Before President Obama's envoy George Mitchell met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, Palestinians told Mitchell that the U.S. must hold Israel to previous peace commitments and pressure it to accept the principle of Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian response to Mitchell's message of an inevitable two-state solution was warmer than the Israeli officials'. Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman rejects Palestinian statehood. He suggested to Mitchell that negotiations have only had negative consequences for Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put up his own roadblocks. He demanded Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The PM reportedly raised concerns with Mitchell yesterday that a Palestinian state would be dominated by Hamas, giving the party control over the West Bank. Israeli cabinet members from the Shas and Likud parties categorically rejected the American position. Some are suggesting Netanyahu will manage American pressure by conducting dialogue with Palestinian leadership over the next few years without committing to any concrete steps.
Yet, Israeli President Shimon Peres maintained that the "policy of President Obama and his efforts for peace in this region are the same as the position of Israel."
Washington appears to be arranging a regional peace plan with Israel pursuing simultaneous Syrian and Palestinian peace tracks, based on the Saudi peace initiative. This is seen as the best counter-move against growing Iranian influence. Syria has shown an interest in renewing Turkey-mediated indirect talks with Israel. However, few have confidence in the Palestine track, because of the Israeli government's ideological disposition and internal Palestinian divisions.
HEADLINES
Palestine
VIDEO: Al-Aqsa ban highlights battle for Jerusalem (Al-Jazeera, English)
Hamas leaders make first public appearance since Gaza war (Reuters)
Al Masry: “swap-talks did not stop, resistance demands did not, and will not, change” (IMEMC)
Palestinian killed in W.Bank settlement - Israelis (Reuters)
Palestinians: Man killed in Bil'in demonstration (Jerusalem Post)
Amira Hass: Hamas, Fatah no nearer to agreement (Ha'aretz)
Palestinians outside camps don't have even hope to sustain them (Daily Star)
Israel
International law not prepared to fight terrorism (Ha'aretz)
Settler council: Peace talks with Palestinians perpetuate terror (Ha'aretz)
Israeli army confirms air strike at Gazan house (Xinhua)
US Foreign Policy
Clinton to visit Israel, West Bank (Ottawa Citizen)
The Neighbors
Suleiman to meet Lieberman during visit to Israel (IMEMC)
Cairo mulls barring Hizbullah ministers from visiting Egypt (Daily Star)
Art
In a Grove, a War of Wills and Words (New York Times)
Barenboim gets ovation in Cairo (BBC News)
Activism
Pro-Israel boycott group: Dutch Jewish leadership 'abusing' our postal system (Ha'aretz)
Commentary
Antony Lerman: What did Jeremy Bowen do wrong? (guardian.co.uk)
MJ Rosenberg: Emanuel Says Obama Insists On Implementing Two State Solution, No Ifs, Ands, or Buts (MidEast Peace Pulse)
Khaled Diab: Fair journalism must brave the crossfire (Daily Star)
Yossi Melman: I would advise Netanyahu to attack Iran (Ha'aretz)
Europe must do more to help Gaza (The Bolton News)
Norwegian doctor's presentation on Gaza attack leaves Chicago audience 'shell shocked' (Mondoweiss)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
