Israel Matzav

Mitchell promises 'Palestinians' no building in 'east' Jerusalem during 'proximity talks'

London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Saturday that US Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell has promised the 'Palestinians' that Israel will not build in 'east' Jerusalem during the 'proximity talks.'

According to the paper, Mitchell told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over the phone that Washington would provide the PA with guarantees that Israel would halt construction in the east of the city.

...

The Arab report stated that Mitchell’s promise of guarantees was given after the Palestinians refused to accept Netanyahu’s apology as a signal that construction would not move forward.

How do they think they're going to enforce that one?

In case it's not obvious, support for a united Jerusalem under Israeli control is wall-to-wall in Israel. Among the Jewish population it is likely well over 90%. When Netanyahu refused to extend the 'freeze' to Jerusalem, it was because he knew that Israelis would never accept it. And by the way, is the City of Jerusalem really going to refuse to issue building permits in existing neighborhoods? I find that hard to believe. And can you imagine the US federal government having to monitor building permits in Kansas City? The thought is absurd.

Netanyahu also had a call from Clinton yesterday.

Clinton sharply admonished Netanyahu over the Interior Ministry’s approval of the new building in east Jerusalem in a phone conversation Friday.

Her call came hours ahead of a condemnation of the housing plan issued by the Quartet of the US, UN, EU and Russia.

“The Quartet has agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and to keep under consideration additional steps that may be required to address the situation on the ground,” read its statement, which also called for the resumption of peace talks. The Quartet said it would “take full stock” of the situation at its meeting in Moscow on March 19.

In her call to Netanyahu, Clinton labeled the east Jerusalem announcement “a deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship,” one that went against the spirit of Biden’s trip to Israel this past week and “undermined trust and confidence in the peace process and in America's interests,” according to State Department spokesman PJ Crowley.

He said that Clinton also stressed that “the Israeli government needed to demonstrate not just through words, but through specific actions, that they are committed to this relationship and to the peace process.”

As much as we love America, Israelis know that Obama is not America. Obama hates Israel. And we hate him just as much. There will be dancing in the streets here when Obama is not re-elected. God willing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:01 PM