News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: June 8th

A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press.

1.) A day after clinching the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama spoke at the annual AIPAC conference (an organization that the Jerusalem Post, in a recent editorial, oddly characterized as “quintessentially American.”) Perhaps hoping to allay fears of not being sufficiently pro-Israeli, Obama promised strong support for Israel in the coming decade — to the tune of $30 billion dollars. He also spoke tough about Iran and, most surprisingly, declared his endorsement of an undivided Jerusalem.

It is not clear what Obama meant by this last statement, since no viable Palestinian-Israeli peace proposal has ever included full Israeli control over Jerusalem. In response to the comment, the Arab press has reacted furiously, and Hamas has effectively “un-endorsed” Obama. Seeking to address the controversy, a campaign spokesman clarified that Obama merely meant that Jerusalem should not be physically divided by barbed wire. The Senator, the spokesman added, supports whatever outcome for the holy city that is decided upon by the negotiating parties.

2.) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is making an effort to initiate a “national dialogue” with Hamas. His hope, according to reports, is to reunify the Palestinian leadership. Some analysts have suggested that this move towards reconciliation is, in part, aimed at putting pressure on the Israelis to grant greater concessions in the peace process. “Abbas is telling the Israelis…, ‘You either give me everything I want or I will go to Hamas.’ He’s hoping to put pressure on them by seeking rapprochement with Hamas,” said an unnamed analyst quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

3.) Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz said recently that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities is “unavoidable,” given the lack of success of the UN-imposed economic sanctions.

I am convinced that if a two state solution is ever reached, then Pisgat Ze’ev will be part of Israel in its agreed, recognized, and legitimized new borders, and I have been part of Israeli negotiating teams—official and unofficial—that have argued this case. But until that agreement is reached, every housing unit added and marketed beyond the Green Line will continue to undermine that same two state solution and reduce the likelihood of it ever being reached as the belief on both sides in such an option is further eroded. The US government and international community criticized this act of settlement expansion, but it goes on and on.