So how about we make Israel the fifty-first state? And we move the capital of the United States there! The whole mess summed up.
M.J. Rosenberg sums up the whole mess in the following brief analysis, so you can skip all the links below (he suggests that if Dennis Ross had offered Alaska, Netanyahu might have gone for the deal): http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/03/tell_israel_freeze_settlements_or_we_slow_down_the/#more
The White House has denied the following story. But on the grounds that the ideas were floating around somewhere (maybe in Dennis Ross’s head), we can see how desperate Mitchell, Clinton, and Ross may be as the Palestinians leave the table.
“An article published on Wednesday on the website for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy by David Makovsky, a researcher with ties to Dennis Ross, Barack Obama’s chief advisor on the Middle East, reported that Obama had written a letter Netanyahu in which Obama offered to support the presence of Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the Jordan Valley even after the establishment of a Palestinian state, if Israel would agree to a two month settlement building freeze. …
“Obama’s letter was said to include a long list of American favors in exchange for an extension of the settlement building freeze….
“Other commitments that Obama reportedly offered Netanyahu in the letter include an agreement not to ask for any more building freeze extensions, an agreement to veto any anti-Israel UN Security Council resolution in the next year, and….
“Obama’s letter was said to include additional commitments, including a series of guarantees to prevent the smuggling of weapons and missiles into a Palestinian state, a lengthy period of interim security arrangements in the Jordan Valley and a comprehensive regional defense pact for protection from Iran to follow the establishment of the Palestinian state.”
And much, much more!
The original story: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-in-personal-appeal-to-netanyahu-extend-settlement-freeze-for-two-months-1.316450
And the original story, which refers to this as a “draft” letter: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3256
And here is the NYTimes version: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/world/middleeast/01mideast.html?_r=1&hp
And there’s more: Netanyahu has rejected an offer written by: “Obama adviser Dennis Ross, who is the moving force behind the letter, is believed to have encouraged Obama to change his policy toward Netanyahu in order to come off as friendlier. Ross reportedly worked with Barak and Molho on the letter during the UN General Assembly in New York.” http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/pm-rejects-u-s-guarantees-in-exchange-for-renewing-freeze-1.316517
UPDATE: MJ Rosenberg sums up: ”So it’s back to the drawing board. Maybe Ross can give Bibi one of the 50 states (Alaska!).” http://politicalcorrection.org/fpmatters/201010010010
Tags: Israel, Middle East, Palestine
I really don’t find it credible. It is much too much to offer for a one-time extension. If it turns out to be true, it will be deeply, deeply embarrassing to Obama.
I did read somewhere that if Obama had offered Jonathan Pollard in return for an extension, the Israelis would have leapt at the offer. I don’t know if that is true or not, but obviously it didn’t happen.
I’ve read that the Pollard return was floated from the Israeli side. Didn’t happen, and as far as I can tell, it never will. The FBI, the Intellignce branches, and the CIA would all be up in arms–and apparently for good reason.
What’s the difference between offering Netanyahu a bribe to keep the peace talks going and negotiating with a kidnapper? Netanyahu seems to be playing Obama for a fool. Is Obama playing along?
If there is any respect for Palestinians in all of this, then it escapes me.
I find it almost impossible to believe that Obama AND Clinton AND Mitchell would all agree to this. But if it is true, then can anyone explain how the U.S. can be led by the nose like this? And not just Obama but a succession of U.S. presidents?
Remember the source of this story: David Makovsky, who is on the staff of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, a wholly pro-Israel think thank. Makovsky was a co-author with Dennis Ross of a volume that supported Israel. Ross, was also on that staff; was an adviser to Bill Clinton, and is now in the White House. The contents of the agreement may be the wholly owned views of Ross who passed them on to Makovsky.
None the less, it is right to ask what this sort of “bargaining” chip is doing in the Obama Administration. So how about everyone asking the White House what this is all about?
Why are we even taking seriously another round of talks in which we already know the outcome? The Palestinians have vowed never to acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state. How, then, can there ever be a two state solution? Billions of dollars have been poured into Gaza and the West Bank over the years and there is almost nothing to show for it since the Palestinians can never get beyond their hatred of the Jews.
Mr. Foley: Mr. Abbas has agreed to the right of Israel to exist. Israel as a “Jewish” state is a new requirement created by the right-wing parties in Israel and taken up by PM Netanyahu.
“How can there ever be a two-state solution?” As long as the United States pours billions into Israel and turns its considerable leverage away from using its influence to actually facilitate a resolution of the conflict, there is unlikely to be a solution. I would say the Hatred Equation between Israelis and Palestinians is about equal at this point.
You appear to be one of those Americans (in case you are not an agent provocateur) who is two decades behind on what is going on in this conflict. Educate yourself! And come back when you actually know something.
Ms. Steinfels: If Israel were not a Jewish state it would have no reason to exist. While we have obviously different perspectives, to suggest that mine is based on some lack of education is more than a bit condescending. I’ve been reading your stuff for years, so I’m more than a little surprised.
Mr. Foley: Israel is a state with a very significant Arab and Muslim population; they are citizens of Israel though generally treated in a second-class manner. The demand of very recent origin that Israel be recognized as a “Jewish” state is of a piece with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s view that these citizens should go elsewhere because they are not Jewish. Israel declares itself a democracy and yet a growing number of its politicians clearly speak as if it is a democracy only for its Jewish citizens.
So… okay you’re educated…but it appears to me not fully informed about what’s going on in Israel. One piece of that political and semantic chicanery is the demand by right-wing politicians that Israel be recognized as a Jewish state not only by the Palestinians and the Arabs, but the rest of the world, including us. That is a prelude to expelling its non-Jewish citizens.
My apologies for sounding “more than a bit condescending,” but isn’t it about time Americans get up to speed on what’s happening in Israel and in the Mideast with our money and our government’s political support. In the end, you may continue to think that the West Bank Settlements and the Gaza blockade are justified, but recognize that the Israeli government, including its military, have gone far beyond the legal and moral bounds of ensuring Israel’s security, and in many ways made their security ever more untenable.
The heroic days of Israel, Zionism, and “a people for a land with no people” are long gone. In many respects, the state of Israel is behaving like the imperial powers of the 19th century. Settlements on the West Bank are illegal, the blockade of Gaza is illegal and immoral. Why are you (and many other Americans) supporting that?
And if you’ve been reading me for years, I’m surprised you don’t know this!
Here’s an article by O”Brien Browne at historynet which gives a good outline of the historical background of the Mid-East problems. The West has a lot to answer for.
http://www.historynet.com/creating-chaos-lawrence-of-arabia-and-the-1916-arab-revolt.htm/1