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Dear friends, We here in Israel are a bit concerned. We have high expectations from America. We always have, but with the new Administration we’ve come to respect POTUS keeping his word, and sticking to his guns. We know that sometimes this means he will be daring, out-there, edgy.. but that’s ok. Sometimes that’s how things get done. Just follow the President’s twitter account to see what we mean. When it comes to Israel, we listened. We even helped, some of us, during the election season. And we believed. We believed that a new Administration and a Republican-led Congress would uphold the campaign promises and the Republican platform, when it comes to the Middle East. Let Israel figure out what’s good for herself. Support Israel’s leaders in what they decide is right for security and peace. That’s the policy we still expect, and it’s not too late. Special envoy Jason Greenblatt is a friend, personally and ideologically, to many here in Israel. His recent trip was kept under wraps, but the message repeatedly reported from meetings was that America is asking Israel to sit tight, not even to take actions quietly if they might create some waves. Yes, defend your borders. But no, please don’t keep your promise to the people of Amona, uprooted from their homes in a questionable legal situation in order to keep the peace – promised a new community built for them by the end of March, but now asked to put on ice. (the families remain in dorm rooms while awaiting the signed promise). We all understand diplomacy and the need to be smart. What we don’t understand is why President Trump’s administration is willing to push limits on so many issues, while choosing ostensibly to ignore campaign promises and declarations towards Israel, those that stated unequivocally that Israel should be left to decide for itself what path to take, what policies to adopt, while the US would support any and all of that. Israel has consistently elected mainstream-to-right conservative governments. PM Netanyahu supports and yes, advocates, our right as Jews to live in our homeland. We do not steal land. We want to live in peace, and we want to live in equality, with equal rights to build within our communities and on our land. A US government request to cease this in any way, is an insult to our friendship and a faulty premise on which to build new understandings and cooperation. It is not your policy. It is not your will. But it is your government telling Israel the opposite of what it promised. Make this right, make this better. And help us to make sure that America remains an honest broker in its support of Israel’s right to independent thinking. We know you trust us, please ask the right questions at home so that this policy is implemented. And while you’re at it, you might want to mention to POTUS that you expect him to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem asap, or at least not to sign the waiver when it comes across his desk on June 1 or even earlier. See below for some enlightening comments and resources. Thanking you for your constant, unwavering support – let’s be one in our hearts and in our policies together. Best, Ruthie |
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With thanks to Arlene Kushner, for her insightful resource: Last week, after Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt had left, Israeli officials were expressing concern about a hold-over from the Obama administration—US National Security Council Middle East staffer Yael Lempert—whose influence “created a strain in the atmosphere”: “Greenblatt repeated statements that were heard many times during the Obama administration — that Israel is the stronger side in the conflict and therefore is expected to first take conciliatory measures towards the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials assessed that this argument, as well as human rights issues raised by Greenblatt, echoed similar comments made [in the past] by Lempert, who holds similar views to those of J Street.” (Emphasis added) Click here to read the full article. This is exceedingly unsettling, to say the least. Daniel Horowitz wrote in “Conservative Review”: “Lempert was literally Obama’s point person in the White House orchestrating his war against Israel. This decision [by Trump to keep her on] is Orwellian.” (Emphasis added) |
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As to the demands or “proposals” of the Trump administration with regard to building in communities in Judea and Samaria, various scenarios have emerged. One early report said that Greenblatt had asked for a freeze on building in isolated communities in Judea and Samaria, with some construction of a limited amount – with a quota – to be permitted in eastern Jerusalem and the settlement blocs. Netanyahu was said to have rejected this because of the restriction on building outside the blocs. This is a major issue for him because of his promise to build a new community for the residents of Amona. Any notion of counting how many new houses could be built inside existing community boundaries within the blocs is also terribly offensive. The Security Cabinet said that Israel has a right to build anywhere [within Area C] and I certainly concur. It is our land, and even the Oslo Accords don’t restrict Israeli building. An unnamed Israeli official then denied that Trump wanted construction stopped outside of the blocs. But this, even if true, hardly means that Trump is telling us that he supports our right to build. A joint readout at the end of last week, after meetings in Washington between the Israeli delegation and the Trump administration, said (emphasis added): “The United States delegation reiterated President Trump’s concerns regarding settlement activity in the context of moving towards a peace agreement.” There we have it: linking of Israel’s concessions on building with the possibility of “advancing peace.” To further complicate matters, another senior, unnamed Israeli official then saidthat it not true that Trump has demanded that all construction be halted past the security fence. But this is different from limiting the number of houses to be constructed inside the blocs. |
The latest report being circulated indicates that the US might “allow” Israel to build that new community for Amona, after which there would be a partial settlement freeze. There has been no final agreement on this, either, however. |
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The bottom line here? That joint readout also included this: “The Israeli delegation made clear that Israel’s intent going forward is to adopt a policy regarding settlement activity that takes those [Trump’s] concerns into consideration.” So, we are likely to concede something, unfortunately. But “taking concerns into consideration” does not mean doing precisely what Trump wants. By the way, Netanyahu is constrained from making too many concessions by the nationalist portion of his coalition. Right now his coalition is shaky in any event, and we have to be grateful that he is looking over his right shoulder. More on that soon. As to Trump: Genuine disappointment and enormous bewilderment as to what he is thinking. |
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Please share comments and upcoming Middle-East focused activity so we can weigh in and provide insight that can help better inform and advocate for our joint interests… |