Netanyahu: I'm not building in Jerusalem for Lieberman and Yishai

[Jefferson23]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said that he is building in Jerusalem on his own accord and not because coalition partners are pressuring him to do so, senior officials told Haaretz.

In closed talks, Netanyahu clarified that he has no intention of breaking up his rightwing coalition to form a more moderate centrist alliance, despite continuing pressure from the United States for a compromise over Israeli building in east Jerusalem.

"I do not need coalition partners to pressure me into continuing to build in Jerusalem," he said. "I, myself, plan to continue building in Jerusalem as all previous prime ministers did before me."



Netanyahu added: "I am not building in Jerusalem just because Lieberman or Yishai are pressuring me to do so."

remainder in full: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159302.html

[Jefferson23]

1. Netanyahu faces a U.S. adamant about East Jerusalem

Throughout the latest crisis between Israel and the United States, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that no previous Israeli government has frozen construction in East Jerusalem has been repeatedly mentioned. Netanyahu and his associates claim that the Obama administration has been pressuring Israel over East Jerusalem building, unlike previous American administrations.


Netanyahu is right. There was never any real pressure - but the American demand in principle to cease construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is long-standing. In fact, all American governments have made the same demand of all Israeli governments, apart from on one occasion: The letter of understanding penned by former U.S. president George W. Bush that recognizes the principle of settlement blocs.

Now, the U.S. is finally putting this demand into effect. Moreover, Netanyahu must also recognize the changing reality on the Palestinian side. Until 2004, the Palestinian Authority was led by Yasser Arafat, who was perceived by the Americans and Europeans as a terrorist. Now, the Palestinian leaders are viewed in Washington and within the EU as true partners in the peace process and in the effort to create a Palestinian state. It is Israel's leaders - specifically Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Likud Minister Benny Begin and Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon - who are far from being perceived in that way. In the past, the U.S. saw settlement construction as a "stick" used to deter Palestinian terror, but today it is viewed as an obstacle.

How could Netanyahu have safeguarded the construction in East Jerusalem? By offering something in return. Past Israeli governments have indicated their intent to build in Jerusalem beyond the Green Line, but they simultaneously gave the U.S. a political strategy to present to the Palestinians. Netanyahu's government is backtracking on all fronts and offering nothing to the Americans or the Palestinians.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159140.html

[Jefferson23]

5. A dangerous government. By Haaretz Editorial

snip* Conferences held by the right wing and American Jews greatly applaud Netanyahu's old-new slogan about the fate of Jerusalem being equal to the fate of Tel Aviv. But we can expect Israeli elected officials, certainly an experienced politician like the prime minister, to recognize that Jerusalem is different from Israel's other cities and other world's capitals. The United States and the whole international community have never recognized the annexation of the Old City and the Arab villages around Jerusalem. Israel itself has agreed that East Jerusalem and its borders will be determined in discussions on the final settlement. Establishing new facts on the ground does not jibe with fair negotiations and the need to bolster pragmatic Palestinians as partners to a future settlement.

The choice here is between continued construction in East Jerusalem during the negotiations and Israel's future as a secure, democratic and Jewish state. A deterioration in relations with the U.S. administration is taking place at the peak of international efforts to block Iran and strengthen the axis of moderate Arab states. In the unnecessary fight with the United States, an essential ally for Israel, the Netanyahu government is showing itself to be the most extremist and dangerous in the country's history.


in full here: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159314.html

[Jefferson23]

7. Showdown at the settlements corral: can Obama remake the Bush-Baker classic

Thursday, March 25, 2010



Nearly twenty years ago, President George W.H. Bush and his Secretary of State James Baker made it clear that they were not going to pursue the pro-Israeli policies of the Reagan administration and were expressing strong criticism of the "Greater Israel" policies of the Likud government in Jerusalem as they attempted to revive the Middle East peace process.

Today, another American president and Secretary of State are using a misstep by an Israeli government led by another Likud Prime Minister to pressure Israel to put a freeze the settlements in what Washington and the entire international community regard as occupied territories (including East Jerusalem). Once again, U.S. officials explain that the American failure to bring about a change in Israeli policy is damaging American credibility in the Arab world and making it more difficult to revive the peace process.

It seems the writers of the script for the 2010 production are thinking about making a re-make of the 1991 movie. In that case, they should consider that in that plot, the White House occupant refused to back down from a confrontation with the tough, nationalist leader in Jerusalem. He decided to take the diplomatic fight into the open, confident that the American public would support him. And he won. But history does not repeat itself. The political context at home and abroad are dramatically different today, and the Obama administration needs to learn the right lessons from Bush and Baker's experience if it hopes to prevail.

http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/03/25/showdown_at_the_settlements_corral_can_obama_remake_the_bush_baker_classic

[msongs]

2. lebensraum - Netanyahu shares that philosophy with a certain former dictator nt

[Jefferson23]

3. As far as I can see, so far Netanyahu has only accomplished one thing since his visit

to the U.S. He has dug a deeper hole for himself, Americans need to stay aware of his intentions.

[Jefferson23]

4. Netanyahu intensifies bid to poach Kadima MKs for coalition

** Interesting reports coming out.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will intensify efforts to draw Kadima MKs to the Likud, say sources close to him. The move comes in response to the crisis in relations between the United States and Israel, and the sources say the crisis atmosphere highlighted for many, including MK Shaul Mofaz, the need to rally for a broader centrist coalition.

"If Benjamin Netanyahu wants us in the coalition, he needs to alter its makeup, break up his extremist government, rebuild it with us. We will not enter a right-wing government and we will not join without an orderly political program," senior sources in Kadima told Haaretz in response to reports that the prime minister intends to draw MKs from the party into his coalition. "As long as that does not happen, there is no chance we shall join his government," the Kadima sources said.

Senior Likud sources said Thursday that if Netanyahu offers Kadima chair Tzipi Livni to join his government, it will be based on his previous offer - entry into an emergency government circa 1967, without any portfolios for Kadima MKs.



"Netanyahu has a strong coalition - why should he disrupt it. The insults from the Americans only made him stronger politically," Likud sources claimed. Although Kadima sources said that "for the time being it does not appear Netanyahu is serious," the party has not spoken in a single voice for some time. While those close to Livni present a tough line, another faction, which has kept the lines of communication open with the prime minister in recent months, has voiced interest in beginning coalition negotiations.


remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159296.html

[LeftishBrit]

6. When politicians say things like that, it usually means quite the opposite!

[azurnoir]

8. No Netanyahu is not building for Lieberman

he is building to prove Israel's strength, or what is perceived by Israel to be its "strength" the ability to simultaneously tell an ally to go f^ck itself and then expect funding and more up to date weapons from that same ally

[oberliner]

9. The reference is to Avigdor Lieberman

He is the Israeli FM in the current government.

[azurnoir]

10. Yes I am aware of that and............

why would you think I meant Joe especially when I did not specify that or could you not think of anything else to "say"

[oberliner]

11. Don't you think pressure from Avigdor Lieberman plays a role in this?

Couldn't a more left-leaning coalition lead to more flexibility?

[azurnoir]

12. as to Avigdor playing a role perhaps but only

in the sense of being a piece of a whole, as to a more left leaning or centrist government being much different or flexible I think the words may change but the actions would most likely not change much