President Obama has invited Middle Eastern leaders to visit the White House in early June to recommence progress toward a two-state solution. In a conference with reporters yesterday after the announcement, Obama remarked upon the “profound cynicism” surrounding the peace process currently and how he plans to make clear in the upcoming meetings the United States commitment to pursuing peace. Obama then stated that Arab and Israeli leaders must be ready to make “some hard choices” in the coming months, if any progress is to be made. Obama may have been commenting on recent Israeli demands that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The Obama administration has made clear it did not support these demands and that Palestinians need not recognize Israel in this fashion.
However, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced demands today on any future Palestinian unity government that will include Hamas. Prior to forming part of a unity government recognized by the US, Hamas must “renounce violence, recognize Israel and agree to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian Authority.” This comes as a dramatic change in US policy relative to Hamas. If Hamas meets the three demands listed by Sec. Clinton, the US will recognize a Palestinian unity government formed by Fateh and Hamas; a virtual recognition of Hamas influence in Palestine and of Hamas itself.
Israeli government officials however continue to deride the current peace process. Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman announced today in response to reports that the US administration backs the Arab peace initiative that Israel would never accept the clause on the right of return. He said: "This is a subject upon which there is wide agreement in the government and in the public as well." Lieberman may be right. According to a recent poll published by the Guardian, 77% of Israelis believe the idea of a right of return with compensation is unacceptable. Nonetheless, the poll more optimistically noted that “74% of Palestinians and 78% of Israelis are willing to accept a two-state solution.” It appears the Israeli government may have their priorities wrong.
IDF Investigative Report on Gaza Clears IDF of any wrongdoing
The IDF has released its findings from an internal investigation into allegations of war crimes during the recent conflict in Gaza. The report cleared completely the IDF of any wrongdoing, although admitted to minor errors that regretfully cost the lives of civilians. The report commented on some of the most outrageous stories from the 3 week offensive, including the killing of over 21 members of the same family in one attack. The report “called the incident ‘regretful’, but said it resulted from ‘an operational mistake that is bound to happen during intensive fighting.’” Based on these findings, Israel dismissed calls for further investigation into war crimes. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the internal investigation has proven once again that “the IDF is one of the most moral armies in the world.”
Human Rights Organizations have lambasted the report though, calling the findings “unsurprising” and “flawed.” B’tselem, a leading Israeli human rights organization, said that the report “does not answer the need for an independent inquiry outside the army that would look at the whole range of violations the army is incapable of looking at.” This was in reference to an investigation called for by the UN Human Rights council into the attacks on Gaza. Israel has refused to cooperate with the investigation, though, accusing the UN of being biased.
Human rights activists, however, have begun using different means to bring Israeli leaders to justice. A group of lawyers has filed a complaint with Norway officials accusing Israeli leaders of war crimes, naming Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, seven Israeli military officers, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as responsible for “massive terror attacks primarily directed at the population in Gaza.” Norwegian public prosecutors have said they would study the case, which was filed under “a new law under which foreigners can be charged in Norway with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity even if the alleged acts were carried out elsewhere.” The case may prove to open a new avenue to bring alleged war criminals to justice.
HEADLINES
Most Palestinians and Israelis willing to accept two-state solution (guardian.co.uk)
Israel razes Palestinian house in East Jerusalem (Reuters)
Palestine
First Hamas-licensed bank opens in Gaza (Ha'aretz)
PA wants Kurdish home for Iraq refugees (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Foreign Minister Criticizes Israel's Racism in the Middle East (Periodico)
Arrests fuel conflict between Palestinian factions (Ynetnews)
Palestinian Authority cracks down hard on Hamas in West Bank (World Tribune)
Watchdog group cites corruption in Palestinian areas (Reuters)
Firms run by President Abbas's sons get US contracts (Reuters)
Palestinian Sources Deny PNA Gov't in Fiscal Crisis (CRIENGLISH.com)
PA Official: Fayyad government in financial crisis (Ma'an News Agency)
Israel
Israel practicing war games preparing for war with Iran (Examiner.com)
Poll: More than 75% of Jewish Israelis want to join EU (Ha'aretz)
Netanyahu to hold special meeting on Shalit (Ha'aretz)
"Israel is disproportionately important to Google" (Globes)
Lieberman: Right of return makes Arab plan unacceptable (Ha'aretz)
Israelis 'followed law in Gaza' (BBC News)
U.S. Foreign Policy
Clinton sets conditions on Palestinian government with Hamas (Reuters)
Obama invites Middle East heads (BBC News)
The Neighbors
Kuwait politician who called to normalize Israel ties quits parliament race (Ha'aretz)
International Relations/Law
Israel helps India launch spy satellite (Jerusalem Post)
Spanish justice shies away from cross-border cases (The Associated Press)
Ahmadinejad condemns Israel again after UN walk-out (Reuters)
Hamas leader's invitation to address British MPs provokes fury (Independent)
Report: Olmert, Livni may face war crimes charges in Norway (Ha'aretz)
Military exports to Israel reviewed following Gaza conflict (Guardian)
Iranians welcome President Ahmadinejad home after attack on Israel (Guardian)
The Lobby
bout AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Los Angeles Times)
Historian, media liaison well placed to represent Israel in US (Ha'aretz)
Haim Saban, friend to Israel and Democrats (Los Angeles Times)
Harman 'outraged' by wiretap reports; denies wrongdoing (Los Angeles Times)
Jane Harman's Wiretapped Conversations (Washington Post)
Activism
South Africa anti-Apartheid leader forges ties with Palestinians (Ma'an News Agency)
Bil’in to host fourth annual conference on nonviolent resistance (Ma'an News Agency)
Arts
New wave of Palestinian filmmakers emerges against the odds (CNN)
Second Palestine Festival of Literature set to “Reaffirm the power of culture over the culture of power” (Ma'an News Agency)
Commentary
Joe Stork: The killing goes on in Gaza (Guardian)
Robert Naiman: Jane Harman Weighs In on Israel's Hold Over Congress (Huffington Post)
Robert Kaplan: Do the Palestinians Really Want a State? (Atlantic Online)
Neighbors / Fiddling with the devil (Ha'aretz)
Meir Javedanfar: Ahmadinejad's touch turns to dust (Guardian)
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.
