israelinothot-blog

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I was entirely unaware of the alleged Syrian government advancements toward the Syrian - Israeli border. The government has taken the town of Beit Jinn as well as the Syrian side of the slope of Mount Hermon. This rightly would attract Israel’s attention and cause further Israeli action within Syria. After a mortar shell from the fighting near the border landed in the Golan Heights, Israel struck a Syrian government military position with the army saying that it holds the government in Syria responsible for everything that occurs inside the country.

This article posits that Syria is preparing for a new offensive to take the Golan Heights back from Israel. I find that doubtful considering the fact that Syria’s military has been fighting for seven years in a civil war. I simply don’t think that they have the morale to attempt to take land from an ally of the most powerful state in the world, fighting against one of the best militaries in the world. Yet, it is important to remember that the tide of the war has turned in the government’s favor, and that Syria still continues to enjoy backing and aid from Russia and Iran. This support opens up the door for such action in the Golan Heights, a door that would be closed if the government had no outside support. 

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As much as I denounce any violence, and think it should be prevented, I believe the UN should stay out of this issue. The protests in favor of the right of return are not an issue - not at all. However, it was Palestinian youths who acted provocatively and aggressively against the Israelis. The Israelis will do what they see fit in response to any confrontational actions on its border, especially the one with Gaza. The UN is involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, but shouldn’t protect provocateurs. It was those confrontational actions that spurred such an Israeli response, and the violence would certainly decrease, if not go away, if that stopped. In this case, the UN should stay on the sidelines. 

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The Iranian involvement in Syria, both through the Lebanese Hezbollah and through their own Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have provoked Israel into going on the offensive, significantly ramping up its own involvement in the embattle Arab state. The recent Israeli airstrike on the Syrian base, called T-4, resulted in the death of seven IRGC soldiers causing Iran to promise retaliation. Israel is now threatening to strike the airplanes that are believed to be transporting arms to Syria. These heightened tensions between two countries on opposite sides of the proxy war that now engulfs Syria has dangerous implications. The United States and other countries should attempt to mitigate this threat by convincing both sides to stand down. The U.S. can do its part by promising the assurance of Israel’s safety and security. This is imperative considering that the actors involved in the Syrian Civil War make it a potentially catastrophic conflict of which to lose control. 

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Danny Danon, Member of the Knesset and Israeli Ambassador to the UN is currently hosting a delegation of UN ambassadors in Israel. Members of the delegation are from countries who “don’t usually vote in Israel’s favor.” The hope is that these ambassadors will see the issues that Israel has to deal with, so that they make informed votes in the United Nations. I appreciate this kind of diplomacy. It is very important to see all sides of an issue upon which one is voting and then make a decision. Otherwise, one has not made an informed decision. Especially with an issue this volatile, it is imperative that ambassadors the world over experience some first hand learning “on the ground” as it were. The intricacies and perspectives that surround the Israel-Palestine situation are such that they must be understood. I hope that this trip proves to be enlightening to all involved.

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As the violence in Gaza between Palestinians and the Israeli military continues, the actions taken by the Israelis continue to be scrutinized. The EU foreign ministry questioned Israel’s claims that protesters attempted to cross into Israel during a clash, causing police to shoot and kill nine. The tensions along this border are a dangerous combination. Israel has every right to defend its border, but it must be careful to react in a measured way. Palestinians shouldn’t attempt to cross the border into Israel, but Israel should ensure that is what is happening before they react with lethal force. All eyes are on Israel, and every potentially unjustified killing only strengthens their opposition, both worldwide and among their neighbors.

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Russia has placed blame on Israel for airstrikes on Monday. Eight purportedly Israeli missiles were intercepted whereas five struck an airbase in Syria. This comes in the aftermath of what appears to have been a chemical gas attack near Douma. Israel is highly concerned about the situation in Syria which combines three of its main adversaries: Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah. I agree with the assessment of this article. If the U.S. pursues an isolationist policy in Syria as Trump has proposed doing, Israel faces no choice but to ramp up its efforts to mitigate the threat in Syria. These efforts have already caused Israel to strike Syria more than 100 times since 2012. Maybe Israel’s concern will convince Trump to maintain involvement in Syria.

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As I was looking for some news stories to blog about, I stumbled across this. Netanyahu has backed out of the deal signed a couple of days ago with the UN that agreed to resettle about 18,000 of African migrants that are currently in Israeli detention centers in Israel and another 16,000 in western countries. Political pressure is being attributed to this action, which falls in line with Netanyahu’s “external threat” political strategy. I am now unclear on what is to happen with the nearly 40,000 African migrants in Israel. There was a plan to send them to African countries, which the Israeli Supreme Court halted due to concerns about their welfare. Now these people are in limbo. What a shame. 

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I previously have written about the issue of the African asylum seekers in Israel. Last I wrote, and last I heard, the Israeli Supreme Court halted deportations of the mainly Eritrean and Sudanese migrants, concerned about the treatment of those who were deported in their new host countries. Israel has reached a deal with the UN to settle about 16,000 of the migrants in western countries (which haven’t been specified) and grant 18,000 permanent residency in Israel. 

This decision will obviously have an impact in not only Israel, but the unspecified western countries that will be the new home of some of these asylum seekers. The global humanitarian refugee crisis has touched many countries, and some of the citizens in those countries don’t like it. With the rise of nationalist, right-wing movements in Europe contrary to the idea of their country becoming host to refugees, this action is only a start of what is to come. I fear that many citizens will not share the generosity of their governments related to these people. In Israel, it will be interesting to see the dynamic between the different ethno-religious groups with the addition of Eritrean and Sudanese to the mix. This will be an issue that should be focused on in the future.

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I would be remiss if I didn't make some sort of commentary on the appointment of John Bolton as National Security Advisor, considering the potential impact has had and could have on the Middle East. Bolton is an outspoken conservative in foreign policy matters - but not in a good way. I could see his appeal to many of the American people. Certainly some will say “he is tough” or “he says what he thinks” or “he will do what needs to be done.” But the way in which these traits are manifested in John Bolton are not what America needs. This provocative rhetoric and brash suggestions, although it fits nicely with the style of the American President, shouldn’t be the hallmark of anyone involved in foreign affairs.

Whatever Bolton’s experience, national security is an arena that requires some diplomacy, some control, which he doesn’t have. His suggestion to the Israeli ex-defense minister Shaul Mofaz that Israel should attack Iran is a sign of one of his most dangerous suggestions. Such an action in the Middle East would bring untold consequences. Iran is not a country the U.S. wants as its enemy. This pattern of nonchalantly attacking countries is irresponsible at best and threatening to our national security at worst. My question is, if Bolton could suggest an attack on Iran when serving as the U.S. ambassador to the UN, a position that is centered around dialogue and diplomacy, what could he suggest when he is in a position that directs national security policy?

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As anyone can imagine, Israel is elated to hear of the Trump administration’s plans to open up a temporary U.S. embassy in Jerusalem in May of this year. This is true to thee point that the Finance ministry announced they are going to “empower” the city government to waive the necessity of permits to build necessary security structures for the temporary embassy, which will be housed in a U.S. consulate building. Israeli officials are adamant about ensuring that the May deadline holds up. 

I am impressed, but not surprised, by the efforts Israel has undergone to make sure nothing, not even bureaucracy, stands in the way of the first major act of legitimizing the Israeli claim of Jerusalem as their capital. This is legitimacy they need to establish the facts on the ground that Jerusalem is the Israeli capital. This is all a game for Donald Trump who seeks to show how committed he is to being pro-Israel. For Israel it is the easiest way to obtain one of their biggest demands. 

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You hear about Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, but I had never heard of Rami Hamdallah before today. Nonetheless, most Palestinians have. He is the Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, having been appointed as such by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2013. The attached article talks about his background. He was the professor of linguistics and later President of An-Najah University. One March 13th, there was an attempt on his life near an entrance into Gaza when a bomb exploded, injuring several. Mahmoud Abbas blamed Hamas for the attack, with whom the Palestinian Authority is pursuing a deal of unity. Hamas, in turn, blamed Israel. 

Hamdallah, considered a moderate, is among the most likely to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as President of the State of Palestine. He wasn’t a member of Fatah until his selection as Prime Minister, although he maintained close relations with the Fatah elite.  I find the implications of this possible succession interesting. Hamdallah has stated in the past that the main investment of the State of Palestine should be in education. I find this to be a respectable goal, and I hope his rumored moderate views hold to be true. Considering his moderate views I can understand Palestinian extremists wanting him gone. Considering his effort to achieve Palestinian unity, I can understand why Israel would want him gone. Should he succeed Abbas, whose health has been questionable, this possible education initiative should be conducted in the right way, with an objective assessment of history and Israel. This would teach following generations THE FACTS and that would be a good step toward pursuing lasting peace.

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The Israel Supreme Court has recommended that Netanyahu’s government halt deportation proceedings of the mainly African migrant population until there is confirmation that a deportation deal has been made. The government’s plan is apparently to deport nearly 40,000 asylum seekers from the Holot detention center to Rwanda and Uganda. However, senior foreign ministry officials from both countries deny that they ever agreed to a deal to relocate any such migrants. Asylum seekers who have been deported to the two countries have experienced having their paperwork confiscated, not being recognized as refugees, and having trouble finding work despite having been told by the Israeli government that they would receive a residence permit allowing the to work upon arrival and not be returned to their country of origin. The government has been granted two weeks to report upon the status of the agreement.

I found the petitioning attorneys’ words to be quite moving. One was born in Israel in 1948 and saw it as unimaginable for the country to throw out 40,000 some of whom are asylum seekers protected under the Refugee Convention of 1951, created because of Jewish refugees from World War II. The other further explained the inconsistency with treating these refugees the way the Jews were. His quote, “Turning our backs actually says there was logic to the way our forefathers were treated,” brings forth an important point. Much of the way the Israeli Jews treat Arabs or other non-Jews is rather consistent with how their ancestors had been treated for hundreds and thousands of years. The right-wing is often portrayed as having a lack of empathy, and this action by Netanyahu’s Likud government is living up to that reputation. I understand the skepticism that comes with a flood of migrants, but simply turning one’s back to them is a betrayal of the situation upon what Israel was founded.

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One-State Solution?

The end of the Peace Summit on Tuesday brought with it a great confusion on if the student delegation representing Israel wanted a two-state solution or a one-state solution. Even if this was a misunderstanding, believe it or not, this is a thing. I am going to outline my reasons for why a one-state solution for the Israel-Palestine Conflict is an untenable one in every way imaginable. 

Those who support a one-state solution err in three main ways. 

First, it has to be assumed that the Palestinian and Jewish populations can live together and form a functioning single state harmoniously. Even as a liberal in international relations who believes cooperation is always possible, I am saying that just isn’t feasible. Israeli Jews and Arabs have not wanted to, do not want to, will not want to live together. As a whole they have shown violent tendencies toward one another. The distrust and hatred between the two groups has been cultivated over generations, and it would take many generations more to undo this than it took to form it. 

Additionally, the character of the state would be forever changed. Under a single state, current statistics show that the Arab population would overtake the Jews in number. This would spell the end for a Jewish run state. The way this could be combatted is increasing the Jewish birth rate which would eventually amount to over population in this tiny corner of the world creating a resource crisis that would worsen the present situation, or decreasing the Arab birth rate which simply isn’t a controllable variable.

Israel was created as a home for the Jews, and it is certain that the Israeli Jews would want to keep the Jewish character of their state over keeping their democracy. This is a sensible stance considering their history of persecution. Statements have been made to this end already by Ayelet Shaked, a member of the Israeli cabinet, who stated that protecting the Jewish character of the state may require civil rights violations. A single Jewish state would require the repression of the Palestinian Arabs (unacceptable), the making Palestinian Arabs second - class citizens who cannot vote (unacceptable), and/or the removal of Palestinian Arabs from this single state (ethnic cleansing). Certainly all of these options would increase anti-Jew violence within this state and in the entire Middle East, which is not in Israel’s best interest.

As we can see here, every option of a single state leads to crisis. I do not understand how Reuven Rivlin, the current President of Israel could support such an approach, when it is clearly in Israel’s best interest to find an amicable TWO STATE SOLUTION. Both sides of this issue need their own state if there is to be any chance of lasting peace in this region at anytime - and that is final. 

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This is sort of a part 2 to my earlier post about the India - Israel relationship. There have been flights going from New Delhi to Tel Aviv, but they have had to circumvent Saudi airspace because they do not recognize Israel. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Air India has been approved by Saudi Arabia to fly through its airspace to Israel, cutting two hours off of the currently seven hour trip. Such flights are planned to take place three times a week. Israel’s El Al airline currently flies to Mumbai four times a week and similarly has to go around Saudi airspace. El Al is now wanting access to Saudi airspace to be able to compete with Air India.

This move is significant. Saudi Arabia has not been a friend of Israel. However, it is apparent that the kingdom is putting more emphasis on countering Iran than countering Israel. In this regard the two countries have much in common. Both view Iran as their main threat. If Saudi Arabia allows El Al the same privilege it has apparently granted to Air India, then this is a harbinger of more anti-Iran cooperation to come. We could see Saudi Arabia be put in a similar position as Egypt and Jordan at the expense of Iran.

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Resources: Of Vital Importance to Life and to Peace

Resources has not been a topic on my radar when I have previously considered the Israel - Palestine conflict. However, considering the amount of lively debate centered around this vital issue during the Peace Summit on Tuesday, I thought it appropriate to explore the issue a bit. 

Israel has been deforesting areas in Palestine. According the UN, 80% of deforestation is attributable to Israeli occupation. As was pointed out during the Peace Summit, all water projects, even in Palestine go through the Central Authority. What water resources are available to the Palestinians are controlled by the Israelis and/or contaminated by them through waste dumping. 

It would be in Israel and Palestine’s best interest to find a lasting solution to the management of these resources, especially water. The proposal discussed in the Peace Summit seems a reasonable way to do this. Instead of everything being under the control of the Israelis, the shared interests in water resources should be controlled by a commission with shared powers among those parties involved, namely Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. One thing is certain. Israel’s environmentally destructive behavior and full control of water cannot continue. A way of sharing authority over these issues was rightly identified in the Peace Summit as being a step toward, and an integral part of, a two state solution, which is the best way to solve this conflict. If an issue with implications for the very survival of humans is considered settled, it is my belief that peace is much closer to being a possibility. 

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Yesterday six cars with Palestinian plates were allowed to travel on Othman bin-Affan street. This street is between the Kiryat Arba settlement and the Tomb of the Patriarchs, and was not open to Palestinians even though their homes were on the street. The Second Intifada in 2000 forced the closure of the street to Palestinians, only opening in 2015, when the government began to issue permits for them to use it. With such a turnaround as to cause whiplash, this was ended later that year immediately following the stabbing attacks in the region. Three years later, that process is beginning anew.

Palestinians having to park their cars down the road near the settlement of Kiryat Arba and walk the rest of the way to their homes is an inconvenience and a restriction of freedom I hadn’t heard about. It has exacted undue hardship among the Palestinians in that locality, especially the sick, old, young, and pregnant. The IDF explanation for issuing permits to travel along the road was “to improve the standard of living for the area’s residents and enhance stability.” This process will be continued until 155 Palestinian cars are permitted to travel along Othman bin-Affan Street. I consider this to be a good move. The ideology to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region isn’t restriction on an already oppressed people, it is giving them autonomy and the privileges available to their fellow humans in the area. Some complain that public transportation, upon which many area Palestinians are dependent, isn’t allowed on the street, but I this is the right direction.

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The first official visit of a British royal to Israel and Palestine is not to be overlooked. According to the article, Israel has been frustrated for decades with the lack of an official visit by any member of the royal family. When it was announced this would happen Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed quite pleased in his tweeted response. Prince William, however, has also accepted an invitation by Mahmoud Abbas to come to Palestine. It is the official position of the British government that Palestine is being occupied by the Israelis. Perhaps a visit happily accepted by both sides of the Israel - Palestine Conflict is a good thing. It is also significant as the land in which both states are was once a British mandate. I would support any British attempt to foster better relationships with both sides.