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Quarterly Update on Conflict and Diplomacy: 16 August–15 November 2008 Author(S): Michele K

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Quarterly Update on Conflict and Diplomacy: 16 August–15 November 2008 Author(S): Michele K Quarterly Update on Conflict and Diplomacy: 16 August–15 November 2008 Author(s): Michele K. Esposito Source: Journal of Palestine Studies, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Winter 2009), pp. 128-159 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Institute for Palestine Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jps.2009.38.2.128 . Accessed: 25/03/2015 16:04 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. University of California Press and Institute for Palestine Studies are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Palestine Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Wed, 25 Mar 2015 16:04:03 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions QUARTERLY UPDATE ON CONFLICT AND DIPLOMACY 16 AUGUST–15 NOVEMBER 2008 COMPILED BY MICHELE K. ESPOSITO The Quarterly Update is a summary of bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international events affecting the Palestinians and the future of the peace process. More than 100 print, wire, television, and online sources providing U.S., Israeli, Arab, and international independent and government coverage of unfolding events are surveyed to compile the Quarterly Update. The most relevant sources are cited in JPS’s Chronology section, which tracks events day by day. THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT On the ground, Hamas, which had ousted Fatah forces from the Gaza Strip and assumed This quarter marked the lowest level of control of government functions there in Israeli-Palestinian violence since the start of 6/07 (see Quarterly Update in JPS 145) was the al-Aqsa intifada in 9/00, in large part be- just wrapping up a major crackdown on re- cause of the 6-month Israel-Hamas cease-fire maining Fatah elements there as the quarter in Gaza that began on 6/19/08 (see Quar- opened. Hamas had initiated the crackdown terly Update in JPS 149), which was largely following a series of anonymous bombings observed almost to the end of the quarter. of Hamas targets in 7/08 for which it blamed Israel, however, maintained its tight siege of Fatah (see Quarterly Update in JPS 149). the Strip, imposed in 1/08, worsening the Meanwhile, Palestinian suffering in Gaza already dire humanitarian and economic sit- was extreme. Though Israel had suspended uation for Gazan civilians. Meanwhile, with regular ground incursions and cross-border the Israeli and U.S. governments both in fire into Gaza, and Palestinian rocket and transition—U.S. presidential elections were mortar fire from Gaza into Israel had ceased set for 11/4 and Israeli elections set for almost completely, Israel continued its ban 2/10/09 after the collapse of the Kadima on all exports, allowed only select VIPs and party’s attempt to form a coalition govern- medical cases to leave, and permitted only ment in the wake of PM Ehud Olmert’s minimal humanitarian imports at levels in- 7/30/08 decision to resign—hopes for any sufficient to meet Gazans’ basic daily food, sort of a signed and agreed statement on the fuel, electricity, and healthcare needs. In peace process in the near term faded. the West Bank, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) As the quarter opened, Olmert, Pales- arrest raids and house searches occurred tinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmud Abbas, nightly, and violence against Palestinians by and their negotiating teams (led by Israeli Jewish settlers was high. As of 8/15, at least FM Tzipi Livni and the PA’s Ahmad Qurai‘, 5,994 Palestinians (including 49 Israeli Arabs respectively) continued to meet regularly and 19 unidentified Arab cross-border in- behind closed doors, as pledged at the filtrators), 1,070 Israelis (including 334 IDF 11/07 Annapolis summit, to discuss core soldiers and security personnel, 212 settlers, issues (e.g., Jerusalem, borders, refugees, 524 civilians), and 61 foreign nationals (in- settlements), but little if any progress had cluding 2 British suicide bombers) had been been made. There was no expectation that killed since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada a comprehensive peace agreement would on 9/28/00. be signed by the end of U.S. Pres. George W. Bush’s term in 1/09, as envisioned at The U.S. Fails to Secure a Joint State- the Annapolis summit, but the U.S. held ment on Negotiations out hope that some sort of signed state- As the quarter opened, U.S. Secy. of ment setting the baselines of further negoti- State Condoleezza Rice was spearheading ations could be achieved before the end of a U.S. effort to mediate Israeli-Palestinian 2008. agreement on a signed statement outlining Journal of Palestine Studies Vol. XXXVIII, No. 2 (Winter 2009), pp. 128–159, ISSN 0377-919X, electronic ISSN 1533-8614. C 2009 by the Institute for Palestine Studies. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, at http://www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintInfo.asp. DOI: jps.2009.XXXVIII.2.128. This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Wed, 25 Mar 2015 16:04:03 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions QUARTERLY UPDATE ON CONFLICT AND DIPLOMACY 129 the understandings that had been reached the Palestinians call the right of return is to date in the closed-door talks between not an option. Without this understanding the Livni-Qurai‘ negotiating teams. Even as there is no agreement.” She also stated that Israeli-Palestinian talks continued, the pro- no peace deal could be implemented as long posed document was intended to serve as as Hamas remained in control of Gaza. PA an agreement on the baselines of future ne- negotiations adviser Saeb Erakat publicly gotiations so as to ensure their continuity urged (8/21) Livni “to confine the negotia- once the new Israeli and U.S. administra- tions to the negotiating room.” In indirect tions were in place. Israeli and Palestinian response to Livni, Rice stated (8/25) while teams had held a preliminary meeting under en route to the region that the U.S. viewed it Rice’s auspices in Washington on 7/30/08 as “extremely important to just keep making to discuss a draft (no details were released; forward progress rather than prematurely to see Quarterly Update in JPS 149) and further come to some set of conclusions.”(In fact, no talks were planned for 9/08 in New York on substantive achievements had been reported the sidelines of the UN General Assembly by the parties since Annapolis, and “forward (UNGA) opening session. progress” seemed to connote continuing the In the interim between the U.S. meet- process of holding regular meetings.) ings, Rice planned to visit the region in Hours before Rice arrived in Israel on late 8/08 to press the parties forward, and 8/25, Israel released 198 Palestinian prison- the Israeli cabinet endorsed (8/17) an 8/6 ers, including 3 women (one of whom gave proposal by Israeli PM Olmert to release birth while in prison) and 2 long-held men 200 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to issued life sentences for killing Israelis: Said Abbas to improve the climate of negotiations. al-Atba (a Democratic Front for the Libera- (Israel emphasized on 8/6 and 8/17 that this tion of Palestine [DFLP] member convicted proposed prisoner release was not linked to in 1977) and Muhammad Abu Ali (convicted ongoing talks with Hamas via Egypt, as part in 1980 and elected to the Palestinian Coun- of the Gaza cease-fire deal, regarding a staged cil on Fatah’s slate while jailed). Nearly half Palestinian prisoner release in exchange for of those freed were scheduled to be re- the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad leased within a year, and none was linked Shalit, held by Hamas; see Quarterly Up- to Hamas. The release brought to nearly date in JPS 149 for background.) Israel also 1,000 the number of Fatah members freed took minor steps as pledged under its un- since Hamas took control of Gaza in 6/07. written cease-fire agreement with Hamas to Though Israel called (8/25) the action a bid ease the siege of the Gaza Strip. On 8/18, it “to strengthen the moderate and pragmatic opened the Kerem Shalom crossing for the Palestinian leadership,” the fact of stagger- first time since 4/08, allowing 15 trucks car- ing the releases in small batches of no more rying humanitarian aid to enter the Strip and than 200 over more than a year, often timed pledging to allow approximately 80 more with Israeli aggression, diluted their positive trucks over the next few days as a “trial run” impact on Palestinians: unlike in previous before reopening the crossing for regular years, there were no massive rallies celebrat- service. In fact, regular though limited ser- ing the prisoner release. vice of some 70–85 trucks/day, 5 days/week, Also timed with Rice’s visit, the Israeli via the Kerem Shalom crossing was restored group Peace Now issued (8/26) a report through 9/13. At the same time, however, showing that Israel had begun construction Israel quietly closed Gaza’s Sufa crossing, of at least 443 new structures in West Bank seeming to keep only one of the crossings settlements in 2008, up from 240 starts dur- at a time open to humanitarian imports dur- ing the same period in 2007.
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