Israel and the Middle East News Update

Tuesday, October 17

Headlines:

• Labor Head: I Won’t Evacuate Settlements Under Peace Deal • Gabbay’s own Colleagues Reject his Evacuation Remarks • Moves Ahead on Settlements, but Guardedly • Bennett: Israel Should Continue Security Cooperation with the PA • Israel Scraps Plan for Database of American Jewish Students • Trump Says Deal Could be Terminated Altogether • Netanyahu Congratulates Kurz, Silent on Partnership with Far Right

Commentary: • Yediot Ahronot: “With Netanyahu, it’s All About Political Survival” − By Sima Kadmon, political columnist at Yediot Ahronot • Post: “Will a Jewish Head of UNESCO Change its Anti-Israel Bias?” − By Tovah Lazaroff, Deputy Managing Editor of

S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President ● Aaron Zucker, Editor

News Excerpts October 17, 2017 Times of Israel Labor Head: I Won’t Evacuate Settlements Under Peace Labor party head Avi Gabbay said he would not evacuate West Bank settlements as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians, in remarks that represent a dramatic break from the historical stance of the dovish party. “I won’t evacuate settlements in the framework of a peace deal,” said Gabbay, in a preview broadcast Monday of an interview with Channel 2 set to air in full Tuesday. “If you are making peace, why do you need to evacuate?” Elaborating on his comments, Gabbay said the notion any peace deal would by necessity require the evacuation of settlements is mistaken. “I think the dynamic and terminology that have become commonplace here, that ‘if you make peace — evacuate,’ is not in fact correct,” he said. See also, “Labor chairman rebuked over settlement support” ( News)

i24 News Gabbay’s own Colleagues Reject his Evacuation Remarks The response to the Labor leader, who is chair of the largest faction in the opposition bloc, was swift. "We will have to part with the Palestinians, we will have to evacuate the settlements with pain and sorrow," tweeted Zionist Union lawmaker, Nachman Shai. Labor MK Omer Bar-Lev tweeted: "When negotiations for a peace agreement are not on the horizon, it is not right to add preconditions. Stop building outside the [settlement] blocs stop and pass a law to compensate those who voluntarily evacuate." Not all members of the Labor Party were quick to condemn Gabbay's words. "The test of Avi Gabbay is not what he says in an interview with one television channel or another," said Yehiel Bar, "But rather a clear line of policy that will lead to elections and bold negotiations after the elections." See also, “Israeli opposition divided after Gabbay says no reason for settlement evacuation” (TOI)

New York Times Israel Moves Ahead on WB Settlements, but Guardedly Israel is moving ahead with plans for a significant expansion of its settlements in the occupied West Bank, including apartments in the volatile city of Hebron and the first approval of a new settlement in 20 years. But while the latest plans call for the eventual construction of thousands of new homes on the West Bank, when Israeli officials meet this week to review them, only several hundred housing units appear likely to be granted final approval. Prime Minister Netanyahu is once again maneuvering on familiar ground, trying to balance the demands of his pro-settlement coalition partners with the opposition from the international community. In restricting the number of final approvals now, however, his government may also be taking into account some other Israeli priorities. Among them are the campaign against Iran and the joint interests he has been pushing with Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, with which Israel has no formal diplomatic relations. See also, “Israel approves building plans for 31 settler homes in West Bank's Hebron” (Reuters)

2 i24 News Bennett: Must Continue Security Cooperation with the PA Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett backtracked Monday, on a statement he made last week, when he called for Israel to sever ties with the Palestinian Authority. In an exclusive interview with i24NEWS, Bennett said that, in the wake of efforts between Fatah and Hamas to sign a reconciliation deal, Israel should not break security ties with the Palestinian Authority. “We don’t have to sever security ties, no one’s talking about that,” Bennett told i24NEWS. “I would just point out at the same time the PA needs us much more than we need them, if you give a week without Israel the PA would implode because Hamas would take over as it did in the Gaza Strip, so no the PA is not doing Israel a favor but it is taking care of its own interests.” See also, “Palestinian Authority official in Gaza to advance unity deal” (Gulf Times)

Ha’aretz Israel Scraps Plan For Database Of US Jewish Students Hillel International, the largest Jewish student organization in the world, threatened to end its partnership with the Israeli government if it didn’t immediately drop its plan to create a database of all Jewish students in the United States. This ultimatum forced the Diaspora Affairs Ministry to suspend the project late Sunday night, just hours after the database was first revealed by Haaretz. For the past year, Hillel International has been a key partner in a $66-million, Israeli government- sponsored initiative to strengthen the religious identity of Jewish students on U.S. college and university campuses. See also, “Hillel International Threatened to Cut Ties With Israeli Government Over Database of U.S. Jewish Students” (Forward)

Ynet News Trump Says Iran Deal Could be Terminated Altogether US President Donald Trump renewed on Monday his criticism of the 2015 nuclear accord in a press conference before a cabinet meeting, and raised the possibility he might try to end it completely. “We’ll see what phase two is. Phase two might be positive, and it might be very negative. It might be a total termination. That’s a very real possibility. Some would say that’s a great possibility,” the US president said in Washington, referring to his Friday speech as phase one. He then repeated his contention that the JCPOA was “a horrible deal for the United States.” See also, “EU urges US Congress to preserve Iran nuclear deal Trump threatened” (Guardian)

Times of Israel PM congratulates Kurz, Silent on Partnership with Far Right Prime Minister on Monday called to congratulate Sebastian Kurz on his victory in Austria’s elections, according to a statement from his office that made no mention of the success of the far-right Freedom Party. In the call, Netanyahu said, “Austria has done much in recent years to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and in its fight against anti-Semitism.” He also raised the issue of “Iranian aggression,” according to the statement. Netanyahu also invited Kurz to visit Israel. He was last in the Jewish state in May 2016 as foreign minister. See also, “A NEW EUROPEAN FOE: ISRAEL CHALLENGED BY SUCCESS OF FAR-RIGHT AUSTRIAN PARTY” (Jerusalem Post)

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Yediot Ahronot – October 16, 2017 With Netanyahu, it’s All About Political Survival The prime minister’s attack on the police chief and initiatives to shut down IPBC and advance the law granting a sitting premier immunity from investigations are all aimed at serving Netanyahu’s needs in some way. Instead of resting on the laurels of a successful diplomatic weekend, he is busy lashing out at the police and the media and settling personal scores. By Sima Kadmon, political columnist at Yediot Ahronot • The events of the past few days strengthen the widespread notion that the more we approach the prime minister’s investigations, Benjamin Netanyahu will start loosening the brakes of the semitrailer he is driving on a mine-filled road. Several weeks ago, I wrote in this column that if we want to know if Netanyahu is headed to elections or will maintain his government, we should look at the way the “French law” is being handled. The bill, which grants a sitting prime minister immunity from prosecution, will be voted on at the start of the ’s winter session. • And here it is, the bill aimed at stopping the prime minister’s investigations. If the law is adopted, it will only be applied from the next term, but is there anything that can stop Netanyahu from calling early elections, even before an indictment is filed, establishing a new government and stopping the investigations against him? Does that sound groundless? Impossible? We’re talking about Netanyahu, ladies and gentlemen. When it comes to him, nothing is groundless. • How is Netanyahu’s attack on Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, for allowing the alleged leaks from police investigations, connected to the new initiatives that were raised Sunday to shut down the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC)and to advance the law preventing investigations against a sitting prime minister? There’s absolutely no connection. • But when it comes to Netanyahu, there’s always a connection, even if it appears completely groundless at first. And it’s always aimed at serving the prime minister’s needs in some way: Diverting the public’s attention to a different direction, which is more convenient than the current issue on the agenda; creating some kind of media spin, for the family’s survival purposes; inserting a knife, a pitchfork or any other sharp object into the heart of the “conspiracy” Netanyahu sees in his imagination, in which the police, the State Attorney’s Office, the attorney general, the media have all teamed up to oust him. And all this is happening when there is nothing, there was nothing and there will be nothing. • On Saturday evening, after a Channel 2 report on his upcoming interrogations, Netanyahu rushed to attack the police chief over the leaks and didn’t forget to add the regular mantra about a media campaign against him. • It’s unclear what prompted Netanyahu to respond in such a manner to something that has been known for a long time now—that he would be summoned for questioning after the High Holy Days. Instead of resting on the laurels of the weekend, leveraging what he sees as a successful speech by US President Donald Trump on the Iranian nuclear agreement and the American decision to withdraw from UNESCO, Netanyahu chose to lash out at the police.

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• How did his scolding of the police commissioner—not to mention Lior Horev, an external advisor to the police—do him any good? Why does a prime minister who is busy dealing with the nuclear threat, with the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, have to engage in settling account with media advisors? Excuse me, but isn’t this issue a little out of his league? It’s quite possible that in the next support rally organized by Coalition Chairman David Bitan, alongside the attacks on his former employee Meni Naftali, the prime minister’s speech will also include smears against Horev. How many people were even aware of Horev’s existence until Saturday night? What a huge upgrade for Horev, what an embarrassing downgrade for Netanyahu. • One thing’s for sure: If Netanyahu’ had a media advisor like the late Shaya Segal by his side, none of this would have happened. A serious advisor wouldn’t let the prime minister turn his personal scores with people with no public standing into such a big issue. Who do you think they are, Segal would roar. • But that’s what happens when your media advisors are your wife and son. It’s possible that even Netanyahu realized the mistake he made in his reckless response, which didn’t do him any good. And when it comes to Netanyahu, there’s always the option of sending a new spin into the air, a comment which will stir a row, an initiative which will be left on the cutting room floor. And with the help of Minister Aryeh Deri, who used to be the government’s responsible adult until recently and is now serving as Netanyahu's tow truck, he raised the issue of shutting down the IPBC, which immediately made it the top of the media’s agenda, pushing down the investigation leaks issue. • The IPBC people really shouldn’t panic. First of all, because that’s what Netanyahu wants: Panic. This is another attempt to threaten, deter, show who’s boss. It won’t happen, and not because of Minister ’s objection. Netanyahu will simply have more urgent things to deal with in the coming weeks, including his own investigations and the recommendation to indict his wife. Furthermore, he has no motivation to clash with his finance minister, although Kahlon himself is much more prepared today to reach compromises with the prime minister. My bet is that this is just another impulsive comment sparking a media debate, which will die out within several days. Until the next spin comes along.

SUMMARY: How is Netanyahu’s attack on Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, for allowing the alleged leaks from police investigations, connected to the new initiatives that were raised Sunday to shut down the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC)and to

advance the law preventing investigations against a sitting prime minister? There’s absolutely no connection. But when it comes to Netanyahu, there’s always a connection, even if it appears completely groundless at first.

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Jerusalem Post – October 16, 2017 Will a Jewish Head of UNESCO Change its Anti-Israel Bias? By Tovah Lazaroff, Deputy Managing Editor of The Jerusalem Post • A Jewish UNESCO director- general might seem like some kind of cosmic payback to an organization famous for almost five decades of anti-Israeli bias. The idea that former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay could best Arab candidates – precisely when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was under pressure to elect a Middle Eastern or African director-general – seemed like a pipe dream just six months ago. • Friday’s secret ballot for Azoulay by UNESCO’s Executive Board came just two days after an equally unusual occurrence – a board decision to delay by half-a-year approval of two anti- Israel resolutions. Those who believe Azoulay can end the politicization of UNESCO should wait before popping champagne corks and throwing confetti. The dawn of a new era in the organization dedicated to preserving the world’s culture has likely not arrived. • Outgoing director-general Irina Bokova had good ties with Israeli officials and Jewish groups. Initially, the relationship appeared problematic because the 2011 UNESCO vote to recognize Palestine as a member state occurred on her watch. The situation improved as Bokova opposed some of the more contentious resolutions. • This included those in 2016 that disavowed Jewish ties to the religion’s most sacred site, the Temple Mount. “The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city. To deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list,” Bokova wrote after the resolution passed in 2016. • More significantly, together with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Bokova held an exhibit at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in 2014 about Jewish history in Israel from biblical times to the present called “People, Book, Land: The 3,500-Year Relationship of the Jewish People with the Holy Land.” • Bokova’s desire for a fairer approach to Israel at UNESCO in Paris was hampered by the same issue that plagues the UN in Geneva and New York when it comes to the Jewish state; most UN decisions are not made by administrators, but rather by a majority of member states, many of which hold anti-Israel stances. • Azoulay ran as a French, not a Jewish, candidate. Immediately after the results were announced, she promised to work to restore UNESCO’s credibility, but did not mention Israel in her speech. • Many believe that Azoulay is quite capable of leading the organization, but worry she will be plagued by some insurmountable problems. According to diplomats, Azoulay’s 6

socialist left-wing background has made Israel nervous that she will not automatically be supportive of the Jewish state. If Azoulay is to succeed, it is likely that timing, rather than religion, might be her best asset. • On the presumption that Azoulay’s election will be confirmed in November by UNESCO’s 195 member states, she will take the helm just after the US announced it will leave the organization by the end of December 2018 because of anti-Israel bias. Israel immediately announced that it would follow the US’s lead and also withdraw. It is assumed that if Azoulay can hold true to her promise for reform, the US will change its mind and remain in the organization. “In this time of crisis, I think we need more than ever [to] work within UNESCO [to] support, strengthen and reform it and not leave,” Azoulay said on Friday. • The threat to leave UNESCO is probably the single strongest weapon Azoulay will have in arguing for reform. It could be the factor that allows her to chart a more balanced and less politically motivated course for the organization. This could have a positive impact for Israel in the culture war that has been waged between it and the Arab states at UNESCO. The US provided 22% of the organization’s funding until 2011, when it stopped payments to protest the inclusion of Palestine as a member. • As a result, the US now owes UNESCO almost $600,000 in needed funding. Ultimately, if change is to occur in UNESCO, it is more likely to be the result of member states desiring the organization’s financial viability than from the actions of its leader.

SUMMARY: The threat to leave UNESCO is probably the single strongest weapon Azoulay will have in arguing for reform. It could be the factor that allows her to chart a more balanced and less politically motivated course for the organization. This could have a positive impact for Israel in the culture war that has been waged between it and the Arab states at UNESCO. The US provided 22% of the organization’s funding until 2011, when it stopped payments to protest the inclusion of Palestine as a member. As a result, the US now owes UNESCO almost $600,000 in needed funding. Ultimately, if change is to occur in UNESCO, it is more likely to be the result of member states desiring the organization’s financial viability than from the actions of its leader.

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