Da Al Sharq al Awsat, sull’amministrazione Obama e il processo di pace israelo-palestinese:
Palestinian expert Hussein Ibish, from The American Task Force on Palestine, says: “Everyone in Washington is confused about the next concrete steps to take. The Americans have given up on the idea of a US peace plan while the current consultations with Mitchell seem weak. At present, however, it seems that seeking to draw up plans to build the institutions of the future Palestinian state is the best track until a relaxation takes place.”
Domanda: si rafforza certo l’ANP di Ramallah. E la riconciliazione palestinese? Anche quella fa parte della confusione in cui versa l’amministrazione Obama?
L’analisi di Khalil Shikaki è intrigante. Conviene rifletterci su. L’ha espressa in un parterre di quelli importanti: la conferenza annuale del Middle East Institute.
Abbas reformed the Fatah, Shikaki concluded, made a great transition and change in the political life of Palestine; but for what Abbas asks himself now. He realizes, after delivering many promises that many thought were undeliverable, nobody is out there to move the peace process forward. After long years of hard work, the West Bank is now a safe place, both for its people and also for Israel. Instead, Abbas felt that he was being let down, and that all he did was to make Israel happy, with nothing in return.
Therefore, in recent times, the security that is provided for Israel, Shikaki argues, is perceived by the Palestinians as a collaboration with the invading forces. Good relations with America also seem to be very costly, as Abbas took heavy flak from many of his supporters with his initial rejection of the GoldStone Report in the United Nations Human Council, under the pressure from American diplomats. Right after U.S. Secretary of State Clinton praised Netanyahu’s move as “unprecedented.”
So Abbas decides, since nothing is working, the only way forward is to destabilize the region, or give it a shock therapy. Shikaki predicts that this shock therapy will have different episodes, ups and downs. For example, Abbas will start shutting down the information channels with the outside world; he will not see a reporter, will not give an interview or make statements. Then after the announcement of the resignation, the real resignation will come as well, together with the rest of his Cabinet.
The shock therapy might be the final way to put the peace talks on the right track, Shikaki believes. Maybe someone will try to put the peace track right back, once it is understood that the situation is serious. If not, Abbas will quit, with everyone else in the Palestinian Authority and that will cause the crash of the system.
According to the polls among the people of Palestine, Shikaki declares that two-thirds of the Palestinians now think that they tried every possible way for the peace process, but failed. Therefore, the time is now to visit violence, because they think this option could be the only helpful way for moving forward
Su Arutz-7, il sito di notizie legato al movimento dei coloni:
Jerusalem brothers Danny and Benny Cohen have gone public with their ownership of “thousands” of dunams (quarter-acres) of land in southern Jerusalem, on which they hope to build between 1,000 and 12,000 housing units.
The Globes internet business site broke the news of the next planned controversial real estate development. The Cohens are little-known businessmen who purchased, over the past 26 years, thousands of acres of land along the Jerusalem-Bethlehem seamline area. They said they plan to file, within a few months, a construction plan for the area – Givat Yael – with the Jerusalem Regional Planning and Building Commission. Construction in this area means expanding the borders of greater Jerusalem.
Danny Cohen emphasized repeatedly, in his interview with Globes, that his interest in this project is only financial and not political. He appeared to be slightly embarrassed by his association with his close colleague, Meir Davidson, who at one time represented the religious-nationalist Ateret Cohanim, the non-profit organization that seeks to buy properties in eastern Jerusalem and settle Jews there.
“No right-wing organizations are involved, and no tycoons with a political interest,” he said. “It’s just my brother and I; Benny identified the potential many years ago, and now we’re just hoping to realize the profits that can be garnered here.”
