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Nov. 28, 2013
Daily summary - Thursday, November 28, 2013
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Main News
Kerry travels to Israel to reassure Netanyahu and meet Abbas in Ramallah
Secretary of State John Kerry will travel next week to Europe and the Middle East to meet with NATO officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry will be discussing the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians with Netanyahu, in addition to the recent agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program that was denounced by the Israeli Prime Minister. US Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jane Bosacki said on Friday that Kerry will leave Monday for Brussels to attend a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. Chief negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, said on Wednesday that if it depends on him, he will not wait until the end of the nine-month period for the peace talks and to join the United Nations institutions, including the International Court of Justice, as the way to respond to Israeli intransigence. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=651958)
Occupation arrests 3 Jerusalemites who participated in a protest
Occupation forces arrested yesterday evening, three Jerusalemites at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.According to official agency “Wafa”, Israeli occupation forces arrested Rami Dandis (14 years old), Magdy Al-Hadri (14 years old), and Bashar El-Mashni, a 27-year-old from Damascus Gate, following their participation in a protest condemning the martyrdom of three youths from the Hebron district Tuesday evening, attended by dozens of young men at the Damascus Gate.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/475317)
“Al-Haq” calls on Europe to prevent entry of settlers to its territory
Palestinian NGO, “Al-Haq”, called on the European Union yesterday to prevent the entry of Israeli settlers, who were involved in attacks against the Palestinians to its territory. The organization welcomed the "guidelines" adopted by the European Union providing that all agreements with Israel, involving funding from the EU do not apply to the occupied territories since 1967 (the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights).In a report entitled "institutional impunity", the human rights organization says that every year, settlers launch an average of 400 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in damage or injuries.The report says: “settlers escaped punishment for their crimes against the Palestinians and are protected by Israeli law," adding that “less than 10% of the investigations by the police lead to prosecution.” (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/475323)
Security services released Sheikh Khader Adnan
Security services in Jenin released tonight released Jihad leader Sheikh Khader Adnan, hours after being arrested following a raid on his relative's House in Arraba, south of Jenin.Local sources said that security services had arrested Adnan while he was at the home of a relative named Farouk Mousa, while the security services came to arrest Moses and was confronted by Sheikh Khader rejecting the political detention policy.The sources said the security services arrested the two and took them to Jenin where Sheikh Khader was released later while Mousa is still arrested.(http://safa.ps/details/news/117033/span-classevent-show%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-span%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%AE%D8%B6%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86.html)
Shabak claims: three martyrs of Yatta, planned to implement a massive attack near Hebron
“Israel News” website quoted Israeli security sources saying that the three Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces yesterday in the town of Yatta, near Hebron, were planning an operation that could have caused great harm to the occupation army if implemented. The website quoted the sources saying that the Israeli army is more comfortable after the assassination of the three, official in the military intelligence division in the West Bank said: "success in thwarting an operation of this size before it occurs is something that happens ones every 10 years.” (http://www.qudsn.ps/article/33756)
Livni: negotiations have made progress and we are working hard to prevent its failure
Israel Radio quoted yesterday head of Israeli negotiations team, Tzipi Livni, as saying that “the negotiations have made progress and we are working hard to prevent.” Livni focused during the interview on the Iranian nuclear file, saying that negotiations with Tehran should be away from the media and that criticism should stop. (http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/israel/74087-%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AB%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7)
Clashes between youths and occupation forces in Hebron
Tens of young men were injured yesterday in Hebron, during clashes with the occupation forces after the funerals of the three martyrs killed by special occupation force south of Hebron. Medical sources said that "twenty young Palestinians were injured of rubber bullets and three by live bullets and tens were injured of tear gas.” Clashes were concentrated in Bab El-Zawia in Hebron, around Tariq Bin Ziyad School in the southern area of the city, Beit Ummar junction and Al-Arroub refugee camp.(http://wattan.tv/ar/news/80741.html)
Thousands participated in Hebron and Yatta yesterday in the funerals of the three martyrs Mohamed Fouad Nayroukh, Mahmoud Khaled Al-Najjar and Moses Makhamra of Yatta, among calls denouncing the assassination, restrain Israeli violations and suspension of negotiations. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Preventing Arab delegations from participating in “Aman’s” conference
Israeli occupation authorities have refused to allowa Yemeni delegation to enter the Palestinian territories to participate in the annual transparency conference to view the experience of the Coalition for accountability and integrity "Aman" in Ramallah, in addition to refusing to allow other Arab delegation coming from Iraq. “Aman”condemned and rejected in a statement such “arbitrary and racist practices aimed at isolating the Palestinian people from its surroundings", and approached transparency international to intervene to expose Israeli policies that impede efforts to fight corruption and the work of the organization in all directions.The statement noted that “in accordance with the orientation and strategy of transparency international aimed at building the capacity of its branches through the exchange of expertise, experiences and knowledge the Coalition for accountability and integrity "Aman" (the Palestinian branch of transparency international) invited the Yemeni branch to visit Palestine to see Aman’s experience and expertise in working with various sectors, in addition to participating in the annual transparency conference to be held on 4th of December, On the occasion of international anti-corruption day.” (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/258723/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86/)
President Abbas calls Haniya and expresses his condolences for the death of his granddaughter
President Mahmoud Abbas called Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, to express his condolences following the death of his granddaughter, Amal Abdel Salam Haniyeh. The President asked the "Almighty God to bestow the baby with his mercy". Amal died yesterday after fightinga disease.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
The President to the security chiefs: no one is above the law
President Mahmoud Abbas, Commander-in-Chief of the security forces, headed a meeting of security chiefs, attended by Interior Minister Said Abu Ali, the Assistant Commander of security forces Haj Ismail Jaber.Security leaders updated President Abbas on the security situation in the Palestinian districts, giving instructions to enforce the rule of law and to preserve the security of the citizen.The President stressed that no one is above the law, and that the law will reach all criminals and violators of the security and safety of citizens.(Al-Ayyam)
President Abbas updates Blair on the negotiations
President Abbas received Quartet Envoy to the Middle East peace process Tony Blair at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah on Friday. During the meeting, the two discussed the latest developments of the peace process and the efforts of the Quartet to support and development of the Palestinian economy. As President also received Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Palestine Yasser Osman, with the attendance of Secretary General of the Presidency Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, and discussed ways to alleviate the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip, due to the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation, and briefed him on the efforts of the leadership in this context.(Al-Quds)
An arrest warrant for a four-year-old child in Jerusalem
Israeli authorities issued an arrest warrant for a child in Jerusalem at the age of 4 years, according to Wadi Helwi information center.The Centre said that during an arrest campaign carried out by the Israeli authorities against children Jerusalemites, they raided last week Zain Majid’s House in Saadia neighborhood, in Jerusalem, to arresthis 4 years old son Mohammed.The child's father told the details of the incident saying: "a big force raided our house at dawn last Thursday, asked me for the names of my children, I told them, they told me that they have an arrest warrant for Mohammed", adding: "I was surprised and said are you sure?? Mohammed is only 4 years old, but the officer was not convinced and asked me to wake him from his sleep, after seeing him he withdrew for implementing the arrest warrant.” The father added: "I told the officer who wanted to arrest him, do what me to send his milk and diapers with him, since he is in need of those.” The father said that the officer asked him several questions about his son and his friends, allegedly causing him of injuring an Israeli settler, and threatened to invite the child for investigation in the future if the accusations are true. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/475329)
Israeli commander: invading Gaza is inevitable and a matter time
According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the Israeli army ended Wednesday night, exercises started last Sunday nearby the city of Ashkelon near the Gaza Strip, with the aim of training on military operations in Gaza, including re-occupying it. The paper added that the Gaza division in the Israeli army ended its military maneuvers to simulate operations in the Gaza Strip, which lasted for 4 consecutive days. The paper said that leaders in the military estimates that a new round of war with Gaza is very close, and it's only a matter of time. (Al-Quds)
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Headlines
** Fines against 12 French activists calling for boycott of Israeli products (Al-Ayyam)
** Intelligence report: the geostrategic situation of Israel enhanced in the last year (Al-Ayyam)
** Tunisia: confrontations between citizens and police in various areas (Al-Ayyam)
** Turkish ambassador leaves Cairo as “Persona non grata” (Al-Ayyam)
** Iraq: 44 killed, including 5 from the same family, in various attacks (Al-Ayyam)
** EU official: understandings with Israel did not include a withdraw of the EU position on settlements (Al-Ayyam)
** Israel navy arrests Palestinian fishermen in front of Rafah coast (Al-Ayyam)
** Al-Hamdallah: $ 15 million form Qatar to the PA (Al-Ayyam)
** President grantsAsma’Abu Jihad, Faisal Husseini, Khaled Hassan and Abu Sabri the Honor Star medal (Al-Ayyam)
** Folk: situation in Gaza very close to a disaster (Al-Quds)
** Egypt: 14 women of the Brotherhood sentenced for 11 years in jail (Al-Quds)
** Hamdan Taha: we seek to restore archaeological sites on tourist map (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** An Israeli intelligence report: Hamas control the Gaza Strip by force (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Yatta: thousands during the funeral of the two martyrs yesterday.
Al-Ayyam:1) A girl crying during the funeral of the two martyrs in Yatta yesterday, 2) President hands the Honor Star medal to the family of Abu Jihad in Ramallah yesterday, 3) Tunisians protesting during a demonstration in Selyanah yesterday.
Al Hayat Al Jadida:Thousands during the funeral of the two martyrs in Yatta yesterday.
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Voice of Palestine News
Gaza Strip: Israeli military boats arrested three fishermen near Rafah’s coast and confiscated their fishing boats. One of the fishermen said the military boat surrounded the fishing boat on which three fishermen were aboard. The naval soldiers made the three fishermen swim over to the Israeli boat and then arrested them. Every day the Israeli navy fires at fishermen and arrests them.
Regarding the electricity crisis, this has affected all aspects of life, including citizens’ health and environmental conditions. The electricity comes on 4-6 hours a day. Sometimes it comes on at night when people are asleep.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
**Shawan Jabareen, director of Al Haq, on Al Haq’s request to the EU to ban settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians into their countries, following their report that there are 400 settler attacks on average a year against Palestinians
Q: What is your comment about the report on settler violence in light of your demand to the EU?
We did not bring anything new about the settler attacks – this is widely covered by the media, but the main point is the legal analysis on this subject and the demands, based on international law and the laws of countries, in this case those of the EU. The first point is the support some charitable societies in EU countries give settlements and settlers. These organizations enjoy tax reductions and even exemption, and at the same time they are supporting war crimes and attacks by settlers. So we are calling for support to be halted to these charitable societies and organizations so they are not exempt from taxes and so that measures can be taken against them
The second demand is that most settlers carry dual citizenship from EU countries and others. Our demand is that these settlers are pursued for the crimes that they commit. The third point is related to EU laws, which say that groups that incite towards hatred and violence, or ‘terrorist groups” should not enter EU countries. This should be applied to settlers. We are contacting European officials on this point and on the settlement issue in general. Our report on settler violence constitutes more of a work-frame for action in this regard. We want to drive the point home to these countries that this is not just about international law in general but has to do with your own country laws, which you should impose.
Q: Have you gotten any responses from the Europeans in this regard?
We only issued our report yesterday; it has been covered internationally in the media and now we are waiting for responses. But at the same time, we are not only waiting for responses but we also want this report to be our guide in all of our advocacy work and our meetings and contacts.
Q: What is the Israeli response to all of these calls to ban violent settlers from entering EU countries?
We don’t know. Israel considers us a terrorist organization that uses the law as a weapon of war. They claim we use the law in a legal war against them. That is what the NGO Monitor calls us. We say, we are proud to use the law as a tool for defending rights and we will continue to do that. Let them say what they want. They always try to incite against organizations that call for the implementation of international law and the pursuit of criminals.
**Administrative director of AMAN, Ghada Zghayar, on Israeli authorities banning Arab delegations from entering Ramallah to attend the annual Transparency and Accountability Festival
Q: What is your comment on this ban on Arab delegations to the festival?
We were expecting this from the Israeli authorities. This shows how fragile the Palestinian political situation really is. There is no peace. This is a message to the Palestinian negotiators for one, and to the international community for two, which still thinks there is a political process going on.
As for us, this is definitely a loss; this was part of our strategy as the national branch of Transparency International, to meet with the other branches. Newly established branches resulting from the Arab Spring, such as Yemen were very excited to participate in this conference and I believe they could have really benefited from our branch and its experiences. AMAN has motivated many national organizations to work in the fight against corruption.
Q: In terms of your festival, what is it going to be held and what are its goals?
This is an annual festival and we like to celebrate Palestinian citizens who have the courage to blow the whistle on corruption. This shows how much people are involved in the efforts to fight corruption. We are holding the festival on December 4 as part of the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day which falls on December 9. Our goals are to honor whistleblowers – on this point, I would like to say that this year there are real cases that deserve special attention. There was a recommendation that the award should go to more than one person because they helped in anti-corruption cases and helped to shed the light on huge cases that will result in huge amounts of money being returned to the general treasury.
Another goal is our focus on a campaign that we launched with our partner organizations aimed at ending nepotism in Palestinian society. Through this festival, we will try to put pressure on official parties to take the necessary legal measures and to put charters and anti-corruption laws so that there is an integral plan between these parties and civil society institutions fighting corruption.
Q: Are there any Arab delegations that arrived?
No, but let me make this clear, the only delegation that planned to come was the Yemeni delegation. We did not apply for any other delegations. In the future however, we are planning to bring in other Arab delegations. We were told by Israeli authorities that no delegations from certain countries would be allowed entry – Iraq, Yemen or Syria.
**Deputy minister of information, Mahmoud Khalifeh, on marking the international day for solidarity with the Palestinians tomorrow.
Q: What is the importance of this day?
This day expresses the international community’s stance alongside the Palestinian people especially after the call for a Palestinian state three decades ago, [following the 1947 partition plan] and which has not yet been established. But until today this state is still under Israeli occupation. As an expression of the UN’s support, the UNGA passed five resolutions in favor of Palestine and also this year, the UNGA also decided that all days of this year will be in solidarity with the Palestinians including various activities at the UN. As an observer state, Palestine should be able to exercise all of its rights without any obstacles from Israel.
Q:How can this day be taken advantage of in gaining our national rights?
I think the important point here is to activate international public opinion to create the widest-possible platform of support for the Palestinian people. This includes media campaigns with the UN and Arab League and the Arab and Palestinian communities abroad. There should also be the widest possible political action, even if we are not yet members in international agencies. Still, there needs to be action within them and within the many countries that voted in favor of the Palestinian state and pro-Palestinian resolutions.
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More Headlines
Occupation wages an arrest campaign in the West Bank
Israeli occupation forces launched early Thursday an arrest and incursion campaign in West Bank towns and villages, arresting many young Palestinians. Local sources said that occupation forces raided the city of Doha, near Bethlehem and arrested two men, Mohammed Al-Khlaf (22 years old) and Amir Fadel Daghamin 17 years old) and Ibrahim Khader Masalmeh (43 year old). The occupation also raided the city of Qalqilya and arrested Abdallah Je’di, occupation patrols also stormed into Azzoun and arrested Hamada Saed Radwan (17 years old). Occupation army also arrested Muhammad Abu Al-Rub (25 years old) from Qabatya. (http://paltimes.net/details/news/html)
Israeli Housing Minister: soon we will build many houses in the West Bank and Jerusalem
Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel announced that construction in West Bank settlements and Jerusalem will continue as usual, and “soon we will build several houses in these settlements.” According to “Ma’ariv”, the Minister made the remarks today during a speech at the "Eitamar" settlement, West of Nablus City, while laying the foundation stone for the education and training center in the settlement, which carries the “Poleg” family name, which was killed the settlement three years ago. Ariel added that several Ministers in the Israeli Government support continuing settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and soon we will launch several houses in these settlements, then we will say to ourselves and the world that the "people of Israel is alive.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=651980)
Jewish extremists break into Al Aqsa
A number of Jewish extremists broke into the Al Aqsa Mosque today morning. Media sources reported that some 50 extremists broke into Al-Aqsa courtyards in two waves, while some sources expect continuing raids in the coming hours with the Jewish celebration of Hanukah. Eyewitnesses said: "the Israeli police prevented the entry of students and young worshippers.” (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/258786)
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Arab Press
Little hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians
Arabic News Digest
During his last speech at the general assembly of Jewish federations in North America, Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, raised a number of issues that call for proper response, wrote the columnist Naji Sadeq Sharab in the Sharjah-based daily Al Khaleej.
“Netanyahu called on the international community to stop ‘indulging’ Palestinians. But it seems he forgot, or chose to forget, that the international community itself was responsible for the hardships of the Palestinian people in the first place,” the writer said.
At the same time, for political reasons, the international community is incapable of implementing international resolutions or supporting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
In another point, the Israeli prime minister insists that Palestinians acknowledge Israel as a state for Jews, whereas it is Palestinians that need the world to acknowledge their right to live in an independent state.
“Israel doesn’t need recognition. Palestinians, or at least the PLO, the highest Palestinian body, has already recognised Israel as a state. Meanwhile, Israel has to reciprocate and concede to an independent state for Palestinians,” he added.
In fact, the Jewish state has yet to determine its vision for the Palestinian state. Will it be created along the lines of Palestinian ambitions and global law, or will it be more of a non-state?
It may be still too early to ask for such concession from Israelis. The Palestinians have yet to make a breakthrough in the negotiations that seem to be endless and hopeless.
“The establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the only viable option for Israel if it wants to ensure its security and survival,” the writer said. “Once a Palestinian state is created, Israel will get what it wants. No unilateral solutions could hold for these cases unless they are part of an integrated strategy and in the framework of a final solution. Netanyahu’s requests fall under the heading of final solution and a radical settlement of the conflict,” Sharab explained.
Obviously, this all hinges on Israel’s willingness to deal with the issues at hand.
During the address, Mr Netanyahu went on to say that his side awaits the emergence of a Palestinian Ben Gurion to end the conflict and acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state.
But in truth, for their part, the Palestinians are eagerly awaiting the rise of a Mandela among Israelis, who would alter their racist outlook onto the world and restore people’s rights.
It is hard to conceive of a durable peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians in the foreseeable future, especially in light of the increasing expansionist efforts and worsening racism on the part of the Israeli government.(http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/little-hope-for-peace-between-israelis-and-palestinians)
KSA-Israel contact: Joke of the century
By ABDULATEEF AL-MULHIM
Recently an absurd report surfaced stating that Saudi Arabia has contacts with Israel. Naturally the Kingdom denied the reports. The official Saudi Press Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying, ” the Kingdom has no relations or contacts with Israel of any kind or at any level.”
It was first reported in Britain’s Sunday Times without naming or identifying the source. Such reports on Saudi-Israeli contacts usually emerge once in a while probably to boost readership and increase nose-diving circulations. Ironically, Israel has open diplomatic and economic relations with very few Arab countries, so, why a rumor about a simple contact between Saudi Arabia and Israel makes the headlines? Saudi Arabia doesn’t even share borders with Israel. So, let us talk about the Saudi- Israeli conversation that never took place.
After the British newspaper “broke” the news, various media outlets carried it. The report would have been ignored if it were about a possible Saudi- Israeli contact to resolve the Palestinian issue. Saudi Arabia did its best to resolve the most difficult and complicated political issues in in the world. And Saudi Arabia went as far as drafting peace plans twice. Palestinians rejected the first peace initiative and the second peace initiative was rejected by the Israelis. Both Saudi initiatives, if implemented, would have ended the lingering Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This time the rumor of Saudi-Israeli contact had for the first time had nothing to do with the Palestinians. It had to do with Iran. The United States had given the Iranians a room to breathe. In less than two months the US downgraded its alert level for a possible attack on Iran and has embarked on a path to improve ties with Tehran with less pressure regarding the economic sanctions. In my opinion, this will only help Iran gain time to pursue its nuclear ambitions.
Washington is now getting cozy with Tehran. The Saudis were obviously not comfortable and the Israelis naturally furious. Political analysts used an adage: The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and assumed that there must be some sort of brainstorming going on between the Kingdom and Israel. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states in general are not surprised by the Geneva deal, per se, but did not expect the amount of space Iran was given in return of negligible offers. And this in turn made many Gulf-based analysts say that they don’t have any confidence in the US. And I personally don’t know what the Americans have up their sleeves.
Now, let us go back to the rumored contact between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Simply put, Saudi Arabia was never in need for covert contacts. Saudi Arabia enjoys the respect of all nations. However, the Kingdom has the right to use whatever means to protect its interests. Iran might think it has been given a free hand to increase its influence in the region but it must not forget that the Kingdom is influential beyond its imaginations.
The West has miscalculated the situation and in a rush to reach a deal has given Iran time to pursue its nuclear goals and a free hand to meddle into the internal matters of other countries.
However, we wish Iran sees this as a golden opportunity to act as a good neighbor. As for Israel, it is an altogether different story. I shall write about it in near future.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/483561)
Iran deal a slap in the face for Netanyahu
By George S. Hishmeh, Special to Gulf News
In an unprecedented move, the United States and its five partners — Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — known as the P5+1 — dealt the arrogant Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a slap in the face when they signed last Sunday a historic agreement with Iran compelling it to temporarily freeze its disputed nuclear programme for six months.
In response to the exaggerated outcry over the accord by Netanyahu and the American friends of Israel, especially the pro-Israeli lobby in the US, led by Aipac (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), some Congressmen and others, President Barack Obama retaliated by declaring unabashedly, “tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically, but it’s not the right thing to do for our security.”
Aaron David Miller, a former State Department senior official who had dealt for a long time with Middle Eastern issues, wrote this week in Politico that “this accord is less worrisome than Netanyahu believes, but not as compelling and reassuring as US officials maintain.”
The agreement, the first between the two sides in over three decades, temporarily halted parts of Iran’s disputed nuclear programme and allowed for more intrusive international monitoring. In return, Iran will reclaim from the United States some $7 billion (Dh25.7 billion) that was sequestered in response to its past actions, as well as relief from other stiff economic sanctions.
A key issue that remains to be settled is whether Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium at lower levels.
There is no doubt that this significant agreement helped boost President Obama’s standing, which had lately been diminished by his controversial domestic policies. He is now more likely to focus on foreign policy issues, hopefully on specific Middle East problems like the seemingly suspended Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.
Nevertheless, it is amazing, if not disappointing, that the unyielding and arrogant Netanyahu was hardly reminded by any US official or the media about his own nuclear and chemical arsenals. The Israeli prime minister had blasted the international deal with Iran as a “historic mistake” and stressed that Israel was not bound by the agreement. He was further infuriated with the news that this agreement with Iran had been secretly negotiated by two US officials and their Iranian counterparts in Oman, an Arab Gulf state. At one point, he reiterated veiled threats against Iran although there are doubts that Israel could undertake any such action before April, the deadline for a final deal with Iran over its nuclear schemes.
In turn, British Foreign Minister William Hague has meanwhile warned that “we would discourage anybody in the world, including Israel, from taking any steps that would undermine this agreement and we will make that very clear to all concerned.”
On the other hand, an Israel columnist, Nachum Barnea of Yediot Ahronot, a leading Israelis newspaper, wrote that “Netanyahu has his work cut out for him. Let him get up from the floor, this is no time for empty threats and self-pity.”
What has turned the tables further on Netanyahu’s head has been the news that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states who were initially disturbed by the Iranian deal, have now welcomed the agreement with the P5+1 in the hope that it could lead to a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, including Israel’s arsenal.
Another prominent Israeli columnist, Akiva Eldar, had this sharp comment: “The most intriguing question now is whether Obama intends to remain on the path of conflict with Netanyahu on all that’s related to the Israeli-Palestinian track. Will Russia, China and the European powers agree to cooperate in this arena as well? Will they dare advance, in opposition to the position of Israel’s prime minister, another agreement that would prevent the use of violence in order to solve this bloody [Palestinian-Israeli] conflict?”
There is no doubt that the beleaguered Israeli leader is hoping that the conflict with western leaders over their Iranian deal would allow him to sulk and refuse, as he has been doing at present, to negotiate a final Palestinian-Israeli settlement before next April, the established deadline for these negotiations.
What is equally intriguing about the agreement with Iran, especially if a final accord is reached, is whether it would have any repercussions on Syria’s civil war since the Iranian regime is supportive of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, while Saudi Arabia is reportedly supporting the rebel movement there. Whether Iran will play a role in the upcoming peace conference between the Syrian president and the rebel movement there is anyone’s guess. The likelihood of a settlement there is still too early to tell.
If, as anticipated, Obama will now be focusing on diplomacy, he may find many battles to win as he has just done with Netanyahu.(http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/iran-deal-a-slap-in-the-face-for-netanyahu-1.1260653)
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Opinions
“Allies”
By Ahmad Jamil Azem
On the surface, the Middle East is going through a very unique stage: there are those who, in their rhetoric, categorized the United States and the ultimate devil, colonialist and imperialist for decades and who are now closer to being happy with Washington’s positions, even happier than America’s traditional friends and allies.
Syria has found an outlet with the help of the Russians, which means almost neutralizing the Americans. This is more than enough for the regime in Damascus at the time being. Iran, meanwhile, is at the threshold of a breakthrough with the Americans. On the other side of things, Israel is angry, and its Arab friends are angry too.
There are four interpretations for the current situation. First, the idea of permanent allies is more of a delusion and a fairytale, found only in the minds of certain political party members and activists. The regime in Damascus was not part of America’s camp in its war on Iraq, fighting Iraq only in 1991. It did not only maintain its borders with the Zionists in the Golan Heights as a gift and the easiest Arab front, but coexisted with the Israelis and Americans in Lebanon. The Syrian army there remained a spectator or was too busy with the Palestinians and Lebanese all while Israel’s operations and attacks continued nonstop. Tehran stood by happily as it watched American troops squash its regional adversaries, the Iraqis and Afghanis.
As for the other camp, the differences were repeated. During the former American administration under George Bush Junior, the ‘neo-conservatives’ wanted to impose reform on Riyadh. The plan was that after they finished with Iraq, Saudi Arabia was next. There was even the idea of bombing Al Jazeera’s offices in Doha. In the age of the Arab Spring, if Jazeera and Qatari capabilities had actually joined efforts to end the Qaddafi regime in Libya – the personal nemesis of the Saudi monarch – then the Egyptian file was a real for dispute with Arab gulf countries, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, both which wanted to preserve the Mubarak regime and who were taken by surprise by Washington buddying up with the Muslim Brotherhood, or at least its acceptance of it.
The second interpretation is linked to the first: which is Washington cannot find anyone to ally with or wager on in the region. Or perhaps it became clear that it is not important who rules. Washington grew accustomed to the idea of the rise of Islamists and reached settlements with them. It seems as though two ‘ally’ regimes supported and coordinated with the US in favor of the new orders, especially Ankara and Doha. However, they were not powerful enough. Washington’s previous allies and others were able to overthrow them – that is, the military in Egypt, backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Hence, the departure of conventional powers and the arrival of Islamists and then their departure as well will not make any qualitative difference on American policies or interests. Israel is the supposed ally but does not act like an ally whatsoever. On the contrary, it wants to dictate conditions on the White House, perhaps from the conviction of Israel’s government and allies in the United States that Israel is more of an internal issue than it is one of alliance. However, the Netanyahu government went a bit too far in its estimation of just how much it can steer the Americans.
The third interpretation reinforces the second one, represented in the real politics approach adopted by the Barak Administration. This approach says that there is no benefit in being concerned with the type of internal regime adopted by other nations, whether democratic or dictatorship, secular or Islamic. It doesn’t matter whether the slogans are loud and extremist or moderate and realistic, as long as the foreign policy of these regimes can be handled and lived with.
The fourth interpretation is related to the Democrats’ hatred for war. The Democratic Party in the United States has historically always been less inclined to war than the Republican Party. What happened in Iraq, Afghanistan and even Libya in addition to the current financial crisis, only reinforced the Obama administration’s determination to avoid military options. This has angered its ‘allies’ in the region who wanted a major military intervention in Syria and who wanted to dangle an even bigger military option in front of Iran.
In short, Washington does not seem to think that regime changes in the Arab countries will have any real impact on American policies and interests. Neither the new or the old powers really defy it. But neither do they completely agree with it either. That is why, delving into details is like entering a marsh. And those who seem to be anti-Washington are not really so; their agendas are regional and local and understandings can be reached with them. That is why it is fine whichever way the cards fall in terms of Washington’s international relations and interests without thinking too much about the positions and desires of the governments and rulers in the region, especially with all of their contradictions and wavering stances. This is because these regimes have never really made the move to the opposition camp in terms of ‘American interests. Their anger is in the moment, not strategic at all. (http://www.alghad.com/index.php/afkar_wamawaqef2/article/34644/%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A1%21.html)
Escalation will not save Israel from its increasing international isolation
Al Quds Editorial
The level of tension has rising tremendously in the West Bank after Israel assassinated three young men near Yatta in the Hebron district day before yesterday. Scores of people participated in their funerals and clashes broke out between angry youths and Israeli army forces in Hebron, Tulkarm and at the Ofer Prison near Ramallah, in addition to other areas off the West Bank. Several youths were injured while classes were suspended in some Palestinian universities in protest of the assassinations.
As usual, Israel had its justifications ready – it accused the three men of being part of a broader cell and planning to carry out operations against Israel. And in what seems to be an attempt to create internal divisions in the West Bank, Israel also confirmed that this cell was planning attacks on the Palestinian Authority as well.
This bloody escalation and the tension and clashes it could lead to, coincides with a string of settlement developments and judiazation inside and a series of important political developments internationally. And the escalation also comes in tandem with the negotiations and the PA’s continued adherence to the American demand of giving nine months for the talks at the end of which a solution or agreement is supposed to be reached.
Settlements have not stopped. There are settlement plans everywhere, the Judaization of Jerusalem, excavations, Torah gardens, Jewish museums and the displacement of residents, all of which are condemned and rejected, even by Israel’s closes friends and allies. At the international level, the deal with Iran was cut, further isolating Israel and deepening its clash with the US administration under President Obama. Furthermore, the agreement on the Geneva conference on Syria put the issue of peace and the success of the negotiations at the forefront of international agendas.
After Israel tried to create an alternative in the Iranian nuclear file, it now finds itself looking for another alternative, which is the bloody escalation in the West Bank and perhaps in Gaza as well. This will not help it, however and it will find itself, more than any other time, face to face with Palestinian realities and international demands for achieving peace. Any escalation will only lead to this concept being more and more entrenched without a way out for Israel. And the closer the nine-month period for negotiations approaches, things would have gotten clearer and clearer in terms of Iran and Syria and pressures will increase on Israel to be more rational and receptive to the demands of peace. The first of these demands will be a halt to settlements and to adhere to the reference point of the 1967 borders. Will the voice of reason and logic win or will Israel remain prisoner to the arrogance of power and expansionist dreams? (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/475332)
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