of a response from the resistance to the assassination attempt. (Al Ayyam)
YA’ALON: IF HAMAS DOES NOT IMPOSE ITS CONTROL ON GAZA, IT WILL PAY THE PRICE
Israeli defense minister Moshe Ya’alon warned yesterday that Israel would not allow its citizens to be harmed. “Israel will not let this disruption of its citizens’ lives go unanswered,” saying it would pursue every person who tries to harm the security of Israel’s citizens and make them “pay heavily.” Ya’alon told Israel radio that Hamas was responsible for what was going on in the Gaza Strip, saying that if it does not take control, it would pay the price for this. On his part, PM Netanyahu said during the Israeli cabinet’s weekly meeting that “our policy on fighting terror can be summed up in one sentence: anyone who attacks us or who is planning to attack us must bear the consequences.” (Al Ayyam)
THE KNESSET AMENDS EDUCATION LAW TO PROMOTE CONCEPT OF JEWISH STATE IN THE CURRICULUM
According to the Hebrew-language website Wallah yesterday, the ministerial committee on legislation in the Knesset approved an amendment to the official education law in Israel, which stipulates adding an article stipulating that “all teachers must promote the idea among students that Israel is a state for the Jewish people.” The propagator of the amendment is Jewish Home MK Shimon Ohiyon, who said that it is “time we teach this generation and generations to come that Israel is the state of the Jewish people, which we have dreamed of for thousands of years.” He added that while all citizens of the state would have equal rights, “Israel is a state purely for Jews.” (Al Ayyam)
LIVNI HINTS AT A ‘SURPRISE’ REGARDING THE PALESTINIANS’ RECOGNITION OF A JEWISH STATE
Israeli justice minister and head of the Israeli negotiating team Tzipi Livni hinted yesterday that there could be a ‘surprise” regarding the Palestinians’ recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahranoth yesterday Livni made this statement during a heated discussion of the change in the education law incorporating the concept of a Jewish state to students. Apparently Livni told the more extreme ministers pushing for the law: “What if the Palestinians did recognize us as a state for the Jewish people. Then would you be willing to divide the land?” (Al Ayyam)
DAMASCUS: ARMED GROUPS BEGIN WITHDRAWING FROM YARMOUK
Armed groups, especially Islamic ones such as Al Nusra, inside Yarmouk camp in Damascus began withdrawing yesterday from the camp based on an agreement between representatives of the 14 Palestinian factions in Syria and the foreign and Palestinian armed groups inside the camp. The agreement was sponsored by the PLO and stipulated that armed Palestinian factions inside the camp would take over protection of the city once the withdrawal was completed, most likely by the end of the week. (Al Ayyam)
REMAINS OF MARTYR AHMAD AL FAQEEH TO BE HANDED OVER AND BURIED TODAY
The national campaign for the restoration of martyrs’ bodies said yesterday that Israeli occupation forces handed over the remains of martyr Ahmad Ayed Faqeeh but conditioned the return of the body with not having any crowds greeting it. Faqeeh’s funeral will be held today in his hometown of Dura, near Hebron (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
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Headlines
*Hundreds of civilians evacuated from Homs ahead of resumption of Geneva talks (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*University union decides on series of protest activities (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Habbash calls for prayers for rain today (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*The Guardian: Yarmouk is a phrase added to the lexicon of brutal acts against humanity (see article below) (Al Ayyam)
*Oglo: Turkey and Israel are close to reaching an agreement on Marmara victim compensation (Al Ayyam)
*Journalist: Israel allowed the US to install intelligence facilities in Jerusalem (Al Ayyam)
*Dmeidi: plan to build airports, ports and railroad linking Egypt to the Gaza Strip (Al Ayyam)
*Haaretz: policy of assassinations against Palestinian resistance fighters comes back through the back door (Al Ayyam)
*Abu Marzouq: no contacts with Dahlan; those affiliated with him returned upon Al Ahmad’s request (Al Quds)
*Rishiq: the memo of understanding signed with the UNRWA administration is binding for both sides (Al Quds)
*35,000 UNRWA students return to classes (Al Quds)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Homs: civilians await their evacuation from the besieged city
Al-Ayyam: 1) Citizens view the motorcycle destroyed in an Israeli air strike on Deir Al Balah; 2) Scene from the Yarmouk camp; a family waits for food assistance distributed by UNRWA
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.1) Citizens view a car struck in the Israeli air strike yesterday in Deir al Balah; 2) Syrians, during their evacuation from the old neighborhoods of Homs
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Voice of Palestine News
Jerusalem: a demolition of a house belonging to citizen Muhammad Musa Hasan Ja’abrah began half an hour ago, in Wad Qadoum, between Jabal Mukaber and Silwan, the house is 130 square meters, and was built 18 years ago, the family includes 6 members. Occupation forces closed the whole area and the area from Jabal Mukaber to Rasa Al-Amoud, maybe for another demolition operations taking place in this area. This demolition comes following wide demolition operations last week, while it resulted in demolishing 4 houses in Jerusalem. Demolition crews of the municipality stormed Silwan during the last two days and took pictures of buildings in the area, in an action seemed like preparing for further demolitions in the coming days, in the most targeted area in Jerusalem (Silwan).
With regards to other developments in Jerusalem, arrest campaigns continued in several neighborhoods of Jerusalem, yesterday a settler was stabbed in Al-Mosrara market, huge occupation police forces with police dogs, stormed Palestinian shops in eth old city and arrested two young Palestinians accused of the stabbing.
With regards to Al-Aqsa, storming al-Aqsa continued yesterday, while the police allowing these extremists to storm the mosque as happened during last week.
Gaza: Are there any new developments in Gaza?
Nothing is really new, the situation is still tensed at the southern and northern border areas, with more Israeli military movement, and reconnaissance aircraft still flying the skies of Gaza, this might imply that Israel will continue with its assassination operations like the last incident in Der Al-Balah yesterday.
With regards to eth situation of the reconciliations, the meeting between Fateh and Hamad delegations took place yesterday, it is the second meeting yesterday, and both delegations agreed to continue communicating to reach agreed mechanisms to fulfill the reconciliations. Especially the agreements related to eth unity government and elections. According to Dr. Sha’ath and Dr. Al-Haya the atmosphere is a positive one.
Hebron: on handing over the remains of Martyr Ahmad Al-Faqeh.
Q: Can you tell us more about the issue?
The occupation army handed the remains of martyr Ahmad Ayed Al-Faqeh to his family last night at Tarqumya checkpoint western of Hebron, after postponing the handing over; the occupation handed over the remains late at night. The remains are now at Al-Ahli hospital in Hebron, and a funeral will be held today at 10:00 in Dora.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Hani Habib, Political analyst, on Israeli threats against Gaza.
Q: What does Israel want from the Gaza Strip?
Israel wants the same as what it always wanted, that is to impose pressure on Hamas in order to keep its tight control over Gaza providing security to Israel, and preventing rocket launchers from launching rockets on Israel. So, this is not new and will continue to be the situation.
Q: But there is some calmness and then the occupation attack here and there resulting in injuries and damage, what does this escalation aim at?
I don’t see any escalation, this is the usual Israeli behavior, so I can say that they decide when to do more and when to do less, but this is not an escalation. Israel say Hamas should operate against rocket launchers, and if this does not happen Israel will do the job.
Q: But on ground, are the Palestinian factions coordinated with regards to this matter?
I think that they are, since they announced this, but some parties try to shake the internal balance in Gaza would do things that contradict with these coordination and agreements, and launch a rock or two. No one announces this but all know that there are some parties who try to do so for internal matters.
** Basel Ghattas, Arab member of Knesset, on Israeli decision to dedicate the education system to promote the Jewishness of the state.
Q: What is the nature of this plan approved by the Israeli government?
To be precise I have to say that this plan was not approved yet, this is only a low proposal, not approved yet, and it is a proposal by a Knesset member and not the government.
Q: What we heard is that the committee approved the law proposal?
Yes, it approved the beginning of the legislation process that does not mean that the law was approved. No the legislation process begins and this might last for months or years, this will not happen tomorrow. The same happened with other resist law proposal, these are laws that are being proposed for the media, and getting into media headlines. The problem is that the committee under this government is controlled by the extreme right. With regards to this law proposal, they want to force every student to learn in order to believe in the Jewishness of the state, but this is already implemented, what do you think are the teaching material in Israeli schools today are? Do you think it strengthens the students’ Palestinian identity and the Arab history of this land? They learn the Jewish history and Israeli discourse; they don’t need this law at all.
** Taysir Quba’, head of the National delegation To the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.
Q: Can you give us more details on the meetings of the assembly?
I think that the most important issue for us is the meeting of the political committee, especially since those responsible for this committee deleted the Palestinian issue of the agenda, and we were not consulted on the issue. This issue was raise form the beginning and it was returned back to agenda, with some state trying to opposing. And our proposals were issued to the presidency of the assembly.
Q: how can the outcomes of the meeting be used for the Palestinian interests?
To be honest, we have a clear policy and a mission, to win public opinion and parliamentarians to our side, this will help in supporting the European decision to boycott settlements products, but we have more important decisions at the UN, so all are supporting our cause.
** Dr. Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator, on Livni’s statements saying that Palestinian will recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Q: How do you comment on Livni’s statements?
Palestinians have recognized Israel in the 1967 borders, and we exchanged recognition papers between martyr Arafat and Rabin in 13.9.1993, and in the last meeting where Livni participated I told her we will not change our history and our religion, and we will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Israel is recognized by the UN and by us as the state of Israel, so no one can request such a thing from us, since it is us requesting us to change our history and religion, this will not happen.
Q: With regards to the negotiations, is itstill indirect negotiations through the Americans only or there are direct talks with eth Israelis?
The negotiations right now are between President Abbas and his team and Kerry and his team, and between Netanyahu and his team and Kerry and his team.
Q: Western sources told AL-Ayyam that there is a proposal to extend the negotiations period and that it will be announced in the coming days.
This was not proposed at any of the meetings with Kerry, what we know is that Kerry wants to shorten the period and present his proposal before the 9 months end, we said more than once that the negotiations cannot be extended, since who wants to reach an agreement should stop hat Israel is doing of confiscation, demolition, deportation and building in settlements, all of these threaten to destroy Kerry’s efforts.
Q: Kerry announced lately that Netanyahu refused to leave NATO forces in the Palestinian land, now there are talks on presence of American forces on the Jordanian Palestinian borders, is this being raised in eth discussions with Kerry?
It is better not to discuss what is happening in the discussions between President Abbas and Kerry, but I can say that the state of Palestine will have full sovereignty after evacuating the occupation forces, also on its borders, water, land, skies etc… this is the only truth and we will not allow any single Israeli ion this land. But with regards to the presence of a third party this is something that is being discussed.
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More Headlines
Israeli occupation forces arrest 12, including to Hamas leaders
Israeli occupation forces arrested this morning 12 Palestinians including two Hamas leaders, in raids on various areas of the West Bank. Early this morning, several jeeps stormed into the Hebron-area town of Yatta. In Ramallah, according to Ahmad Beitawi from the human rights solidarity institute said Israeli troops arrested Hamas leaders Shukri Khawajeh, 46 and Abdel Qaher Srour, 42 after raiding their homes in Nilin, west of the city. Other arrests were made in Jenin, including 27-year old Amir Al Ahmad. (http://safa.ps/details/news/122363/html)
Tel Aviv municipality to demolish tax building in Jaffa port
In the framework of its war on Palestinian landmarks, Israeli authorities decided to demolish the historical tax building in Palestinian Jaffa’s port. Head of the Islamic movement in Jaffa, Mohammed Abu Nijem, the building is located at the entrance to Jaffa’s port, which has been considered the “gateway to Palestine” for many years. He said the building was in use before years before Nakba, during the Ottoman Empire and at the start of the British Mandate, for customs and taxes on imports and exports into and out of Palestine. He says the Tel Aviv municipality wants to tear down the historical build one that houses cafés, restaurants and entertainment sites for Jews. Abu Nijem said the demolition was not only about the building but was part of Israel’s plan to take over the entire Jaffa port, saying that if the building was being torn down because it was old, this could be discussed. What is not up for discussion; however are attempts to ethnically cleanse the city of its Arab existence (Al Ayyam)
Dmeidi: plan to build airports, ports and a railway to link Egypt with Gaza
Minister of transport and transportation Nabil Dmeidi said yesterday that a plan was being prepared by the ministry to build airports, ports and a railway to connect Egypt with the Gaza Strip. Dmeidi, who is in Cairo and heads the Palestinian airways higher council, said the ministry signed a protocol of cooperation with the Egyptian civil aviation authority in order to increase cooperation between the two countries. He said they were planning to bring Egyptian officials to the West Bank to look for an appropriate spot to build another airport in Area C, besides the airport in Jericho. He also said a railway would like Gaza to Egypt (Al Ayyam)
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Arab Press
Kerry’s plans and Jordan
By Amer Al Sabaileh |
The Jordanian society has started to actively respond US Secretary of State John Kerry’s “plan for settlement” of the Israeli-Palestinian problem.
There have been harsh statements in Parliament against the ambiguous American plan, signed petitions and activity on social media.
As always, some of the most vocal opposing voices have been of former officials who come, as if on cue to take the opportunity to run an opposition line, with arguments that seem to stem from their absence from the political arena.
Opposing voices appear to be strongest amongst those who are not in power and are no longer part of the system. While they were in power, they implemented the policies of the day, but became hawkish once they lost their position in the government.
Looking at all the previous settlement proposals, starting with Wadi Araba, to Wye River, the Clinton parameters and the roadmap for peace, or even Annapolis, where some Jordanian officials began discussing the issue of refugees and compensation, one can see the same contentious issues as in the hypothetical Kerry plan.
Many observers believe that the greatest risk lies in taking the contentious and highly disputed issues and forcing agreement.
The language and communication strategy must be exceptionally nuanced and unifying to ensure that the Palestinians accept the agreement despite having lost the right of return and other previously non-negotiable rights.
The strategy requires a new language that moves this proposal from one of division and mistrust to one of unification and statehood. This needs to begin now.
Some observers argue that one of the most important issues Jordan should address is the lack of a transparent dialogue between the government and the people, one that should communicate a message and build public opinion.
At the same time, traditional media are no longer effective, so a top priority should be to bridge the gap between official media structures and modern media.
Jordan’s internal policy should be to build a wide popular network to unify the country and face the plotting and negotiating on behalf of Jordanians and Palestinians.(http://jordantimes.com/kerrys-plans-and-jordan)
Israel cashing in on the bogey of anti-Semitism
By HASSAN BARARI
On the whole, Israelis have a problem of making a distinction between anti-Semitic observations that some made and the right to be critical of Israeli policies. Many in Israel tend to label any non-Israeli who blame Israel for the collapse of the peace process as anti-Semite.
The irony is that Israelis themselves can criticize the government and can voice ideas that are in contradiction with the tenet of Zionism. But if a European, for instance, criticizes Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians he or she is at the risk of being labeled as anti-Semite.
Over the past two decades of peace making, successive Israeli governments adopted policies that have only undermined the prospects of peace. Indeed, Netanyahu’s first government of 1996 came to undo the Oslo agreement. He did everything within his capacity to make peace an illusion. Therefore, criticizing these policies should not be conflated with anti-Semitism.
Against this backdrop, one should examine the American remarks about their closest ally. Needless to say, the United States has propped up Israel for decades. Were it not for America’s full support for Israel, the latter would have faced hard time surviving in this region. Washington has not been effective in convincing Israel to offer the necessary concessions to make peace with the Palestinians. Some of Israeli decision-making circles feel that Israel can still stay secured without having to concede to the Palestinians. In other words, they feel that they can have their cake and eat it too.
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has warned Israel of the consequences of the failure of the peace process. Implicit in his observation is that Israel may face economic boycott. “The risks are very high for Israel…People are talking about boycott. That will intensify in the case of failure,” said Kerry. Interestingly, Kerry’s comment provoked the Israelis thus triggering an angry backlash. For instance, Naftali Bennett, the Israeli Minister of Industry, said: “We expect of our friends in the world to stand by our side against the attempts to impose an anti-Semitic boycott on Israel, and not to be their mouthpiece.”
To be sure, Kerry’s efforts to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians are not welcomed by the Israeli side. Netanyahu made it perfectly clear that no one can impose a solution on his country. He even stipulated that any proposal must include the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, a stipulation that Kerry took into consideration. The American side leaked the contours of the “framework” agreement that Kerry is working on. All in all, the proposed agreement is closer to the Israeli government’s stand. Nonetheless, Israelis are intolerant with Kerry warning that Israel may be held responsible for a possible failure of the peace process. Obviously, John Kerry did not advocate a boycott against Israel. He just warned it that the failure of peace talks will not be without a price.
Moreover, some Israeli leftists have been on record warning that the failure to reach a final settlement with the Palestinians would lead to Israel’s isolation. Just several months ago, six Israeli former security top officials took part in a documentary “Gate Keepers” in which they harshly criticized Israeli politicians for wasting the opportunity of solving the conflict with the Palestinians based on two-state solution.
It is not as if accusing other of being anti-Semite is a rarely habit. In fact, even politicians of the mainstream have made this accusation before. Netanyahu, for instance, used to remind Europeans of the history of anti-Semitism in Europe. Israelis understand that this label serve a purpose of discouraging others from criticizing Israeli policies. It is worth noting the many Israelis see the world as anti-Semitic.
But, labeling John Kerry as anti-Semite — when he took all Israel’s concerns into his account — is a statement about the difficulty of making peace with this kind of leaders. Perhaps, Kerry is using the possible boycott to put pressure on the Israeli side to accept his proposal. But it does not seem that this is working either. It goes without saying that Kerry has been ineffective in his efforts. He seeks to define a legacy in this part of the world without really creating the right conditions.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/523546)
BDS: a battle Israel cannot win
By Sharif Nashashibi
The pro-Israel camp - and some supporters of the Palestinian cause - are viewing the Scarlett Johansson / SodaStream saga as a defeat for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. I fundamentally disagree.
Yes, the actress refused to bow to pressure to stop being the poster girl for the Israeli company, which has a factory on occupied Palestinian territory. And yes, she stepped down as an ambassador for Oxfam at the end of January because of the charity’s contribution to that pressure.
However, SodaStream shares sank to their lowest level since 2012 following the spat. Much more importantly, the actions and reactions of the company, and to a far greater extent Johansson, unwittingly gave BDS a massive - and free - publicity boost, with weeks of global media coverage that is ongoing.
“The Lost in Translation star has accidentally turned a searchlight on an important issue – whether it is right or lawful to do business with companies that operate in illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land – as well as inadvertently sprinkling stardust on the campaign to boycott Israel until it withdraws from the occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem,” the Financial Times wrote in an editorial.
Furthermore, the involvement of a Hollywood star and international sex symbol got the attention of many people who may have been hitherto unfamiliar with BDS, and even the Palestinian cause in general. As such, those of us who have never been particularly impressed by her acting finally have something to thank her for.
Fringe to mainstream
Even if one views the SodaStream affair as a setback, BDS has made great and undeniable strides since its establishment almost a decade ago, modelled along the campaign that was pivotal to ending apartheid in South Africa. Initially mocked and dismissed as fringe fanaticism, it is becoming mainstream, garnering greater support worldwide.
BDS is gaining traction in countries and regions that are key trading partners and allies of Tel Aviv - particularly the United States and Europe
Sharif Nashashibi
It is causing alarm in Israel, not least because BDS is gaining traction in countries and regions that are key trading partners and allies of Tel Aviv - particularly the United States and Europe - and because the movement is being backed by an increasing number of Jews, such that Israel passed a law in 2011 banning support for boycotts.
BDS “is moving and advancing uniformly and exponentially,” Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said in December. “Those who don’t want to see it will end up feeling it.” Israeli parliament member Ayelet Shaked last month described the campaign as “the greatest threat faced by the country.”
They are both right. BDS is proving to be the most effective means of achieving Palestinian rights and national aspirations in the face of Israel’s intransigence. The movement is succeeding where negotiations, arms, and even other forms of peaceful resistance have failed.
Recent achievements
Its achievements are far too long to list, but highlighting just some of those from this year alone shows the impact it is having, particularly impressive given the short period of time:
- Danske Bank, the largest in Denmark, has blacklisted Israel’s Bank Hapoalim because of its involvement in the funding of settlement construction. Danske Bank had already decided to pull its investments from Africa Israel Investments Ltd and Danya Cebus for the same reason.
- The latter two companies have been excluded from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund, which holds 1% of global equity markets. The Finance Ministry had received a recommendation from the Council of Ethics to exclude the companies “due to contribution to serious violations of individual rights in war or conflict through the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem.”
- Sweden’s Nordea Bank, the largest in Scandinavia, said it will boycott Israeli banks that operate in the occupied territories.
- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development will reportedly investigate British security company G4S for its supply of surveillance equipment at Israeli checkpoints in the occupied territories.
- Dutch pension fund PGGM has withdrawn investments worth tens of millions of euros from five Israeli banks. “Given the day-to-day reality and domestic legal framework they operate in, the banks have limited to no possibilities to end their involvement in the financing of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories,” said PGGM.
- Germany, one of Israel’s staunchest allies, is conditioning research support and cooperation on the exclusion of settlements. This “represents a significant escalation in European measures against the settlements,” Agence France Presse reported.
- The boycott of settlement products resulted in the income of Israeli farmers in the Jordan Valley falling by more than 14% last year, the Associated Press reported. “The damage is enormous,” said David Elhayani, head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, which represents about 7,000 settlers. “In effect, today, we are almost not selling to the European market anymore.”
Unheeded warnings
Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid warned last month that even a partial European boycott would cost the country some $5.7 billion in exports annually, and almost 10,000 jobs. “The Israeli economy will retreat, every Israeli citizen will be hit directly in his pocket, the cost of living will raise, budgets for education, health, welfare and security will be cut, and many international markets will be closed to us,” he said.
Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said if current peace talks fail (and they almost certainly will), Israel will likely face an international boycott “on steroids.” Predictably, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ignoring internal and external warnings. In so doing, he is supplying and injecting the steroids.
Israel’s traditionally fearsome PR machine is proving increasingly impotent as the country grows more isolated. Justifying the unjustifiable is looking more and more ridiculous and abhorrent to more and more people, companies, institutions and governments.
Given Israel’s vast military superiority, and the diplomatic immunity the United States provides at the U.N. Security Council, BDS is hitting where it hurts: the economy, whose “vulnerability is now greater than the threat of war,” Israeli President Shimon Peres said last month.
“Today, the economy is managed by multinationals... Today, you don’t need a boycott from above, a boycott by countries; it's enough for a certain company to turn up its nose,” Peres added. They are doing just that, often beyond the reach of governments that would rather avoid the issue.
South Africa “didn’t realize until well after the fact the severity of the sanctions against it,” said Lapid. Time will tell whether Israel will do the same. Two things are certain: the price of its occupation, colonization and repression is rising fast; and the scenario predicted by the finance minister can be avoided by granting the Palestinians their inalienable rights.
Instead, announcements of settlement construction continue unabated, and demolition of Palestinian homes is at a five-year high, not to mention a raft of other daily violations. The ball is in Israel’s court, but it can no longer play according to its own rules. Whether its leadership realizes this yet is another matter.(http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/02/10/BDS-A-battle-Israel-cannot-win.html)
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Opinions
Approve and express reservations
Al-Khaleej Editorial
Secretary of State John Kerry is not embarrassed when the Zionist entity and the Palestinian Authority express their reservations on the "Framework agreement", because it is the only way for them to embrace it. He considers it only normal that negotiations include discussions and compromises, but without this preventing reaching an agreement. US Secretary of State dodges as he tries to make the issue related to detail here and another one there and thus and deal can be reached through some patchwork.
This is an escape from the reality of the problem that lies in the framework agreement itself. Details are not the only important thing, but the substance of the matter, because approving the framework agreement makes it a reference for any settlement. And when this agreement becomes the reference it blocks all other references. International law will not be considered as a reference anymore, and the resolutions of the United Nations are not a reference also. This is the deadly issue, the only Palestinian strength in the political solution lies in the fact that there is a reference protecting their minimum rights, and when another reference takes place, they become powerless.
The US framework for the solution confirms rights for the Zionist entity that are not provided in the international reference. International legitimacy grants the Palestinian rights in the refugees’ issue. Even when negotiating its interpretation it remains crystal clear in its meaning. The international reference prevents the occupier from benefiting from the occupation, whether by seizing land or natural resources, or by imposing hegemony on the weaker party. The international reference with regards to what the state can have when becoming a recognized state.
On the other hand, the new reference eliminates all that, and serve as an alternative to all that. It ultimately depends on two things, namely the balance of power between the parties, and the good will of the sponsor. Both are missing in this reference, in terms of force we cannot even think about the comparison between the two parties,the Zionist entity holds all the hinges of the life in the West Bank, and controls the daily movement of the Palestinian Authority as well as ordinary Palestinians.
In terms of the integrity of the sponsor, it will be hypocritical to even say it, as well as believing in it. No one in the whole world of those interested in what is going on in the Palestinian issue, is not aware of the absolute bias the American administrations to the Zionist entity. The evidence to this would be the hugefinancial aid during the past decades, estimated in the tens of billions, and the massive military aid, and political and diplomatic protection. This was all summed up by some observers that "Israel" is treated as one of the US States.(http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/36d7650b-6363-4183-991c-64283a09221c)
Ending the division is the indicator
Al-Quds Editorial
Statements by officials from Fatah and Hamas over the past two days, with the arrival of a delegation from Fatah to Gaza and the start of the meetings and talks between the two sides, including a meeting with Prime Minister of the dismissed Government Ismail Haniyeh, asserts that there is some optimism regarding ending the division,emphasizingthe shared burden and critical situation in the Palestinian arena, and the daunting challenges facing the Palestinian cause. These are all facts every Palestinian knows, Palestinians always called on the leadership to end this tragic situation reminding them with the same challenges and the same common concerns, and that the supreme national interest must prevail over the violent factional interests, which the division leaders barricade behind crating extensive damage and causing more suffering to the Palestinian citizens.
In fact, we heard these statements and other slogans for ending the division again and again by officials of the two movements, but unfortunately the Palestinian citizen is being surprised that these statements are very far from what is happening on ground, and that thedivision is getting more rootedand further harm the Palestinian people. We hope that this time the statements will be unlike previous statementsand that it express real intentions to end the division and restore the shining image of the Palestinian political scene.
We must say to the leaders of the division that they should realize that they don’t have all the time they wish to fix this serious imbalance, and that our people who was prevented by these leaders from practicing their natural right to say their word in the ballot box, will not remain silent forever regarding this situation, and ignore the fact that this great people provided enormous sacrifices for their freedom, and it is the only sovereign party, and that those who speak in the name of the causewill have to gain legitimacy only through the people. All have to remember that the Palestinians people did not provide all these martyrs and prisoners to witness such a setback for centuries, or to impose the division forever without any legitimacy.
Therefore we say that any statements or flashy logos will not delude us after this bitter experience, and that the basic indicator for the credibility of the intentions and willingness to overcome this division lies in ending it immediately, and return to the people their right to elect their leaders and decide their own destiny, and that entering us in a new cycle of delusive optimism or statements that do not reflect the reality of what is going on, is no longer acceptable or reasonable and we hope that this is not the case this time.
Finally, we remind those responsible for the division again with the real challenges that lie ahead, especially the rapid plans for settlement and the Judaization of Jerusalem, the Gaza siege,raids and arrest campaigns and the intransigent Israeli positions aiming at blocking any just and lasting solution to the issue, in addition to all the suffering of our people from Israeli occupation and the suffering of the tragedy of the division, perhaps this reminder will contribute to bringing an end to this division, the division leaders would realize that our people is fully aware that they no longer have any excuse but to end the division, and complyto the will of the people and stop the confiscation of their rights. (Al-Quds)
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