Obama to no longer pressure Israel on settlements

[Thanas]

As if he had not surrendered enough on progressive issues, here is the cherry on the cake:

President Obama has abandoned a two-year policy of trying to persuade Israel to stop some settlement construction as a condition for negotiations with the Palestinians, a major recalibration of the administration's strategy for brokering a deal for a Palestinian state.

U.S. officials began telling reporters about the shift in strategy Tuesday after remarks from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak revealing that the Obama administration had stopped asking Israel to commit to a three-month settlement construction freeze, citing in part distractions caused by the WikiLeaks crisis.

The strategy shift comes after nearly a month of hard-fought negotiations between Israel and the United States over the settlement moratorium. Palestinians have long complained that the construction is a pre-emptive move by Israel to redraw the boundaries of their prospective state even before talks have begun.

Israel had agreed to a 10-month freeze at the end of 2009 that expired in September, with the idea that the ban on new buildings in the West Bank — but not in Jerusalem — would entice Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas back to negotiations he broke off during Israels war in Gaza that started at the end of 2008.

Mr. Abbas did return to the bargaining table briefly, but efforts to establish a new process broke down soon afterward.

[...]A U.S. official familiar with the diplomacy told The Times: "After consultations with the parties, we determined a moratorium extension will not provide the best basis for resuming direct negotiations. In the coming days and weeks, we will engage with both sides on the core substantive issues at stake as well as with Arab states and other international partners to work for our shared goal of a framework agreement" on all the major issues dividing the two sides.

I kinda wonder what he hopes to gain by this, after all he is pretty much destroying all the goodwill he made via the Cairo speech.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

It seems to be a tacit admission that this particular round of Israel vs Palestine is going to end in yet another draw. The Israeli response to American pressure on extending the settlement freeze has been somewhere between "Nah, we're good," and "Fuck you . . . with a rake!" There seems to be absolutely no appetite for it whatsoever in the Israeli government.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Of course not, because Israel doesn't want peace with the Arabs.

[StarshipTitanic]

I kinda wonder what he hopes to gain by this, after all he is pretty much destroying all the goodwill he made via the Cairo speech.

He probably wants to focus on his domestic issues rather than the latest Israel-Palestine impasse. As your article states, the freeze didn't get Abbas back to negotiate for very long.

[Ritterin Sophia]

He probably wants to focus on his domestic issues rather than the latest Israel-Palestine impasse.

Bullshit, every single time it comes to a domestic issue he caves to the Republicans with no real fight at all. This isn't some calculated plan to foster compromise with conservatives (neither Obama or the Republican Party understand what compromise entails) or shifting focus to domestic policies. He's just a useless fucking pussy, like the rest of the Democratic Party.

[Chardok]

I wonder if this may somehow be connected with the S American recognition of the Palestinian state?

[Guardsman Bass]

I wonder if this may somehow be connected with the S American recognition of the Palestinian state?

I doubt it. They've been pressuring the Israeli government and Netanyahu to do more than just a temporary halt to settlements in certain areas for nearly a year now, without success. There's just no real chance of getting anything serious going on the peace front when Netanyahu's coalition is dependent on political parties opposed to any concessions in and around East Jerusalem.

[bobalot]

Of course not, because Israel doesn't want peace with the Arabs.

Of course. They can grab more Lebensraum and dictate terms as they are in the position of power. There is absolutely no incentive to negotiate.

With every back down Obama just screams "gigantic pussy".

[Zaune]

For once, I think he's made exactly the right call. What exactly is the point in negotiating with Israel anymore? Can anyone name a single genuine concession they've made on any issue in the last twenty-five years?

[Talhe]

For once, I think he's made exactly the right call. What exactly is the point in negotiating with Israel anymore? Can anyone name a single genuine concession they've made on any issue in the last twenty-five years?

They withdrew from Lebanon and dismantled settlements from Gaza. And Netanyahu did freeze the settlements for 10 months. I think Obama should lean on Israel for its own good, mind, but Obama and Netanyahu both seem to have problems with themselves and their governments.

[Ritterin Sophia]

They withdrew from Lebanon and dismantled settlements from Gaza. And Netanyahu did freeze the settlements for 10 months. I think Obama should lean on Israel for its own good, mind, but Obama and Netanyahu both seem to have problems with themselves and their governments.

He froze illegal settlement for ten months... I didn't know we're congratulating nations on not ceasing to commit war crimes and acting like decent human beings temporarily. Here I thought that's what is expected of you all the time.

[Talhe]

They withdrew from Lebanon and dismantled settlements from Gaza. And Netanyahu did freeze the settlements for 10 months. I think Obama should lean on Israel for its own good, mind, but Obama and Netanyahu both seem to have problems with themselves and their governments.

He froze illegal settlement for ten months... I didn't know we're congratulating nations on not ceasing to commit war crimes and acting like decent human beings temporarily. Here I thought that's what is expected of you all the time.

Never said it was a great thing, mind. I believe the settlements to be a cancer, and even the moderate settlers (I've met some) are problematic assholes. I think freezing them was a good step, and if Obama had followed through, it would've been even better.

[bobalot]

They withdrew from Lebanon and dismantled settlements from Gaza. And Netanyahu did freeze the settlements for 10 months. I think Obama should lean on Israel for its own good, mind, but Obama and Netanyahu both seem to have problems with themselves and their governments.

He froze illegal settlement for ten months... I didn't know we're congratulating nations on not ceasing to commit war crimes and acting like decent human beings temporarily. Here I thought that's what is expected of you all the time.

Never said it was a great thing, mind. I believe the settlements to be a cancer, and even the moderate settlers (I've met some) are problematic assholes. I think freezing them was a good step, and if Obama had followed through, it would've been even better.

It's solely Obama's fault that the Israeli's are land grabbing assholes? The American's have given Israel about 100 billion dollars over the years and 30 years of protection from the U.N and they couldn't even accede to his request to not illegally take someone else's fucking land? Unbelievable.

BTW, there is no such thing as a "moderate" settler. Anybody who illegally squats on someone else's property is a criminal.

[Talhe]

It's solely Obama's fault that the Israeli's are land grabbing assholes?

Did I say that? No. I said the freeze was a good first step, and I wish Obama had taken it further. It's the Israeli government that's established settlements, the settlers fault for settling, Hamas' fault for being fundamentalist assholes, ect ect.

[Sea Skimmer]

What freeze? They never did freeze construction for Obama; all they did was stop issuing new permits for new construction for a while, work on existing projects continued without pause the whole time.

[Talhe]

What freeze? They never did freeze construction for Obama; all they did was stop issuing new permits for new construction for a while, work on existing projects continued without pause the whole time.

My mistake; I retract what I said about complimenting Netanyahu. My fault for not reading it more clearly.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Just so we're clear, this is Obama 'pressuring' Israel.

The list of defense-related and other gifts the U.S. administration is willing to offer to Israel in exchange for three months of construction freeze in the settlements raises suspicions that someone has gone mad. An additional extension of the freeze, which he has previously rejected out of hand, may spell a political and ideological headache for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - but the offer by U.S. President Barack Obama is very enticing. The addition of 20 F-35s to the package discussed two months ago tips the balance very clearly. From Israel's point of view, it is an offer that cannot be refused.

Since Obama entered the White House two years ago, he has not given the impression - at least in terms of foreign relations - of being a particularly tough negotiator. Nonetheless, this time the administration appears to have gone overboard, even though in Washington they know full well that the freeze is a highly symbolic gesture, which the settlers have already managed to avoid in the past.

This, of course, raises suspicions that there are much broader and substantive issues at hand, and not merely a few housing units in Samaria or Gush Etzion. Not only may there be a genuine Israeli willingness to move forward in a substantive way in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, but perhaps some sort of deal on the Iranian question is afoot. Could it be - and this is only conjecture - that Obama is trying to persuade Israel to commit to desisting from any independent action against the nuclear installations of Iran, in exchange for a substantial future reinforcement of the Israel Air Force?

The F-35 deal signed last month was controversial in both defense establishment and political circles. The debate did not stem from the quality of the stealth aircraft, but from the price tag accompanying it: Generals and minister believed that when the price per unit is more than $130 million, there are better ways to make use of the U.S. military aid package. But, according to the prime minister, the U.S. is now generously offering to double the number of aircraft without the funding for them being taken from the future military aid package.

This is an enormous gift, which nearly makes the debate on the need for the F-35 redundant. According to reports, there will also be significant benefits elsewhere in the gift list for Israel.

In spite a great deal of bad mouthing about him, the U.S. president has proven no less committed to Israel's security than his predecessor. To date the security package has included emergency stores that are available to the Israel Defense Forces, a $205-million grant to purchase Iron Dome systems, and a significant stepping-up of joint missile defense training programs. The list of items to come, at least on paper, is impressive.

"The Americans have put forth an excellent proposal. It will be a big mistake not to take it," a senior defense source told Haaretz last night, adding that "the prime minister has made impressive gains. If we do not implement this deal, we will suffer in terms of defense."

Obama is essentially spotlighting a debate that has been going on since the settlements began - namely, whether they contribute to or undermine Israel's security. The U.S. president is now asking: What benefits Israeli security more - a few more trailers on some hilltops or doubling the number of advanced fighters in its inventory?

Link

As you can see it's huge pressure.

[Thanas]

If I were Israel and I had just been promised about 2-3 billion dollars worth in hardware for exchange of 3 months of doing nothing? I'd take that deal and see what I can get in another three months.

Heck, that is up to 12 billion a year in subsidies if this stuff continues.

[Zaune]

I would be reluctantly okay with a donation of that size if it were backed up with a few not-so-subtle references to how terrible it would be if a certain neighbour of theirs were to acquire such advanced military equipment first. That would be pressure on Israel.

[Coyote]

Obama is in an excellent position to pressure Israel, and yet he refuses to take it. We are to Israel what China is to North Korea-- a patron and enabler of bad behavior... and it does not have to be that way, either. This is what happens when Fundamentalists get ahold of government-- they push their wacky ideological issues (in this case, keeping the PA lands) to the expense of everyone else.

Israel is also pissing off it's only real friend in the area, Turkey. The Turks are also warming to Iran and Syria ("hey, we all got Kurd problems, right guys?") and that, I think, is a major wild card that does not get enough attention.

Lack of pressure on Israel is another reason why Obama does not deserve to get re-elected. If we start to "lose" Turkey on his watch, the more so.

[Thanas]

Given how Wikileaks revealed that the State Department thinks of Erdogan as a deluded Islamist, that might already have happened.

[eyl]

If I were Israel and I had just been promised about 2-3 billion dollars worth in hardware for exchange of 3 months of doing nothing? I'd take that deal and see what I can get in another three months.

Heck, that is up to 12 billion a year in subsidies if this stuff continues.

Reportedly*, the US started backtracking pretty quickly on those promises after the original offer was made, which made it more problematical for Netanyahu to overcome the opposition in his government to the freeze (granted, I don't really think he tried particularly hard)

*As per an article in yesterday's Yediot (don't have an English link - I'll try to find one later)

Israel is also pissing off it's only real friend in the area, Turkey. The Turks are also warming to Iran and Syria ("hey, we all got Kurd problems, right guys?") and that, I think, is a major wild card that does not get enough attention.

The relationship with Turkey has been going downhill since the beginning of 2009 and the way things stand now, I don't think they can really be thought of as a "friend" of Israel anymore.

[bobalot]

Israel is also pissing off it's only real friend in the area, Turkey. The Turks are also warming to Iran and Syria ("hey, we all got Kurd problems, right guys?") and that, I think, is a major wild card that does not get enough attention.

The relationship with Turkey has been going downhill since the beginning of 2009 and the way things stand now, I don't think they can really be thought of as a "friend" of Israel anymore.

I'm not exactly sure if Israel is looking for friends at the moment. Their currently strategy appears to be acting like shitheads to everybody. They couldn't even humour the U.S, their biggest donor and protector, over illegal settlement building and squatting.

[Guardsman Bass]

Obama is in an excellent position to pressure Israel, and yet he refuses to take it.

Not really. Remember that it is ultimately Congress that controls the funding to Israel, and they're still very supportive (to the point where they could likely pass aid to Israel over Obama's veto).

[eyl]

Israel is also pissing off it's only real friend in the area, Turkey. The Turks are also warming to Iran and Syria ("hey, we all got Kurd problems, right guys?") and that, I think, is a major wild card that does not get enough attention.

The relationship with Turkey has been going downhill since the beginning of 2009 and the way things stand now, I don't think they can really be thought of as a "friend" of Israel anymore.

I'm not exactly sure if Israel is looking for friends at the moment. Their currently strategy appears to be acting like shitheads to everybody. They couldn't even humour the U.S, their biggest donor and protector, over illegal settlement building and squatting.

Well, I agree the current government has all the diplomatic ability of a brick to the face, but even so.