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1. Netanyahu Quietly Rejects US Clamp on Jerusalem
by Hana Levi Julian
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has quietly rejected an attempt by the United States to clamp down on Israeli construction within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. Netanyahu is not willing to publicly discuss his response to the U.S. criticism, however, nor will he allow anyone else in his government to talk about it.
"The office has no reaction to that," David Baker, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, told Israel National News on Wednesday. He refused further comment.
Baker's actions clearly confirmed reports by senior sources that Netanyahu had warned government officials against making any statements about the U.S. pressure on Israel to halt construction in parts of Jerusalem that were restored to the capital after the 1967 Six Day War -- this time, the neighborhood of Gilo, built in 1971.
The southeastern neighborhood, one of the capital's largest, has a population of some 33,000 and has just been added to the list for the first time. But the burgeoning northwestern Jerusalem suburb of Ramot, home to at least 40,000 residents, may soon be questioned as well, since it is in the same category.
During a media briefing Tuesday in Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly slammed the decision by the Jerusalem Municipal Planning Committee to approve a plan to build 900 housing units in Gilo.
"At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, we believe that these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed," he said. "So we object to this, and we object to other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continuing pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes," he said.
"And -- just to repeat what we've said all along, our position on Jerusalem is clear," Kelly added. "We believe that that -- that Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the two parties."
Kelly confirmed that U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell met Monday in London with a Netanyahu adviser. He parried a question raised by a journalist as to whether Mitchell had requested that Netanyahu halt construction in Gilo and sidestepped another question on whether that request had been rejected. Mitchell, who was expected back in Washington on Wednesday, has no plans to meet with PA officials at present, said Kelly, but did not explain why.
He also noted that the U.S. was discouraging "any kind of unilateral appeal for United Nations Security Council recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. That would fall in that category of unilateral actions."
'Red Line' Drawn at Jerusalem
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been willing to show the "greatest possible restraint" concerning construction in Judea and Samaria, according to a government source. However, he said, Netanyahu firmly drew the line at Jerusalem.
The city's mayor, Nir Barket, has also said bluntly he would not halt construction in any part of the capital, east or west. "Israeli law does not discriminate between Arabs and Jews or between east and west of the city," he said in a statement issued to the media.
"The demand to cease construction just for Jews is illegal, also in the United States and any other enlightened place in the world. It is inconceivable that the U.S. government would demand a construction freeze in the U.S. based on race, religion or sex, and the attempt to demand this from Jerusalem constitutes a double standard that is unacceptable. The Jerusalem municipality will continue to enable construction in every part of the city for Jews and Arabs alike," Barkat vowed.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin had no compunctions whatsoever about expressing his anger on Tuesday against the U.S. attempt to interfere with internal Israeli policies. Speaking during a meeting with visiting Lithuanian Ambassador Darius Degotis, Rivlin said the new demands were "of the type that are ... pushing us toward a red line that we cannot allow ourselves to cross, and are not legitimate."
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon added his voice to the chorus of Western disapproval of the Jerusalem municipality's actions Tuesday night, according to IDF Army Radio. U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said in a statement that Ban "believes such actions undermine efforts for peace and cast doubt on the viability of the two-state solution." In the statement, she quoted Ban as referring to Gilo as a "settlement" built on territory "conquered from the Palestinians in 1967."
The British Foreign Office also issued a statement saying "The Foreign Secretary has been very clear that a credible deal involves Jerusalem as a shared capital. Expanding settlements on occupied land in east Jerusalem makes that deal much harder, so this decision on Gilo is wrong and we oppose it."
PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat took advantage of the bruhaha to claim there was little point in resuming peace talks when Israel is still building homes in the eastern part of the capital. "We condemn this in the strongest possible terms. It shows that it is meaningless to resume negotiations," he said.
The land on which Gilo was built, as with the suburb of Ramot and other so-called "disputed" parts of Jerusalem, was wrested from Israel by Jordan during the 1948 War. It was occupied solely by the Hashemite Kingdom until 1967, when Israel won it back, restoring Jerusalem to its former unified status as the unidivided capital of Israel and the Jewish People.
2. Jerusalem Light Rail on Fast Track to Keep Capital United
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor David Hadari vowed on Tuesday to derail Palestinian Authority threats of an Arab boycott of the builder of the city’s light rail system that reaches eastern Jerusalem.
Responding to PA declarations earlier in the day, Hadari described the PA threat as “scandalous.” He stated, “We will not allow the PA to interfere in such a crass way with the domestic matters of Israel in general, and of Jerusalem in particular. I think the government must block this attempt with all its means, and the city will do everything possible to strengthen ties with the contractor.”
The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee said the light rail traverses "occupied territory" and allegedly violates international law. PA officials said they are trying to recruit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among other Arab countries, to boycott the French-based firms Veolia and Alstrom. The latter is also building a multi-billion dollar project in Mecca.
Hadari drew a connection between the PA’s attempted boycott and a request by the American government that Israel stop building in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, on the southern edge of the city. He said both issues are a result of what he called the “stuttering” policy of the Netanyahu government,which he said "needs to make clear to the entire world that Jerusalem is our united capital, will not be divided and is not a subject for negotiations.”
The deputy mayor suggested encouraging construction in all areas of the city with grants and benefits, "to help the world understand that we are serious in our intentions, and then they will stop interfering in our internal affairs."
3. National Union MK to PA: Make My Day, Declare Statehood
by Gil Ronen
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's recent threats to declare an independent PA state unilaterally received support from unexpected quarters Tuesday.
MK Uri Ariel of the National Union called on the PA chairman to go ahead and declare statehood as fast as possible.
"I pray for Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, to declare a state unilaterally,” he said. “That is the only way we can finally annul the wretched Oslo accord, which exacted a price in blood and brought the PLO terrorists into the State of Israel."
“A statement of this nature means that the government will have no choice but to annex all of the communities in Judea and Samaria,” said MK Ariel. “In practice,” he added, “it will have to annex the entire region and formally turn it into a part of the state of Israel.”
Abbas said recently that he intended to take the Palestinian matter to the UN Security Council.
4. Visiting Senator: Idea of Unilateral PA State ‘Dead on Arrival’
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The chances of the Palestinian Authority convincing the United Nations to recognize the PA as an independent Arab country are “dead on arrival,” according to Democratic U.S. Senator Ted Kaufman, visiting Israel from his home state of Delaware. Speaking at a news conference Monday at the Saban Forum, he was joined by other senators who also ridiculed the idea.
Independent U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, a former candidate for vice president for the Democratic party, called the Arab effort a "waste of time” because it would eliminate Israel from the diplomatic process. "I hope and presume that the United States would veto such a move if it ever came to the [United Nation Security Council," said Lieberman.
Asked if the Obama administration will give a positive answer to the PA’s intended request for backing United Nations recognition, U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters, “Well, I don't think that - I'm not aware that they have come to us seeking our opinion or our approval. I mean, our position is clear… We understand that people might be frustrated, but we are convinced that this has to be achieved through negotiation between the two parties.”
Pressed as to whether the United States would veto such a U.N. resolution, Kelly replied, “I'm not going to say we're going to - I mean, I don't - I can't say we're going to veto something we haven't seen or hasn't even been proposed yet."
The Obama administration still is trying to convince PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to resume negotiations with Israel for the establishment of a new PA state, despite his refusal to talk unless Israel agrees to pre-conditions that the Netanyahu government has ruled out. U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell met again this week with Israeli negotiators, this time in London.
Kelly rejected a reporter’s suggestion that Mitchell has achieved “zero results,” explaining, “I know that 10 months sounds like a long time when it's said out of context, but this problem has been going on for decades.”
PA officials asserted they are undaunted by warnings from several Israeli leaders that any unilateral action by the PA might be met by Israel’s officially annexing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the PLO's Central Committee, said at a rally in Ramallah, he said, “We are now facing a moment of truth. We will seek to pass this [U.N Security Council resolution and the activation of the Fourth Geneva Convention to protect the Palestinian people.
“We don't resort to unilateral policies for the simple fact that we aren't isolated. We aren't alone. Only pariahs embrace unilateralism."
5. 5,900 New Housing Units - But None in Judea/Samaria
by Hillel Fendel
In an effort to bring down housing prices, the Housing Ministry is issuing tenders for the sale of land for 5,900 units throughout the country – in addition to the 5,300 units whose sale was announced three months ago.
Housing Minister Ariel Attias (Shas) announced that the goal of the massive influx of land for housing is to bring down apartment prices.
The units are to be built in 20 different towns across the country, including Jerusalem (1,117 units), Be’er Sheva (842), Rehovot (336), Rishon LeTzion (349), Holon (358), and Tel Aviv (188). None of them are to be built in Judea and Samaria, though it was not announced whether the Jerusalem units are to be located in areas liberated in 1967 or not.
“We relate to the peripheral areas [i.e., places distant from the large urban areas -- ed as an important national target,” Attias stated, “and we plan to market new homes for reasonable prices in these areas as well.”
Israel Lands Authority (ILA) Director Yaron Bibi said, “This massive plan is part of the reforms in the ILA that were recently decided upon, and will give a strong impetus to the growth of the housing market.”
In a related item, the Jerusalem District Planning Commission approved a plan today (Tuesday) for 900 new housing units in Gilo. The units will be built on the northwestern slopes of the 33,000-strong southern Jerusalem neighborhood. The plan includes area for public buildings, open areas, and stores.
6. Amidst Tensions: Turkish Water Delegation in Israel
by Hillel Fendel
For the first time since the acute tensions between Turkey and Israel began several weeks ago, an official Turkish delegation has arrived in Israel this week. Members of the Turkish Water Authority will visit WaTech 2009, Mekorot's exhibit on water, environment and renewable energies, which presents Israel's latest technological developments in these areas. On Tuesday, they visited the Knesset, bearing a message of reconciliation.
Watech is the technology support unit of Mekorot, Israel’s national water corporation, serving as a platform for introducing Israeli water-related startups onto the wave of growth in the world water market.
Watech Director Moshe Lilus says that in order to help the Turks find solutions to their own water crisis, economic attaches of the Ministry of Industry and Trade will accompany them on their visit. The Israeli experts will discuss the Turkish water challenges and present Israel's solutions.
Lilus says that Turkey in general, and its capital city Istanbul in particular, are struggling with dwindling water supplies for a fast-growing population, as well as the need to drain sewage without creating environmental pollution. Israel is one of the world leaders in these areas.
The past few weeks have featured a mob of Turkish students attempting to attack Israel’s Ambassador in Turkey; anti-Israel and pro-Iran remarks by Turkey’s president; the Turkish cancellation of a joint military exercise with Israel; a Turkish-Syria joint military exercise; anti-Israel protests in Turkey, including the burning of Israeli flags and the waving of Palestinian Authority flags; and the broadcasting on Turkish television of a fictional series depicting IDF soldiers as cold-blooded murderers.
7. PA Features Children's' Hate Speech at Arafat Memorial
by Hana Levi Julian
Arab children are being programmed by the Palestinian Authority to hate Jews and Israel, as demonstrated at a recent memorial for deceased Palestine Liberation Organization terror chief Yasser Arafat.
[weJe Email readers, please click here to view the video footage.
The memorial ceremony was televised November 10, the fifth anniversary of Arafat's death on PATV, controlled by PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, considered a "moderate" partner for peace by some in Israel and most Western nations.
The official memorial was held at the Ramallah Cultural Palace and included among the speakers PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, also considered a "moderate", as well as top PA and PLO officials. Tayseer Al-Tamimi, PA Chief Justice of the Religious Court and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Law, was also present.
The televised ceremony broadcast a video clip featuring PA Arab children who delivered messages in honor of Arafat, later downloaded and translated by the media watchdog organization Palestinian Media Watch (PMW).
The children's messages primarily idealized terror as martyrdom, and promoted a common PA libel that Arafat died of poisoning by Jews. One boy, championing Arafat's strength, announced that "All the Jews and the Israelis and the people who are against us, were afraid of him (Arafat). When he died, he died of poisoning."
A girl said that Arafat "was under siege in Ramallah, and when he was under siege, we were very upset. The Jews poisoned him and I hate them very much. Allah will repay them what they deserve."
Several other children also repeated the libel that Jews poisoned Arafat, with one boy finally adding, "Well, I don't know what he died from, but I know it was by the Jews." Another boy quoted Arafat, saying, "They want me dead, they want me prisoner, but I say" Martyr, Martyr, Martyr!"
None of the children spoke of peace, praised Arafat for making peace or even suggested that he had tried, although the PLO chairman received the Nobel Peace Prize along with Israel's then-Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, after the signing of the Oslo Accords. One boy praised Arafat because he was a "fighter" who "did things through [violen struggle" and who "did not make peace."
