Netanyahu can make a stand on Jerusalem
Professor Ephraim Inbar of the Begin - Sadat Center at Bar Ilan University argues that Prime Minister Netanyahu can make a stand on Jerusalem despite the pressure from Obama. The White House expects that the Israeli prime minister will bend under pressure to its wishes. While in the past Netanyahu has proven susceptible to such pressure, the administration may be overplaying its hand on the issue of Jerusalem. Despite the obvious reluctance to confront an American president, Prime Minister Netanyahu can effectively resist American pressure. In fact, this is the issue on which Netanyahu can best take a stand against Obama.Let's put it this way: If Netanyahu cannot make a stand on Jerusalem, he cannot make a stand on anything, and we may as well all start swimming.
The division of the city is opposed by the current democratically-elected Israeli government and (according to polls that I have directed) by over 70 percent of the Jews in Israel. Few issues in Israel command such a large and clear majority.
The timing of the crisis also serves Israel well. A few days before Passover when Jews repeat a 2,000-year-old text pledging, "Next year in Jerusalem," Netanyahu can say no to American demands for concessions in Jerusalem. Rejection of the division of Jerusalem expresses the deepest wishes of an overwhelming number of Jews living both in Israel and the Diaspora.
In contrast to parts of Judea and Samaria, the Israeli need to maintain the status quo in Jerusalem is easiest to explain. The Palestinian claim to Jerusalem is weak. There was never a Palestinian state and the Jews have been the majority in Jerusalem for the past 150 years. Jerusalem has never been a capital of any political entity, except that of a Jewish State. Moreover, the Arab residents of Jerusalem, if given a choice, would in all probability prefer to live under Israeli sovereignty than become part of a failed Palestinian state. Finally, dividing a city makes very little urban or political sense.
Read the whole thing.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:42 PM
6 Comments:
It doesn't seem like there is any limit to which Palestinian demands Obama. So I agree that it's likely that Netanyahu is going to need to take a stand against Obama's demands sooner or later - and better to do it soon.
But it also seems that refusing to negotiate "final status" issues in "proximity talks" is the best issue to make a stand on. Though the US media can be counted on to try to obscure things in Obama's behalf, for Obama to demand that Israel negotiate its future with a party who refuses to sit down face-to-face seems indefensible.
That said, I myself can't see caving in on the Jerusalem issue.
Add to that the fact members of his own party, Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas won't let him cross that "red line" even if he wanted to. My guess is Israel will say "no" to a construction ban in Jerusalem but will try to finesse a deal on gestures to the PA with the White House, provided they are accompanied by parallel concessions from the Palestinians.
This is about the best Israel can do and Israel's government is not looking for a fight with America. But if its back is really going to be pressed to the wall, Israel will likely opt for Jerusalem without peace over peace without Jerusalem.
The Obama Administration has to decide whether it is willing to accept a modest counter-offer from Israel or throw away any chance of restarting talks by forcing Israel to submit over Jerusalem - which will never happen. And as I noted earlier, the Obami will have to get used to the fact that Israel has a right to have an opinion different from them.
Bibi must not cede one cm. as Husain Barak is a servant of King Fahd
Chrysler 300M,
I do agree with you. As Yoram Ettinger wrote, Israeli defiance would incur short-term tension but incur lasting respect for Israel from Washington. Israel is indeed being "tested" and if Israel's government is not willing to absolutely defend Jerusalem, it won't defend anything else and like Carl on here observed, its time for the Jews to start swimming.
Its now or never for Israel to take a stand.
Jerusalem was the capital of British Mandatory Palestine...
G-D TO GIVE THE SON OF MY RIGHT HAD ALL HIS SPIRIT TO BB AS HE DID WITH ELIJAH WHEN HE TOOK THE PROPHETS OF BAAL TO THE TEST!!!THIS OBOMANATION WE ARE LIVING UNDER CANNOT BE TRUSTED AT ALL HE HIMSELF IS TOTALLY PRO PALISTIANIN AND IS NOT A CHRISTIAN NOR DOES HE BELIEVE IN THE G-D OF THE BIBLE, I SAY TO HELL WITH OBAMA-NATION!!!!
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