Landau: Obama wants more than freeze
Likud Minister Uzi Landau says that the United States is demanding far more than a 'settlement freeze' extension in return for the package of goodies offered to Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to Landau, the conditions for the deal are far different than those being portrayed in the Israeli media, which is telling Israelis that in exchange for a “small” Israeli gesture of an additional three month freeze, Jerusalem will receive a bundle of benefits, including additional advanced F-35 fighter jets, and an American guarantee to veto any anti-Israel proposals at the United Nations and other world bodies – and to similarly smash any attempt by the Palestinian Authority to seek U.N. approval for a declaration of independence for an Arab state in Judea and Samaria.Read the whole thing.
But the United States doesn't just want a three month extension, said Landau. When asked why he was opposed to so much benefit for “only” three more months of a building freeze, Landau responded, “Israel has failed to learn from the past. President Obama is ignoring previous promises, also written in a letter, that President Bush presented to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Those promises, too, were portrayed as a great diplomatic achievement.
"All the American promises share a similar characteristic – they lack specifics, and are not carried out if they are found to be damaging to American interests.” That was the case with the 2003 letter Bush presented Sharon, ostensibly recognizing Israel's right to retain the “settlement blocs” in the event of a deal with the PA; in the end, that American promise has been rescinded by President Barack Obama because he has decided it is in American interests to do so.
“Here too, with the Obama promises, we must see the structure of the deal – and you see that the Americans are demanding that we come to a full agreement with the PA in order for the benefits to kick in,"Landau explained. "You only get the benefits in the event of a final-status agreement – only when everything is over.” Given the history of Israel-PA negotiations, the likelihood of that happening is “very low,” he added.
Perhaps even worse, Landau said, the understandings between Israel and the United States – which included American opposition to a unilaterally declared PA state – are apparently no longer extant, and have instead been turned into a “sword of Damocles,” to be held over the head of Israel.
“Until now, it was understood that the U.S. would veto” sanctions against Israel, or a non-negotiated settlement of the Middle East conflict. Apparently that has changed, Landau said. “The veto was promised and taken as a matter of course, as long as progress was being made and negotiations were continuing. No 'gestures' were required to expect it. Now, the American veto is being used as a threat against our negotiators, pressuring them to surrender our positions. If in a year there is no deal – and it's unlikely there will be – the threat will descend like a sword on our heads, and the U.S. will blame us” and vote against Israel, Landau said.
“That's why the Likud is presenting this deal as a 'honey trap.' They are right, but we're much more likely to fall into the trap than to enjoy any honey,” Landau added.
So far, Prime Minister Netanyahu is insisting on getting the offer in writing, and the United States is apparently having trouble producing it. Maybe there is still hope that this decree will be canceled. But I'm not optimistic. Our Prime Minister knows how to say "no" to Obama, but he apparently melts for Hillary Clinton.
What could go wrong?
Labels: F-35, honey trap, settlement freeze extension, Uzi Landau
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:51 PM
3 Comments:
I was reading a history of Staten Island once (I grew up there), which outlined how the Dutch settlers had to buy the same land numerous times from the local Indians (true "Indian givers"). Israel is always asked to concede on vital security matters in return for promised goods or services. The problem is that Israel has already "bought" these same goods and services with previous concessions, but the mighty US did not hold up its end of the bargain. By wiping the slate clean of Pres. Bush's earlier promises, B. Hussein Obama has shown his true intent.
So far President Obama has had trouble closing a foreign policy deal in anything like its original shape and his word is far from golden--if this freezamabubby is already fraying at the edges with the Administration rushing to offer bribes to the Palis and unable to put anything in writing this may just be another gun introduced in the first act of his foreign policy psychodrama that remains unfired by closing curtain.
Carl - I disagree with you - show us what Clinton put into writing and maybe it will pass the Cabinet.
If you can't come up with anything you can point to, its not worth doing. Uzi Landau is correct. The majority of the Likud is solidly against this "honey trap" deal.
Post a Comment
<< Home