Will there be a 'settlement freeze' extension after all?
The Jerusalem Post is reporting that there is 'mounting pressure' on Prime Minister Netanyahu to reject an American package consisting of military upgrades, a promise that the IDF will remain in the Jordan Valley after (God forbid) a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria, and a promise not to ask for a further extension, in exchange for a 60-day extension to the 'settlement freeze.' Extending the 'settlement freeze' is quite unpopular here.But Arutz Sheva reports that several parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition may be willing to back a 'settlement freeze' extension.
This is from the first link.
But reports about ministers who were considering voting in favor of the deal forced the reportedly wavering ministers to issue flat denials on Sunday. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz already expressed opposition to restarting the construction freeze in a 7 a.m. radio interview and Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon later followed suit.None of the ministers cited above is from the parties that are cited in the other two links.
Following those pledges, Netanyahu would have little to no chance of passing a proposal that would limit construction in the cabinet, security cabinet or septet. No votes have been scheduled ahead of this weekend’s key Arab League summit in any forum of ministers.
A strong majority of Israelis support continuing West Bank construction, a Dahaf Institute poll broadcast on Channel 2 Sunday night found.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said the government should be building in Judea and Samaria and only 39% support a further moratorium.
The poll also found that if an election were held today, Labor would fall to six Knesset seats from the current 13.
National Union MK Arye Eldad responded to the poll by saying that “Netanyahu must stop being afraid and stop giving into the extortion of [Labor chairman Ehud] Barak, who has no influence in the Knesset.”
Eldad warned the prime minister that “if he gives into pressure and American enticements, he will lose the support of the public and share Barak’s fate.”
Peace Now reacted by lamenting that “the public has been brainwashed by the government and the settlers and has not internalized the price Israel is paying for the settlements.”
“They have bought the stories about the freeze harming average Israelis instead of helping Israel diplomatically,” Peace Now director-general Yariv Oppenheimer said.
On the other hand, doesn't Yariv Oppenheimer sound like he's getting his talking points from the Obama White House? Aren't you waiting for his next line to be that Israelis don't appreciate Peace Now enough?
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:11 PM
3 Comments:
Since anything Obama says is worthless anyway... The only offers that Bibi should accept would be freedom for Jonathan Pollard and G. Shalet. If those two individuals were delivered to Jerusalem tomorrow, I would recommend a 60 day freeze.
Israeli governments need to (all of them) need to learn that they should only accept concrete items in return for any concession. No more promises and no more letters.
Israel should NOT accept a settlement freeze for anything less than the condition Netanyahu laid down in the Knesset earlier this month. If he backs down on that, he'll lose all domestic credibility. If you make an offer contingent on a principle - stick to your guns.
I know he's coming under enormous pressure from the Obama Administration and the Israeli media to cave in. Now is the time for Netanyahu to hold fast. There is no real support in Israel for another giveaway to the Palestinians and Cabinet Ministers are well advised to follow the polls.
Let's hope the Israeli government foes both.
This reminds me of Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, where she is on the beach with a porpoise and some others and one says," Will you, won't you? Will you? wont you? will you join the dance??"
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