Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories
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REPORT ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peac e Volum e 21 N umber 1 January-February 2011 EGYPT AT CENTER STAGE By Geoffrey Aronson we, as Jews, have been within the broad The Americans do not have borders of the Land of Israel not tens or The historic popular revolt in Egypt a plan at present. They do not hundreds of years, but thousands of threatens more than the sclerotic regime have an outline. They do not years. When the Palestinians talk about of President Hosni Mubarak. A “new historic rights, they should remember Middle East”—from Tunis to Baghdad, have a vision. “We don’t know that they have been there a shorter time. and from Beirut to Cairo—is emerging, what we want, because we The rights of the Jews to Hebron, Beit with Washington on the sidelines. In don’t know what Netanyahu El, Rachel’s Tomb and Shilo are greater Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin wants,” an administration and much more significant. Therefore Netanyahu has confounded President source said. “If we knew, we these places should remain in our hands Barack Obama’s unprecedented, if ill- would prepare. We would in any arrangement.” executed effort to curb settlement Despite declarations to the contrary, expansion. Washington’s energy for con - draw up an initiative. But the U.S. effort to revitalize talks in the fronting Israel on settlements, after Netanyahu is not willing to wake of the failure of the settlement what Netanyahu described as eighteen tell us what he really wants.” freeze effort lacks both content and months of “completely useless discus - Nahum Barnea, Yediot commitment. Instability in Egypt virtu - sions,” evaporated. All eyes are fixed on Aharonot , December 17, 2010 ally assures an extended “time out” in Cairo. U.S. efforts. Even before the uprising in In the West Bank, a milestone of a Egypt, Nabil Shaath, a top advisor to different sort has been reached. The of increase. Another 200,000 Israelis Palestinian Authority president Mah- deployment of Israeli troops in the West live across the Green Line in East moud Abbas, said that the peace process Bank is at its lowest point since the days Jerusalem. Israel’s bi-annual budget for with Israel was in a “coma.” He describ- before the outbreak of the first intifada 2011–2012 includes more than half a ed Washington’s proposals as “pointless.” in December 1987. Not even during the billion dollars in identifiable items for On this last point at least, Palestin- heady days of the Olso era in the 1990s settlements, settler subsidies, and associ - ians and Israelis agree. Weeks before the have Israelis considered their position ated infrastructure. According to eruption of the historic events in Tunis- on the West Bank to be as secure as Ha’aretz , however, “most of the settle - ia and Egypt, Yediot Aharonot reported today. Even the absence of a diplomatic ment budget is hidden in unspecified that Netanyahu’s office let it be known process is viewed as positive by the budget allocations.” The budget includes “that negotiations with the Palestinians Israeli security establishment. According funds for newer settlements, the so would not be given top priority by the to a November 28, 2010 report in called “outposts,” which Israel has com - American mediators. The prevalent Ha’aretz , “the Central Command esti - mitted to dismantle. assessment among [Israeli] decision- mates attempts of this sort [i.e. Hamas- Israel worries about Egypt, but it is makers is that the Obama administra - led attacks on settlers] will increase if complacent about relations with the tion will continue to chatter about its talks are renewed.” Notwithstanding the Palestinians. In his biannual appearance intentions of moving the process for - 10 month construction moratorium, the before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and ward but will not push the Netanyahu West Bank settler population increased Defense Committee earlier this year, government into a corner and will not during 2010 by 4.5 percent or 15,000— Netanyahu reiterated a maximalist view pose demands that could endanger the to 327,800, a rate more than one and a of Israel’s territorial aspirations, “It coalition.” N half times greater than the national rate should be remembered,” he said, “that TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE The mass popular uprisings in Tunisia Above all, a new American policy must and Egypt are stunning evidence that offer stronger leadership to resolve the Merle Thorpe, Jr. Middle Easterners are no exception to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the central cause Founder trend of modern history that flows toward of anti-American hostility and loss of U.S. (1917–1994) freedom, democracy, and human dignity. influence in the region. Our ability to This trend is non-linear and usually messy. shape broader changes is limited. But Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. It is much too early to predict whether resolving this core conflict is within our President the Egyptian revolt will bring real reform grasp because of our unique and supportive Geoffrey Aronson there, and whether protests elsewhere will ties with Israel. The U.S. has failed to use Director, Research and succeed. But change is coming, and the this relationship to persuade Israel to Publications, Editor, Report on leaders of the “security states” that have reverse its self-destructive and unjust poli - Israeli Settlement in the Occupied dominated the region must adapt or con - cies of settlement and occupation of the Territories front even greater public alienation and Palestinians, which are an affront to Nitzan Goldberger instability. Adapting to this change poses a American values and threaten violence and Waseem Mardini hard challenge to the U.S., which has been instability. A comprehensive U.S. plan for a Editorial Assistants allied with these regimes, for reasons of two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestin- security and counterterrorism, and in ian conflict should therefore be a center - Marc Mason Intern Egypt’s case, peace with Israel. Protection piece of a new U.S. Middle East policy that of American strategic interests will require would restore American influence, respond IN MEMORIAM closer and more credible identification with to Arab aspirations, and protect our strate - Peter A. Gubser the political aspirations of the Arab people, gic interests. (1941–2010) a willingness to engage with Islamists, and DIRECTORS more priority to diplomacy as the best means of resolving conflict. Landrum R. Bolling Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. —————— N —————— James J. Cromwell Stephen Hartwell Richard S.T. Marsh Richard W. Murphy Jean C. Newsom Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt Nicholas A. Veliotes The Foundation, a non-profit I.R.C. 501(c)(3) organization, supports peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians through mutual recognition and a negotiated division of historic Palestine. It publishes the bi-monthly Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories . Copyright © 2011 Sign up to receive the Report by e-mail, to be notified of events in Washington, D.C., and more. Visit us at www.fmep.org. 2 O Report on Israeli Settlement January-February 2011 AL-JAZEERA’S PALESTINE PAPERS In the wake of the September 2009 tripartite summit hosted by U.S. president Barack Obama, U.S. special envoy George Mitchell tried without success to win Israeli and Palestinian agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for a “relaunch” of direct negoti - ations. The document below, prepared by the Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit, is an excerpt of minutes of an October 21, 2009 discussion between Mitchell and Palestinian negotiator Sa’eb Erekat, recently released by Al-Jazeerra. GM: . This morning, however, we want to have a spe - cannot decide if they want two states. They want to keep set - cific discussion on the ToRs and side letters. We are making tling in the areas of my state. efforts to find language that is satisfactory to you. Then we GM: But they will settle more if you continue this way. will make an effort to get Israeli agreement. We under - SE: Then we announce the one state and the struggle for stand your preference for the 67 and swaps language. Because equality in the state of Israel. You either have a decision you told us you accept there will be adjustments—with the so for peace or a decision for settlements. You cannot have both. called blocs—that will be offset by benefits to you. We need Maybe as people keep saying that we never miss an opportu - as straightforward a formulation of that concept as possible: nity to miss an opportunity, but we were never given an An independent and viable state encompassing all of the terri - opportunity, not my grandparents or my parents, like I am not tory that was occupied in 1967 or its equivalent in value. being given an opportunity. … GM: You’ve expressed your frustration over the last 19 GM: . Now we need to think of the context in which years. But I tell you there has never been a president on this this language can occur. Only way is issue like this one. You are denying to set the US belief. I emphasize this How can I convince anyone if him the opportunity to create the is not a done deal. [President Obama] could not even state that you want. By saying one The issue of territory has figured deliver a temporary settlement freeze? state you are telling him to get out, prominently in our discussions. even though you negotiated with It’s not up to me to decide your credi - The US believes that through good every Israeli government before faith negotiations the parties can mutu - bility in the Middle East.