Speaking at a conference of the ruling Likud Party, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out accepting the Palestinian unity government, should one ultimately come into place as a result of ongoing negotiations among Palestinian factions.
Netanyahu insisted that any Palestinian unity would necessarily come at the expense of Israel’s existence, and that he would not allow this. Other top Israeli officials also condemned the reconciliation talks, suggesting they amounted to the Abbas government “cozying up to a murderous terror organization.”
The Palestinian cabinet met in the Gaza Strip today for the first time since 2014. This reconciliation appears to be even further along than the 2014 effort, with Hamas willingly disbanding the Gaza government with an eye toward bringing it under control of a unity government, pending an election.
Netanyahu’s position is largely unchanged from the 2014 effort, during which he similarly was furious about the effort, and insisting that such reconciliation would be a threat to peace talks.
The position is something of a catch 22 for the Palestinians, as Israeli officials dismiss the idea of Palestinian statehood because the Palestinians aren’t unified, but when they get unified, Israel sees that too as proof the Palestinians aren’t serious about peace.
Does anyone care this c__t thinks or wants?
The entire Congress of the United States. Russians messed up their Muddle East plans, and roll call in Congress was called to banish Russia from US. And now the Congress is demanding RT be subjected to FARA legislation, all in effort to silence the only lonely voice bringing a different picture of the world bryond out two oceans. It matters not what it costs us, Congress does what is expected. I have a feeling that this unification is not for the sake of getting Israel or its Congress accept it. There will be probably some actions based on the actions not linked to Israel’s approval.
Divide and conquer was always the Zionist plan, as they are responsible for the creation and nurturing of Hamas, which was designed as a foil to the secular Fatah, whom the Zionist always knew was the real threat to the dubious “Greater Israel” project of stealing the West Bank (to say the least).
The only way that Americans can not be outraged by Netanyahou’s conduct is by staying ignorant. Stick their fingers in their ears, close their eyes, and chant over and over again, “God will reward those who love Israel, and punish those who hate Israel”. To accept a check from AIPAC requires that the recipient actually renounce any connection with the rest of humanity.
I thought he hated the terrorist Hamas govt in Gaza, so wouldn’t a ‘Unity govt’ eliminate that issue? This sounds like he wants to keep the Gazans under blockade.
I think that this is what exactly is on minds of many that want st least partial solution. As there are no settlements in Gaza, declaring independence with recognition by many countries would isolate Israel. Is Israel ready to defy all Arab countries (except Jordan, I believe), as well as many world powers, to keep Gaza? It will not be worth losing trade and relations with the world over it. Ghen, it will be under pressure to define the rights of Palestinians in what would amount is one state.
That’s what Israel has been bellyaching about for years — who do they negotiate with? So obvious that Israel wants all of the land currently occupied by Palestinians.
Palestinians want Palestine from the River to the Sea.
They are in no position to get anything. They just want a place to call their own like the Israelis do.
Where Israel’s kill the kids on beaches of Gaza. That Sea?
And Israel wants land from Euphrates to Nile. Just as God promised. And our military is holding the line on Euphrates, bolstering ISIS, or whoever to stay in Euphrates valley. And why not — if we have enough of money and the deplorables kids to do it with.
Just as God promised? Gods promised land was and is still to this day misinterpreted. Planet Earth is the promised land, a promised to all of mankind no matter what color or creed.
Cannot agree with you more. We are still primitive species, with a lots of ability to destroy, and no wisdom to understand what we are doing. And it does not help when there are still beliefs around, that God bequeathed upon some people a specific geography from Ruphrates to Nile. And that such brlievers have a might of US military behind them. I wish it were not true, and such beliefs the provenance of some Amazonian tribes. But alas, not so.
God has died. So everything is permissible.
GeorgyOrwell,
A two state solution would work: Honor the UN Resolution and draw the lines. Those “settlers” who have taken up residence on Palestinian land can simply pay a fine for their stolen property and declare allegiance to Palestine. Those settlers unwilling to do this would be free to leave Palestine in a reasonable time period – say one year. And Arabs living in the new, smaller Israel should have the same choice. But, in a way, you are correct – it can’t work if Israel doesn’t want it to work. People who are used to always getting all that they want, really don’t know how to compromise.
“Those “settlers” who have taken up residence on Palestinian land can
simply pay a fine for their stolen property and declare allegiance to
Palestine.”
the liberal modern mistake them for any american or european israelies live in tel aviv and on the coast,
the zealots all live on the west bank, they would gladly see israel give them up and create the kingdom of israel on the west bank, kick all the remaining palestinians out, and than wage war on the original israel for being godless sinners and restore the temple,
of coarse none of that is possible at the moment, but the trend of religious zealotry is infiltrating the military and concentrating geographically on the west bank.
i differentiate zealots from standard ultra religious because the latter are mostly around Jerusalem and don’t really give a damn about what state they live in as long as they are left alone to do their thing,
while the zealots are a new form of judiasm that has after several generations managed to combine the (athistic/secular) nationalism of zionism with hard core Judaism
tl:dr two states solution is fast approaching a point where it will be impossible for the israeli government to give in to with out facing literal civil war
As if the zealots need special handling and special consideration. Always remember that theft is theft and unfair treatment will always bring retaliation, eventually. If the zealots figure that their racism and hatred will somehow carry the day for them, they will be sadly surprised, when they learn that they can also bleed just like their victims. Much of the rest of the World will not tolerate their lawless behavior forever – even the American suckers have a limit.
i don’t give a damn how they are handled, im just pointing out that a simple “let the become part of a Palestinian state” will not happen.
O rly,
I believe that the settlers should be given the choice to stay on the land that they “stole with their own two hands”. As you say, they won’t have anything to do with “honor or compromise”, so I guess they don’t have any future except as back in Israel proper. If they start a civil war there, then I guess we’ll see whether Jehovah comes to their rescue —which I much doubt
My point is not that this will happen, my point is that as it stands the israeli government could not even compromise if it wanted to (which it does not), the one state solution stands as a better chance than them relocating the settlers or integrating them in to a Palestinian state.
for the past 50 years these zealot either did not exist or more recently have been fairly marginal.
they are now a dominant force in the military and in politics,
for every Israeli in tel aviv who would like to see a two state solution, there is a settler who believes in a messianic nationalism and will not compromise with anyone.
Around the end of the 19th Century, American Indians believed in fantastic things such as the Ghost Dance; to no avail. They believed that mysterious powers would make them invisible to bullets. The settlers can have their messianic nationalism and eat what remains of it for breakfast.
Netanyahu isn’t going to accept anything that takes Palestine out from under Israel’s thumb, so that’s just the way it is. Get rid of Netanyahu ‘by any means necessary’ and put real pressure on Israel and watch how fast Palestine goes independent.
?! I, and probably the Palestinians as well, had no idea that a few Palestinians setting aside their differences long enough to meet in a room, would wipe Israel off the map. If they had, they might have tried it again sooner.
I think we are stuck in an old paradigm. There will be new approaches, new politics. Not dependent on Israel.
Is Israel ever serius about anything? It helps ISIS, Al-Qaeda, prefers ISIS flag over Damacus, and cheers this cult on every turn over the legitimate Syrian state. And of course, demonizes their targets before subjecting them to whatever inhumanity. But we forgive and forget. And why is Hezbollah demonized? It is a legitimate militia of Lebanon, credited for repelling the attempt of invasion of Lebanon by Israel. If Israel did not invade Lebanon, it would have never encountered Hezbollah. Sore loser.
Now, Hammas that was founded with Israel’s help is a villian, even though it was welcomed as a means of opposing PLO. And on it goes.
However, this unity is not for Israel, or for putting any faith into Israel’s serousness. It is to unite politically all Palestinian factions, turn the power over to internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, and go from there. There are a number of things Palestinians can achieve in Gaza alone, and will get support both politically and financially. Without ending the split, nobody would support their efforts. Coming up with unified platform, the one that can be supported by international community would only isolate Israel. They see it comming, and are reacting the only way they know how.
I agree. Most people still believe in a fairy tale of two state solution. Impossible, as settlements, walls, and Israeli only roads made it impossible.
But there is no reason Gaza cannot declare independence, provided that a good chunk of international community is supportive. And plenty of financing will be found to restore the city and its economy. To start with, the gas deposits of its coast, and guaranteed sales through Turkey. West has no money, and the economic woes are pitting richer against poorer regions, such as in Spain. Other spots are in trouble too. And why on esrth would Europe object closure to Syrian war, or a partial solution to Palestinian problem? Ghey have rnough refugees and migrants to wreck their economies.
For Israel, the dilemma remains. Even though without Gaza Palestinians will be a minority in one state — the birth rate will change that, and the problem does not go away.
Israel was founded on the terrorism of Abraham Stern and the Stern Gang, and Menachem Begin’s Irgun Zwai Leumi. There were other groups too. Between them they murdered British soldiers and Palestinian statesmen, and as a tactic of terror they devised the letter bomb and the hijacking of aircraft.
This is just another stalling tactic to prevent meaningful peace
negotiations from happening… again!
There is no catch 22 it’s really simple Israel wants the whole of Palestine at any price including the brutal suppression of millions of people. Israel says the Palestinians don’t want peace so if they dont want peace it means they love being occupied and enjoy being brutally suppressed .Israel will learn the truth of the saying ” if the God’s want to destroy you they will give you everything you ask for “