'Palestinians' to demand that Security Council set 'timetable' for Israel to abandon Judea and Samaria, Israel to rely on OUR friends the Saudis
On September 15, the 'Palestinians' plan to demand from the United States Security Council that it set a 'timetable' for Israel to abandon Judea and Samaria. The United States is to chair the Council in September, with King Barack himself to sit in the chairman's seat on September 24. This is from the first link.
[Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil] Sha'ath said that the PA expected the Security Council to comply with
its demands; if it does not do so, the Authority will seek help from
the International Court of Justice in The Hague. There, the PA will
demand that Israeli officials be charged as “war criminals” for the
damage caused to Gaza, as the IDF responded to incessant rocket attacks
by Hamas on Israeli civilian population centers.
It should be noted that if the PA does take its case to the Court, it
will have to become a full-fledged member of that organization. While
the PA has in the past sought membership in international organizations,
Israeli officials said that they were unlikely to seek membership in
the Court, because it would open them up to being charged with war
crimes.
On Wednesday, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, submitted a
list of Hamas war crimes that took place during Operation Protective
Edge to the UN Security Council. In a message accompanying the list,
Prosor wrote that “despite the fact that the Council recognizes that
Hamas has committed war crimes, nothing has been done yet about them.”
Prosor submitted a lengthy, detailed list of all the rockets fired by
Hamas – their targets and the damage they caused – with nearly all of
them fired at civilian targets, which in itself is a war crime, as well
as many examples of Hamas using the Gaza civilian population as human
shields, launching attacks from homes, schools, and hospitals. “I expect
the Security Council to loudly condemn Hamas' activities. The Council
cannot remain silent over the use by Hamas of Gaza civilians as human
shields.”
Good luck with that list. The world doesn't give a damn when Muslims kill other Muslims or get them killed. Ask the Syrians about that. And as to them shooting at the Jews... hey... that was 'self-defense' because Israel didn't give them Iron Dome.
JPost reports that the 'Palestinian Authority' also hopes to play a role in reconstructing Gaza, after Prime Minister Netanyahu's 'great victory.'
The Palestinians also intend to form a permanent unity government that has the complete backing of Hamas in hopes that such a government would expedite the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip.
“In cease-fire discussions, Israel was forced to give up on its demand that Hamas decommission its weapons, and this was due to American pressure,” Shaath told Ma’an.
And guess who Israel will rely on to ensure that money doesn't go to waste.... OUR friends, Saudis.
The PA will lead coordination of the reconstruction effort in Gaza with international donors, including the European Union, Qatar, Turkey and Norway. Saudi Arabia is also likely to be a major donor, with the expectation in Jerusalem being that unlike Qatar, it will take pains to ensure that its funds will not be directed to Hamas, but rather to build up the PA.
Of course: The 'Palestinians' say it's blackmail so Israel sweetens the deal
It goes without saying.
The 'Palestinians' rejected as 'blackmail' an Israeli proposal to release 420 terrorists to be chosen by Israel and partially freeze 'settlement' construction in exchange for the 'Palestinians' continuing talks and the United States releasing hostage Jonathan Pollard from confinement.
A reported American offer revealed to Arutz Sheva on Tuesday,
by which Jonathan Pollard would be released in exchange for over 400
Israeli-held Arab terrorists, including arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti,
was sharply denounced by Judea and Samaria's Yesha Council.
Yes, that's right. Lifer x 5 Marwan Barghouti (the cockroach in the middle) is now part of the deal.
In response to the plans, Yesha Council released a statement on
Tuesday afternoon, declaring "the submission to Arab blackmail and
American bribery through the use of Pollard is a disgrace. Freezing
building and freeing murderers is not a new patent."
"The government of Israel has already frozen (building) and released
murderers several times, but the Palestinian leadership isn't interested
in peace, but rather steps up its demands and requests more and more
murderers," noted the statement.
Yesha Council strongly denounced the "extortion," calling on
government ministers to oppose the "shameful deal," and in doing so "not
to submit to American pressure and bribery."
The statement clarified the Council's ardent desire for Pollard's
release, but noted "making the joy of the day of his release dependent
on the mourning of the bereaved families whose loved ones' murderers are
released is an unforgivable act."
"The Palestinians are extorting, the Americans are bribing, and the
one paying the price is the government of Israel in the name of us, the
citizens," concluded the council.
The 'Palestinians' agree. They are proud of their successful blackmail.
Let's go to the videotape.
But there's more to it than that. The 'Palestinians' aren't at the table to make peace. They're at the table to release terrorists.
Senior PA leader Nabil
Shaath explained already in November and again in December 2013, that
the reason the PA has not "stopped negotiations," is because the PA
wants to first fulfill its goal of having all the prisoners Israel
arrested before the Oslo Accords released.
Israel
agreed to release the 104 terrorists from prison because it was the
Palestinian Authority's precondition for starting negotiations at all.
But Fatah's spokesman calling the release of the prisoners "blackmail,"
together with Shaath's statement that they are just waiting for the
prisoners to be released before they stop the negotiations, indicates that for the PA, the current round of peace talks may have been a charade.
Israel has already released 78 of the prisoners, and has not yet announced if it will release the remaining 26.
And Obama-Kerry are the 'Palestinians' willing lackeys. I hope they share Arafat's fate.
Kerry's great 'moderate' hope doesn't represent Hamas... or Fatah either
Khaled Abu Toameh reports that as US Secretary of State John FN Kerry continues to 'negotiate' with 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud AbbasAbu Mazen, it turns out that not only does Abu Mazen not represent Hamas... he doesn't represent Fatah either.
Recently, Abbas dispatched a high-level Fatah delegation to the Gaza
Strip, prompting many Palestinians to speculate that the purpose of the
trip was to achieve reconciliation with Hamas. But it quickly transpired
that the Fatah delegation, headed by Abbas loyalist Nabil Sha'ath, was
sent to the Gaza Strip as part of Abbas's attempt to crush a
Dahlan-engineered rebellion against his leadership.
Many Palestinians were initially convinced that Abbas had resumed his
efforts to end the dispute between Fatah and Hamas. Reports in
Palestinian and Western media outlets even suggested that the two rival
parties had made progress towards achieving unity.
Fatah leaders, however, have now admitted that the visit was
primarily aimed at "restoring order" within their faction in the Gaza
Strip. Abbas, they revealed, was now seeking the help of Hamas help in
preventing Dahlan and other Fatah "rebels" from continuing to challenge
his leadership.
Some reports
have suggested that Sha'ath and members of his delegation had to flee
the Gaza Strip three days after their arrival following threats to their
lives from Dahlan and his supporters.
According to the reports, Sha'ath
even appealed to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to beef up
security at the hotel where he was staying in Gaza City, out of fear
that disgruntled Fatah activists might assassinate him or members of his
delegation.
Upon returning to Ramallah, Sha'ath rushed to accuse Dahlan and his supporters of plotting to overthrow Abbas. Sha'ath said
that Abbas was worried about attempts to create a schism within Fatah.
"All previous splits in Fatah ended in failure," Sha'ath said. "All
those who did break away from Fatah were eventually forced to become
agents for other countries."
In recent weeks, Abbas has taken a number of measures
that reflect his increased fear of Dahlan's moves to discredit him and
remove him from power. These measures include confiscating large sums of
money transferred from the United Arab Emirates to Dahlan loyalists in
the Gaza Strip.
...
Last week Abbas went further by threatening to expel all Dahlan loyalists from Fatah. Dahlan himself was expelled (by Abbas) from Fatah in 2011.
Palestinians in Ramallah said that the increased tensions in Fatah
mean that Abbas is beginning to lose his grip over the faction -- a fact
that Kerry and his team would not be able to ignore if and when they
force Abbas to sign any agreement with Israel.
Maybe when Abu Mazen quietly pushed to have Marwan Barghouti stay locked up, he should have had Dahlan locked up as well. In any event, Kerry seems to have missed this completely. What a surprise.
'Palestinians' to stay at 'peace talks' long enough for terrorists to be released
Admitting that the 'peace talks' are going nowhere, the 'Palestinians' are planning to keep them going nonetheless to get their 104 terrorists released.
Nabil Shaath, one of the senior officials in the terrorist
organization Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has declared in a Maariv interview
Friday that the PA will remain in talks until all of their terrorist
"prisoners" are released - despite admitting that talks have tanked.
"We have committed to negotiations for a period of 9 months, and by
then we hope to see all 104 of our prisoners released," Shaath claimed.
He also noted that if not for the release of the more terrorists, PA
negotiators would have left the peace talks entirely - just as they
threatened to do earlier this month.
Earlier this week, Shaath declared to Ma'an that
the PA was ready to appeal to international bodies, e.g. the
International Criminal Court (ICC), in the event that talks fail.
Shaath repeated those sentiments Friday, adding that he wished to
petition all of the UN organizations - not only for the terrorists to be
released, but also to push Israel back into talks and into surrendering
land under 1949 Armistice lines.
"The declaration of the PA as a UN non-member observer state
recognizes the PA as having borders on 1967 lines," he declared. "This
gives us the right to be full members of other international
organizations, the International Criminal Court, and other UN
institutions." The PA was admitted as a UN non-member observer state last year.
Despite these threats, Shaath nonetheless has admitted that the PA
will not break the negotiations - if only for the sake of more
terrorists. "For the prisoners sake, we will not break off ties, we will
not go running to the UN." he stated, "But I'm not sure there will be
much else to do, given the current policies of the Israeli government."
And they're 'negotiating' with Tzipi Livni, who is way to the Left of the rest of the government and of most Israelis.
Well, US Secretary of State John FN 'third intifada' Kerry will be back in the country later this month.
Hamas 'foreign minister' Mahmoud Zahar has openly urged the Fatah terror organization to stop wasting time with the 'peace process' and join them to fight Israel together.
Speaking at a rally
for Hamas supporters in Gaza City, Zahar said, “Our hands are extended to Fatah
to join the program of [armed] resistance and the liberation of
Palestine.”
Addressing Fatah, he added, “Come and join the program of
resistance and stop wasting your time and effort. Let’s join hands and carry the
rifle together.”
Zahar said that Fatah members who wish to join the
“bandwagon of the triumphant, celebrate with us and become our partners are
welcome.”
He claimed that the West was now displaying an understanding of
Hamas’s armed resistance strategy.
“They no longer see our people as
terrorists and murderers who have no respect for women and children and who only
love blood,” Zahar said. “Westerners came to the Gaza Strip and saw that we are
among the most civilized people.”
...
Nabil Sha’ath, a member of the Fatah Central
Committee, expressed optimism regarding the prospects of achieving unity with
Hamas. He said that the Palestinian Authority had released a number of Hamas
members from its prisons in the West Bank.
The PA has also decided to
reopen Hamas institutions in the West Bank that had been closed for security
reasons, Sha’ath said.
He said that the PA leadership was prepared for
“full partnership” with Hamas in any political move in the future, and added
that the two sides would meet in Cairo soon to discuss ending their
dispute.
Sha’ath said that Fatah and Hamas leaders have voiced
satisfaction over the participation of their followers in joint celebrations and
rallies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the past two weeks.
PLO
Executive Committee member Wasel Abu Yusef said that Fatah and Hamas were now
waiting for an invitation from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to hold
reconciliation talks in Cairo.
Anyone who thought that the very real assets Israel gave up in exchange for the Oslo Accords were in exchange for anything other than a very temporary peace was fooling himself. Here's Yasser Arafat himself speaking at a Johannesburg, South Africa mosque in May 1994 calling the Oslo Accords a hudna, a temporary truce.
Let's go to the videotape.
But peace is at hand, and the 'Palestinians' will abide by the next agreement they make much more than they abide by this one.
The 'Palestinians' are notorious for telling the West what it wants to hear in English and telling their 'people' what they want to hear in Arabic. Here's senior 'Palestinian' negotiator Nabil Shaath speaking to his people in Arabic. And here's the English translation courtesy of Google.
In response to Hamas's rejection of the choice of resistance and adherence to the popular armed resistance, he said Hamas was divided on this issue, but in a recent visit to Khartoum Of the movement, "Meshaal and Haniyeh's visit," during which they agreed on that, saying that Khaled Meshaal, leader of the movement spoke of the popular struggle in Cairo, Hamas at length and I went to Khartoum to agree on This, he said.
Shaath and warned that the adoption of the Popular Resistance does not mean giving up the fight Armed and as long as the occupation with iron and fire, not by persuasion or by agreement, international law and moral gives the right to armed resistance, but suffice to resist the military and not civilians, pointing out that any use of armed struggle would cost much more to offer from the results, expressing his belief that this decision is that he has got Hamas.
But keep telling yourself that they want peace, Democrats in Congress. And if you repeat it often enough at least you'll convince yourselves.
Video: PA's Nabil Shaath tells Lebanese TV PA state for Arabs, Israel for Arabs and Jews
Here's 'Palestinian Authority' foreign relations director Nabil Shaath telling Lebanese television that the 'Palestinian state' will be for Arabs only, while Israel will be for both Arabs and Jews, including 'refugees.'
I discussed this interview previously here, but did not have the video at the time.
And you thought the term 'moderate Palestinian' was an oxymoron, didn't you? Well, here's an interview with the archetypal 'moderate Palestinian,' Nabil Shaath, courtesy of Barry Rubin, and let's see how he views peace with Israel.
Nabil Shaath: The recognition of a [Palestinian] state…will make many things possible in the future. Eventually, we will be able to sign bilateral agreements with states, and this will enable us to exert pressure on Israel. At the end of the day, we want to exert pressure on Israel, in order to force it to recognize us and to leave our country. This is our long-term goal.”
In other words, the goal is not to come to a deal with Israel but to gain recognition from other countries which will pressure Israel and force it to give the PA what it wants. (Incidentally, this is pretty much Yasir Arafat’s strategy from 30 years ago, though he was using a higher level of violence in that process.)
But what does the phrase “leave our country” mean as a “long-term goal?” Does “leave our country” mean just the West Bank and east Jerusalem (pre-1967 borders without mutually agreed swaps) or wiping Israel off the map and replacing it with an Arab Muslim state? It’s ambiguous, isn’t it? So perhaps Shaath is a moderate (as advertised in the Western media? In this case, though, Shaath gives us an answer.
“[The recent French proposal, quite frienly to the Palestinians generally] reshaped the issue of the “Jewish state” into a formula that is also unacceptable to us-–two states for two peoples. They can describe Israel itself as a state for two peoples, but we will be a state for one people. The story of `two states for two peoples’ means that there will be a Jewish people over there and a Palestinian people here. We will never accept this….We will not sacrifice the 1.5 million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship who live within the 1948 borders, and we will never agree to a clause preventing the Palestinian refugees from returning to their country.”
In other words, Shaath, one of the most important and relatively moderate Palestinian Authority leaders, is against a two-state solution. First, there will be a Palestinian state “for one people,” that is an Arab, Muslim state. But there can be no recognition of Israel as a Jewish state because that implies a permanent peace. Shaath and the Palestinian leadership almost unanimously seek a second stage in which the “Palestinians with Israeli citizenship” plus the “returning…to their country” of Palestinian refugees will turn Israel into an Arab Muslim Palestinian part of Palestine.
This is merely a restatement of the “two-stage” solution of the PLO adopted forty years ago. No real progress in 40 years, despite all the disasters and potential lessons seen by the Palestinians! I have been very skeptical about the peace process, especially for the last 15 years, but I don’t think I’ve ever read anything that has so brought home to me why this is such a mirage because Shaath is so open about it and if anyone could be expected to support a real two-state solution it would be him.
Will anyone read and understand what Shaath is saying who believes that peace is at hand and that the Palestinian leadership is eager for a two-state solution?
I guess the term 'moderate Palestinian' is an oxymoron after all. What a surprise....
In an earlier post, I noted the possibility that President Obumbler would not introduce a 'peace plan' for the Middle East because he would be embarrassed when both sides rejected it. Lest you think that the 'Palestinians' would not reject it, they have confirmed its rejection for us.
"We will reject any American peace plan that calls on us to give up one of our basic rights – the right of return for refugees,” [Nabil] Sha’ath, a former PA foreign minister who played a major role in the signing of the Oslo Accords, said.
Sha’ath noted that the Oslo Accords that were signed between Israel and the PLO call for holding discussions on major issues like Jerusalem, refugees, borders and security.
“How can Washington plan for such a solution?” he asked, referring to the report about US President Barack Obama’s new peace initiative. “There are no contacts between Washington and the PA on this issue.”
Sha’ath claimed that members of the Quartet – the US, EU, UN and Russia – were recently forced to postpone their meeting to discuss the status of the Middle East peace talks because Washington was opposed to a pro-Palestinian statement that they were planning to issue.
The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip described the Obama initiative as an “alarm bell that jeopardizes the right of return.”
Calling on the Arab and Islamic people to support the Palestinians’ right of return, Hamas said it was strongly opposed to the new initiative.
“The right of return as a legitimate and sacred right and no one could give it up,” Hamas stressed.
Heh. Isn't it funny how the 'Palestinians' forget that the Oslo accords call for discussions on Jerusalem and borders? Why do they keep trying to impose - and encourage others to impose - a 'solution'? By the way, I think the Oslo accords also call for a discussion over whether the 'Palestinians' will have a 'state.' That wasn't a foregone conclusion at Oslo either. Funny how he doesn't mention that.
It looks like Fatah and Hamas have finally managed to agree on something. No, they're not forming a 'unity government.' But according to Fatah 'negotiator' Nabil Shaath, Fatah is going to take part in the latest 'flotilla' trying to break Israel's lawful blockade of Gaza next month.
During in an interview with the A-Shams radio station broadcasting from Nazareth, Shaath said that Fatah supports all popular or international activities aimed at lifting the siege being imposed on Gaza.
Shaath made it clear during the interview that Fatah did not participate in the flotillas until now, but that it supported last May’s flotilla.
He said that Abbas has given PA "citizenship" to all those who participated in last year’s flotilla. As to whether he himself will participate in the next flotilla, Shaath said that he would be honored to do so, but that it currently is not on the agenda.
The Turkish-based IHH terror group recently confirmed that the Mavi Marmara will serve as the flagship of the second flotilla, known as the “Freedom Flotilla 2”.
'Palestinian Prime Minister' Salam Fayyad has proposed a 'settlement' between Hamas and Fatah.
The details of Fayyad's plan appeared vague but proposed leaving much of the status quo in place. He said Hamas could retain security control in Gaza under his proposal as long as it preserved a cease-fire with Israel. Fayyad would continue to govern from the West Bank, and would work with Hamas to place both territories under a single governing authority.
"The split has been too long and should not continue, and it won't end by itself. We need to move to end the split," Fayyad said.
Fayyad refused to say who might lead the unity government, saying this would have to be worked out in negotiations. He said that as long as Hamas, which has fired thousands of rockets at Israel, agrees to maintain calm, all other issues could be resolved.
Fayyad wants to travel to Gaza to negotiate with Hamas. So does Nabil Sha'ath. But Hamas is suspicious:
On Monday, Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil said that despite the lack of an "official initiative," by the PA to create the unity government, the Gaza-based group was inclined to work towards reconciliation founded on "full partnership, based on national constants and upholding the right to resist," according to the report.
Bardawil added, however, that "Fayyad does not represent the Palestinian leadership" and that due to his lack of legitimacy, the PA prime minister is "not authorized to speak about public affairs," Ma'an reported.
Hmmm. I wonder if he thinks that Abu Bluff - whose term expired two years ago - is legitimate and authorized to speak about public affairs. For that matter, the same could be said about Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Shaath: US threatened to cut off aid to 'Palestinians'
Israel Radio reports that 'Palestinian negotiator' Nabil Sha'ath told al-Arabiya on Saturday that the United States threatened to cut off all aid to the 'Palestinians' if the 'Palestinians' do not drop their efforts to condemn Israel in the United Nations.
Shaath said that the 'Palestinians' were not afraid of the US cutting off their aid.
I'm sure he's not. After all, the Europeans will make up whatever the US cuts off.
Report: Obama told Abu Bluff US will veto Security Council resolution
According to Khaled Abu Toameh, who has good sources among the 'Palestinians,' President Obama told 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud AbbasAbu Mazen on Thursday night that the United States will veto a 'Palestinian' sponsored Security Council resolution condemning Israel when and if it comes to a vote on Friday night. As a result, there is an emergency meeting of the Fatah and PLO executives on Friday.
Sources in Ramallah said that the phone conversation dealt with the PA’s plan to seek a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning construction in the settlements. They said that Abbas rejected Washington’s demand not to go to the Security Council.
The sources said that Obama made it clear to Abbas that the US would veto such a resolution so as not to jeopardize efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Nabil Sha’ath, member of the PA negotiating delegation, said on Thursday that the PA leadership was determined to pursue its efforts to obtain a resolution condemning the construction in the settlements despite heavy pressure from the US.
Sha’ath said that the US Administration has offered the PA to abandon its plan to seek a resolution on the settlements in return for a statement that would be issued by the Security Council and that would condemn the construction without holding a vote.
He said that the PA would pursue its efforts to seek condemnation of Israel even after the US vetoes the resolution at the Security Council. The PA would go to the Quartet and other international forums, including the international court in The Hague, to force Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, he said.
“The US will lose a lot if it uses the veto to kill the resolution that is supposed to be presented to the Security Council on Friday,” Sha’ath cautioned. “The US is currently facing a test to prove its fairness and its objective role as the sponsor of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. We hope that the US would refrain from using the veto.”
I'm sure Obama is quaking in his boots, but I doubt anyone else is.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
