Israel and the Middle East News Update

Tuesday, May 12

Headlines: ● to Serve as U.S., UN Envoy ● Comptroller Rejects Ohana Request to Probe A-G Mandelblit ● , Trade Barbs as Bibi Prepares to Swear in Gov ● PM Seeks Okay for 36 Ministers, in Bid to Bring in Yamina ● France Pushes for Tough EU Response to Any Annexation ● Bennett's Opening Salvo Against Palestinian Statehood ● Head of Chief Rabbinate Kashrut to be Indicted for Bribery ● Israeli Soldier Killed During West Bank Arrest Operation

Commentary: ● Hayom: “It Would be Absurd to Leave Yamina Out” − By Matti Tuchfeld

● Ha’aretz: “What Pompeo’s Mid-Pandemic Trip to Israel is Really About” − By Daniel Shapiro, former US Ambassador to Israel (2011-2017)

S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts May 12, 2020 Ynet News Gilad Erdan to Serve as U.S., UN Envoy Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan will be heading to the after accepting Prime Minister 's offer to serve as Israel's next ambassador to the United Nations, replacing . But in an unconventional move, the Prime Minister's Office also announced that Erdan will be taking over as the country's next Ambassador to the U.S. from , who has served in Washington since July 2013. It remains unclear how will Erdan juggle between the responsibilities of both offices, but a spokesman for his office said that he was confident he can manage each role effectively and will travel between Washington D.C. and New York. Erdan has been reluctant to assume a diplomatic role in the past, rejecting multiple offers in recent years, but was finally persuaded after meeting with Netanyahu in over the weekend. See also ‘‘Erdan to US and UN Helps Solve Likud Appointment Logjam’’ (Jerusalem Post).

Jerusalem Post Comptroller Rejects Ohana Request to Probe A-G Mandelblit State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman rejected a request by outgoing acting justice minister to probe Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit for unspecified issues relating to the Harpaz Affair, which Mandelblit was cleared before entering office. Having lost a battle with Mandelblit before the High Court of Justice to extend the term of temporary state attorney Dan Eldad, Ohana had hoped the comptroller would create problems for the attorney-general. Ohana has also said he may call for a state commission of inquiry into how Mandelblit handled the Eldad matter, into the 10-year-old Harpaz Affair and into other unspecified general issues he has with the prosecution.

Israel Hayom Likud, Yamina Trade Barbs as Bibi Prepares to Swear in Gov A day after announcing that he would not join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fifth government, Yamina leader intensified his attacks on the incumbent prime minister. "Netanyahu has fragmented the right-wing bloc," Bennett said, reiterating his attack on the prime minister's refusal to give Yamina prominent portfolios in the government, which is set to be sworn in on Thursday. A Likud official dismissed the accusations and told Israel Hayom: "It is sad that because of Yamina's infighting over portfolios, they are willing to join the Left in the opposition. Netanyahu is now pursuing a historic move to apply sovereignty on Judea and Samaria and rather than take part in this, Bennett is capitulating to an internal political battle." See also ‘‘Government Swearing-in Pushed off to Thursday Against Backdrop of Pompeo visit’’ (Times of Israel).

2 Times of Israel PM Seeks Okay for 36 Ministers, in Bid to Bring in Yamina Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to expand the blueprint for the new government and swear in 36 ministers on Thursday instead of the agreed-upon 32, Channel 12 reported, in a bid to coax the Yamina party, which has said it will remain outside the coalition, to join. Likud and Blue and White had agreed to start the government with 30 ministers plus Netanyahu and for the initial six-month emergency period in which it will focus on combating the coronavirus. Afterwards it could be expanded up to 36 in all. But the report said Netanyahu was now seeking to immediately go to 36. The report said that Netanyahu asked Gantz to agree to this a few days ago. The move would help the prime minister deal with pressure for ministerial positions within Likud as well as possibly paving the way for Yamina to join. The report said that Gantz was expected to agree to the request. But a source in Blue and White told the Ynet news site that “the issue wasn’t brought up for discussion at all.” See also ‘‘Likud: Bennett Betrayed Religious Zionism’’ (Jerusalem Post).

Reuters France Pushes for Tough EU Response to Any Annexation France is urging its European Union partners to consider threatening Israel with a tough response if it goes ahead with a de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, three EU diplomats said. Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg also want to discuss the possibility of punitive economic measures during a foreign ministers’ meeting on Friday, the diplomats told Reuters, though all member states would have to agree to any collective action. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said cabinet discussions will start in July overextending Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, as was mooted under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan. have expressed outrage at Israel’s plans to cement its hold further on land it seized in the 1967 Middle East war, territory they are seeking for a state.

Jerusalem Post Bennett's Opening Salvo Against Palestinian Statehood Outgoing-Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has launched the first salvo in the right-wing battle against Palestinian statehood under the Trump peace initiative, as he vowed stiff opposition and declared the end of the unified right-wing bloc. It will remain the first salvo whether Bennett become the “fighting opposition,” as he has phrased it, or enters the coalition at the last minute. As the clock’s ticks toward annexation under the Trump plan, opposition to the Palestinian statehood component of the initiative has been gaining steam. Support for Palestinian statehood “is a point of no return. One can’t recognize and then un-recognize Palestinian statehood. It’s like un-cooking scrambled eggs,” Bennett told reporters. He clarified specifically that this included the Palestinian component of the Trump plan, even if in doing so Israel would lose US support for sovereignty.

3 Jerusalem Post Head of Chief Rabbinate Kashrut to be Indicted for Bribery The head of the Chief Rabbinate’s Kashrut Division is to be indicted on charges of receiving bribes from food importers who demanded kosher certification and preferential treatment in return for their money. In December, KAN News reported that the police had obtained footage of Rabbi Yitzhak Cohen Arazi, the exclusive authority for granting kashrut approval to imported food, receiving envelopes filled with cash allegedly in return for kashrut approval without undergoing the requisite procedures for licensing. KAN reported that Cohen Arazi is set to be indicted for having taken bribes for many years. According to the original report, in one video of the rabbi, one of the importers is seen giving Cohen Arazi an envelope of cash and the rabbi is seen counting the bills.

Ha’aretz Israeli Soldier Killed During West Bank Arrest Operation A soldier was killed early Tuesday morning by a stone dropped on his head during an operation to arrest suspects in the West Bank, an Israeli military statement said. The IDF named the soldier as 21-year-old Staff Sgt. Amit Ben Ygal, a resident of Ramat Gan. At around 4 A.M., a unit from the Golani Brigade arrived at the town of Ya'bad, near Jenin, to arrest four Palestinians – two suspected of involvement in a terrorist organization, and two suspected of throwing stones. About half an hour later, a large stone was hurled from the roof of a house in the village, hitting Ben Yigal on the head. The IDF says he was wearing a helmet. He was evacuated via helicopter to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Troops are now searching for the perpetrator. The IDF is investigating the incident. In a similar incident in 2018, Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky was fatally injured when a heavy stone slab was thrown from the third floor of a building during arrests at the al-Am’ari refugee camp, near Ramallah. A Palestinian, Islam Mohammed Yousef Naji, was sentenced to life in prison after confessing. According to the security service, he had decided to take revenge after his brother was arrested earlier in 2018.

4 Israel Hayom– May 12, 2020 It Would be Absurd to Leave Yamina Out By Matti Tuchfeld ● It’s happening. After a year and a half of instability and endless skepticism about the efforts to form a coalition, Israeli citizens will wake up this morning and while they might not know whether the kindergartens are going to be open, they can rest assured that they will have a government in another two days. Despite the short amount of time left, not a single meeting or conversation was held yesterday between the Likud and Yamina. If no way is found to cooperate with this right-wing party, that will be the greatest absurdity of the 2020 Israeli government. The right-wing parties walked in lockstep for a year and a half, Contrary to all the assessments and in spite of every attempt, all of them, from Netanyahu to Litzman, has the wisdom to stick together through thick and thin, even when that meant dragging the country into three elections. This bloc is what ultimately defeated Benny Gantz, who realized that he neither can nor will he be able to form a government and caused him to break his central election campaign promise not to serve in a Netanyahu government. That is why nothing could be more absurd than dismantling the bloc now. ● Even if Netanyahu is committed to the principle of parity with Gantz’s bloc, there is no reason not to meet some of Yamina’s demands. After Yamina made agreed to give up the justice portfolio and the continued implementation its important reforms to the justice system, Netanyahu at least could have appointed a Yamina representative to the Judges Selection Committee. Doing so would be just as much in the Likud’s interests as in Yamina’s. In exchange for important appointments, Yamina should drop its demand to have two senior ministers and ought to suffice with the Education portfolio and another junior portfolio. It is hard to believe that Netanyahu is deliberately giving up on having Yamina in the government, unless —and assessments of this kind have been shared—he has decided that he will retire from politics after this term, and then, what could be better than sweet revenge against his old rivals Bennett and Shaked. Yamina is not alone; members of the Likud are also biting their nails ahead of the distribution of portfolios today. ● Now is the time that everyone is going to muster the best of their abilities of persuasion to signal to the boss, be that by means of threats or flattery, why they should receive the portfolio/upgrade or non-downgrade that they believe they deserve. This has nothing to do with skills or suitability, only political needs. , who was an excellent public security minister, finds himself squabbling over a junior portfolio while , who made a career out of clashing with actors, will laugh all the way there or to the Transport Ministry. If Yamina is left out, a majority of the Likud ministers will be pleased, particularly given Gilad Erdan’s decision to leave for New York. The landmine has yet to be defused, and the identity of the next education and health ministers is unknown. Ohana most likely will be promoted once again over more senior Likud members and will be appointed public security minister to the thundering silence of his colleagues.

5 Ha’aretz– May 12, 2020 What Pompeo’s Mid-pandemic Trip to Israel is Really About By Daniel Shapiro ● His own State Department remains on lockdown, with most employees working from their homes. The entire world is subject to a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning. White House officials who have attended West Wing meetings with him have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Yet with all that, U.S. Secretary of State will touch down in Israel for a brief visit on Wednesday, where he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Speaker of Benny Gantz just before they swear in the new Israeli government. Many are asking: Why? In principle, visits of senior U.S. officials to Israel are always in order. The two close allies have so many common interests and so much business to conduct that there is generally no requirement for a specific agenda. ● Yet amid the global spread of coronavirus, Pompeo has not traveled abroad since a visit to Afghanistan in March, and he is making no other stops on this trip. Israel is just beginning to emerge from its own lockdown, and still imposes a 14-day quarantine on travelers arriving from abroad — a requirement that will be waived for Pompeo and his small party. Presumably, they will follow Israeli protocols by donning masks and conducting their meetings with social distancing. So, what makes this visit essential right now? The State Department announcement of Pompeo’s travel lists two issues for the agenda: U.S. and Israeli efforts to combat COVID-19 and responding to ’s malign activities in the region. ● But a third issue lurks heavily in the background: the upcoming decision on Israeli unilateral annexation in the West Bank. On COVID-19, there is much Pompeo can learn from the Israeli experience. Israel’s relative success in flattening the curve of infection, limiting fatalities, and preventing the inundation of its health system stands in stark contrast to the chaotic, tragic mess that describes the U.S. government's effort. Israel’s 250 deaths represent approximately one-tenth the mortality rate of the United States, where deaths now exceed 80,000, with little sign of a slowdown. ● Israel is part of a network of smaller countries whose governments acted quickly, and whose populations followed instructions, and who are now poised to begin their gradual reopening and recovery. That experience — as well as Israeli advancements in medical technologies, such as low-cost ventilators, and vaccine research — could all be relevant to helping the United States stem the harm the virus inflicts. It will not be enough, of course, to repair the damage done to U.S. global leadership by President Trump’s bungling response at home and indifference to the rest of the world, factors that Pompeo’s hosts will doubtless be too polite to mention. ● The perennial issue of Iran’s threatening behavior, in both the nuclear domain and its regional aggression, is always an appropriate focus of high-level U.S.-Israeli consultations. The present moment, with Iran’s activity in Syria still necessitating Israeli airstrikes, is no exception. But Pompeo arrives at a critical juncture: as the Trump policy of destroying the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal, 6 reaches its climax. The United States is currently seeking a new U.N. Security Council Resolution to extend the arms embargo against Iran set to expire in October, under the terms of the JCPOA. Russia and China will likely veto this effort, notwithstanding the obvious merits of keeping advanced weaponry out of the hands of the aggressive regime in Tehran. When they do, the United States threatens it will invoke its status as a participant in the JCPOA — a disputed claim, given Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 — to demand a snapback of all previous U.N.-imposed nuclear sanctions against Iran. ● That will mean the final collapse of the JCPOA, which in any case has been on life support as Iran has responded to U.S. maximum pressure sanctions with gradual violations of the deal’s restraints on its nuclear program. On the one hand, this is a satisfying moment for Netanyahu, a virulent critic of the JCPOA. On the other hand, what strategy will follow its collapse, or how to deal with the fact that Iran is now six months from a nuclear breakout, rather than the year imposed by the JCPOA, remains entirely unclear. U.S. and Israeli officials might consult on the way forward bearing in mind that the U.S. approach could change after the presidential election in November. ● But neither of these issues requires a lightning visit by the Secretary of State on the eve of a new Israeli government. What does, perhaps, is the desire to coordinate positions on the subject of Israeli unilateral annexation in the West Bank. Disingenuously, Pompeo asserted last month that the United States left it entirely up to Israel to decide whether to proceed with annexation. The coalition agreement, specifying the need for agreement with the United States, says otherwise. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has made abundantly clear that it is pushing for annexation to happen as soon as possible after July 1, the date specified in the coalition agreement. Pompeo, unlike most Secretaries of State, has not eschewed domestic politics in the service of his boss. He has frequented an array of highly partisan radio talk shows and other news outlets in recent weeks, generally harping on the theme of China’s misdeeds at the origins of the coronavirus. ● Such comments may have merit, but in such venues, they are being deployed as a strategy to energize Trump’s political base and to generate outrage and enthusiasm that will motivate them to come to the polls in record numbers in November. For Trump, Israel’s unilateral annexation of 30 percent of the West Bank, which he green lighted after releasing his Israeli-Palestinian 'Plan of the Century' in January, serves a similar purpose. Annexation has no groundswell of support, and much mainstream opposition, among the U.S. public at large and in the American Jewish community. But for Trump’s evangelical and right-wing Jewish base, Israeli annexation and the last rites it will administer to the dying two-state solution is wildly popular. As international concern over unilateral annexation rises European governments and the UAE Foreign Minister have recently added their voices to the warnings issued by Palestinian and Jordanian officials — and former Vice President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats indicate their opposition, Pompeo and Netanyahu will seek a common strategy to advance Trump’s goal.

7 ● But if Gantz raises the many severe and unsettled mapping, security, budgetary, and regional implications of this annexation scheme, it may send Pompeo home with a different message: that the new Israeli government is divided on the wisdom of this course.

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