Home
EXCLUSIVE
From Tel Aviv to Turtle Bay
The White House hoped a new Israeli prime minister would resume peace talks with the Palestinians. With Netanyahu holding on, the administration is weighing a turn to the U.N. to help force a deal.
After years of blocking U.N. efforts to pressure Israelis and Palestinians into accepting a lasting two-state solution, the United States is edging closer toward supporting a U.N.
Security Council resolution that would call for the resumption of political talks to conclude a final peace settlement, according to Western diplomats.
The move follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decisive re-election Tuesday after the incumbent publicly abandoned his commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state — the basis of more than 20 years of U.S. diplomatic efforts — and promised to continue the construction of settlements on occupied territory. The development also reflects deepening pessimism over the prospect of U.S.-brokered negotiations delivering peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Shortly before this week’s election, the United States informed its diplomatic partners that it would hold off any moves in the U.N. Security Council designed to put Israel on the spot at the United Nations in the event that Netanyahu’s challenger, Isaac Herzog, won the election. But U.S. officials signaled a willingness to consider a U.N. resolution in the event that Netanyahu was re-elected and formed a coalition government opposed to peace talks. The United States has not yet circulated a draft, but diplomats say Washington has set some red lines and is unwilling to agree to set a fixed deadline for political talks to conclude.
“The more the new government veers to the right the more likely you will see something in New York,” said a Western diplomat.
Netanyahu’s government will likely be made up of right-wing and Orthodox parties adamantly opposed to making concessions to Palestinians. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader has already consulted with party leaders he plans to add to his coalition, including Naftali Bennett of the pro-settlement Jewish Home party, Avigdor Lieberman of the far-right nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, and leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties.
On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not rule out the possibility of the United States supporting a U.N. resolution on Israel-Palestine.
“We’re currently evaluating our approach. We’re not going to prejudge what we would do if there was a U.N. action,” she told reporters.
For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have resisted a role for the U.N. Security Council in dealing with the Middle East crisis. They have argued consistently that an enduring peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties. Israeli leaders have also strongly opposed giving the world body a greater role in bringing about a deal.
However, the prospect of direct negotiations appeared to evaporate with Netanyahu’s pre-election declaration that he would never allow the creation of a Palestinian state. The comment completely reversed the Israeli leader’s previous support for an independent Palestine as part of a permanent peace deal between the two sides.
The deliberations over the future of the U.S. diplomatic efforts are playing out just weeks before the Palestinians are scheduled to join the International Criminal Court, a move that is certain to heighten diplomatic tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. On Wednesday, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s top diplomat in the United States told Foreign Policy the Palestinians would move forward with plans to use the ICC to try to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes during last summer’s war in Gaza. (Israel says it worked hard to avoid civilian casualties, of which there were many, and blames Hamas militants for taking shelter in populated areas.)
“The fact that we have a government in Israel publicly opposing a two-state solution just reinforces our position that this conflict must be handled by the international community,” Maen Rashid Areikat said.
Ilan Goldenberg, a former member of the Obama administration’s Mideast peace team, told FP that Washington might be inclined to support a Security Council resolution backing a two-state solution as an alternative to the Palestinian effort to hold Israel accountable at the ICC.
“If it was done, it could protect Israel from a worse outcome,” he said.
Under this scenario, the United States would seek guarantees from the international community to hold off on ICC activity in exchange for a Security Council resolution outlining international standards for a final peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The Israelis will probably resist and say this is a bad idea, but they could also be convinced that this is better than the alternative,” said Goldenberg.
The window for this type of U.N. initiative is small. U.S. officials are unlikely to act during the contentious Iran negotiations, which are set to end in late June, Goldenberg said. But the administration will not want to wait until the 2016 presidential race kicks into high gear, as any Democratic nominee would likely advise the White House against upsetting the party’s influential pro-Israel supporters.
“Don’t expect anything to move until the summer,” said Goldenberg.
European and Arab governments, including France and the Palestinians, will likely want to move more quickly at the United Nations.
The Palestinians had been pressing the U.N. Security Council for months last year to adopt a resolution demanding that Israel end its occupation of Palestinian lands within three years. But the United States vetoed the Palestinian initiative.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power called it “unbalanced” because it failed to take into consideration Israel’s security concerns.
But France, which is seeking a broader diplomatic role in the Middle East, had also been pushing for a separate resolution, which calls for the resumption of political talks between Israelis and Palestinians in order to conclude a comprehensive peace settlement. In December, U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry warned Paris and other European governments that the United States would block the resolution if it were put to a vote before the Israeli election.
But one European diplomat said that there was “a broad understanding” at the time “that this was something that could be revisited post-election.” So far, U.S. talks with European allies have taken place in Washington and other capitals. There have been no substantive talks in New York among Security Council members.
France, however, recently renewed its appeal to the United States to consider taking up the issue before the council, according to diplomats familiar with the matter.
The United States, according to the diplomats, gave no firm commitment. But the administration indicated that it was willing to consider action in the council once a coalition government is put into place.
“I think they probably just want to see how it pans out,” said one U.N.-based diplomat. “But certainly the message we got back in December was that they might be able to show more flexibility after the election.”
Security Council diplomats say there remain significant differences between the U.S. approach and that of France. “There are discrepancies between the U.S. and European positions but I think they will bridge them soon,” said an Arab diplomat. “The key elements are the same: a framework for a peaceful solution that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state … plus guarantees for Israel’s long-term security.” The United States is unlikely to hit Israel or the Palestinians with punitive measures if they fail to comply.
During a recent meeting of U.S. and European officials in Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States was considering a draft resolution at the Security Council but that no decision had been made.
Of course, two other options lie before the Obama administration with regard to the Israel-Palestine issue: continuing to reflexively back Israel at the United Nations, and simply enduring the widespread criticism of the international community, or raising the pressure on Jerusalem by abstaining from a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements.
In 2011, the United States vetoed a resolution demanding that Israel’s settlement activity cease immediately — even though it was in line with U.S. policy. The measure was sponsored by nearly two-thirds of the U.N.’s membership and received a 14-1 vote on the Security Council.
“If there was a settlement resolution, would the U.S. abstain? I could see that as a possibility,” said Goldenberg.
In the wake of Israel’s election, U.N. and Israeli officials exchanged sharp words after U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq called on the new Israeli government to halt “illegal settlement-building in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
In response to the statement, Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., snapped back: “If the U.N. is so concerned about the future of the Palestinian people, it should be asking … why Hamas uses the Palestinian people as human shields.”
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/18/from-tel-aviv-to-turtle-bay-israel-palestinians-un-resolution/
From Tel Aviv to Turtle Bay
The White House hoped a new Israeli prime minister would resume peace talks with the Palestinians. With Netanyahu holding on, the administration is weighing a turn to the U.N. to help force a deal.
- MARCH 18, 2015
After years of blocking U.N. efforts to pressure Israelis and Palestinians into accepting a lasting two-state solution, the United States is edging closer toward supporting a U.N.
Security Council resolution that would call for the resumption of political talks to conclude a final peace settlement, according to Western diplomats.
The move follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decisive re-election Tuesday after the incumbent publicly abandoned his commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state — the basis of more than 20 years of U.S. diplomatic efforts — and promised to continue the construction of settlements on occupied territory. The development also reflects deepening pessimism over the prospect of U.S.-brokered negotiations delivering peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Shortly before this week’s election, the United States informed its diplomatic partners that it would hold off any moves in the U.N. Security Council designed to put Israel on the spot at the United Nations in the event that Netanyahu’s challenger, Isaac Herzog, won the election. But U.S. officials signaled a willingness to consider a U.N. resolution in the event that Netanyahu was re-elected and formed a coalition government opposed to peace talks. The United States has not yet circulated a draft, but diplomats say Washington has set some red lines and is unwilling to agree to set a fixed deadline for political talks to conclude.
“The more the new government veers to the right the more likely you will see something in New York,” said a Western diplomat.
Netanyahu’s government will likely be made up of right-wing and Orthodox parties adamantly opposed to making concessions to Palestinians. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader has already consulted with party leaders he plans to add to his coalition, including Naftali Bennett of the pro-settlement Jewish Home party, Avigdor Lieberman of the far-right nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, and leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties.
On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not rule out the possibility of the United States supporting a U.N. resolution on Israel-Palestine.
“We’re currently evaluating our approach. We’re not going to prejudge what we would do if there was a U.N. action,” she told reporters.
For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have resisted a role for the U.N. Security Council in dealing with the Middle East crisis. They have argued consistently that an enduring peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties. Israeli leaders have also strongly opposed giving the world body a greater role in bringing about a deal.
However, the prospect of direct negotiations appeared to evaporate with Netanyahu’s pre-election declaration that he would never allow the creation of a Palestinian state. The comment completely reversed the Israeli leader’s previous support for an independent Palestine as part of a permanent peace deal between the two sides.
The deliberations over the future of the U.S. diplomatic efforts are playing out just weeks before the Palestinians are scheduled to join the International Criminal Court, a move that is certain to heighten diplomatic tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. On Wednesday, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s top diplomat in the United States told Foreign Policy the Palestinians would move forward with plans to use the ICC to try to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes during last summer’s war in Gaza. (Israel says it worked hard to avoid civilian casualties, of which there were many, and blames Hamas militants for taking shelter in populated areas.)
“The fact that we have a government in Israel publicly opposing a two-state solution just reinforces our position that this conflict must be handled by the international community,” Maen Rashid Areikat said.
Ilan Goldenberg, a former member of the Obama administration’s Mideast peace team, told FP that Washington might be inclined to support a Security Council resolution backing a two-state solution as an alternative to the Palestinian effort to hold Israel accountable at the ICC.
“If it was done, it could protect Israel from a worse outcome,” he said.
Under this scenario, the United States would seek guarantees from the international community to hold off on ICC activity in exchange for a Security Council resolution outlining international standards for a final peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The Israelis will probably resist and say this is a bad idea, but they could also be convinced that this is better than the alternative,” said Goldenberg.
The window for this type of U.N. initiative is small. U.S. officials are unlikely to act during the contentious Iran negotiations, which are set to end in late June, Goldenberg said. But the administration will not want to wait until the 2016 presidential race kicks into high gear, as any Democratic nominee would likely advise the White House against upsetting the party’s influential pro-Israel supporters.
“Don’t expect anything to move until the summer,” said Goldenberg.
European and Arab governments, including France and the Palestinians, will likely want to move more quickly at the United Nations.
The Palestinians had been pressing the U.N. Security Council for months last year to adopt a resolution demanding that Israel end its occupation of Palestinian lands within three years. But the United States vetoed the Palestinian initiative.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power called it “unbalanced” because it failed to take into consideration Israel’s security concerns.
But France, which is seeking a broader diplomatic role in the Middle East, had also been pushing for a separate resolution, which calls for the resumption of political talks between Israelis and Palestinians in order to conclude a comprehensive peace settlement. In December, U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry warned Paris and other European governments that the United States would block the resolution if it were put to a vote before the Israeli election.
But one European diplomat said that there was “a broad understanding” at the time “that this was something that could be revisited post-election.” So far, U.S. talks with European allies have taken place in Washington and other capitals. There have been no substantive talks in New York among Security Council members.
France, however, recently renewed its appeal to the United States to consider taking up the issue before the council, according to diplomats familiar with the matter.
The United States, according to the diplomats, gave no firm commitment. But the administration indicated that it was willing to consider action in the council once a coalition government is put into place.
“I think they probably just want to see how it pans out,” said one U.N.-based diplomat. “But certainly the message we got back in December was that they might be able to show more flexibility after the election.”
Security Council diplomats say there remain significant differences between the U.S. approach and that of France. “There are discrepancies between the U.S. and European positions but I think they will bridge them soon,” said an Arab diplomat. “The key elements are the same: a framework for a peaceful solution that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state … plus guarantees for Israel’s long-term security.” The United States is unlikely to hit Israel or the Palestinians with punitive measures if they fail to comply.
During a recent meeting of U.S. and European officials in Washington, a senior State Department official said the United States was considering a draft resolution at the Security Council but that no decision had been made.
Of course, two other options lie before the Obama administration with regard to the Israel-Palestine issue: continuing to reflexively back Israel at the United Nations, and simply enduring the widespread criticism of the international community, or raising the pressure on Jerusalem by abstaining from a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements.
In 2011, the United States vetoed a resolution demanding that Israel’s settlement activity cease immediately — even though it was in line with U.S. policy. The measure was sponsored by nearly two-thirds of the U.N.’s membership and received a 14-1 vote on the Security Council.
“If there was a settlement resolution, would the U.S. abstain? I could see that as a possibility,” said Goldenberg.
In the wake of Israel’s election, U.N. and Israeli officials exchanged sharp words after U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq called on the new Israeli government to halt “illegal settlement-building in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
In response to the statement, Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., snapped back: “If the U.N. is so concerned about the future of the Palestinian people, it should be asking … why Hamas uses the Palestinian people as human shields.”
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/18/from-tel-aviv-to-turtle-bay-israel-palestinians-un-resolution/
» Al-Kazemi from Zakho: I sensed a positive atmosphere in Erbil, and we will reach integration soon
» Delta, Militiaman and more Sunday 9-27-2020 "Imminent"
» Deputy: 35 trillion dinars are stored with the people who refuse to deposit them in banks
» Presidencies in Iraq are racing against time to avoid the American threat
» Sources: In the event of the closure of the US embassy, there will be economic sanctions on the Ce
» "Finance" indicates the reason for the delay in September salaries. "Iraq is money-free"
» Saleh: The coming days will see a weakening of the purchasing power of the individual and the public
» Khamenei's Military Advisor: We Received Money In Dollars From Iraq
» Baghdad Transferred to Tehran "Request for Truce"
» News of the departure of the US ambassador in Baghdad to the consulate in Erbil
» English: Pompeo's deadline to Iraq to stop targeting the US embassy in Baghdad ends tomorrow
» Iraqi MPs sceptical about Sadr’s idea to stop attacks on diplomats
» Iraq to End Its Electricity Dependency on Iran
» Iraq, Jordan to Connect Electrical Networks
» A US. Spokesperson: the Iran-backed groups are a danger to the Government of Iraq
» US will close Baghdad embassy—but keep Erbil consulate open
» MilitiaMan, Pimpy, X22 Spotlight and more Saturday PM 9-26-2020
» The Central Bank of Iraq announces a future vision in light of the economic crisis
» Central Bank Governor Stresses The Importance Of Developing Banking Services And Products
» Central Bank: The reform paper for the banking sector will start soon
» GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRAQ ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF A PAPER TO REFORM THE BANKING SECTOR
» Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq meets with the banking sector
» Top Iraqi diplomat in Iran after US Embassy warning
» Parliament speaker: US terrorist attack on Martyr Soleimani an insult to Iraqi gov't
» New US threats to Iraq widen rifts, leave PM exposed Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/
» KRG FINANCE AND ECONOMY RUNS FIRST CURRENCY EXCHANGE: SOURCE
» Deleting currency zeros throughout the history of the world .. Will Iraq join the list? 09/26/2020
» 100 FACTORIES APPROVED IN KURDISTAN REGION, SAYS INVESTMENT BOARD
» The Central Bank adopts a paper to reform the banking sector
» Tehran Accuses Trump of Being Even More of a Threat to Iran Than Saddam Hussein
» US shakes up Iraqi factions with reported warning on militias
» The false promise of early elections in Iraq
» How will the Iraqi governorates be divided in the new election law?
» Sadr’s call for committee to stop attacks on diplomats in Iraq gets backing
» Kadhimi follows through on promises to reform Iraq's security sector
» raq to add 3,000 mw power ‘soon’ after US sanctions waiver
» Parliamentary Economy: The white paper includes 3 stages, starting with the reform of the outlets an
» Al-Sadr: it is time to hold the militias accountable for what they are doing
» Treasury Vault on Neno's Place..
» Representative economy: the reform program within the 2021 budget, which will be sent early next mon
» A governmental approach to develop the local industry
» 765 forged certificates had been registered in 2020, an Iraqi ministry revealed
» Al-Kadhimi directs to close more offices at Baghdad International airport
» Deputy for Saeron: The Anti-Corruption Committee will soon bring down big heads
» A new development about the election law
» Al-Sadr: Some of the PMF factions are weakening Iraq
» Maximum pressure is keeping US troops in Iraq and Syria
» US grants Iraq another sanctions waiver to buy gas from Iran
» EBRD set to decide on Iraq membership next month
» International Monetary Fund: We are ready to support Iraq
» Journalist arrested in Sulaimani after complaint filed by Iraqi President's office
» New Railway to be built between Mosul and Turkey
» US Charges Two over Alleged Bribery in Iraq
» In Lebanon, Iraq, top clerics call or Iran's proxies to be disbanded
» Iraq, Kurdish politicians denounce Hezbollah move to partner with pro-Iran militias
» A day after its submission, the Iraqi government withdraws the budget draft from the parliament
» The parliament will finalize the election law on Saturday, MP of KDP says
» Saairun announces its position of the election law
» The governor of the central bank stresses the importance of following the context of the official si
» Kuwait says human remains handover follows protocols
» Iraqi presidencies discuss the early elections and the federal Budget law
» Saairun to fight corruption "hierarchy"
» Iraq protesters shut down Dhi Qar oil company in southern Iraq
» Iraq Judicial Council demands details of corruption probe outcomes
» Al-Kadhimi to Paris next month
» Al-Rasheed warns against promoting the advances outside its branches and disclaims any consequences
» A slight decrease in the dollar exchange rate in the Iraqi market
» The Central Bank calls for caution and caution from the celebrities of the Swiss Media
» Al-Kaabi: Some parties are trying to obstruct the completion of the Al-Faw port, in pursuit of Gulf
» Iraq will buy water from Turkey and Iran at twice the oil price after 10 years
» Independent representative: The government did not obligate the region to hand over the sums it owed
» The judiciary calls for the results of the investigation committee's work on major corruption cases
» Iraqi MP: The normalization project was launched since the Arab Spring
» Alliance of Forces: The next two weeks will witness the conclusion of an agreement for the various d
» Al-Kazemi: The situation in Iraq is sensitive to the economy, health and security
» Minister of Agriculture: Chaos continues at the border crossings
» A government bank issues a warning to employees of the Interior and employees about the advances
» Parliamentary Finance: A 3 trillion fiscal deficit threatens to secure salaries
» Nassif: The head of the Iraqi negotiating delegation in Kuwait is a “Baathist” who worked for Uday a
» Trump threatens to cancel the 2020 presidential election with an executive order
» The work is directed towards facilitating youth access to loans
» Iraq signs 3 agreements with the European Union
» Facing Enraged Iranian Pilgrims, Iraq Closes its Borders
» Al-Kadhimi establishes two monuments
» Al-Kadhimi -Al-Halbousi to legislate the election law as soon as possible
» The Iraqi PM discusses UNAMI role in the early elections
» The arrests in Iraq reached more officials ... and approaching the pillars of Iran
» Iranian gangs launch a widespread attack on Al-Kazemi after the "sectarian quota spoil" ... and the
» Observers: The recent arrests in Iraq are a prelude to wider operations that will involve other name
» A new Kurdish delegation heads to Baghdad tomorrow to discuss the region's share of the budget
» KI affirms that its operations will continue as normal
» Harb: The decisions of the "Saleh" committee to review the constitutional amendments are not binding
» Parliament holds its fifth session headed by Al-Halbousi
» The arrest of the managers of the Agricultural Bank in Fallujah and Ramadi after attending a meeting
» Parliament ends the first reading of amending the Iraqi High Criminal Court Law
» Parliament ends the first reading of the laws on the loading lines agreement and the Nuclear Regulat
» MP al-Jubouri: Fraud in elections is prohibited
» Iraq: 100 deputies call on to cancel an agreement with Kuwait