In a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented that he was “concerned” about the progress of talks and remarked, “I see the Palestinians continuing with incitement, continuing to create artificial crises, continuing to avoid, run away from the historic decisions that are needed to make a genuine peace.” However, this statement ignores the provocative actions Israelis have taken in recent days that threaten to undermine the process.
Just two days ago, Israel issued almost 2,000 home tenders for new settlements in the West Bank. They claim that this is part of the deal struck with Palestinians in exchange for the release of the release of 104 prisoners currently jailed. So far they have released about half. This issue of settlements is nothing new but the timing of these settlements seemed to be a policy of appeasement by Netanyahu’s government to assure his country that he has not ‘gone soft’ on the Palestinian issue by engaging in talks.
More troubling still is the news of a wall to be built through the Jordan Valley, one of the fertile areas in the region. It would annex an area roughly the size of Chicago, full of most of the water resources Palestinians now access. This is consistent with their statements that borders must be built in accordance with the already existent separation barrier or apartheid wall. This means that the future Israeli state would include lands captured after 1967 in violation of UN resolutions and international law. It also directly counters the US plan, which is based on 1967 borders and land swaps.
If the peace talks are to succeed a new formula of Israeli leadership is needed. One can only hope that Netanyahu realizes the incredible opportunity these talks offer before it is too late.
Sofia Smith
Underneath the Kaffiyeh 