When President Obama occassions peace talks next week, you can bet that it probably won’t lead to peace. For starters, Hamas isn’t involved, and that means only half of Palestine is in on the deal. We’re not even talking about Gaza.
But when Bibi and Mahmoud Abbas meet to chat, chances are it will be civil, and there will be focus. As the Economist points out, that’s more than what W. was able to do, since he was more preoccupied with Iraq than Israel.
The Ground Zero Mosque fiasco is not helping Muslims in America, but it may help Jews. Israel recognizes that we’re still best buds, and that we won’t turn on them. That said, they’re hoping that we can support an anti-Iranian bomb coalition, and in return they can get along with their peaceful Palestinian neighbors.
Problems:
When Bush tried, Olmert was more willing than Bibi – who is likely going to side with the pressure from the orthodox right. He said that the building moratorium won’t end on Sept. 26, but that Hillary’s ideas for peace in a year are possible.
Hamas’ extremism is a continual threat, but maybe if peace were magically reached, Palestine and Israel could team up to isolate and eradicate Hamas (I hope that isn’t as laughable as I wish it weren’t).
History.
But who knows, maybe, just maybe there will be resolution, and the emergence of a new world order. And maybe Netanyahu will have a full head of hair.
Hamas is looking more poweful than ever, with Turkey proud to lead the Muslim community, and Netanyahu’s promise to ease the blockade. But they don’t even need, or want the blockade eased – there were plans to turn Gazan sewage into fertilizer to make the Strip into a little organic farm. Some of the tunnels to Egypt will shut down, but others will survive. Hamas is ready to continue making the little country self sufficient, even as it taxes its people.
As Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas hopes for a country and gets shut down, Hamas is whistling while they work. While much of the West is still wary, Turkey is looking to increase its clout, American investors of Palestinian origin are opening Gaza’s first mall, and Saudi sheiks are sending out management consultants to look for opportunities; land prices in Gaza city are shooting up.
Tony Blair, who organized the easing of the blockade on the part of the Quartet (the EU, UN, U.S. and Russia) says he wants to visit, but right now only talks to officials via teleconference. So Hamas remains more powerful than ever, although Gazans just want to be free.
What is Israel to do?
Born in Moldova, and immigrating to Israel in the early 70’s, Mr. Lieberman is a right wing figure who is Israel’s Foreign Minister. He founded the Yisrael Beitenu party which came in third in the 2009 elections. He is controversial for advocating a required oath of loyalty to the state. Those who decline the acceptance of the Jewish colors, anthem, and military service would also refuse suffrage. This notion is in response to the growing number of Arabs living in Israel.
Although he has supported the death sentence for Arab leaders who meet with Hamas and Hezbollah, and is often aligned with the far right, he favors a two state solution between Israel and Palestine. A trade of Arab populated Israeli regions for near-Jewish areas in the West Bank would reduce the number of Arab denizens, which currently number more than a million of the 7 millions Israelis.
Mr. Lieberman has often been pursued by Israeli police, most recently for his business dealings in 2008. While counts of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud have been pressed against him, he welcomes the attacks, due to the publicity he receives from the media. As a result, many align with his views, and support his ideas.
With President Obama set to mediate proximity talks again between Israel and Palestine, there is still much debate as to what it means to have American intervention in the process, especially among American Jews.
Elie Wiesel (Left).
For many on the right, supporting the Obama administration is akin to denouncing Israel as a state. But many young, liberal American Jews desire peace in the Middle East, and wish that the heads of government were more willing to compromise. This is actually the majority of American Jews, according to a New York Times article, which also notes that American Jews who voted for Obama still support his decisions, but that Israeli support of Obama has plummeted.
Today, Obama had lunch with Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, to try to assuage some of the hostility directed towards his administration’s tactics. The writer pronounced tensions between the two states as over, but in Israel there are still feelings of animosity.
With talks set to begin in the region later this week, there is speculation as to how the Israeli government will lean when it comes time to compromise. Mr. Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister has reassured Israel that it will defend the border against Hamas attacks, but that doesn’t seem as dedicated as the Israelis want, especially with the necessary approval of the Arab League lingering in the background.
Talks between Netanyahu and Obama wrapped up after tensions between the two governments flared over the past few weeks. Recently, the U.S. has urged Israel to yield to its requests to forego building in Jerusalem, but Israel asserts its right to build in its capital.
The Obama administration has softened its approach to Iran’s building of nuclear weapons in hopes of winning Chinese and Russian approval. The Israelis, in return, have announced a small 20 unit housing project in a mostly Arab neighborhood, Sheikh Jarrah.
Obama wants Israel to move into peace talks by tackling the big issues – border negotiation and refugee return, topics which ruffle Jewish feathers, especially with the upcoming Arab League meeting encouraging the attendance of Hamas. Unfortunately for Abbas, any endorsement from the league must play in favor of anti-Israel sentiments, which would further stifle any peace efforts in the region.
The Obama team also wants Netanyahu to ditch his Orthodox backing, in favor of the Kadima party led by Tzipi Livni. Chances are, however, that peace talks will be slow in coming if Palestine plays for Arab support and Israel garners Orthodox support.
