Obama's Plans For Israel Become Clearer
Today, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told the press that President Obama is finishing up a plan to bring about a diplomatic end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Mubarak also made clear that he told Obama that any plan must be based on a final status arrangement. In other words, the issues of the so-called right of return, Jerusalem, final borders should not be put off to the future. They must be addressed now.
The Obama administration quickly denied Mubarak's statement that they were in the final stages of drafting a plan. President Obama acknowledged that reaching a settlement had been difficult but there had been some positive movement.
One Jerusalem has reported in the past that it is our belief that the Obama administration is preparing a plan to foist upon Israel. We say Israel, because Israel's supposed "negotiating partners" have nothing to give in return, except possibly empty promises about curtailing terrorism.
We have been further convinced that the Obama administration is going to try and force Israel into a box by the positive spin the White House gave to the recent Fatah Convention. The Obama administration ignored the fact that the Fatah charter reaffirms Fatah's commitment to armed struggle against Israel and the refusal of Abbas and Fatah to recognize a Jewish State. Furthermore, the Convention elevated the role of a Palestinian terrorist organization. Instead of reacting to the facts on the ground, the Obama team tried to convince the world that a new reformist Fatah emerged from the convention
It is also evident that Obama continues to pressure Israel on ending all settlement activity. There are troubling signs that in reaction, Israel may be implementing a settlement freeze while proclaiming that it will not do so.
A Washington Post story today reiterates that the Israeli public opposes a settlement freeze, especially when in comes to building in East Jerusalem. While Netanyahu receives support because of his public stance there is concern in Israel that his public pronouncements may not reflect the governments actions.
One of Netanyahu's senior Minister's, Moshe Yaalon has been laying down markers on these issues in Israel. Clearly speaking for himself and not the government, General Yaalon denounced the rush to create a Palestinian State. Within his Likud Party Yaalon is not alone.
This coming Monday, Netanyahu is going to London to speak to Obama envoy George Mitchell.
What seems to be filtering through the media is that President Obama and his administration are going to try to coerce Israel into withdrawing any claims to the Temple Mount, various parts of East Jerusalem, and areas in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinians will not have to give up anything in return; in fact, they will be allowed to have an as yet undisclosed number of returning refugees to Samaria in what will be deemed a "demilitarized zone." In my view, Israel should not leave one centimeter of land to the Palestinians. The latter population is led by men who are still and have always been intent on the eradication of the State of Israel. They will never recognize The Jewish State of Israel. At this point, I wonder whether the Obama Administration does not share the same sentiments as the Palestinian Fatah and Hamas leadership. This is extremely painful to say. No American president has been so intent on pressing Israel to compromise its capital in Israel's 61-year history. No American president has ever told Israel to leave the Temple Mount to Muslim sovereignty and security. As I write this, I have a pit in my stomach.