26 feb 2017
Dr. Ramzy Baroud
The President of the United States can hardly be taken seriously, saying much but doing little. His words, often offensive, carry no substance, and it is impossible to summarize his complex political outlook about important issues.
This is precisely the type of American presidency that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers.
However, Donald Trump is not just a raving man, but a dangerous one as well. His unpredictability must worry Israel, which expects from its American benefactors complete clarity and consistency in terms of its political support.
At the age of 70, Trump is incapable of being the stalwart, pro-Zionist ideologue in a way that suits Israeli interests well.
Take, for example, the White House press conference following the much anticipated visit by Netanyahu to Washington on 15 February.
The visit was scheduled immediately after Trump’s inauguration on 20 January and is considered the Trump Presidency’s answer to what Israel wrongly perceives as a hostile US administration under former President Barack Obama.
However, Obama granted Israel $38 billion over the course of ten years, estimated to be the most generous aid package in US history. He supported all the Israeli wars against Palestinians during his presidency, and unfailingly defended Israel before the international community, at the United Nations and every global forum in which Israel was justifiably criticised.
But Israel expects blind support. It needs a US administration that is as loyal as the US Congress, always praising Israel, degrading Palestinians, dismissing international law, calling to stop funding the UN for daring to demand accountability from Israel, feeding Israeli “security” phobias with monetary and absolute political backing, demonising Iran, undermining the Arabs and repeating all Israeli talking points fed to them by Tel Aviv and by the fifth column lobbyists in Washington.
Trump is striving to be that person, the messiah that Israel’s army of right-wing, ultranationalists and religious zealots have been calling for. But this appears beyond the man’s control, no matter how hard he tries.
“Looking at two-state or one-state, I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one both parties like. I can live with either one,” Trump said in answer to a journalist’s question, implying to Israel that the US will no longer impose solutions; instead, Trump pushed the “one-state solution” idea to the very top of the discussion. It is not what Israel wanted – or expected.
In Washington, Netanyahu, with unmistakable pomposity, stood before the media and simply lied. He painted Israel as vulnerable, a prey for dark “radical Islam” forces, ready to strike from every corner.
He presented Iran’s nuclear capabilities as if it is lined up to incinerate Israel, itself built atop the graves and villages of dispossessed Palestinians. No journalist had the courage to quiz the Israeli leader about his own country’s massive nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction. Listening to him preach fabricated history to the incurious American media, one would think that militarily powerful Israel is occupied by hostile Palestinian foreigners, and not vice versa.
Netanyahu claimed his people belonged to Palestine as the French belonged to France and the Chinese to China. But if European Jewish immigrants are the natives of Palestine, then what is one to make of Palestinians? How is one to explain their existence on land that has carried their collective name for millennia?
This is inconsequential to the US government and mainstream media. US media is as uninformed about the realities of the Middle East as Trump, who seems to have only two main talking points about the whole issue, both embarrassingly bizarre:
Israel has been treated “very, very badly” by the US, and he has a “really great peace deal” in store.
On the contrary, Palestinians have been treated “very, very badly” by the US, the most generous supporter of Israel. Israel has used mostly American weapons in its wars against Palestinians and other Arab nations, with thousands of Palestinians losing their lives because of this blind American patronage.
As for his “really great peace deal”, Trump has nothing. “Really great” seems to be his answer to everything, to the point that his words are becoming ineffectual clichés, suitable for twitter jokes and comedy.
Furthermore, Netanyahu, urged on by – to quote former Secretary of State, John Kerry – the “most right-wing coalition in Israeli history” – wants the US to unconditionally support Israel as the latter is finalizing its future “vision”.
Now, it seems that Israel is concluding that territorial quest. The “Regularization Law” passed recently in Israel’s parliament – the Knesset – will retroactively validate all Israeli illegal settlers’ claims over Palestinian land. Top Israel officials now openly speak of annexation of the West Bank, using language that was formerly reserved for Jewish extremists.
Israel’s president believes annexation is the answer. “I, Rubi Rivlin, believe that Zion is entirely ours. I believe the sovereignty of the State of Israel must be in all the blocs,” Rivlin said, emphasizing that he was referring to the entire West Bank, as quoted by the Times of Israel.
The consensus among Israel’s ruling class is that a Palestinian state should never be established. Trump, although incoherent, granted them just that.
So what does Netanyahu want? We know he does not want a Palestinian state and plans to annex all Jewish colonies, while continuing to expand over stolen Palestinian land. He wants Palestinians to exist, but without political will of their own, without sovereignty, forced to accept that Israel is a Jewish state (thus signing off on their historic right to their own land); to remain subdued, passive, disarmed, dehumanized.
Netanyahu’s end game is Apartheid, racist segregation where one party, Israeli Jews, dominates and exploits the other – Palestinian Arabs: Muslims and Christians.
But human dignity is not open for negotiation, no matter how a “good negotiator” Netanyahu is – according to Trump’s assertion.
Palestinians have resisted Israel for nearly 70 years because they challenge their servitude. They will continue to resist.
Israel has the military means to punish Palestinians for their resistance, to push them behind military checkpoints and trap them behind walls. Yet, it is not a matter of firepower, and no wall can be high enough to stymie the echoes of oppressed people striving for freedom, human rights, equality and solidarity.
Netanyahu must feel triumphant because of Trump’s assuring words. The Israeli leader wants any victory, however illusive, to buy time and the allegiance of his camp of extremists, especially now that he is being investigated for fraud and is likely to be indicted.
He may even initiate a war against Gaza to create further distraction, and will readily spin facts so that his country is presented as a victim, to test American support and to “downgrade” Hamas’ and other Palestinian groups’ defenses.
However, none of this will change the reality that Netanyahu has unwisely constructed. His vision for Israel is the perpetual subjugation of Palestinians through a system of racial discrimination that will continue until the world unravels the lies and the propaganda.
Having Trump by his side, Netanyahu will work diligently to perfect the Palestinian prison in the name of Israel’s security.
Palestinians must now respond, without the irrelevant rhetoric of a “two-state solution”, but with a unified universal message to the rest of the world: expecting – in fact, demanding – freedom, equality, full rights in a society that is not predicated on racial order, but on equal citizenship.
Israel has laid out its dark vision. Palestinians must present the antithesis to that destructive vision: a road map towards justice, equality and peace for all.
– Dr. Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com.
The President of the United States can hardly be taken seriously, saying much but doing little. His words, often offensive, carry no substance, and it is impossible to summarize his complex political outlook about important issues.
This is precisely the type of American presidency that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers.
However, Donald Trump is not just a raving man, but a dangerous one as well. His unpredictability must worry Israel, which expects from its American benefactors complete clarity and consistency in terms of its political support.
At the age of 70, Trump is incapable of being the stalwart, pro-Zionist ideologue in a way that suits Israeli interests well.
Take, for example, the White House press conference following the much anticipated visit by Netanyahu to Washington on 15 February.
The visit was scheduled immediately after Trump’s inauguration on 20 January and is considered the Trump Presidency’s answer to what Israel wrongly perceives as a hostile US administration under former President Barack Obama.
However, Obama granted Israel $38 billion over the course of ten years, estimated to be the most generous aid package in US history. He supported all the Israeli wars against Palestinians during his presidency, and unfailingly defended Israel before the international community, at the United Nations and every global forum in which Israel was justifiably criticised.
But Israel expects blind support. It needs a US administration that is as loyal as the US Congress, always praising Israel, degrading Palestinians, dismissing international law, calling to stop funding the UN for daring to demand accountability from Israel, feeding Israeli “security” phobias with monetary and absolute political backing, demonising Iran, undermining the Arabs and repeating all Israeli talking points fed to them by Tel Aviv and by the fifth column lobbyists in Washington.
Trump is striving to be that person, the messiah that Israel’s army of right-wing, ultranationalists and religious zealots have been calling for. But this appears beyond the man’s control, no matter how hard he tries.
“Looking at two-state or one-state, I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one both parties like. I can live with either one,” Trump said in answer to a journalist’s question, implying to Israel that the US will no longer impose solutions; instead, Trump pushed the “one-state solution” idea to the very top of the discussion. It is not what Israel wanted – or expected.
In Washington, Netanyahu, with unmistakable pomposity, stood before the media and simply lied. He painted Israel as vulnerable, a prey for dark “radical Islam” forces, ready to strike from every corner.
He presented Iran’s nuclear capabilities as if it is lined up to incinerate Israel, itself built atop the graves and villages of dispossessed Palestinians. No journalist had the courage to quiz the Israeli leader about his own country’s massive nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction. Listening to him preach fabricated history to the incurious American media, one would think that militarily powerful Israel is occupied by hostile Palestinian foreigners, and not vice versa.
Netanyahu claimed his people belonged to Palestine as the French belonged to France and the Chinese to China. But if European Jewish immigrants are the natives of Palestine, then what is one to make of Palestinians? How is one to explain their existence on land that has carried their collective name for millennia?
This is inconsequential to the US government and mainstream media. US media is as uninformed about the realities of the Middle East as Trump, who seems to have only two main talking points about the whole issue, both embarrassingly bizarre:
Israel has been treated “very, very badly” by the US, and he has a “really great peace deal” in store.
On the contrary, Palestinians have been treated “very, very badly” by the US, the most generous supporter of Israel. Israel has used mostly American weapons in its wars against Palestinians and other Arab nations, with thousands of Palestinians losing their lives because of this blind American patronage.
As for his “really great peace deal”, Trump has nothing. “Really great” seems to be his answer to everything, to the point that his words are becoming ineffectual clichés, suitable for twitter jokes and comedy.
Furthermore, Netanyahu, urged on by – to quote former Secretary of State, John Kerry – the “most right-wing coalition in Israeli history” – wants the US to unconditionally support Israel as the latter is finalizing its future “vision”.
Now, it seems that Israel is concluding that territorial quest. The “Regularization Law” passed recently in Israel’s parliament – the Knesset – will retroactively validate all Israeli illegal settlers’ claims over Palestinian land. Top Israel officials now openly speak of annexation of the West Bank, using language that was formerly reserved for Jewish extremists.
Israel’s president believes annexation is the answer. “I, Rubi Rivlin, believe that Zion is entirely ours. I believe the sovereignty of the State of Israel must be in all the blocs,” Rivlin said, emphasizing that he was referring to the entire West Bank, as quoted by the Times of Israel.
The consensus among Israel’s ruling class is that a Palestinian state should never be established. Trump, although incoherent, granted them just that.
So what does Netanyahu want? We know he does not want a Palestinian state and plans to annex all Jewish colonies, while continuing to expand over stolen Palestinian land. He wants Palestinians to exist, but without political will of their own, without sovereignty, forced to accept that Israel is a Jewish state (thus signing off on their historic right to their own land); to remain subdued, passive, disarmed, dehumanized.
Netanyahu’s end game is Apartheid, racist segregation where one party, Israeli Jews, dominates and exploits the other – Palestinian Arabs: Muslims and Christians.
But human dignity is not open for negotiation, no matter how a “good negotiator” Netanyahu is – according to Trump’s assertion.
Palestinians have resisted Israel for nearly 70 years because they challenge their servitude. They will continue to resist.
Israel has the military means to punish Palestinians for their resistance, to push them behind military checkpoints and trap them behind walls. Yet, it is not a matter of firepower, and no wall can be high enough to stymie the echoes of oppressed people striving for freedom, human rights, equality and solidarity.
Netanyahu must feel triumphant because of Trump’s assuring words. The Israeli leader wants any victory, however illusive, to buy time and the allegiance of his camp of extremists, especially now that he is being investigated for fraud and is likely to be indicted.
He may even initiate a war against Gaza to create further distraction, and will readily spin facts so that his country is presented as a victim, to test American support and to “downgrade” Hamas’ and other Palestinian groups’ defenses.
However, none of this will change the reality that Netanyahu has unwisely constructed. His vision for Israel is the perpetual subjugation of Palestinians through a system of racial discrimination that will continue until the world unravels the lies and the propaganda.
Having Trump by his side, Netanyahu will work diligently to perfect the Palestinian prison in the name of Israel’s security.
Palestinians must now respond, without the irrelevant rhetoric of a “two-state solution”, but with a unified universal message to the rest of the world: expecting – in fact, demanding – freedom, equality, full rights in a society that is not predicated on racial order, but on equal citizenship.
Israel has laid out its dark vision. Palestinians must present the antithesis to that destructive vision: a road map towards justice, equality and peace for all.
– Dr. Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com.
16 feb 2017
Five former US ambassadors to Israel on Wednesday evening declared their total rejection of US President Donald Trump’s pick for Israel envoy, David Friedman, calling him “unqualified” and “extreme” in his positions.
Israeli media sources revealed that the five ambassadors sent a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging the Senators to examine whether Friedman "has the balance and the temperament required to represent the United States as ambassador to Israel."
Haaretz obtained a copy of the letter, citing former ambassadors Thomas Pickering, Dan Kurtzer, Edward Walker, James Cunningham and William Harrop as signatories.
In the letter, the diplomats, who have served under both Republican and Democratic administrations and have worked with Israeli leaders of “different political stripes,” outline concerns for some of Friedman’s views regarding the state of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, believing that the US ambassador to Israel must be dedicated to advancing “longstanding bipartisan goals” of security and peace among Israel’s neighbors, specifically the Palestinians, and claim that the only current solution is the creation of two separate states.
“If Israel is to carry on as a democratic Jewish nation, respected internationally, we see no alternative to a two-state solution,” the letter stated.
Friedman, meanwhile is noted to be adamantly opposed to a two-state solution, arguing that it is an “illusory solution in search of a non-existent problem,” as he was quoted in the letter.
The letter also said Friedman is a supporter and financier of settlement construction in the West Bank, an issue that has raised great concern among the international community and was condemned in a United Nations Security Council resolution in December.
Israeli media sources revealed that the five ambassadors sent a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging the Senators to examine whether Friedman "has the balance and the temperament required to represent the United States as ambassador to Israel."
Haaretz obtained a copy of the letter, citing former ambassadors Thomas Pickering, Dan Kurtzer, Edward Walker, James Cunningham and William Harrop as signatories.
In the letter, the diplomats, who have served under both Republican and Democratic administrations and have worked with Israeli leaders of “different political stripes,” outline concerns for some of Friedman’s views regarding the state of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, believing that the US ambassador to Israel must be dedicated to advancing “longstanding bipartisan goals” of security and peace among Israel’s neighbors, specifically the Palestinians, and claim that the only current solution is the creation of two separate states.
“If Israel is to carry on as a democratic Jewish nation, respected internationally, we see no alternative to a two-state solution,” the letter stated.
Friedman, meanwhile is noted to be adamantly opposed to a two-state solution, arguing that it is an “illusory solution in search of a non-existent problem,” as he was quoted in the letter.
The letter also said Friedman is a supporter and financier of settlement construction in the West Bank, an issue that has raised great concern among the international community and was condemned in a United Nations Security Council resolution in December.
15 feb 2017
On the eve of the first meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House late Tuesday appeared to “back away from the two-state solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”
U.S. President Donald Trump supports the goal of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, even if it does not involve the two-state solution, a senior White House official said on Tuesday.
Speaking a day before Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting, the official said peace was the ultimate goal.
"Whether that comes in the form of a two–state solution if that's what the parties want, or something else," the official said, adding that Trump would not try to "dictate" a solution.
Analysts say that failure by a U.S. president to explicitly back a two-state solution would upend decades of U.S. policy embraced by Republican and Democratic administrations as it has long been the bedrock U.S. position for resolving the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been at the core of international peace efforts.
U.S. President Donald Trump supports the goal of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, even if it does not involve the two-state solution, a senior White House official said on Tuesday.
Speaking a day before Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting, the official said peace was the ultimate goal.
"Whether that comes in the form of a two–state solution if that's what the parties want, or something else," the official said, adding that Trump would not try to "dictate" a solution.
Analysts say that failure by a U.S. president to explicitly back a two-state solution would upend decades of U.S. policy embraced by Republican and Democratic administrations as it has long been the bedrock U.S. position for resolving the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been at the core of international peace efforts.
4 feb 2017
White House spokesman Josh Ernest said in a press conference held Saturday that Israel’s settlement construction is not “an impediment to peace.”
“I think the statement is very clear about that. We don't believe that the existence of current settlements is an impediment to peace, but I think the construction or expansion of existing settlements beyond the current borders is not going to be helpful moving forward.”
"The President, Donald Trump is committed to peace. That's his goal. And I think when the President and (Israeli) Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu meet here on the 15th, that will obviously be the topic on that. At the end of the day, the goal is peace. And I think that's what you have to keep in mind. I think that is going to be a subject that they discuss when they meet on the 15th, and that's as far as I want to go on that," according to his statements.
“I think the statement is very clear about that. We don't believe that the existence of current settlements is an impediment to peace, but I think the construction or expansion of existing settlements beyond the current borders is not going to be helpful moving forward.”
"The President, Donald Trump is committed to peace. That's his goal. And I think when the President and (Israeli) Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu meet here on the 15th, that will obviously be the topic on that. At the end of the day, the goal is peace. And I think that's what you have to keep in mind. I think that is going to be a subject that they discuss when they meet on the 15th, and that's as far as I want to go on that," according to his statements.
1 feb 2017
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, late Tuesday, held separate meetings in Washington, DC, with leaders and members of US congress, during which they discussed consequences of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.
King Abdullah reiterated that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem will have regional consequences that will undermine the opportunities for peace and reaching the two-state solution and weaken the chances of a success in the war against terrorism.
Moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will have negative impacts on the region’s security and stability, he said, stressing the importance of the sacred city of Jerusalem for Arab and Muslim peoples.
Such a step, the King explained, will increase the anger and despair among Arabs and Muslims, enabling extremists to further spread their dark ideologies and agendas.
In this regard, he renewed affirmation that there is no alternative to the two-state solution, which guarantees justice, freedom, and stability, stressing the importance of avoiding measures that may undermine opportunities to resume the peace process.
King Abdullah reiterated that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem will have regional consequences that will undermine the opportunities for peace and reaching the two-state solution and weaken the chances of a success in the war against terrorism.
Moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will have negative impacts on the region’s security and stability, he said, stressing the importance of the sacred city of Jerusalem for Arab and Muslim peoples.
Such a step, the King explained, will increase the anger and despair among Arabs and Muslims, enabling extremists to further spread their dark ideologies and agendas.
In this regard, he renewed affirmation that there is no alternative to the two-state solution, which guarantees justice, freedom, and stability, stressing the importance of avoiding measures that may undermine opportunities to resume the peace process.
