When US President George W. Bush announced after Annapolis that he planned to make his first trip to the Middle East as President in January to push the peace process along, one could have predicted that a visit by the head of state of the world’s only superpower would dominate and monopolize the proceedings in the press that week, which is exactly what happened.
On January 7, the respective heads of the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, met in an attempt to resolve some of the issues currently existing between the two sides. The major dispute centers around Jewish settlement expansion on occupied land near Jerusalem, especially the enlargement of the Har Homa / Jabal Abu Gheim settlement just days after Annapolis. However, by the close of the meeting, no agreement had been announced.
Feeling the pressure of the President’s imminent arrival on January 9 and with no tangible or significant progress in the six weeks since Annapolis, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert met on January 8 in Jerusalem in what commentators deemed a desperate attempt to reach an understanding on contended areas.
After their two hour meeting, it was announced that although there are differences over Jewish settlement construction near Jerusalem, they would strive to begin talks on “core” issues. No start date has been given but Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat stated that the talks would commence immediately, be discussed in secrecy between Tzipi Livni and Ahmed Qurei and would focus on settlements.
On the eve of the President’s visit, there were also huge protests from both sides on January 8. In the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip, Hamas proclaimed that Bush’s visit would only strengthen Israel and deepen the divisions among Palestinians. In addition, thousands of members of the Islamic Jihad took to the streets of Gaza City shouting “death to Israel and America”. A prominent leader of the group said that Palestinians “are sworn to God to fight…for the liberation of Palestine in its entirety…and we will uproot the enemy entity”. The people held signs with messages such as “we are killed by American weapons and we are besieged because of American decisions”.
In Jerusalem, thousands of Israeli nationalists formed a human chain around the Old City. Organizer Yehiel Leiter highlighted that the rally aimed “to show on the eve of President Bush’s arrival that Olmert does not represent this nation”. Other protesters held banners with “Bush, read your Bible. God gave Israel to the Jews” written on them.
The problems embedded in the peace process were epitomized in the hours before and after Bush’s arrival at noon on January 9. Regarding Israeli security, Katyusha rockets hit Israel from Lebanon and 13 Qassam rockets were launched from Gaza with one hitting the roof of a house in Sderot. On the Palestinian side, a further two illegal outposts were established in the Etzion bloc as well as near Ramallah and three Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza. Popular Resistance member, Amjad Abdel Dayem, was killed in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza while civilians Khadra Wahdane and Mohammed al Kafarna were also killed in Beit Hanun, a town in northern Gaza.
President Bush stepped off Air Force One to a warm reception where he was welcomed by Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. In the brief statements which followed his landing Bush declared “we see a new opportunity for peace here in the holy land and for freedom across the region”, concentrating specifically on the need for peace and democracy. Olmert commented on the closeness of their friendship, Bush reiterated his commitment to Israeli security and Peres emphasized the threat posed by Iran.
President Bush then continued onto Jerusalem where he held a one-on-one meeting with Olmert followed by a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Livni. In the press conference afterwards, President Bush supported his timeframe of the end of 2008 for a final agreement that would lead to the establishment of a state for Palestinians alongside the state of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. In order for this to happen, Bush announced that Israel must dismantle unauthorized settlement outposts and freeze construction in other West Bank settlements. In addition, President Bush underlined that rocket attacks on Israel must stop and Israel’s security must be ensured. Prime Minister Olmert said in response that “we are not going to build new settlements or expropriate land in the territories…Jerusalem, as far as we are concerned, is not in the same status."
A significant proportion of the press conference revolved around Iran. President Bush maintained that despite the US Military report which insinuated that Iran abandoned their nuclear ambitions following the Iraq War in 2003, “Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat and Iran will be a threat to world peace”.
On January 10, President Bush became only the second US President visit the occupied territories when he made the short journey to Ramallah, the de facto capital of the West Bank. The President had planned to take his Marine One helicopter but due to the thick fog, he was forced to travel in a 40 car envoy from the King David Hotel in Jerusalem to the Beit El checkpoint, on his way to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Muqata. The road from the hotel to the checkpoint was lined with Israeli soldiers but once the envoy passed the checkpoint onto land controlled by the PA, the President was accompanied by 4,000 Palestinian law enforcement officers, including snipers and spotters, parading the streets.
The area surrounding the compound was under a curfew from the early hours of January 10 until the President left at around two in the afternoon. Residents in the zone were confined to their houses and banned from entering the streets.
While President Bush met with President Abbas in the Muqata, around 200 demonstrators hit the streets in the center of Ramallah with the banners “Bush war criminal!” and “Bush out!” brandished on them. The protesters were expressing their deep skepticism over Bush’ visit, questioning his ability to apply the pressure required on Israel to bring about a Palestinian state by the end of the year. The Palestinian security forces used tear gas and batons to suppress the crowd, consisting mostly of older Palestinians, and even arrested the most vocal participants.
In both his press conference with Abbas and in his address back in Jerusalem, President Bush reiterated the prerequisites for a successful deal to emerge. “On the Israeli side, that includes ending settlement expansion and removing unauthorized outposts. On the Palestinian side that includes confronting terrorists and dismantling terrorist infrastructure”. However, the President did say that “there should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967”. Bush does not always refer to the situation as an “occupation” and his use of the word has caught the attention of commentators who attest that its use may imply proof of Bush’s increasingly hardened stance in pressuring Israel to abide by its obligations.
After meeting President Abbas in Ramallah, Bush traveled to Bethlehem to pray at the Church of the Nativity, the location believed to be the birthplace of Christ. Following his tour of the church Bush described how “for those of us who practise the Christian faith, there isn’t a more holy site than where our savior was born”.
On January 11, Bush continued on his pilgrimage to Galilee where Jesus is said to have delivered his Sermon on the Mount famously declaring “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God”. Previously, President Bush had paid his respects at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem memorial which commemorates the six million Jews who died during the Holocaust.
The trip to Galilee signaled the end of Bush’s stay in the holy land but he expressed his wish to return to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary which occurs in May. The President left for Kuwait on January 11 which marks the beginning of his tour to the Arab states of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt where the President hopes to rally support for the Israeli/Palestinian peace process as well as address the rising regional influence of Iran.
UN Resolution 1325
Date posted: February 03, 2021
By MIFTAH
Kerry talks peace while Israel bars UNESCO mission [May 19 - May 25]
Date posted: May 25, 2013
By MIFTAH
President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both met with US Secretary of State John Kerry this week in the latter’s fourth visit to the region since he assumed office.
After meeting with the two to ostensibly find ways to restart stalled negotiations between the two sides, Kerry urged on May 24 both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take "hard decisions" to revive the peace process.
"We're getting toward a time now when hard decisions need to be made," he said at the end of his visit.
Kerry admitted a day before after meeting with the two leaders that there was skepticism and cynicism about his efforts to revive talks.
"I know this region well enough to know there is skepticism, in some quarters there is cynicism, and there are reasons for it. There have been bitter years of disappointment," he said. Still, he maintained: "It is our hope that by being methodical, careful, patient, but detailed and tenacious, that we can lay on a path ahead that can conceivably surprise people and certainly exhaust the possibilities for peace."
British foreign secretary William Hague was also in the region visiting with leaders on both sides and even visited the Bedouin community of Khan Al Ahmar between Jerusalem and Jericho, whose residents are under the threat of displacement.
On May 23, Hague was poignantly clear on where his country stands on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. "Israel has lost some of its support in Britain and in other European countries over time - this is something I've often pointed out to Israeli leaders -because of settlement activity, which we condemn,” he said.
"We strongly disagree with settlements on occupied land. Israel is a country we work with in many ways but we do disapprove of settlements,” he maintained, adding that: "We want to see both Israelis and Palestinians really commit themselves to the peace process while there is still a chance of a two-state solution."
In Khan al Ahmar, Hague listened to the residents’ grievances from Israeli efforts to push them out to make way for more settlement expansion. "We (in Britain) strongly condemn the building of settlements and recognise they are a severe threat to a two-state solution,” he told the people there.
On March 21, Israeli forces demolished two residential buildings in the Jabal al-Mukabbir in East Jerusalem. Earlier, they demolished two Palestinian homes in al-Tur, all under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Dozens of people have been left homeless from the demolitions.
A UNESCO fact-finding mission was supposed to arrive this week to look into Israeli measures in the Old City of Jerusalem and their impact on the archeological, cultural and heritage significance of the place, but was denied entry by Israel on May 20. Israel justified its decision by saying Palestinians were trying to politicize the visit.
"The Palestinians were not respecting the understandings,” an Israeli foreign ministry official said. “The visit was supposed to be professional, (but) they were taking measures that showed they were politicizing the event and not letting the delegation focus on professional sides of it," the official said.
UNESCO maintained that the mission was not cancelled, but postponed, the agency’s spokeswoman Sue Williams said.
The Palestinians said they expected Israel to pull something like this. “We weren't surprised by this decision because we believed that Israel's agreement to (allow the mission) was not convincing," minister of foreign affairs Riyad Al Malki said.
The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was reopened on May 22 after a five day closure. Egyptian soldiers and policemen closed the crossing following the kidnapping of seven Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, only reopening it after the soldiers were freed. Over 2,400 Palestinians had been stranded on both sides of the crossing during the days of the closure.
Extremist Israelis extended their attacks this week all the way to the Negev desert. On May 19, residents of the Retamim Kibbutz attacked the nearby Bedouin village of Bir Hadaj and set fire to a tent, according to head of the local village council, Salman Ibin Hamid
"The setters of Retamim are acting like they are in the West Bank," Ibn Hamid said. "These people have the mentality of the occupying settler to attack every Arab."
Finally, on May 23, the US appointed Gen. John Allen as special envoy on security issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. According to a US official, Allen will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
Al Nakba commemorated amid increasing settler attacks [May 12 - May 18]
Date posted: May 18, 2013
By MIFTAH
This week Palestinians commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Nakba, the catastrophe of 1948 on May 15, with a variety of activities, demonstrations and events throughout the Palestinian territories and outside of its borders. Festivals were held in Ramallah and Nablus in addition to several protests and confrontations with Israeli occupation forces. In Jerusalem, clashes broke out between protesters and Israeli police and border guards when Palestinians commemorating Al Nakba, raising Palestinian flags and facing off with Jewish settlers and soldiers. Thirty people were wounded or arrested during the clashes in addition to six Israelis.
The Jerusalem clashes come at a time when settler break-ins to Al Aqsa have been on the rise amid increasing calls by extremist Jewish groups to make a presence at the compound. The break-ins have become a near daily event. Muslim worshippers and Palestinian youths have kept constant vigil at the mosque to stave off the break-ins which included settler groups who used children as a cover to enter the compound on the occasion of Shavuot.
Settlers in the West Bank have wreaked havoc this week as well. On May 17, three Palestinians were injured in clashes in Urif south of Nablus when dozens of settlers set fire to lands in three area-villages: Urif, Einabus, and Asira al-Qibliya. The settlers also attacked citizens and threw burning tires at people’s homes.
Jewish extremists attacked inside the Green Line as well. On May 14, extremists set fire to three cars and sprayed racist graffiti on a mosque south of Haifa, according to Israeli media reports.
"Price-tag" and "Eviatar," which is thought to refer to the name of a settler stabbed to death last week, were found on the mosque’s walls in addition to the Star of David. In Safed, even farther north, racist graffiti with the words "Arabs out" was found on walls in the city.
On May 13, Israeli settlers exhumed a number of graves and sprayed racist graffiti in the Sawiya village in Nablus. Ghassan Daghlas, head of the PA settlement activity file, said settlers from the Alia settlement were responsible for the damage.
On the same day settlers from Tel Hatimar begin building a religious school for children on Al Khader lands in the Bethlehem area.
The Israeli army meanwhile, uprooted over 1,200 olive tree saplings on May 16 and razed land Palestinian farmer in the northern West Bank, according to Daghlas. He said the army dug up over 40 dunums of farm land and demolished a water tank and stone walls in Ras Karker, near Nablus.
On May 17, three Palestinian laborers were wounded in Beit Ula northwest of Hebron after Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and unleashed police dogs at them according to Issa al-Amla, coordinator for the popular struggle committee. He said Omar Al-Amla, 31, and Abdulkadir Al-Amla, 28, suffered multiple dog bites to the neck and hands. A third laborer, Jihad Saleem, was shot in the leg.
In Jerusalem on May 17, Israeli forces raided the home of Iyad al-Awar and insisted on taking his two children 6-year-old Qassam and 5-year-old Nasrallah for “interrogation”. While their father prevented the forces from arresting his boys, Israeli soldiers handed him a warrant ordering him to bring his children to the Russian Compound for questioning.
"We arrived to the Russian Compound and the troops wanted to take my kids for investigation; I refused and they beat me in the ear and the leg. My kids started crying and were so scared from the troops. They took my kids by force," al-Awar said.
Israeli Intelligence officers apparently questioned the children about their detained cousin Shadad, and asked if they had seen him throwing stones or Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces, Al Awar said.
On the same day however, Palestinians scored a tiny victory in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis when they were able to tear a hole through part of the separation wall. Protesters marking the Nakba anniversary ripped a 4-meter hole in it, eyewitnesses said. Clashes ensued between the protesters and Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Several injuries were reported.
Peace Now reported on May 16 that the Israeli government planned to grant retroactive approval to four West Bank settlement outposts it had previously pledged to at least partially demolish.
The Israeli state attorney's office said that settlers had purchased the private Palestinian land on which they built, thus paving the way for the government to give its blessing.
"In the response, the government declares its intention to legalize four outposts, in isolated areas," Peace Now said in a statement, adding that the strategy was an affront to US Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to revive dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. "The intention to legalize outposts as new settlements is no less than a slap in the face of Secretary Kerry's new peace process," Peace Now said.
On May 14, Hamas and Fatah agreed in Cairo to form a national unity government within three months during which they would finalize and approve the Palestine National Council elections law. The two sides, represented by Fatah leader Azzam Al Ahmad and Hamas politburo member Mousa Abu Marzouq, came to the agreement under Egyptian sponsorship and said President Abbas would immediately begin talks on the new government formation. Once the government is formed, general elections can be held.
