Blown up
Usually 'blown up' in relation to the Middle East refers to Arabs blowing up Israelis (or Americans). But, in this case "blown up" refers to the building of Jewish apartments in Jerusalem, the undivided and indivisible Capital of the State of Israel, and the news that Israel intends to build 1350 or so more apartments there. This "news" has been "blown up" out of all proportion by Pres. Obama and his Administration.
First consider this: 1) The freeze on building that was imposed for 10 months by PM Netanyahu did not include Jerusalem, since it is not part of the West Bank and has not been since 1967 when Jerusalem was unified; 2) The current building permission that has been granted was by a local planning authority, not an Israel Govt. authority; 3) This permission was routine and only means that the planned apartments will go forward for further planning permission; 4) The actual building, if the plans are approved after several more steps, would not be for 3-5 years. So, knowing all this, why are Pres. Obama and Secty of State Clinton making this an issue now at the highest level in relation to the direct talks with the Palestinians, that are supposed to be preceding without preconditions?! (and at the same time awarding them an extra m$150). The answer can only be that this is an issue that Pres. Obama has found which he can use to hit Israel/Netanyahu over the head with, and which allows the Palestinians to be let off the hook every time. If anyone thinks this is a real issue, remember that negotiations took place between Yasir Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas on the Palestinian side and several Israeli PMs (Rabin, Barak, Sharon, Olmert) for 18 years without there being any building moratorium!
So why the big change now? The only reason must be prior agreement between the Palestinians and the US, between Abbas and Obama. And why would the Palestinians at this point want to create a stalemate, because they want to carry out a unilateral declaration of Statehood, which is already in the works. PM Fayyad of the PA was already talking about this 2 years ago, and Abbas is clearly in support. And why would they want a unilateral declaration of Statehood? Because for them it means their State of Palestine would not be dependent on any agreement with Israel. Abbas could then portray himself as a great patriot, untainted by Israel, and he would not have to sign an "end of conflict" agreement, which would make him a traitor in the eyes of most Palestinians, including Hamas, and could conceivably save him from assassination. Also, it gives a potential way out for a rapprochment between Fatah and Hamas, since the State to be unilaterally declared by the UN includes the West Bank (all of it) and Gaza. I will take bets that THIS plan has all been worked out in advance with Obama, and he will drop the US veto on any plan for unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State that comes before the Security Council. What else has he been discussing with all the Muslim leaders he has visited (most recently Indonesia) while never visiting Israel as President.
Of course, with all VP Biden's repetitions of how the US supports Israel at his recent speech at the GA of American Jewish organizations, this would be the final betrayal. If Israel can get through the next two years of Obama's anti-Israel conniving intact, apart from the Iranian threat, then we will be very lucky.
First consider this: 1) The freeze on building that was imposed for 10 months by PM Netanyahu did not include Jerusalem, since it is not part of the West Bank and has not been since 1967 when Jerusalem was unified; 2) The current building permission that has been granted was by a local planning authority, not an Israel Govt. authority; 3) This permission was routine and only means that the planned apartments will go forward for further planning permission; 4) The actual building, if the plans are approved after several more steps, would not be for 3-5 years. So, knowing all this, why are Pres. Obama and Secty of State Clinton making this an issue now at the highest level in relation to the direct talks with the Palestinians, that are supposed to be preceding without preconditions?! (and at the same time awarding them an extra m$150). The answer can only be that this is an issue that Pres. Obama has found which he can use to hit Israel/Netanyahu over the head with, and which allows the Palestinians to be let off the hook every time. If anyone thinks this is a real issue, remember that negotiations took place between Yasir Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas on the Palestinian side and several Israeli PMs (Rabin, Barak, Sharon, Olmert) for 18 years without there being any building moratorium!
So why the big change now? The only reason must be prior agreement between the Palestinians and the US, between Abbas and Obama. And why would the Palestinians at this point want to create a stalemate, because they want to carry out a unilateral declaration of Statehood, which is already in the works. PM Fayyad of the PA was already talking about this 2 years ago, and Abbas is clearly in support. And why would they want a unilateral declaration of Statehood? Because for them it means their State of Palestine would not be dependent on any agreement with Israel. Abbas could then portray himself as a great patriot, untainted by Israel, and he would not have to sign an "end of conflict" agreement, which would make him a traitor in the eyes of most Palestinians, including Hamas, and could conceivably save him from assassination. Also, it gives a potential way out for a rapprochment between Fatah and Hamas, since the State to be unilaterally declared by the UN includes the West Bank (all of it) and Gaza. I will take bets that THIS plan has all been worked out in advance with Obama, and he will drop the US veto on any plan for unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State that comes before the Security Council. What else has he been discussing with all the Muslim leaders he has visited (most recently Indonesia) while never visiting Israel as President.
Of course, with all VP Biden's repetitions of how the US supports Israel at his recent speech at the GA of American Jewish organizations, this would be the final betrayal. If Israel can get through the next two years of Obama's anti-Israel conniving intact, apart from the Iranian threat, then we will be very lucky.
posted by Jack Cohen at 9:22 PM
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