Israel Matzav

Surprise! The 'settlement freeze' extension includes Jerusalem

Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted om Wednesday night that Jerusalem is not part of the package he agreed on with Secretary of State Clinton regarding the 'settlement freeze' extension.

"Jerusalem is not part of the discussions on this topics. The Israeli stance on this issue was clear from the beginning that building in Jerusalem will continue," a PMO statement read.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declined to comment on Israel's request for written guarantees from Washington regarding the agreement.

She said she could not go into details, but that the US is working closely with the two sides towards creating conditions that would enable renewed talks.

Earlier on Wednesday Israeli officials tried to defuse speculation that a disagreement between Israel and the US over east Jerusalem construction had delayed the anticipated the US document.

Israeli officials said that during last Thursday's meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netnayhu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, where they discussed the 90-day freeze deal, it was understood that east Jerusalem would not be mentioned in the document.

The Shas party's expected abstention from the Security Cabinet vote on the deal — a stance which is critical to its passage — is linked to its understanding that the document would clarify that east Jerusalem construction is not included in the settlement freeze.

But Army Radio reports that Jerusalem is part of the 'settlement freeze' extension, albeit 'only' indirectly (Hat Tip: Eliana). Army Radio reports that Israel would have to coordinate construction in "eastern" Jerusalem with the U.S. during the freeze according to the draft of the U.S. document.

Netanyahu's office also in a statement that "discussions with the United States over the formulation of the document of understandings does not involve Jerusalem," apparently contradicting the premier's assurances to the inner cabinet that East Jerusalem would explicitly not be included in the freeze.

According to senior government officials in Jerusalem, the confusion stems from the fact that the U.S. administration had intended to write in the document that the freeze would have the same characteristics as the previous one, without relating to Jerusalem.

Army Radio reported Wednesday, however, that a draft of the agreement commits Israel to halting all building in the West Bank and coordinating any plans for East Jerusalem construction with the U.S. for a period of three months. In exchange, the US. Will give Israel 20 next-generation stealth fighter planes, according to Army Radio. [But when will they give them? The planes won't be ready before 2016 anyway, and if the commitment is only to give them once there's a 'peace deal,' they probably won't be given then either. CiJ]

This effectively means that parts of Jerusalem (and most likely all of the Jewish suburbs beyond the 1949 armistice lines, in addition to Jewish construction in predominantly Arab neighborhoods like Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and Ras al-Amud) would be included in the freeze too. Obama would never approve Jewish homes in these areas.

Will this get Shas off the fence? Well, maybe. The US is supplying a letter but....

With that, Israeli diplomatic officials said that there was still work to be done on the arrangements between Israel and the U.S. So far, the U.S. has not agreed to supply Israel with advanced F-35 fighter jets in return for the 90 day freeze, and is willing to give Israel the planes only after a final status agreement is signed. Israel is demanding the planes as part of the freeze deal.

But instead of leading to cabinet approval of the freeze, the U.S. letter, ironically, could have an opposite effect, for what it does not say. Shas ministers have made several demands from Netanyahu in return for their votes – and if those conditions are not met, the ministers could vote against the freeze, instead of abstaining, as they had said they would several days ago. Earlier Wednesday, sources in the party quoted Shas head Eli Yishai as saying that “the tendency among the ministers now is more to vote against the freeze than to abstain.”

Among the Shas demands:

Jerusalem: Shas ministers are adamant that construction continue in Jerusalem during the three month freeze period. The ministers realize that the U.S. document will not include a specific permit for construction in Jerusalem, and that the best Israel can hope for is an American “understanding” that Israel will continue to build in Jerusalem, turning a blind eye. However, Shas is demanding that Netanyahu inform the Americans of how much building can be expected, and where, in order to ensure that both sides understand what construction was agreed to. Netanyahu reportedly promised the ministers that he would raise the issue with the Americans and get their thoughts.

Post-Freeze Building: Even during non-freeze periods, building in Judea and Samaria has been sparse in recent years – because Defense Minister Ehud Barak has not signed permits for construction projects, as Defense Ministry procedures demand. As a result, there is a huge backlog of paperwork demanding Barak's signature before construction can proceed on hundreds of projects. Shas is demanding that Barak promise to clear the backlog as soon as the freeze is over. Netanyahu told Shas ministers that he would try and convince Barak to make such a promise. [Haaretz reports that Barak has agreed to this - I find it very hard to believe that Barak will keep that commitment. CiJ]

PA Building: Shas Mks on Wednesday demanded that the Palestinian Authority be forced to halt its building in Judea and Samaria during the freeze period. Such a freeze would significantly slow down progress in the new PA city of Rawabi, where infrastructure work is proceeding at feverish speed. Netanyahu has reportedly not yet told the ministers if he will raise this subject with the Americans.

A vote on the freeze is not expected at the initial meeting Netanyahu is expected to call Wednesday night or Thursday, sources said.

It doesn't sound like we're getting anything in return for this freeze extension. It's all just talk. Shas has a constituency that is far more Right wing than their MK's, and by abstaining rather than voting against they would run the risk of being punished by their voters the next time there is an election (that has happened before to Shas).

I hope Bibi had a pleasant day with Hillary last Thursday. He may not be seeing her again for a while.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, settlement freeze extension, Shas

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:09 AM