04/02 Links Pt1: John Kerry’s departure from reality; Danon: We want Pollard, but not like this

From Ian:

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In Dramatic Gambit, Abbas Dumps U.S.-Brokered Talks and Heads to UN

Back in the Middle East, Palestinian gambits at the UN have been seen as corroding the basic framework of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The land-for-peace formula requires the Israelis to give up tangible, functionally irreversible concessions in exchange for Palestinian commitments. The fear has always been that the Palestinians will negotiate only as long as they can extract territory or prisoners, and that they will then pocket what they’ve gained and walk away. Abbas’s moves seem set to confirm those fears.
The bait-and-switch – pocketing three releases and then walking away – seems to prove the point, and had actually been flagged as a possibility by Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon in recent days. Unilateral moves at the UN also by definition violate Palestinian commitments under the Oslo Accords, which prohibit “any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.” Israel bought and sealed those obligations at the cost of both territory and other functionally irreversible concessions.
The upshot is that the Palestinians seem to be abandoning not just current negotiations, which the Israelis sought to secure with prisoner releases, but the entire Oslo framework, for which the Israelis gave up territory over decades. The result risks deepening skepticism toward the fundamental peace process framework.

Kerry should 'drop the delusions,' says prominent US journalist

Washington Post editorial page deputy editor Jackson Diehl penned a piece Monday titled "John Kerry’s departure from reality."
Among other things, Diehl said the U.S. should "concede that a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace isn’t possible now and look for more modest ways to build the groundwork for a future Palestinian state."
"In short, drop the delusions," Diehl writes.
Diehl's words come several months after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon found himself in hot water following comments about Kerry's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In January, Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Ya'alon as deriding Kerry's Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts as naive and foolhardy, and calling Kerry "obsessive" and "messianic."

This Arab man is against the release of Israel's Palestinian prisoners

Easy-going and quiet-spoken, Orhan Turk, 37, is an unlikely hard-liner. But as diplomats work feverishly around the clock to salvage the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which would include the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Turk is fervently hoping they’ll fail.
Turk is an Arab Israeli. "We're Muslims," he says, "but just regular" — he prays but is not particularly observant.
Sabriya, his older sister, was Israel's heavy-weight boxing champion, "just like Mike Tyson," Turk says proudly. When he was 12 and she was 21, Sabriya was one of seven people killed by Mahmud and Muhammad Halaby, Gazan brothers dispatched by Hamas to Tel Aviv with explicit instructions to kill Arabs and Jews.

Rwandan Genocide Scholars Urge Jews to Recognize Iran Threat as Similar to Nazi Regime (INTERVIEW)

Rwandan genocide scholars are urging Jews to recognize the threat posed by the Iranian regime to Israel as being as dangerous as the Nazis were to Jews in the Holocaust, based on how the Tutsis were vilified then massacred in Rwanda, according to scholar Dr. Charles Asher Small.
The revelation comes on the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, as scholars are set to convene this week in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to discuss the lessons for humanity that can be drawn from the tragedy, as part of the International Forum on Genocide.
Dr. Small, a professor at Stanford University and director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, ISGAP, said in a statement on Tuesday that he first began to understand the depth of the similarities between the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust, and how that impacted perception today of the Iranian threat, when he was sought out by Rwandan scholars five years ago.

Isi Leibler: The disastrous outcome of the ‘peace negotiations’

Our government must be aware that irrespective of what concessions Israel makes, once the Palestinians feel that they have squeezed the negotiations for maximum benefit, they will then proceed to the United Nations and canvass the international courts at The Hague to charge us with breaches of international law in order to initiate boycotts and delegitimize us.
We are not privy to the threats the government is facing from the US administration. But Netanyahu must now consider biting the bullet, rejecting American pressure and, if necessary, presenting our case directly to the American people.
We would reiterate that there is no desire to rule over Palestinians – emphasizing that the overwhelming majority are effectively already ruling themselves.

Abbas Fled Talks the First Chance He Got

While Abbas and his apologists claim he has done Kerry and Israel a big favor by sitting at the table with them the last several months and gotten nothing for it, the Palestinians have the most to gain from the process the secretary has promoted. Without it, there is no path to independence or economic stability for them. But since abandoning the talks allows Abbas to avoid having to sell a deal that ends the conflict to a Palestinian people that has been taught to view their national identity as inseparable from the struggle against Zionism, he prefers it to negotiations.
Were Abbas truly interested in peace, he could sit back and wait for Kerry to keep spinning deals that traded tangible Israeli concessions for continued talks. Instead, he has done what he did in 2008 when he fled the table to avoid having to say no to Ehud Olmert’s peace offer. While this isn’t the last chapter of Kerry’s efforts, those who are quick to blame Israel for everything should take note of Abbas’ behavior and draw the appropriate conclusions.

Ministers threaten retaliation over Abbas’s UN move

Israel could retaliate for the Palestinian Authority’s moves to join UN agencies by annexing territory or with financial sanctions, right-wing ministers warned Wednesday.
“If they are now threatening [to go to UN institutions], they must know something simple: They will pay a heavy price,” Tourism Minister Uzi Landau told Israel Radio. “One of the possible measures will be Israel applying sovereignty over areas that will clearly be part of the State of Israel in any future solution.”
Israel could also hurt the Palestinians economically by acting “to block financial aid to them,” the minister added.

Herzog: Palestinians have no unilateral alternative to talks

Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem titled “Israel, US and the Middle East: New Visions,” organized by Israeli left-wing research center Molad and the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based progressive think tank, Labor Party chairman Isaac Herzog addressed the possibility of Palestinian unilateral action if Israel fails to accept Palestinian preconditions for extending talks beyond April.
“[PA leader Mahmoud] Abbas should understand that there’s no unilateral avenue,” Herzog told the audience. “He has no alternative in any UN forum. It will bring no solace to his people.”

US officials: Abbas playing for leverage, not trying to scuttle talks

US officials believe the Palestinians were seeking leverage against Israel by applying for membership in 15 international organizations on Tuesday, rather than trying to torpedo negotiations, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The fact that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not apply to join the International Criminal Court was proof of his desire to continue the talks, the Times quoted the officials as saying, since that move is one that Israel fears could be used to contest its presence in the West Bank.

PA: Kerry's 'Jewish Advisors' Are to Blame for Talks Failure

Speaking to the PA-based Safa news agency, Sufian Abu Zaida, a senior member of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement, said, “All the members of the U.S. delegation to the negotiations are Jews, except for Kerry, and they seek to implement Israel’s goals.”
It was unclear who Abu Zaida was referring to, but he may have meant Martin Indyk, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, who has served as President Barack Obama’s envoy to the peace talks.

Abbas Says 'Arab Military Option' Not Practical - For Now

Abbas spoke to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Seyassah last Wednesday, at the conclusion of a two day Arab League Summit that ended with an official rejection of recognition for Israel as the Jewish state, in support of Abbas's position.
"At the Arab League Summit the need to pull the (Arab Peace) Initiative from the (negotiations) table was raised more than once, but what is the appropriate alternative?" asked Abbas.
The PA leader declared "there are two possibilities: no war and no peace, or war. We are convinced that the first option doesn't serve our interests."
"Therefore we must clarify the second option," continued Abbas. "I ask the Arab leaders - are they ready for war? We certainly aren't prepared currently for war. And therefore we have no choice but to keep the Arab Peace Initiative on the table and to adopt it."

PA minister sings song: "Palestine" includes Haifa, Safed, Tiberias, and other Israeli cities

Hamas PM says peace talk troubles 'no surprise', calls for action to end 'occupation'

Referencing the schism between Hamas and Abbas's Fatah, Haniyeh said that the peace talks could not have succeeded, as they were "outside the Palestinian consensus."
Speaking at a military graduation ceremony for Hamas security forces in Gaza, Haniyeh said that the Palestinians could not reach a deal and reconcile with Israeli occupation, the tightening of the siege of Gaza and the Judaization of Jerusalem. He called for the "Arab and Islamic nation to take action to end the occupation and end the siege of Gaza."

I’ve Already Got My Nobel Peace Prize, So To Hell With You (satire)

Most presidents are concerned with their legacy. Not this one. I started my presidency with the world’s most prestigious peace prize already under my belt, and had nothing to prove. That means no pretense of caring about really trying to solve your stupid conflict. Eat it, suckers.
A prudent president might rein in his overzealous, borderline Messianic secretary of state, but I don’t need to be prudent. I’ve got a medal displayed in my office, a medal that means I don’t need any more validation or approbation from the likes of you whiny Jews and Arabs. I’d rather laugh at John Kerry’s desperate attempts to earn the prize than actually facilitate it with realistic guidelines. Isn’t he a trip? Check that – at his point, nine or ten trips, and counting. Where is he this week, Ramallah? Amman? Jerusalem? Geneva? Kiev? Who cares?

MK Danny Danon: We want Pollard, but not like this

Introducing the name "Pollard" into the equation is a cynical, harmful attempt to exploit certain Jewish values, including the value of "returning our sons to their land," over others. For 29 years, Jonathan Pollard has languished in prison so the U.S. could teach its good friend in the Middle East a lesson. Our friend the U.S. is forcing us to try to complete an unfair equation: one prisoner for 426. One man, who paid his dues over dozens of years in prison, who is not a threat to society, for hundreds of menacing terrorists, several of whom committed murder or were complicit in the slaughter of hundreds of Israelis. We all want to see Pollard out of jail and in Israel, but not like this.
We are allowed to say "no" to the Americans. The right U.S. citizens have to peace and security is equal to that of Israelis. Empty gestures ultimately isolate peace by whetting the Palestinian appetite for pointless negotiations intended to liberate their kinsmen from Israeli prisons, not to craft a true, secure and just peace.

ADL Slams Obama For Making Pollard A 'Bargaining Chip'

ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman argued that the US should release Pollard, now in his 29th year in an American jail on charges of spying for Israel, "both on humanitarian grounds and in light of the important bilateral relationship between Israel and the United States."
Foxman stressed that Pollard's release "should not be intertwined with any potential resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict," criticizing the introduction of this factor in the peace talks that already suffer "enormous complications."

Senior Senators Say Pollard Shouldn't Be Released

Other senators opposed the deal even though they favor Pollard's release. Former presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said Tuesday that Pollard should be released, but not as part of the peace talks.
"It's disgusting," McCain said of the offer. "I favor his release, I think he's served long enough, but to be used in this fashion, it's disgraceful."
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) similarly panned the proposal on Tuesday, while saying of Pollard "I think he did a very bad thing. He deserved to serve some time in jail. The amount of time he served in jail is disproportionate."

‘Pollard would agree to go free in prisoner release scheme’

Aaron Troodler, a spokesman for the campaign to free Pollard, told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that Pollard “would not reject the commutation of his sentence,” even at the price of releasing convicted killers.
“The deal that is currently being discussed is by no means a quid pro quo; rather it’s a gesture being made by the United States to Israel. The fact is this is not a tit for tat. It’s part of a larger agreement,” Troodler was quoted as saying.

Alan Dershowitz On The Jonathan Pollard Case (8 Nov 2013)

Arab youths stone Israeli's car in Jerusalem

Arab youths on Tuesday threw rocks at an Israeli man driving through the French Hill neighborhood in northeastern Jerusalem. The driver was unharmed, but the rear windshield of his car was smashed.
The incident took place around noon when Raphael Delarosa, a resident of the capital's Givat Hamivtar neighborhood, was running errands at the French Hill shopping center.

Israelis warned against travel to Sinai, Turkey

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau at the Prime Minister's Office issued several travel advisories Tuesday, ahead of the Passover holiday.
The bureau warned Israelis against traveling to Sinai, Turkey and Morocco, citing "concrete intelligence indicating a clear and imminent threat" to Israeli tourists.
The bureau repeated its standing warnings against traveling to 27 other countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Thailand and the Kashmir region in India.

March Roundup: Increase In Violence Across All Fronts

The month of March saw an increase in terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. These attacks varied from failed attempts to smuggle long-range surface-to-surface rockets into Gaza, two explosive devices detonated against IDF soldiers on both the Lebanese and Syrian borders, a barrage of 70 rockets fired at southern Israel from Gaza, an uncovering of the largest tunnel so far from Gaza into Israel, and routine activities in the Central Command in order to prevent terrorist activities and safeguard Israeli life.

Terrorists Attempt to Place Explosive Device on Israel's Northern Border

At least 3 dead in Cairo University bombing

Three explosions went off near Cairo University, Wednesday, killing three people, including a senior police officer according to police.
A police general at the scene told AFP that two bombs were concealed in a tree between two small police posts, killing two.
A third explosion was reported about two hours later near where police and the press had gathered after the first bombs went off, resulting in a third death according to Reuters.

US Army chief: Israel trusts we’ll bomb Iran if needed

Israel and the US have bridged the gap in their once-divergent opinions regarding Iran’s nuclear program and the potential use of military force against Tehran, the top US military official said Tuesday.
“I think they are satisfied that we have the capability to use a military option if the Iranians choose to stray off the diplomatic path,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said, according to the military news site Defense News. “I think they are satisfied we have the capability. I think they believe we will use it.”

Saudi Arabia Lists Atheists Alongside Terrorists in New Law

Saudi Arabia has effectively outlawed expressions of atheism in a new anti-terrorism law decreed by King Abdullah. Intended to tackle the growing number of Saudis joining foreign fighters, the law also turns criticism of Islam into a thought crime.
The Daily Mail reports that the law applies to any Saudi citizen or foreigner residing in the country who "calls for atheist thought in any form or calls into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based."
The law, intended to target terrorists, also jails for up to 20 years any citizen who fights in foreign wars, a move intended to target Saudis fighting in conflicts such the Syrian civil war.