ISRAEL
- SETTLER PEACE PLAN UNVEILED
- [Ednote: This plan fits with Abraham, who is supposedly the
father of all three religions, as the focal point for Israelis,
Christians and Islam to run together as one. This plan will probably
be accepted because it solves all the problems. Palestinians
want jobs and the Jews can provide them. It's always about the
breadbasket. We are getting close to the finale. Endofnote]
The Jewish Week, Stewart Ain - 11/28/2003 - In shot at Sharon,
proposal calls for binational state with Palestinians
as Israeli citizens.
After weeks of public attention about new, liberal proposals
for an Israel-Palestinian peace accord, right-wing members of the Likud governing party and settler
leaders revealed they are developing their own plan to end three
years of violence. It calls for annexing the territories and
offering Palestinians Israeli citizenship but no state of
their own.
- Pinchas Vallerstein, mayor of the largest Jewish municipality
in the West Bank, known as the Benjamin region, said the plan
is still being formulated but that at its core is opposition
to a Palestinian state.
- “The area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean
will be under Israeli law,” he said. “There will be
only one state [Israel]. It is
not possible for another state.’
- Palestinians would have the choice of
leaving or staying, living there as Jordanian
citizens or becoming Israeli citizens. Those who opted
to become Israeli citizens would have to swear allegiance to
the state and perform some sort of community service to the country.
- Vallerstein said it will take another week to complete the
plan.
- “We have a lot of brainstorming groups … looking
at it to make sure it is feasible,” he said.
- Media reports said another feature of the plan is to partition
Israel and the territories into 10 cantons, with two of them
created for the Palestinians — one in the Gaza Strip and
the other in the West Bank. Palestinians who
accepted Israeli citizenship would be eligible to vote in Israeli
elections, but the cantons would be granted representation
based on factors other than population, thus ensuring a Jewish
majority in the Knesset at all times. An Arab could never become
prime minister, but the deputy prime minister could be an Arab.
- The existence of the proposed plan for a binational state
came just days after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told
the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot that he has been “thinking
of unilateral measures that will make things easier for Israel
and will ensure its interests without getting into the question
of whether it is also good for the Palestinians.”
- “I just wanted the Israeli public to know that its prime
minister has not stopped thinking about how to get out of the
impasse with the Palestinians,” he added.
- Sharon declined to say what steps he is considering. But
the Israeli media quoted aides as saying that if talks with the
Palestinians fail to produce results by next summer, Sharon was
considering dismantling some isolated outposts and settlements
and moving their residents to larger settlement blocs in the
West Bank. Settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip would be moved
to communities in the nearby Negev desert.
- The plan also would involve a rapid completion of the West
Bank security barrier, declaring that Israel’s new border
would run along that barrier, and possibly re-routing new sections
to bring them closer to the 1967 border.
- In addition, reports said that Israeli troops would withdraw
from Palestinian towns and release some of the thousands of Palestinian
prisoners Israel continues to hold.
- Sharon Hit From Right
- As expected, both of the new plans drew howls of protests
from those on different ends of the political spectrum.
- Henry Siegman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign
Relations, said Sharon was “doing what he always does when
there is pressure from the United States or internally. And the
likelihood of him having the slightest intention of doing anything
different from the past is zero. … These are calculated
deceptions to gain time and to make people forget the pressures
of the day.”
- “People jump on this,” Siegman added, “but
there is no basis for believing he will make any concessions.
Rather, he will continue the military approach.”
- Shimon Peres, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, also
cast doubt on Sharon’s comments.
- “We’ve heard many promises, but nothing has come
of them,” he reportedly said. “I don’t think Sharon
is in any hurry to take apart his government.”
- Shaul Goldstein, mayor of the regional council of Gush Etzion
in the West Bank, said if Sharon insists on dismantling some
settlements, “we are telling the right-wing parties to withdraw
from the government.”
- “If he takes a position like that, he won’t have
a government,” Goldstein said.
- He suggested that Sharon’s proposals — the details
of which were made public by aides — might have been a trial
balloon to gauge public reaction. But he said such a move was
“very bad from a strategic” point of view because it
sends a message that “we are only temporarily here.”
- “This is the homeland of the Jewish people,” Goldstein
insisted. “We are at war with terrorists, and to hear such
a statement in the middle of it gives a prize to the terrorists.
… Just like when we went of out Lebanon the Hezbollah understood
that terrorism works, so the PLO will continue with its struggle.”
- The Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria
and the Gaza Strip took out newspaper advertisements to counter
Sharon’s proposals. One declared: “The
evacuation of settlements is an anti-Zionist, anti-Nationalist,
and anti-security act. Any government
that decides to evacuate settlements no longer has a right to
rule.”
- The ads also quoted a statement by Sharon in April 2002 when
he said: “Netzarim’s fate is the same as Tel Aviv’s.
The evacuation of Netzarim will only encourage terror and increase
the pressure on us.”
- Netzarim, in the northern section of the Gaza Strip, is particularly
contentious for the Palestinians because it is an isolated settlement
and has been the object of several Palestinian attacks.
- Yehudit Tayar, a leader of the settler movement, said that
from “all sides of the political sphere there has been no
contemplation” of a unilateral pullout from settlements.
- “I think he’s testing the waters, but it is an
unfortunate mistake by a person who is always admired as the
master of PR,” she said of Sharon. “You can’t
run away from terror; you have to destroy it.”
- Tayar noted that the Jewish population in the territories
has continued to grow during the last three years. She said the
largest growth — 9 percent — was recorded in Gaza,
where there are nearly 7,000 Jews.
- The Likud-settler proposal also came under attack from settlers
who are against allowing Palestinians to become Israeli citizens,
thereby swelling the ranks of Israel’s 1.2 million Arab
citizens.
- Raphaella Segal, assistant mayor of the West Bank settlement
of Kedumim with 4,000 Jews, said Israeli Arabs already are a
problem because they are a “bomb in Israel.”
- “They are not loyal to the state and declare openly
that they identify with the Palestinian goal of establishing
a Palestinian state, which is only the first stage on the way
to bringing back refugees to Israel,” she said. “They
identify with the destruction of Israel. They will never be loyal
to the Jewish state. It is a great danger to add more minorities.”
- But Segal said she agreed with the proposal’s opposition
to a Palestinian state, its call for the dismantling of the Palestinian
Authority and the belief that the Palestinians should have autonomy
when it comes to running their daily lives while Israel retains
control of security.
- These developments came as the Labor
Party unveiled Tuesday its own political
initiative. It calls for a return
to the 1967 border and the construction of the security
barrier along that border, a divided Jerusalem,
and opposition to a Palestinian right of return.
- All of these plans come in the wake of
two other initiatives: the Geneva
Accord, which is similar to the Labor plan, and the
People’s Voice initiative,
which is more of a statement of principles than a detailed plan.
- A survey by a Texas-based group released this week found
that 53 percent of Israelis and nearly 56 percent of Palestinians
support the Geneva Accord, a figure that Siegman said he believes
is high and might be attributable to the way the question was
worded.
- The Geneva Accord is slated to be ceremonially signed Monday
in Geneva. Published reports said Palestinian Prime Minister
Ahmed Qureia decided to postpone a meeting with Sharon to see
if support for the initiative causes Sharon to make unilateral
moves in advance of peace talks.
- Other reports said Qureia wants Sharon to make a series of
concessions prior to a meeting, including a halt to the construction
of the security barrier, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from
Palestinian territory and an end of the siege of Arafat’s
Ramallah compound.
- But Dore Gold, an adviser to Sharon, said Sharon has no interest
in any talks until there is a Palestinian cease-fire.
- “There could be contacts on how to build a cease-fire,
but no substantive negotiations while there is just a hudna,”
he said, referring to a suspension of attacks. Israel has demanded
a dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure.
- “He may unilaterally declare some gestures [toward the
Palestinians], or some new policy initiatives, but there will
be no negotiations unless there is a significant change on the
Palestinian side,” Gold added.
- The Palestinian terrorist organizations
are scheduled to meet in Cairo next week to discuss a cease-fire.
Qureia has made it clear, however, that he has no intention of
trying to dismantle the terrorist networks for fear it would
lead to a civil war. http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8775
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- INTRODUCED RESOLUTION BY US SENATE, EXPRESSING THE SENSE
OF THE SENATE REGARDING FIGHTING TERROR AND EMBRACING EFFORTS
TO ACHIEVE ISRAELI - PALESTINIAN PEACE SRES 276 IS 108th CONGRESS
1st Session S. RES. 276
- IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 25, 2003 - Mrs.
FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr.
LEAHY, and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza since September 2000 is in the
vital interests of the United States, Israel, and the Palestinians;
- Whereas ongoing Israeli -Palestinian conflict strengthens
extremists and opponents of peace throughout the region, including
those who seek to undermine efforts by the United States to stabilize
Iraq and those who want to see conflict spread to other nations
in the region;
- Whereas more than 3 years of violence, terror, and escalating
military engagement have demonstrated that military means alone
will not solve the Israeli -Palestinian conflict; Whereas despite
mutual mistrust, anger, and pain, courageous and credible Israelis
and Palestinians have come together in a private capacity to
develop serious model peace initiatives, like the People's
Voice Initiative, One Voice,
and the Geneva Accord;
- Whereas those initiatives, and other similar private efforts,
are founded on the determination of Israelis and Palestinians
to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict and to
live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity, and security, based
on a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace and achieving historic
reconciliation; Whereas those initiatives demonstrate that both
Israelis and Palestinians have a partner for peace , that both
peoples want to end the current vicious stalemate, and that both
peoples are prepared to make necessary compromises in order to
achieve peace ;
- Whereas each of the private initiatives addresses the fundamental
requirements of both peoples, including preservation of the Jewish,
democratic nature of Israel with secure and defensible borders
and the creation of a viable Palestinian state; and
- Whereas such peace initiatives demonstrate that there are
solutions to the conflict and present precious opportunities
to end the violence and restart fruitful peace negotiations:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate--
- (1) applauds the courage and vision of Israelis and Palestinians
who are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans
for achieving peace ;
- (2) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to capitalize
on the opportunity offered by these peace initiatives; and (3)
urges the President of the United States to encourage and embrace
all serious efforts to move away from violent military stalemate
toward achieving Israeli -Palestinian peace . Supporting the
vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are working together
to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving peace , and
for other purposes. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:2:./temp/~c108SdCsGA
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- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - RESOLUTION - SUPPORTING
THE VISION OF ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS - November 21, 2003 -
Mr. ISSA (for himself, Mr. FILNER, Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr.
BALLENGER, Mrs. BONO, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. TERRY, Mr.
SMITH of Michigan, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. PITTS, Mr. BARTLETT
of Maryland, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska,
Mr. REYES, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. RAHALL, and Mr. BLUMENAUER) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on International Relations
RESOLUTION
- Supporting the vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are
working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving
peace , and for other purposes.
- Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza since September 2000, is in the
vital interest of Israel, the Palestinians, and the United States;
Whereas ongoing Israeli -Palestinian conflict strengthens extremists
and opponents of peace throughout the region, including those
who seek to
undermine efforts by the United States to stabilize Iraq and
those who wish to see conflict spread to other nations in the
region; Whereas more than 3 years of violence, terror, and escalating
military conflict have demonstrated that military means alone
will not solve the Israeli -Palestinian conflict; Whereas obligations under the peace plan known as the `road
map' have not been met by Israeli and Palestinian
leaders and no viable political alternatives have emerged; Whereas
despite mutual mistrust, anger, and pain, courageous and credible
Israelis and Palestinians have come together in a private capacity
to develop serious model peace initiatives, like the People's Voice Initiative and the Geneva Initiative;
- Whereas those initiatives and other similar private
efforts are founded on the determination of Israelis
and Palestinians to put an end to decades of confrontation and
conflict and to live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity,
and security, based on a just, lasting, and
comprehensive peace ;
- Whereas those initiatives demonstrate that both Israelis
and Palestinians want to end the current vicious stalemate, and
that both peoples are prepared to make compromises
in order to achieve peace ;
- Whereas the Geneva Initiative offers a detailed framework
that addresses the fundamental requirements of both peoples,
including preservation of the Jewish, democratic nature of Israel
with secure and defensible borders, and
the creation of a viable Palestinian state; and
- Whereas such peace initiatives present precious opportunities
to end the violence and restart fruitful peace negotiations:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
- (1) applauds the courage and vision of Israelis and Palestinians
who are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans
for achieving peace ;
- (2) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to capitalize
on the opportunities offered by these peace initiatives; and
- (3) urges the President to embrace and encourage all serious
efforts to move away from violent military stalemate toward achieving
Israeli -Palestinian peace . http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:1:./temp/~c1085ING9Z
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- SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION ENDORSING ROAD MAP LEADING
TOWARDS TWO-STATE RESOLUTION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
- Security Council 4862nd Meeting (PM) - The Security Council
this afternoon endorsed the Middle East Quartet's
Road Map towards a permanent, two-State
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By its
unanimous adoption of resolution
1515 (2003), the Council called on the parties to fulfil their
obligations under the plan in cooperation with the Quartet. In
its preambular section, the text also reiterated the Council's
demand for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including
all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and destruction.
It emphasized that a just and lasting peace should take into
account the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks, as well
as the Israeli-Palestinian question.
- On 20 December 2002, the "Quartet" (Russian Federation,
United States, European Union, United Nations) reached agreement
on the text of the Road Map with the goal of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and ending the occupation that began in 1967. That goal
was to be achieved on the basis of the 1991 Madrid peace conference,
the principle of land for peace, Council resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), agreements reached previously by
the parties, and the "Arab Initiative" of Saudi Crown
Prince Abdullah endorsed by the Council of the League of Arab
States on 28 March 2002.
- The performance-based and goal-driven Road Map presented
clear phases, time lines, target dates and benchmarks aimed at
the progression by the two parties through reciprocal steps in
the political, security, economic, humanitarian and institution-building
fields, under the auspices of the Quartet. The Road Map was officially
submitted to the parties on 30 April 2003.] The meeting began
at 12:20 p.m. and adjourned at 12:25 p.m. Resolution Following
is the full text of Council resolution 1515 (2003):
- The Security Council, "Recalling all its previous relevant
resolutions, in particular resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
1397 (2002) and the Madrid principles,
"Expressing its grave concern at the continuation of the
tragic and violent events in the Middle East, "Reiterating
the demand for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence,
including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and
destruction, "Reaffirming its vision of a region where two
States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure
and recognized borders, "Emphasizing the need to achieve
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including
the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks, "Welcoming
and encouraging the diplomatic efforts of the international Quartet
and others, "1.
- Endorses the Quartet Performance-based Roadmap to a Permanent
Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (S/2003/529);
"2. Calls on the parties to fulfill their obligations under
the Roadmap in cooperation with the Quartet and to achieve the
vision of two States living side by side in peace and security;
"3. Decides to remain seized of the matter.IMRA - Independent
Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il
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