Israel Matzav

Fayyad spits in Israel's face

On Tuesday morning, I reported that western-looking 'Palestinian Prime Minister' Salam Fayyad had been banned from the city of Jerusalem to prevent him from attending an official - and therefore forbidden under the Oslo accords - function of the 'Palestinian Authority' in Jerusalem. Well, Fayyad came to Jerusalem anyway, and guess who backed down as usual. No, Fayyad didn't attend all three functions that he planned to attend here, but he attended one just to show that he doesn't take orders from Israel. And as usual, Israel looks weak and foolish for not standing behind its word.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday morning arrived for the inauguration of a new wing at school in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Dahiyat al-Barid, despite an Israeli ban on Palestinian evens in Jerusalem's municipal area. However, Fayyad called off his plan to inaugurate a road in Shuafat and visit a school in Sheikh Jarrah.

Dahiyat al-Barid is located north of the Jewish neighborhood of Neve Yaakov, on the Palestinian side of the separation fence, but at least part of it is considered part of Jerusalem's municipal area. However, the territory is controversial and the Public Security Ministry insists it is not part of Jerusalem. Palestinian officials say it belongs to Area C, which is fully controlled by Israel.

Shuafat and Sheikh Jarrah (Nachlat Shimon) are both much closer to the center of town, and going there would have been a much greater provocation. But Israel had not made that distinction. And it didn't have the guts to turn Fayyad back at the entrance to the city.

During the visit, Fayyad slammed the Israeli prime minister. "Netanyahu defined these suburbs as suburbs of Jerusalem, the united capital. And we say, yes, these are suburbs, but suburbs of our occupied capital which will always be the capital of our independent state."

He clarified that there will be no peace and stability until the Palestinians could reach those areas.

...

The Palestinian prime minister added that the PA would continue investing in Jerusalem's suburbs. "The desire for life and the Palestinian people's victory will eventually defeat the aggression of the occupation and the settlers' conduct. We are determined to continue our project in this area as well.

"No one can veto the Palestinian people's desire to live, and our visit means that the desire to live has defeated the occupation."

Fayyad planted an olive tree at the entrance to the school and visited the new wing's library and computer room funded by his government. A number of Western diplomats attended the ceremony.

And of course, Israel did not lodge any diplomatic protest against the participation of 'western diplomats' in an act that violates the Oslo accords.

Meanwhile, the Internal Security Minister that actually issued the order is pretending that nothing happened.

The internal security minister's media advisor told Ynet on Tuesday morning that the Palestinian prime minister did not violate Ahanovitch's order. "The orders were not issued in regards to Salam Fayyad, who is outside the territory, but in regards to Sheikh Jarrah in the Christian Quarter and Shuafat, where the visits were canceled."

About a year-and-a-half ago police succeeded in dispersing a number of small events held in east Jerusalem as part of the Palestinian Culture Festival, meant to declare the city "the capital of Arabic culture for 2009." More than 20 people were arrested, including Sheikh Raed Salah, the head of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

Really? Is Dahiyat al-Barid part of Jerusalem or isn't it? And if it isn't, why did the announcement of the ban relate to the dedication of a school in Jerusalem? No schools were dedicated in either of the other two places.

The JPost adds:

The Palestinian Authority official in charge of the Jerusalem portfolio commented that Fayyad had to go to the ceremony and not to give in to Israeli threats, adding that Israel would not have dared to arrest him, Army Radio reported.

That's precisely the problem. The Israeli government issues empty threats and then does not follow through on them. All that does is erode our deterrent capability. Either follow through or shut up.

On Monday, the leftist NGO Ir Amim said that the owner of the Yabous hall in the northeastern Dahiyat a- Salam neighborhood, where one of the rededication ceremonies was supposed to take place, received a notice from the Public Security Ministry, warning that if the event went ahead, the hall would be shut down for a year.

And now the minister is claiming that he never tried to prevent Fayyad from attending that ceremony? Admittedly, either the 'Palestinians' or Ir Amim could be lying - it wouldn't be the first time. But it sure sounds like Fayyad was banned from attending that ceremony and attended anyway. And Israel didn't do anything about it.

What could go wrong?

Labels: East Jerusalem, eternal capital, Oslo accords, Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:27 AM