Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. 

Credit: cornell.hillel

It was a transformative and singular moment of direct revelation.  It involved all of the people of Israel, who were present and received the word of the Almighty with fear and trembling. 

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I rather like this Aish video about Shavuot, and so share it here:

http://www.aish.com/h/sh/video/The_Day_that_Shook_the_World.html

The world is decidedly reluctant to give us, as Jews, our rightful place.  But the reality is that through the transmission of a code of values at Sinai, the Almighty set into action the process by which Am Yisrael (the people Israel) would become a light unto the nations.

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The struggle of how to be true to that heritage, marks, I think, one particular painful and difficult controversy in which Israel is currently embroiled: That is, the controversy over what to do with the thousands of African immigrants (currently about 80,000) who have made their way illegally into Israel.

Credit: Soundcloud

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We Jews are bidden by the Torah to welcome the stranger in our midst. And to an extraordinary degree we have done just that.  For Heaven's sake, the Egyptians have no compunction about shooting them in the back. 

For the most part, they have come through the Sinai to reach Israel.  The claim is that they are political refugees, but the reality is that many -- if not the majority -- are simply economic refugees, that is, not fleeing violence or persecution, but rather seeking a better quality of life.

They are illegal in the country, and either are unemployed or work illegally. They live poorly and are without health care and other benefits accorded by the State.  They are tended to in large part by volunteers and NGOs.

And yet they consider this a utopia compared to what they left behind.  This tells us a good deal about us, and about their nations of origin -- in the main, Eretria and Sudan.

The word is out -- even in small villages in Eretria -- that Israel is the place to come.  A fact of enormous irony considering the accusations of "racial cleansing" and "apartheid" leveled against us. And so their numbers have been growing, leaving us with a problematic and untenable situation: 

We simply cannot, nor do we wish to, absorb Africa's poor.  We would become, very quickly, something different from what we are intended to be as a Jewish state.  We would be swallowed up.  And our resources would be overwhelmed.

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beitenu) is on record as saying that "a million Sudanese and Eritrean migrants are currently making their way to Israel, some are near the security fence already and some are in Cairo." 

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Already we are seeing a host of social problems, particularly in south Tel Aviv, where there is a concentration of 25,000 Africans.  There are issues of greatly increased crime rates, and rapes. There is major disruption to the community: Cooking fires lit in parks, people wandering the streets at all hours, heavy drug usage.

I will come back to this below.

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An article by Dr. Gabi Barbash, the CEO of Tel Aviv's Sourasky Medical Center, which appeared a week ago in the JPost, struck me as a particular poignant and disturbing picture of what we are dealing with, and how we have conducted ourselves.

Children are being admitted into the hospital with measles, something that hasn't been seen here in years.  Immigrant African children.  African women with particular problems are also being admitted: they have twice as many emergency cesarean sections as the Israeli population, and their babies require treatment in the neonatal unit three times as often. 

This is just the beginning. The number of cases of active tuberculosis doubled this past year because of the Africans. "Many of those refugees also suffer from extrapulmonary tuberculosis (in the spine, or central nervous system) that requires special interventional diagnostic procedures and biopsies performed under general anesthesia in operating rooms." 

All of this is before we even talk about malaria, and HIV: "The HIV carriers are characteristically diagnosed with advanced AIDS-associated illnesses requiring prolonged hospitalization, extensive and repeated laboratory tests and treatments with expensive drugs."

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In 2011, the cost to the hospital of treating the illegal immigrants was 27 million shekels ($7.5).

"This expenditure is not funded by any government agency: it is paid for with the hospital resources that were earmarked to benefit the citizens of Israel who are often treated side-by-side with the migrant patients. Nevertheless, the message conveyed to the medical team by hospital management is clear and unambiguous and based on inflexible medical ethics: treatment of this population must be in every way identical to the treatment given to Israeli citizens, and no financial considerations can be allowed to enter into the medical decision- making process." (emphasis added)

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=270453

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In a similar vein, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai has said that the municipality has spent millions in taxpayers' funds to create schools and improve infrastructure in neighborhoods where the Africans constitute a majority.

"They are human beings," he said yesterday.  "What can I do, I can't see human beings thrown into the street."

So we might say that we are pretty wonderful.

But we must also say that this is an untenable situation that cannot be sustained.

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On Wednesday night, there was a major demonstration by Israeli residents of south Tel Aviv, demanding that the illegal African immigrants go.  Their anger spilled over, resulting in rioting and incidents of violence against some of the Africans.

Unequivocally and across the board Israeli leaders and politicians condemned this violence.  In no terms is it acceptable.  Not in any instance, but especially not perpetrated by Jews, who are bidden to a different standard of behavior, and who have been on the receiving end of violence so often in our history. 

Yet, the mother who keeps her children in after dark for fear of who may be walking the streets, the father of a girl who was raped by Africans, these people and many others from this depressed economic neighborhood, resentful of the strain on limited resources, are angry with reason. 

It is platitudinous and unfair to simply say they should welcome the stranger within their midst.

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The point has been made that representatives of NGOs that work with the Africans so identify with them that, in advocating for them, they are prepared to trample the human rights of the Israeli residents of the area where the Africans live.

And the vehemence of the demonstation alerts those same politicians and leaders who criticize the violence to the necessity of acting speedily and effectively to peacefully ameliorate this situation. 

The question, of course, is what to be done. 

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The answer that is being provided is two-fold.  On the one hand, a fence is being constructed along our border with the Sinai to keep additional immigrants from flocking into Israel in large numbers.  Good enough.

And on the other hand, there is talk about sending those who would not be at risk back to their native lands. 

The attorney general has ruled that repatriating illegal immigrants is permissible under law.  Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) has pledged that they will be moved out in toto by the end of the year. 

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I myself wonder how he reconciles his "across the board" political declaration with the commandments he, as a religious man, believes in upholding.  Perhaps he can, and I am missing something.  But the situation is vastly complicated:

It is being said that those who are genuine seekers of political asylum would be permitted to stay.  Yet it is difficult to determine precisely who is a genuine political refugee -- and I'm not certain how much of an attempt has even been made or if there is any standard for criteria to use.

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There was a time when many of the Sudanese here were counted as political refugees.  That was when Sudan was in the throes of a violent civil war.  The situation has shifted since South Sudan -- where a number, but not a majority, of the Sudanese here are from -- became an independent nation.  We have an excellent relationship with this fledgling nation and are eager to lend support in a variety of ways.  The South Sudanese government is grateful for various assistance Israel has provided, and wants good relations -- but plays it low key because in largely Muslim Africa (Sudan is Muslim, South Sudan is Christian and animist), strong relationships with Israel are, shall we say, frowned upon.

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South Sudanese President Salva Kiir visited Israel this past December.  In meetings with Netanyahu, it was agreed in principle that arrangements would be made for sending the South Sudanese back home.

Credit: GPO 

Kiir concurred, at least in principle, that his people should come back.  And the Israeli ambassador to South Sudan, Dan Shaham, has been coordinating arrangements for their return.

But those Sudanese who danced in the streets of Tel Aviv when their nation declared its independence are none too eager to go.  South Sudan, after all, is a poor a struggling nation.  It's still better for them here in Israel.  "Yes, yes," some of them say.  "Of course we want to go home. But just not yet."  They protest in the streets for permission to remain here. 

When Agricultural Minister of South Sudan, Betty Achan Ogwaro, visited Israel just weeks ago, she said that the people from her country came here for a better life, and she appealed on a humanitarian basis for them to be allowed to remain.

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They came as political refugees, but we were being asked to keep them for economic reasons. 

But we will not be keeping them: Minister Yishai has just given the order to begin rounding up the 3,00 South Sudanese here in order to deport them home.

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Yet even when those who are from South Sudan are deported, there is still the question of those from Sudan, and from Eretria.

Israel has no diplomatic ties with Sudan and it would be problematic to send people back there.  MK Danny Danon has alluded to possible arrangements by which Africans from here would be accepted in east European nations. This may be a possible answer.

As to Eritreans -- who constitute a full 70% of the illegal Africans who are here -- it is my understanding that it will take more time to determine how to handle their situation:

The Eritrean ambassador to Israel Tesfamarian Takeste has said those illegals who are Eritrean  can come back home, and that his embassy would make every effort to facilitate their return. 

Representatives of NGOs working with the Africans, noting the horrendous human rights record of Eritrea, scoff at the notion that people can be safely sent back there. 

MK Yitzhak Herzog (Labor) advocates a more thorough investigation of the situation there -- rather than simply adopting the position of the NGOs.  The UN High Commission for Refugees, he says, accepts the testimony of Eritreans (that they are political refugees) on face value.

Interestingly, however, Herzog cites as potentially problematic the repercussions that would be met by returning Eritreans who were draft dodgers.  But is it Israel's place to provide refuge to draft dodgers?  This speaks directly to the need to determine criteria for legitimate claims of political asylum.

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There have been some creative proposals advanced. But I fear that in the rush of the heated moment they will be given scant attention.  These proposals involve sending people back home slowly and under constructive circumstances.

One, for example, suggests training Africans in the skills of Israeli agriculture. Then when they are sent back they would not be unemployed (a major concern for the returning Africans), but would, rather, be welcomed back by their home countries that are eager for these skills.  Not incidentally, Israel would be assisting the countries to which they return -- so that there would be gratitude towards Israel and not resentment.

Herzog has proposed that arrangements be made for some of the African infiltrators here illegally to work legally -- as people from the Philippines, Thailand and other places do -- for a defined period of time, and then be required to go back, but now with money in their pockets.

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From my own vantage point I see the absolute necessity for the majority of the illegal Africans to be moved out of Israel, but I hope that it can be done with humanity and wisdom.  With sufficient care taken for individual cases.  And with the acceptance and legalization of some who are legitimately seeking political asylum.

Until such time as final decisions are made, it also seems to me that temporary actions by the State may be required -- affording of health insurance is a key example, and perhaps finding ways for them to be legally and gainfully employed (so that crime can be reduced). 

The fear, of course, is that once such accommodations are made, "temporary" quickly and almost irrevocally morphs into "permanent," with the Africans crying about how well they've settled and how they should be permitted to remain indefinitely.  I understand this. 

Perhaps simply acting quickly is the best of the alternatives.  Proposals I've read that we simply allow these Africans to become Jews and stay in Israel are nonsensical ideas from bleeding hearts.  (People are only supposed to become Jews because they are committed to Judaism, not because they want to stay in a particular locale.)

Exactly where the line should be drawn between protecting Israel and responding to the "other" is no mean task.

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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/25/may-25-2012-transcending-the-news.html

Today in Baghdad, the Iranians rejected a proposal that had been put forward by P5 + 1.  What was being sought by the international community was a cessation of enrichment of uranium to 20% (not even all enrichment!).  In return Iran would have received benefits such as medical isotopes and spare parts that Iran needs for its for civilian airliners.

But what Iran wanted was the easing of economic sanctions on Iranian oil export in return for Iranian pledges that UN inspectors would be permitted wider inspection of their facilities.  (Remember: agreeing to permit inspections is not agreeing to halt the process towards nuclear capability.)

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The Iranians are saying that world powers are making the atmosphere "difficult." 

And my favorite accusation, coming from Iranian al-Alam TV:

"The discourse of the six powers during the talks is very similar to that of Israel's prime minister and his defense minister."

If, at all, it may be true that the stance of the negotiating nations is tougher because of Israel's position, this is a blessing.  Not because the tougher stance might have positive results, but rather because it exposes Iranian intentions.

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One can trace a line from the situation that the world powers who are now negotiating find themselves in backwards to the conciliatory stance offered to Iran over the last few years by the Obama administration and the Europeans.

Obama's "I-don't-want-to-appear-aggressive, rather-I-reach-my-hand-out-to-you-so-we-can-achieve-dialogue" approach delivered the message that the US was going to be a pushover.

One Iranian diplomat, cited by YNet today, said that the package that had been offered fell short of a "compromise."

A compromise??  Excuse me?  Thinking is seriously out of line here.

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Before today's negotiating session had been held, Iran's media were putting out messages of optimism and reflecting the attitude that they had "a strong negotiating position."  Greatest criticism was directed at the US Congress, which, in proposing tougher sanctions, "was not giving a good message which shows they are not yet ready to show good will....

"Some have mistakenly thought that if they pressure Iran, Iran will give up."  Translation: you cannot defeat us with your sanctions.

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Iran is the greatest danger to world peace in the world today. The greatest purveyor of terrorism.  It is on the edge of achieving nuclear capacity, has said it will destroy Israel, and would, if nuclear, create a shield around renegade groups and nations. Not incidentally, it also want to come after America.

And the world believes it can negotiate with Iran's leaders.  The world, incredibly, still imagines that giving something to Iran in good spirit will move it towards a less belligerent, more cooperative stance.

But Iran understands only an iron fist.  There should be no compromise, no gift-giving.  Rather, a message: "We consider you a threat to all we represent. Cease and desist or we blow your heads off.  You decide." Diplomatically said, of course.

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An IAEA report now says that Iran recently installed 350 additional centrifuges in the Fordo underground uranium enrichment facility near Qom. This is while Iran is supposed to be in the course of negotiations. 

This is how it is, folks.

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In spite of the failure of the current talks, parties have agreed to meet again in Geneva, Switzerland in mid-June.  What this means is that from now until mid-June the Iranians can sail along, uninhibited in their progress towards nuclear capacity. 

Declared on US official, "We think we still have some time for diplomacy."  Some optimism was expressed that the pace of the talks would "pick up."

Not every official in the US is this obtuse or self-deluding.  This eager to pretend that negotiations work.

Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Independent Joe Lieberman, in an op-ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, declared,. "The U.S. must be prepared, if necessary, to use military force to stop Iran from getting a nuclear-weapons capability." 

But unfortunately these gentlemen are not running the country.

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Said Israel's Minister of Security Affairs Bogie Ya'alon:

"As long as the centrifuges are spinning, we will not remain calm."  In the end, he observed, if all other methods for trying to stop Iran fail, "someone may have to launch a military strike on Iran." 

"Someone."

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Clifford May, president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, has written a powerful piece on this issue that merits serious attention here (emphasis added):

"It’s no longer possible to pretend we don’t know the intentions of Iran’s rulers. They keep telling us, candidly, clearly and repeatedly. Most recently on Sunday: Addressing a gathering in Tehran, Maj. Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, vowed the 'full annihilation of the Zionist regime of Israel to the end.'

"A few days earlier, during a presentation at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a respected Israeli think tank, the former Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Maria Aznar, recalled a 'private discussion' in Tehran in October 2000 with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who told him: 'Israel must be burned to the ground and made to disappear from the face of the Earth.'

"...Khamenei also told Aznar that the goal of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 has remained unchanged — to rid the world of two evils: Israel and the U.S. Eventually, there must be an 'open confrontation.' Khamenei said it was his duty to ensure that Iran prevailed.

"With this as context, it is no longer possible to pretend that the acquisition of nuclear weapons is not a priority for Khamenei. The notion that he is merely making — as Reuters has charmingly phrased it — 'a peaceful bid to generate electricity,' or has not decided whether he wants nuclear weapons, or wants them only as a deterrent because he fears foreign aggression, or has issued a fatwa declaring possession of nuclear weapons a sin, or favors diplomatic conflict resolution but requires a series of 'confidence-building measures' is wishful thinking and self-delusion, if not blatant disinformation.

"...Testifying before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last week, Mark Dubowitz, my colleague at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned Congress that Iran’s negotiators would offer concessions that sound meaningful, but are not, in exchange for Western concessions that sound trivial but amount to capitulation.

"Dubowitz cautioned that it will require vigorous Congressional oversight to make sure that Western diplomats do not provide Iran with 'sanctions relief in the shadows,' meaning that insurance, energy, financial and shipping-related sanctions that have already passed into law will fail to be strictly enforced to keep 'the process' going. That will be seen as preferable to acknowledging diplomatic failure. The major media are likely to miss this, or misreport it.

"In his presentation in Jerusalem, Aznar recalled also a meeting he had with Vladimir Putin, in which he advised the Russian president against selling surface-to-air missiles to Iran. 'Don’t worry, I, you, we can sell them everything, even if we are worried by an Iranian nuclear bomb,' Aznar quoted Putin as saying. 'Because, at the end of the day, Israel will take care of it.'

"Aznar told this story in Washington about a year ago but at the time asked those of us in the room to keep it off the record. I remember that he added incredulously: 'But that’s the Russian policy? To let Israel take care of it?'

"If, in the days ahead, this becomes the de facto policy of the U.S. and Europe as well, we should not pretend we don’t know, or that we don’t understand the profound implications of that."

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=1940

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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/24/may-24-2012-and-here-we-see-it.html

Prime Minister Netanyahu requested that the sponsors of these bills give him two weeks to work out the situation in Ulpana without legislation.   One can never be sure what he'll pull out of his sleeve, but I advise my readers not to expect a miracle solution from him.

Credit: Huffington Post

While Likud MKs had been released from coalition obligations, he had not given Likud ministers latitude to vote their conscience -- they would have been expected to vote according to coalition instructions.  This in itself made a win unlikely.  Ministers can buck coalition discipline, but are liable for disciplinary action if they do.  And they'd be very unlikely to do so in light of the prime minister's request. Which meant that pulling the legislation off the floor was a prudent move.

First MK Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) withdrew his proposed legislation. 

Credit: Times of Israel

Ya'akov -Ketzeleh- Katz (Chair, National Union) withdrew with great reluctance and only at the last minute.

 
Credit: IsraelMatzav

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I've been told by a source inside the Knesset that Netanyahu pledged that Defense Minister Barak would make no move towards the demolition of the Ulpana houses until after the two weeks.

Then I was told that there was a "sort of" commitment from Netanyahu to release the ministers from coalition discipline if he is unable to resolve the issue and the legislation is brought to the floor.  Can't say exactly what "sort of" means.

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For the record, I've been advised that there are some real (if not overwhelming) differences between the two versions of the legislation, with Katz's version more broadly applicable to a variety of communities.

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I want to turn to the issue of Iran.  It is by far THE overriding issue.  The number of statements being made, and of words flowing from computer keyboards with regard to what is going on is rather daunting.

In a nutshell: The world is being "had." 

Or is allowing itself to be "had," and there's a very good case to be made for this position.  See "Talks aim not to thwart Iran nukes, but to stop Israeli attack":

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=4403

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Two things are going on. 

Negotiations have begun again in Baghdad.  Just days ago the NY Times announced that the representatives of the international community who are negotiating with Iran (the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) have said they are prepared to offer "an incentives package" if Iran will agree to end enrichment of uranium. 

Incentives?  That was fast in coming.

Meanwhile IAEA chief Yukiya Amano has been in Tehran for talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.  On Monday they announced an agreement regarding inspections of nuclear sites.   But there is so very much wrong with all of this.  Amano announced before the meeting that he and Jalili had determined that they would come to an agreement. 

This being the case, we can speculate with reasonable certainty that Amano didn't go in with intentions of being tough.  He did not declare, "You want an agreement? THIS is what we demand."  It was more like, "Oh, we've already said we need that agreement, so let's see how we can arrange this." Questions have been raised regarding the cleaning of key sites prior to any inspections, and time limits that Iran wants placed on the IAEA's right to do inspections. 

You don't have to be a nuclear scientist (forgive the awful pun) to see what's going on here.

The world is ever so hungry for "success."  Iran will accommodate to a point, to give the international community the sense of having achieved something -- and then will run rings around them all.

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In the face of all of this, I remain relatively calm, for the simple reason that I know neither Israel's prime minister nor defense minister is buying into all of this.

Monday night, Netanyahu said (emphasis added):

"Iran wants to destroy Israel and it is developing nuclear weapons to fulfill that goal. Leading world powers need to display determination and not weakness in the face of this malicious intention. They should not make any concessions to Iran.

"They need to make clear and unequivocal demands that Iran stop all of its nuclear enrichment activity, remove all the material that has been enriched until now and dismantle the underground nuclear facility near Qom. Only then can we be sure Iran will not get an atomic bomb."

Netanyahu made it clear that Israel's views on this matter "will not change."

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And today, in an Israel Radio interview, Barak said (again, emphasis added):

"Obama and the representatives of the West are not naive.  But they want to achieve progress, so they are willing to compromise.

"Israel is demanding a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment."  Barak added that the West was setting the bar too low and demanding too little.  "We mustn't blink, concede, or cave at the last minute."

As to Amano's negotiations in Tehran, Barak observed:

"The Iranians orchestrated things in such a way that when the Baghdad talks rolled around they would be able to tell the world powers that they were already coordinating the procedural details with the IAEA, and when Amano wanted to talk about the essential issues they could say that they were working those out with the world powers. It gives them a little wiggle room."

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Please, understand this critical point, which is being made by Israeli officials in the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry:

The IAEA agreement only relates to monitoring and is not enough to halt Iran's nuclear progress.

As one senior official was cited as saying (emphasis added), "The problem is [that] Iran's program is continuing unabated and needs to be stopped. We have seen what happened with agreements between the IAEA and Iran in the past. Terms were agreed but facilities were still set up openly, like Natanz in 2002 and Qom in 2009. The latest IAEA report reveals Iran's scams and deceptions."

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Maj. Gen. Itai Baron, head of the Military Intelligence research department, provided a briefing yesterday for the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee

What he said was that Iran was moving ahead with its nuclear program — enriching uranium and maintaining full operation of the facilities near Qom and Bushehr. Iran has trebled its pace of uranium enrichment to 20 percent. Baron estimates that by the end of 2012, Iran will have enriched sufficient uranium to 20% to build a single nuclear device.

I've read elsewhere that beyond this point it would take Iran somewhere between six and 18 months to produce a bomb.

So, with so many people patting themselves on the back with regard to "progress" in Iranian negotiations, precisely who is paying attention to this critical information?

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In closing, I leave you with this: Barak has made it clear, once again, in the face of these "negotiations," that Israel does not rule out any option.  What this means is that if a deal is struck with Iran, and Israeli leaders deem it insufficient, so that Iran remains a danger to Israel and the world, we will act as we see fit. 

We'd stand alone, and so be it.  It would hardly be the first time.

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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/23/may-23-2012-stalemate.html

I want to begin by sharing an excellent article by Moshe Dann, "The fundamental misconception about Arab-Israeli peace." 

Dann addresses a very basic issue for our nation with clarity (all emphasis added):

"'The “peace process' between Israel and the Arabs, touted as part of a 'two state' plan, failed not because of disagreements over settlements and boundaries, but because of a basic false assumption: that Palestinianism could be fulfilled in a Palestinian state alongside Israel. It failed not because Israel did not give enough, but because nothing would have been enough...

"The dispute is not over territory, but ideology – Palestinianism, the basis of their nearly hundred-year war against Zionism and the State of Israel, the national historic homeland of the Jewish People. For Arabs, Palestinians and most Muslims, that struggle is jihad against the infidel.

"Since a 'peace process' requires Arabs to give up their opposition to a Jewish state, it contradicts their basic principles and historic mission. While some might make temporary concessions, the goal is the same. It explains not only why the “peace process” failed, but why that failure was and is inevitable.

"The primary goal of Palestinian nationalism is to wipe out the State of Israel, not to legitimize its existence.

"...Palestinianism is not an authentic national identity, but a political construct developed in the mid 1960s as part of the PLO’s terrorist agenda. 'Liberation' did not refer to Judea, Samaria, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem, which Arabs then controlled, but to Israel itself.

"...Trying to convince Palestinian Arabs to change their concept of Palestinian identity and accept Israel, therefore, means throwing out the struggle to 'liberate Palestine from the Zionists.' It assumes that their struggle is to achieve statehood alongside Israel, not to replace Israel with an Arab Muslim state.

"...Statehood means denying the Nakba (catastrophe), the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It means admitting that everything for which they fought and sacrificed was in vain.

"...Statehood means giving up 'the armed struggle' against Israel, the heart of Palestinian identity. It means that the concept of Palestinianism created by Arabs and the PLO, accepted by the UN and the media, and even by Israeli politicians was a hoax, a fake identity with a false purpose. It means that their suffering was for naught.

"Statehood involves taking responsibility and ending incitement and violence, confronting the myths of 'Palestinian archeology,' and 'Palestinian society and culture,' and it requires building authentic nationalism, with just and transparent institutions.

"In this context, for Palestinians, Arabs and most Muslims, a 'peace process,' the 'two-state solution' that accepts Israel, is a metaphor for defeat.

"As long as massive funding and proposals for solutions are based on establishing a second (or third) Arab Palestinian state west of the Jordan River they ignore inherent contradictions, fan the flames of resentment and undermine Israel’s security and viability.

"And, as long as Palestinianism can tap into the unlimited cesspools of Western Jew-hatred and Arab bank accounts the conflict will continue..."

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?ID=270896&R=R1

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For many of us who have been witnessing events here with clear eyes and a sense of horror, what Dann writes is axiomatic: The "two state solution" ain't gonna work. There was never a chance.

He says, "We need to return to reality and leave dreamy visions and hype where they belong."  "Ein breira (no choice)."

Agreed.  It's absolutely essential to begin the dialogue in earnest about the inherent failure of the Oslo vision and the "two state solution." 

We have to start.  Yet this will be a long hard haul, not just internationally, but even here at home. 

Some people are reluctant to surrender that lovely vision -- they cling to it in the face of all evidence to the contrary.  Our president, Shimon Peres, falls into this category.  He waxes eloquently optimistic even when there is no cause for optimism -- and is greatly loved abroad for his embrace of this international fantasy.

Others -- whatever they know in their hearts -- are without the courage to buck the international consensus.  Our prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, can be counted in this category.  While I certainly cannot see into his heart, I am convinced that he knows full well that there is no chance of a peace process succeeding, no possibility of negotiations coming to a meaningful fruition.

Yet, instead of standing up before the nation and telling the unvarnished truth, he plays that game --speaking of his fervent hope that Abbas will come to the table, and of his commitment to a Palestinian state (albeit a "demilitarized" state -- yet another fantasy). 

It is likely that he has convinced himself that he is sparing himself and his nation unnecessary grief by playing it this way.  I imagine that he hopes to incur less international wrath and secure more support.  But in the final analysis he is bringing Israel to a diplomatic dead end (a dead end, admittedly, that he hopes to blame on Abbas), without helping us to move on in positive and constructive terms.

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What we require now, of course, is serious dialogue at a national level regarding what comes next.  Various proposals have been advanced, and must be examined. They include but are not limited to:

[] Annexation of all of Judea and Samaria, with the Arabs resident within our borders being granted full citizenship. (In spite of much of the hype you've likely heard, they are not a demographic threat.)

[] Annexation of only area C, which is fully under Israeli control according to Oslo and encompasses all Jewish areas plus areas important for security, but does not encompass the major areas of Arab residence.  This might be done as a first stage towards eventual full annexation, or this might be an end unto itself -- in which case questions remain as to what happens to areas A and B, where the Palestinian Arabs have full or partial control (see following).

[] Movement of the Palestinian Arab "refugees" (those registered with UNRWA) to a third country for resettlement, with an autonomy that provides local control accorded to those remaining Palestinian Arabs who live between the river and the sea.

[] Establishment of "cantons" in Judea and Samaria, in Palestinian Arab areas, each to be governed by a local clan (hamula).  This is the proposal of Dr. Moti Kedar, who says that as the Palestinian Arab society is clan-based only this will truly allow peace.  (He actually sees a good deal of the Arab Middle East ultimately breaking back down into clan-controlled regions, rather than remaining as the artificially created "nations" that currently exist.)

[] Encouragement of voluntary movement of Palestinian Arabs into Jordan, which is the true Palestinian state (although the Jordanian king is loath to acknowledge this).  Perhaps along with this an annexation of Palestinian Arab areas of Judea and Samaria to Jordan, so that the Arabs would be franchised via Jordan and not Israel.  Or, in another permutation, autonomous areas for Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria that would be federated with Jordan and permit Jordanian citizenship.

~~~~~~~~~~

There is obviously a great deal to consider: precipitous decisions cannot and should not be made with regard to matters of such import for the nation.  But we must begin to talk about the possibilities -- in their various permutations -- and the implications of each.

(Please! Do not write to me to tell me which way forward is obviously best.  I am simply explaining the various options here.)

With a prime minister who is not on board, this will come slowly. 

But I do see hopeful signs of a nationalist turn within the Knesset and the nation. I see good people who are willing to confront the issues.  This is not going to move forward without a whole lot of angst.  It may even be two steps forward and one step backward. 

But I have hopes that over time it indeed will move forward.  And -- to the very best of my ability -- I will be tracking and celebrating that progress.

~~~~~~~~~~

One of the really good people right now is Miri Regev (Likud), who is about to start a Knesset lobby to promote annexation of Judea and Samaria. Right on!  It will at least be a subject of conversation in the Knesset now.  And a other good people will be joining her.  I would bet on the firebrand Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and the long-time fighter for the nationalist cause, Arieh Eldad (National Union).

Another is Ze'ev Elkins (Likud and Coalition Chair), who has, most recently, promoted a bill to provide tax breaks of 35% for donations to NGOs that encourage settlement, including in Judea and Samaria.  That bill passed in the Knesset yesterday.

~~~~~~~~~~

Then we've got the good people who are fighting the fight for Ulpana and other "unauthorized" communities.  Battle is being done by people such as Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) and Ya'akov Katz (chair, National Union). 

I've been alluding for some time to that fact that they will be bringing legislation to the Knesset to address this issue. And tomorrow is the day!  Quite a tense day it promises to be.

Originally Orlev said he wouldn't bring the legislation forward unless the prime minister released the government ministers to vote their consciences and did not require coalition discipline.  And there was considerable lobbying to try to convince Netanyahu to do just that.

But the latest word is that he will not.  Both he and his "coalition buddy" Mofaz have announced that they will not support this legislation.  Mofaz particularly irked me with his statement that he would not contravene a ruling of the High Court.  This is circular reasoning, since the High Court ruling was based on the position of the government.

Why the legislation is being brought forward in spite of the opposition at the top is not clear, for if it doesn't pass it may not be brought back for several months.  Might be some arrangements in process behind the scenes that have yet to become apparent.

~~~~~~~~~~

Again, for the record: broadly, the proposed legislation says that if a certain period of time (roughly four years) has passed during which Jews are living in housing in Judea and Samaria and an Arab suddenly claims ownership, that ownership must be documented in court.  But even if it proves valid, if more than 20 Jewish families live in the community, it cannot be dismantled. Instead the Arab owner will be compensated with funds or an alternative site of land.

~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of "an alternative site of land," Netanyahu, who had made all sorts of noise about how he would find a way to save Ulpana, is now offering the residents an alternative so that the houses in question can be dismantled.  He could save Ulpana. By allowing ministers to vote their conscience on that legislation, or by giving the word that the IDF should take the land, which would enable it to be fully and unquestionably legalized.  What he is offering here feels like his attempt to pretend to help the people without actually saving Ulpana.

~~~~~~~~~~

Other points of political interest:

The two nationalist parties, National Union (Ihud Leumi) and Habayit Hayehudi (formerly Mafdal), are in process of making arrangements to merge.  I see this as positive, because, for maximum political effectiveness, there must unity of nationalist elements.  This merger will not be accomplished easily, but is necessary.

I have learned that some polls indicate an increase in support for these parties, combined.

Naftali Bennett, formerly a key aide to Netanyahu, had planned to start his own nationalist party. But as elections won't be held for some 18 months, he has shifted strategies and will be joining Habayit Hayehudi. This, too, I see as positive. For he has considerable political expertise and support -- via his work as head of the Yesha Council -- and will be an asset.  MK Uri Orbach is backing him to head the party.

Many of you may feel the need for a score card, or a spread sheet, to keep track of all of this. But I share it because the import -- with the advancement of a nationalist agenda down the road -- is so great.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please, see my most recent article, up on American Thinker.  It deals with the true meaning of hudna, a word used by the Palestinian Arabs that is often erroneously translated as "truce." 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/05/really_missing_the_point_on_hudna.html

~~~~~~~~~~

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/22/may-22-2012-no-respite.html

Credit: Israel-lightontonations

Tonight begins Yom Yerushalayim -- Jerusalem Day.

The day is celebrated according to the Hebrew date of the liberation by Israeli troops of eastern (historic Jewish) Jerusalem, in 1967. 

“Har Habayit b’yadenu! Ani chozer: Har Habayit b’yadenu!  The Temple Mount is in our hands! I repeat, the Temple Mount is in our hands!”

So declared Gen. Motta Gur when he and the paratroopers he commanded reached the Mount.

You can hear an historic recording of this event, which includes prayers by Rabbi Shlomo Goren, and see a translated transcript here:

http://israelperspectives.blogspot.com/2006/05/jerusalem-day-broadcast-of-liberation.html

~~~~~~~~~~

In the 3,000 years since King David first made Jerusalem his capital, the city had been divided only once: during the 19 years that Jordan controlled eastern Jerusalem following the War of Independence. 

When Israel liberated that part of the city, on the third day of the Six Day War, Jerusalem was reunited -- never, ever to be divided again.

The myth is that "east" Jerusalem is "Arab."  But this only appeared to be the case because Jordan rendered it Judenrein -- not only banishing all Jews, but destroying synagogues and desecrating cemeteries.  The reality is that the very heart of ancient Jewish heritage is in the eastern part of the city.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today, almost half of the population of eastern Jerusalem -- more than 225,00 people -- is Jewish.  Any notion of being able to divide the city -- with western Jerusalem for the Jews, and eastern Jerusalem for the Arabs, is pure nonsense.

In fact, the notion that the Palestinian Arabs have a legitimate claim to any part of Jerusalem is equally nonsense.  And let it be clearly understood:  They say they want the eastern part of the city for their capital.  But a serious analysis of statements made by the Palestinian Authority makes it clear that they intend to have all of the city.

We made a grievous error, in turning over the daily administration of the Temple Mount to the Muslim Wakf after we had liberated it. Let there be no more mistakes.

To surrender the very heart of Jewish heritage would be to seriously weaken our national resolve, and to   rob us of our deepest purpose. And don't imagine the Arabs are not aware of this. 

Under no circumstances may Jerusalem be divided.

~~~~~~~~~~

Any so-called Jewish leader or thinker or writer, whether here in Israel or outside, who proposes such a division -- imagining it to be somehow necessary either in the interests of "peace" or to satisfy international demands -- does a serious disservice to Am Yisrael and the State of Israel.  Such a move would serve only to weaken the Jewish people and to subvert the cause of true peace.

~~~~~~~~~~

Almost immediately after the city was reunited, a law was passed for the protection of holy places; it reads:

"The Holy Places shall be protected from desecration and any other violation and from anything likely to violate the freedom of access of the members of the different religions to the places sacred to them or their feelings with regard to those places..." 

It must be noted that only under Israeli sovereignty will Christian holy places in Jerusalem be guarded.   

In July 1980, the Knesset passed the Jerusalem Law, declaring, "Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel."  Eastern Jerusalem is indivisibly part of the capital.

~~~~~~~~~~

If you have never visited Jerusalem, I urge you to do so.  There is no way to truly value her in your heart without knowing her. When you come, be sure to take a tour of the ancient Jewish sites in eastern Jerusalem.

Of course, the Kotel, and the tunnel adjacent, and the nearby archeological gardens. And go up on the Mount -- an important thing to do -- with a guide.

Not to be missed, as well, is Ir David -- the City of David, outside the city walls. This is the original ancient city, and archeologists regularly uncover new evidence of life there.  

But it doesn't end with these sites. A guide can show you old Jewish neighborhoods, and much more.  See www.keepjerusalem.org .

~~~~~~~~~~

Im eshkachech:

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its cunning; let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not set Jerusalem above my greatest joy.

From Psalm 137.

I offer here in closing what I still think is the best of the videos offering the song Im Eshkachech.  A few years old, it remains very moving.

http://24jewish.net/m/videos/view/im-eshkachech-if-i-ever-forget-thee-Jerusalem

~~~~~~~~~~

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/19/may-19-2012-sing-yerushalayim.html?SSScrollPosition=0 

According to the Country Ratings Poll of the BBC World Service, which was just released, the percentage of people in various nations polled that has a negative view of Israel has increased.   More than 24,000 people were polled in 22 countries.  In EU countries -- particularly Germany, Spain, Great Britain and France -- negative rating are very high. 

Is the world totally daft?  The negative ratings for Israel are similar to those for Pakistan and North Korea.

The only exceptions to this trend are the US, Nigeria and Kenya, where the percentage viewing Israel as positive has increased. 

~~~~~~~~~~

These ratings have much less to do with reality than with perceptions, which are influenced by deliberate campaigns of delegitimization.  Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to the US, wrote about this in the Wall Street Journal recently.

And, I must add, by anti-Semitism, which has become more politically correct these days.  It is, of course, no accident that Europe, which views Israel negatively, also has a strong tradition of anti-Semitism.

~~~~~~~~~~

I especially like the hard-nosed and optimistic take on this offered by Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, who frequently comments on the political scene.

Credit: JerusalemConnection

His position here is different from what many are saying (all emphasis added):
"World opinion should not deter Israel from enhancing Jewish roots and national security, expanding the Jewish presence in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights, and pre-empting Palestinian and Hezbollah terrorism.

"Adverse world opinion and global pressure have always been an integral part of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. The aim of this global campaign has been to eliminate the unique national, religious, cultural and territorial features of the Jewish people, including Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel.

"The bolstering of Jewish sovereignty generates negative world opinion (except in the U.S. and a few other countries), but enhances respect toward a conviction-driven Jewish state. On the other hand, when Jewish sovereignty retreats and Israel submits to world opinion, it just reflects weakness. Israel will never satisfy world opinion, and such action only further fuels global pressure, which erodes respect toward the Jewish state.

"...going against the grain has been a prerequisite for game-changing human endeavors in general, and Jewish initiatives in particular.

"Going against the grain has been a Jewish trait since the introduction of Abraham’s monotheism. Moreover, a defiant Jewish people has preserved and advanced the Jewish vision and strategic Jewish goals – while contributing uniquely to humanity – in the face of devastation, decimation, exiles, pogroms, expulsions, public burning, discrimination, forceful conversion and the Holocaust. If they had allowed themselves to be intimidated by world opinion, the Jewish people would have been doomed to oblivion. "

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=1896

Right on, Yoram!

~~~~~~~~~~

A very specific sort of outrage is found with regard to this:

In 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, Arab terrorists made their way into Olympic village, where participants stayed, and massacred 11 Israeli athletes and their coaches. 

Credit: radarsite

The games went on...

This year, prior to the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in London, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, acting on behalf of two widows of the murdered athletes, sent a letter to International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge requesting one minute of silence at the games in memory of these athletes.

Rogge has refused.  Forty years after the fact, one minute is still too much.  And I have no doubt that it's too much because we're talking about Israelis.

Ayalon's response:
"Unfortunately, this response is unacceptable as it rejects the central principles of global fraternity on which the Olympic ideal is supposed to rest. The terrorist murders of the Israeli athletes were not just an attack on people because of their nationality and religion; it was an attack on the Olympic Games and the international community. Thus it is necessary for the Olympic Games as a whole to commemorate this event in the open rather than only in a side event.

"This rejection told us as Israelis that this tragedy is yours alone and not a tragedy within the family of nations. This is a very disappointing approach and we hope that this decision will be overturned so the international community as one can remember, reflect and learn the appropriate lesson from this dark stain on Olympic history."

The Foreign Ministry intends to mount a campaign in an attempt to secure a reversal of this decision.

~~~~~~~~~~

And speaking of the Olympics, Jibril Rajoub, former head of Palestinian Preventative Security Service in the West Bank, and now chair of the Palestinian Football (that is, soccer) Association, has called for Israel to be expelled from all international Olympic Committees until it "honors its international agreements."

They don't let up, do they?  No matter how outrageous, they give it a shot.  And if a particular gambit doesn't work? It still reinforces in peoples' minds the "fact" that Israel is a renegade state.

~~~~~~~~~~

As to Israel as "negative," the world pays no attention to news such as this:

Scientists at Hebrew University in Jerusalem have developed a device that allows blind people to "see," by converting pictures taken by a camera into "soundscapes," that the user can interpret.

How many people who see Israel as "negative" will benefit from this and dozens of other medical advances coming out of Israel?

~~~~~~~~~~

Shabbat is coming, and so I end with a story that can bring a laugh:

This lovely looking bird, Merops Apiaster, is commonly known as the European Bee-Eater.  A farmer in Turkey found one of these birds dead recently. When he examined it, he saw that it bore a metal band on its leg that said "Israel."  Not only that, its nostrils were unusually large, suggesting that there was a device implanted in the bird for espionage purposes.

Could I make this up?

The bird has been turned over to Turkey's security services, which are apparently not aware of the practice of banding migrating birds (of which Israel is temporary home to millions).

More evidence that the world is crazy, and that when it comes to Israel they'll believe anything.

~~~~~~~~~~

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/18/may-18-2012-outrage-upon-outrage.html

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=56768

A few points are worth mention before we move to other issues. 

The leaders, in signing the agreement, pledged to refrain from all activity that constitutes practical support for terrorism, e.g., recruitment, providing guidance.  And yes, this is a laughable proposition.  It means about as much as the pledge signed by terrorists, released in deals such the Shalit trade, that they will never return to terrorism.  

Consider the implications of this:  From within their prison cells, prisoners who are terrorist leaders have had sufficient access to the outside world to be able to get out messages that foment or promote terrorism.  This, for all their laments.

The only advantage to securing such pledges that I see is that if terrorist leaders are caught breaking it, prison officials can declare the deal void.  Whether they actually would -- or, rather, will -- is another issue.

Key aspects are elimination or reduction of solitary confinement and increased primary family visitation.
There is, obviously, a direct connection between the pledge by the prisoners to not promote terrorism and the concessions above.

Other issues relating to improved conditions are to be examined after the strike ends.  I would imagine it is here that such matters as securing Israeli academic degrees while in prison will be examined.  There had been allusions to the possible release of a few prisoners, but I have seen no more about this.

~~~~~~~~~~

There is, thankfully, no mention of administrative detention in this agreement, and you might want to see what the IDF has to say about it:

"[It] is a lawful security measure allowing the deprivation of a person's liberty for a limited time. Administrative detention orders are used as a preventative measure against persons posing grave threats to the security of the West Bank or its population, such as persons directly involved in terrorism, whose detention is considered to be absolutely necessary for imperative reasons of security."

There are many safeguards incorporated into the process of detaining someone who is deemed a security risk, and a legal procedure must be followed.  When you see this, you understand that we are not talking about the IDF arbitrarily grabbing people and locking them up.

http://www.idf.il/1283-15916-EN/Dover.aspx

~~~~~~~~~~

MK Danny Danon, who has been very much a lone voice of protest lately, says he intends to bring the signed deal to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in order to stop its implementation. 

Credit: DannyDanon

Good thought, but his chances of success are close to nil.

~~~~~~~~~~

Late yesterday the prime minister's spokesman, Mark Regev, announced that the concessions to the prisoners were made as a confidence-building gesture to PA president Abbas, in the hopes that it would bring peace closer.  Abbas had made a request that the prisoners' demands be heeded, you see.  (And, I will add, he also asked Molcho for the return of the bodies of 100 terrorists buried here, and this is to be done.)

This, even more than the commitment secured from the prisoner leaders, is laughable.  But so pathetic, it's terribly hard to laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~

First, it's quite clear that Israeli officials had other reasons for wanting to quiet things in the prisons: 

Today is Nakba day.  Nakba means catastrophe in Arabic, and refers to the day (in the secular calendar) that modern Israel was founded.  In the Palestinian Arab world it is marked by demonstrations and violence, so that every year Israeli police and security forces gear up for trouble. 

Credit: Nowtheendbegins

Today started with a rocket fired from Gaza, and Molotov cocktails in Hevron.  During the course of the day, there have been clashes between Arab demonstrators and Israeli forces in several locations.  Most disturbing is that some of the 200 Arab demonstrators at Kever Rachel (Rachel's Tomb) outside of Bethlehem threw rocks at Jewish worshippers.

Repeatedly -- in the last couple of days -- it was said that Israeli officials were hoping to quell unrest in the prisons before Nakba day, when it was anticipated the situation would get considerably out of hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

Then too there is our relationship with Egypt with regard to the negotiations, which I've already dealt with.  Egypt was much praised by the Arab world yesterday for what was achieved. 

And there is that unfortunate sensitivity to international criticism leveled at us because we are so "cruel" to our prisoners. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Presenting the concessions as a voluntary gesture towards peace might have been an attempt to counter the celebrations in Gaza and PA areas regarding the "victory" over Israel:  It puts a different spin on matters if we were doing this by choice and not because we were coerced.

But giving something to Abbas??  How many unreciprocated gestures has Israel made by now?  And precisely where has it gotten us?  Laughable? Or shameful?

Let's circle back for a moment to the matter of Nakba Day, which Abbas's Palestinian Authority observes.  This is not an expression of longing for all the lands beyond the '67 lines, in which to establish a state.  The premise here is that Israel does not have a right to the lands within the '67 lines -- that is, that Israel is not legitimate in any configuration.

How is peace possible with an entity that maintains this position? And how is it imagined that "gestures' such as giving murders of Jews more privileges in Israeli prisons will bring us even remotely closer to peace?

~~~~~~~~~~

It's not difficult to understand what's going on, however. And this allows me to segue right into my next, related, topic:

Prime Minister Netanyahu is back in his "Look world, I'm the good guy and not the impediment to peace" mode.

Just a couple of days ago, Netanyahu's envoy, Yitzhak Molcho, carried a letter from the prime minister to Abbas.  Its contents were not revealed, officially. But as is the way in such situations, portions of the letter were leaked.  Haaretz, citing someone who saw the letter, said it "included a pledge by Netanyahu to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state in keeping with the principle of a two-state solution."

~~~~~~~~~~

A great deal has been made of this by media sources, who are saying that the letter, in writing on official stationery, represents a step forward in his commitment to the two-state solution.  I'm not at all certain that this is the case: Netanyahu has made similar statements in various public pronouncements, most notably in his speech at Ben Gurion University.

Yes, it's in writing. But it is not a document that -- to the very best of my knowledge -- had the official backing of the Cabinet or the Inner Cabinet or the Knesset.  It was Netanyahu's letter, and debate centers around whether this carries much in the way of "official" weight.  Not so very long ago, Minister Benny Begin declared that Netanyahu's Ben Gurion speech "did not speak for the government."

Is it a small additional slide down that slippery slope upon which the prime minister situates himself? Possibly.
 ``
The point is made in some quarters that while he expresses commitment to a peace deal, he sets out security parameters, including that business of a "demilitarized state," that the PLO will never, ever accept.

~~~~~~~~~~

With regard to being "demilitarized," please read what Jonathan Tobin has written regarding the fact that the PA is currently armed to the teeth and seeking additional weapons.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/05/13/palestinians-short-of-ideas-not-guns-abbas-peace-netanyahu-obama/

They'll not agree to being demilitarized in our lifetimes.

The bottom line, says Tobin, is that "Abbas has demonstrated time and again that he isn't willing or capable of signing a peace agreement that would recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state no matter where its borders are drawn."

Netanyahu full well knows this.

~~~~~~~~~~

I think in part the prime minister may be playing to the left flank of his enlarged coalition.  But even more he's playing to this:

The EU, after the monthly meeting of its foreign ministers on Monday, issued a statement that -- even after an effort by Italy to modify it -- was sharply critical of Israel, which is allegedly a stumbling block to "peace."  Allusions were made to marked acceleration of settlement construction, formalization of the status of three outposts, and the proposal to relocate Migron to another hill "within the occupied Palestinian territory."

The EU is totally devoid of the integrity that permits comments on these issues.  And I would prefer a different response here in Jerusalem.

But our prime minister handles matters as is his wont.

~~~~~~~~~~   

I had written about two similar versions of the "Illegal Outposts" legislation that were to be brought to the Knesset this week.  A decision on doing this is awaiting the word from the prime minister regarding allowing people to vote their consciences and not adhere to party or coalition lines.

In light of what I've just written above, I have the feeling that this is not going to be forthcoming right now.  And that will be very unfortunate, very sad, if it is so.

~~~~~~~~~~

Let me close with this short good news clip about Israel from the people who brought you "Israel Inside":

http://www.stepupforisrael.com/?house

Always, always, the good news too.

~~~~~~~~~~

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/15/may-15-2012-laugh-if-you-can.html

Now, to coincide with Israeli Independence Day according to the secular calendar, JerusalemOnlineU, the creator and distributor of the movie, is offering viewing via free streaming -- for one week starting today.  You can access it here:
 
http://www.israelinsidethemovie.com/free-stream-of-israel-inside/

Please, take the time to see it, pass it along quickly so that others might see it, and publicize it via blogs and lists.

We have so very much to be proud of, in terms of who we are. 

~~~~~~~~~~

So very much to be proud of.... But oh the angst about the things that are going in the wrong direction here.  I seem to have pushed a lot of buttons with my posting yesterday, if reader response is any indication. 

My very favorite (and very "on the mark") observation came from reader Sandor S: 

"Jews debating destruction of Jewish homes and worrying about convicted enemies who choose not to eat??

"This is the theatre of the absurd."

Yeah... it is.

~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote yesterday that a source (whom I normally find highly reliable) advised me that Israel was involving the military government of Egypt (SCAF) in negotiations on the prisoners in order to give it a needed boost.

But I have now uncovered another, related but deeper, reason for Egyptian involvement:

A small number -- perhaps as many as five -- of the prisoners currently protesting their administrative detention are people previously in Israeli prisons who had been released as part of the trade for Shalit.  They were tracked, and when it was clear they were again (or still) involved with terrorism, and thus a danger to Israel, were picked up once again and are being held in administrative detention.  (With thanks to Judith N on this.)

~~~~~~~~~~

Egypt was key to the negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding the trade of Palestinian Arab prisoners for Shalit.

Hamas is now saying that Egyptian officials assumed responsibility for guaranteeing that the prisoners, once released, would not then be rounded up again by Israel. 

(If Egypt did make such a pledge, did this include those who were again involved in terrorist activity?  I can safely conjecture that no differentiation was made -- or put the other way around, that it was assumed they would be involved in terror, no matter the promises that were extracted, and that this was irrelevant to the deal.)

Saleh Aruri, who holds the prisoners’ portfolio in Hamas, said there would have been no deal if not for  the assurances provided by Egyptian authorities:
"I think the Egyptian government is bound morally and legally to demand the immediate release of the rearrested prisoners. We are going to contact the Egyptian brothers to press them to intervene."

While Issa Karaki, PA Minister for Prisoners' Affairs, has said:

"By re-arresting some of these freed prisoners in violation of the Egyptian-mediated deal, Israel is demonstrating contempt and disregard for Egypt and its government. I believe the proverbial ball is squarely in the Egyptian court."

~~~~~~~~~~

And so now we truly see a reason for Egypt to want to be involved, as well as a reason why Israel would agree to that involvement in order to try to save SCAF embarrassment in the Arab world.

What I had yesterday was merely the surface of the story.  Here we learn a lesson, once again, regarding how complex these matters can be.

~~~~~~~~~~

As I write, the word is that Egypt has put together a proposal to which Israel and the prisoners have now agreed.   It is clear that Israel was eager to cool matters, so that it would not be necessary to deal with rioting prisoners and possibly rioting sympathizers as well. 

Credit: rfi

And so concessions have been made.

I have read that leaders of the prisoners were brought to a prison in Ashkelon to discuss the potential agreement with Israeli officials -- with the Shin Bet representing Israel.  This scenario makes my stomach very tight indeed.

All of the details of the agreement have not been released.  While Israel -- whose officials seem to be saying little -- has refused to do away with administrative detention entirely, there will apparently be some modification of this practice.  This is worrisome in terms of what it may do to the security of the Israeli populace. 

According to at least one report, there will be some prisoners released.  If they are the prisoners who had originally been released in the exchange with Shalit, and then picked up again, this will be very bad news indeed.  But I would not be surprised, for this would be Israel "redeeming" Egypt's position in the Arab world.

Other concessions involve the conditions for the prisoners -- family visitations, solitary confinement, etc. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Hard for me to believe -- that I've devoted the bulk of a posting to this prison issue.  I am not proud of what I've had to write.  The PA has the death penalty for people who sell land to Jews, and the world is trying to hold us accountable for how we treat murderers. And we cooperate.

This comment from MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union):

"Netanyahu’s ‘just talk’ government has folded yet again instead of striking with an iron fist.

"It turns out that baby killers will keep living the high life in Bibi’s rest center."

~~~~~~~~~~

Much more to write about, and it will have to wait until tomorrow...

~~~~~~~~~~

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

http://arlenefromisrael.squarespace.com/current-postings/2012/5/14/may-14-2012-first-the-good-stuff.html

~~~~~~~~~~  

In the meantime, The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has joined with two residents of Ulpana, and today filed an appeal with the High Court requesting a delay on the demolition of five houses in this community. 

It argues, first, that the Court has violated Basic Law, which protects human dignity.

Then it states that the High Court acted unreasonably in ordering the demolition of the homes before a lower court has ruled on a lawsuit regarding ownership of the land.  People in Beit El (where Ulpana is located) have said, I will add, that they have submitted information regarding the ownership of this land that has not yet been examined. 

I am "just" a layperson.  But to me the argument regarding the necessity to first legally determine the ownership of the land is such irrefutably basic logic that anything else is unthinkable.  And yet... here we are.   

Lastly, the petition to the High Court notes that the expulsion order was issued with no discussion regarding compensation that would allow the families to purchase different homes. 

~~~~~~~~~~

No one can predict how the Court will respond to this.  A representative of the Legal Forum pointed out to me today that this was an unusual petition, because it challenges the ruling of the Court itself.

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For those of you who want a more serious look at this contentious and problematic issue, I share the Israelnationalnews link to a translation from Makor Rishon on the question of whether the law demands the demolition of these houses. According to the article:

"In actual fact, the courts never ruled that the law requires destroying the five Ulpana hill buildings in Beit El.

"The court never ruled that they are on private land, and that the claimants are the owners of that land.

"The court never discussed the above three questions. It [the court] asked the government what its position on the matter is, what it recommends, and the legal department answered that its position is that it is private land and that the government's policy concerning land on which Jews have settled is as follows: if construction is on government land, it must be legalized and if construction is on private land, it must be removed. The courts made decision in accordance with that government policy. (Emphasis added)

"Is the government's policy mandated by law? Does the law demand that the houses be destroyed?"

Professor of Law Shalom Lerner has written a detailed letter to the prime minister explaining why the answer to both of these questions is negative.  His thinking is outlined in this article.  Of particular note is the "good faith principle," which certainly applies in this instance.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11644

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MK Miri Regev (Likud) attempted today bring a bill forward that would have extended Israeli civil law to recognized Jewish communities beyond the Green Line.  

Credit:YNet

Bravo to her.  This is something else that seems imminently logical and fair to me, and which would solve a host of problems.  It is past-due.

But it was shot down in the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs after the committee understood that Netanyahu was opposed.  According to Times of Israel, Minister Benny Begin (Likud) said, "This bill is an unrealistic display, and for such displays we pay a heavy price in the international arena."

To which Science Minister Daniel Hershkowitz (HaBayit Hayehudi) replied, "We shouldn’t just think about the message this is sending to the nations of the world, but also about what message this is sending to the people of Israel."

So it didn't pass this time, but at least we know someone has his head screwed on right.  Bravo to him as well.

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Let's turn now to the on-going issue of the hunger strike by the Palestinian Arab prisoners, which is every bit as maddening as the above.

I learned with great bewilderment last night that the Egyptian government is doing negotiations with Israel regarding these prisoners. Egypt? Why have we sought/permitted their involvement? 

Again: We're dealing with people who have killed or attempted to kill innocent Jews and were convicted of their crimes, and others -- some smaller number -- directly associated with terrorists in such a way that Israel deems them to be an immediate threat but is unable to prosecute in open court because of the sensitivity of intelligence and the need to protect sources.  In these latter cases the courts have approved administrative detention for them.   

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I then called a source who has multiple Arab contacts.  What he told me is that it is the intention of Israel to involve the Egyptian government in this because it is desirable to provide prestige to the ruling military -- The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) --  as it battles with radicals for control of Egypt.  Interesting.... And, I would imagine, this promotes good will on the part of SCAF as well -- we need them for such matters as combating terrorism in the Sinai .

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The Arabs are using this burgeoning prison unrest to the maximum.  The prisoners themselves are threatening to riot, while the radical Islamic Movement in Israel has promoted massive rallies in support of the prisoners.  And according to one report, PA president Abbas has appealed to Secretary of State Clinton to intervene and secure the prisoners their demands.  Shall I title him king of chutzpah (moxy, gall)?  I don't know how Hillary responded.

My own sentiments are pretty much in line with those of a friend who expressed the desire to form (I am paraphrasing here) "a committee to permit the Palestinian Arab prisoners to starve to death if they wish."

But this, of course, will not happen.  At a bare minimum, those in severe condition -- there are at present six in dire shape -- will be hospitalized and put on IVs.  Every effort will be made to keep them alive.  One prisoner who is not eating described the situation succinctly: We win either way -- either they give us what we demand or we die and become martyrs.

For the record: There are 1,600 said to be on that hunger strike, of the 4,600 Palestinian Arabs in our prisons.

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So, the question -- painfully -- is how much the Israeli Prison Authority will cave here for the sake of quiet and avoiding bad international PR.  We don't want "martyrs."

Some things have already been conceded.  Some others will be. Hamas's Haniyeh in Gaza said yesterday that "there is an important development on the issue of prisoner demands."

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Some background on this:  Israeli authorities were, from my perspective, for too generous in allocations to the Palestinian prisoners for a long time.  Apparently at least some of the perks that were permitted the prisoners came as the result of prior prisoner strikes and prior negotiations.

When tensions grew over Gilad Shalit, who was not even permitted a visit by the Red Cross, as mandated by international law, authorities here decided it was time to cut back on what Palestinian Arabs were provided in Israeli prisoners.  To the thinking of many of us, this was a case of Israeli authorities finally coming to their senses.  Higher education/conjugal rights for these killers? 

But the prisoners are now saying that they had a deal with the authorities.  And, OK, perks were cut when things were bad for Shalit. But he's out now, and it's time to reinstate those perks.

This reminds me of a spoiled child who gets her way when she has a tantrum.  It's even more difficult for parents to say no once a precedent has been set.

I don't think I'm going to like how this is likely to end.

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Please see an NGO-Monitor statement on the way some ostensible "human rights" NGOs are handling the prisoner hunger strike:

"A hunger strike by Palestinians convicted of murdering dozens of Israeli civilians in suicide bombings and other attacks, as well as a few prisoners held in Israeli administrative detention for suspected terrorist activity, is being publicized by a number of political advocacy NGOs.

"As in the past, NGOs claiming to promote human rights are promoting a one-sided image in which the Palestinians are automatically being portrayed as victims, removing the context of violent attacks that deliberately target Israeli civilians." (Emphasis added)

http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=56748

This is important information to have, should you see publicity by these NGOs.

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Yitzhak Molcho, who serves as an envoy for Netanyahu, met last night with Abbas in Ramallah.  He carried to the PA president a letter that was a response from our prime minister to a letter that Abbas had sent him last month.

Credit: spacewar

The contents of the letter were not released. Scuttlebutt has it, however, that it offers to begin negotiations with no preconditions, and little beyond this.

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The Palestinian Arabs are already saying that they don't expect anything to come of this, and don't believe that the new coalition will change the essential situation.

The PLO Executive Committee has examined the letter.  Committee member Hanan Ashwari then put out a statement to Reuters indicating that, "The content of [Netanyahu's] letter did not represent grounds for returning to negotiations."  

A delegation from J-Street --  good old J-Street! -- visited Abbas yesterday. According to the Palestinian news agency Maan:

"Abbas said that the Palestinian side is committed to peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"He stressed that the Palestinian leadership will resume negotiations with Israel if it approves the principle of the two-state solution and halts all settlement activities in the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem."

Entirely predictable.  Round and round we go...

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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

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Could it be that Netanyahu and Mofaz are the only ones truly happy with what has transpired?

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On the part of members of both the Likud and Kadima factions there is an expression of frustration with how little they were truly consulted.  At some level, it was a "done deal" that they were asked to officially endorse.

That this should be the feeling in Likud is understandable. For, while the party's position may be stronger now, the strength of individual members of the Likud faction -- especially on the right -- has been diluted.

Rumors that have surfaced regarding the possibility that up to three members of Kadima may be appointed as members of the Cabinet particularly irked them: There was no mention of this in the original deal. 

All that is certain at this point is that Mofaz, who has been cleared as a deputy prime minister by the Knesset, will also be a minister without portfolio; he will sit in the Cabinet, and, most certainly, the Inner Cabinet as well.

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The unrest generated by this rumor -- I cannot say if it is true or not -- is, I think, a reflection of a broader discontent.  It's what happens when people directly involved in the political process believe one situation pertains, and a deal that totally changes it is then struck at 2:00 AM, without their participation.  Whatever else that is positive might come from the arrangement, the sense of distrust that it has generated is regrettable and will likely have repercussions.

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More surprising is that there is some of the same feeling of discontent in the Kadima faction, even though some good percentage of its members would have lost their seats had there been an election in September. 

It is coming from the members on the left, most notably -- the sense is that in joining with Likud, Kadima has lost its way.

Ironically, it is Haim Ramon, a founder of Kadima, who gave voice to this feeling most vociferously.  (What is ironic is that this former MK is hardly a model of rectitude himself.)  He had been serving as head of the Kadima Council until the new arrangement was announced.  Now he has resigned from that position and from the party.

"Kadima has reverted to being Likud," he declared.  "...Kadima is done being a centrist party."

The background on this is that Ramon had bolted from Labor in order to join Kadima.  A strange political situation -- this party was founded with people who left Likud on one side and Labor on the other. 

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Now Ramon says he may join up with (disgruntled former head of Kadima) Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid to work on a new party.  I am assuming he means he and Livni will come under the tent of Lapid's brand-new Yesh Atid. 

Political musical chairs.  Enough to make one's head spin.

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Foreign Minister Lieberman held a press conference in the Knesset yesterday, at which he declared that a major test of the new coalition will be its readiness to pass legislation that would protect Ulpana from being destroyed:

"The residents living on the Ulpana Hill are law-abiding citizens and fulfill all their obligations: They serve in the IDF and do reserve duty, they work and pay taxes. This is not an illegal outpost; it is the government’s mistake."

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I could not agree more!

And, I see some reason for hope here, if reports are correct.

Apparently, two versions of a law that would prevent "unauthorized" communities in Judea and Samaria from being summarily demolished are to be brought to the Knesset next week.  One was sponsored by MK Yisrael Katz (National Union), with MKs Yariv Levin and Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) and David Rotem (Yisrael Beitenu).  The other was brought by Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi).

The differences in the two versions remains unclear, as I write.  The version I am familiar with, broadly, says that a Jewish community cannot be taken down because of some general assumption that it is on Palestinian land; rather, there must be documentation of ownership by a Palestinian Arab that is certified by the courts.  If a certain period of time has passed, and the community has more than 20 residents, then even if Palestinian Arab ownership is documented, financial compensation or alternate property is awarded and the community still stands.

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According to Arutz Sheva, Orlev says that there are reports that the prime minister is giving "positive consideration" to the possibility of allowing ministers to vote their conscience on the bill, rather than being bound by party discipline. Orlev had been waiting for this.

Orlev is quoted as saying:

"Based on the count of ministers and MKs who support this law, there is a solid majority for passing it in the Knesset next Wednesday."
 
What is more, according to Arutz Sheva, Netanyahu will convene a committee tomorrow to seek a solution for Ulpana.  That committee will include Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister Shaul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon," and Minister Benny Begin.

The prime minister is reported to be considering either legislation (as alluded to above) or administrative seizure of the land by the IDF.  (If the IDF requires the land, for security or other purposes, it becomes Israeli state land.)

The second option would guarantee that the houses on Ulpana would stand -- but would apply only to Ulpana. The first would be applicable to a number of instances, including Migron.  Were Netanyahu throw his weight behind legislation, it would pass.

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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

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