Israel News Net » peace process

We’ll Give You a State on One Condition…

JessG — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:01:15 +0000

Peace talks have stalled due to the end of the settlement freeze, but now Prime Minister Netanyahu wants another condition: an oath from the Palestinians to Israel as “the national state of the Jewish people.” The loyalty oath has long been a desired action by the religious right.

The Palestinian Authority may recognize this, but not in exchange for a simple extension of the freeze – they want veritable peace. Nor will they negotiate unless the settlement freeze is extended.

Members of the left hope that this last step will prepare relations for the realization of the peace process.

In most games, there is a certain power structure based on recognition. In this peace game, power will be balanced based on a respect and appreciation of Israel as Jewish state, to ensure that the Arabs never overtake Israel, even if they do have a larger population, and a recognition of Palestine as national entity. But since Israel is the one who is calling the shots, they want their demands satisfied. If it were up to desperate Palestine alone, peace might occur, but being backed by a relatively extreme Arab League doesn’t speed the process. Sure Israel could be the bigger man and grant Palestine what they want, but fear holds them back. And so the games continue.

Netanyahu and Obama: Together at Last

JessG — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:11:07 +0000

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama vigorously shook hands today at the White House in a meeting that helped to dispel the past few months of tension between their respective countries.

Yesterday, Israel said that they would take steps to ease the blockade on Gaza. A list of items that are supposed to encourage economic growth in Gaza has been reviewed and repealed. Today President Obama said that the bond between Israel and the U.S. is “unbreakable.” Netanyahu said he looked forward to taking “concrete steps” to peace.

After March, when talks about how to diplomatically proceed with Palestine reached an impasse, relations were at their worst. Today marks a return to a relationship based on good appearances.

In the West Bank, the New York Times reports a list of groups that have given large, tax-deductible sums to Jewish development. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stalled the building projects that were announced in March to be constructed in East Jerusalem in hopes of kick-starting a peace process.

While critics say that this is simply political posturing, the fact that cameras were allowed to photograph the Prime Minister and the President is reassuring to many Jews who hope for peace and a strong friendship between Israel and the U.S.