Damage Control (Netanyahu's private reflections, Abbas and Obama on the eve of the Peace Conference) Breaking
Uri Avnery www.avnery-news.co
On Wednesday, a Dutch journalist asked me to try to guess the thoughts of Benjamin Netanyahu on the way Washington.
seems that she was satisfied with the outcome because then asked me to guess the thoughts of Mahmoud Abbas. Apparently
again be satisfied, because immediately afterwards asked me to do the same with Barack Obama.
Here are the things I said on that occasion:
NETANYAHU
ROAD REFLECTIONS A WASHINGTON: The most important is to minimize the damage.
Someone recently asked me how he saw our situation in four years. Four years! If what concerns me is what will happen in four weeks, at the conclusion of the suspension period for the construction of settlements!
I feel like an officer on the bridge of the Titanic to see emerge before the horrible iceberg.
These settlers (yes, yes, I know I should call them "residents of Judea and Samaria") no joke. It is impossible to reason with them and convince them to remain quiet while looking for ways to circumvent the freeze [On building new settlements].
Arik [Sharon] tried. When planning the separation [of the Israeli occupiers of the land in the Gaza Strip], told the settlers: sacrifice a dozen small settlements to save hundreds of others. Amputémonos finger to save the whole body. It did not help. The colonists decided to fight for each of the settlements.
Last year, when we started to talk about freezing, I fought like a lion to limit it to ten months instead of one year, which is what Obama had demanded. Both understood the difference: the ten months were at an end at the peak U.S. election campaign. Within one year would have ended after the election. I thought that if the freeze in September concluded Obama would not dare to pressure me to extend the moratorium. The Jewish votes and money make a difference.
I grew up in the United States. I know how things work there. AIPAC rules the Congress. Politicians are afraid of us all the time, and more at election time. They know very well that if Israel will not support positions out in the street.
But now we have a mess. Obama wants at all costs, do something that can be presented to voters as a great achievement. But Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] has refused to negotiate if you restart the construction of settlements. So Obama is pushing me to continue the moratorium. If I agree, my coalition will break. I have not forgotten the last time in 1999, it was the left that overthrew my government, but my own colleagues on the right.
Of course, Obama and his people are going to propose all sorts of compromises. A freeze "symbolic" that does not really prevent us from building. Or a lift "symbolic" of the moratorium, which actually prevent build more. Or something along the lines of the proposed Meridor. That was a trial balloon that he asked Dan to launch on its behalf. [The Minister without Portfolio Dan Meridor proposed building only in large blocks of settlements that the Israeli government intends to annex to Israel.] But the colonists did not even agree with that.
So what to do? I do not know. I trust my talent for improvisation and overcome this obstacle. But even if I can postpone this matter until after Sept. 26, may then explode. The main thing is to make sure that the blame falls on Abu Mazen.
What peace? Do not make me laugh. I have no time for such trifles. Obviously, the most I can offer is not even close to the minimum [the Palestinians] can accept. What, Would it have to divide Jerusalem? Would I have to dismantle the hundreds of settlements and outposts? Should give the Jordan Valley? Should access to the return of even a refugee? Even if they wanted - and not nearly what I want! - It would not do it. What, you break the good coalition that I have now and be at the mercy of that horrible woman?
I will not say, of course. Instead, I spray with a good volley of empty words and pompous. Abu Mazen will tell who is my partner. Talk about painful concessions. I'm going to sell as the new Netanyahu. (My God, how many times I have to become in the New Netanyahu?)
main thing is to get out of this mess unscathed and maintain the status quo. The status quo is the best of all worlds.
ABBAS REFLECTIONS ON ROUTE TO WASHINGTON: The most important is to minimize the damage.
Nothing good can come of this. Is clear. But the blame should not fall on us.
I am sure that Abu Amar [Yasser Arafat] thought the same when in 2000 he was dragged to Camp David. I knew that Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton would form a nutcracker and that he would play walnut.
OK, Obama is not Clinton. I trust him. Obama in fact, wants to make peace. But can it get? Until now, each time I have tried has ended up giving in to Netanyahu. Now you have to force Netanyahu to extend the freeze on settlements. Are you able to do so?
I can not waive this requirement. I'm feeling in the neck the breath of Hamas - Allah will punish them! And are cursing me for going to Washington (as if I had another option.) It would be ridiculous to negotiate while Israeli settlements expand. As so aptly put it this young man, Michael Tarazi: "It's like talking to split a pizza while they [the Israelis] are gobbled it."
Hamas is trying to undermine the way in every possible way. The killing of four Israeli settlers near al-Khalil [Hebron] was intended to harm the negotiations. It's really amazing how Hamas and the settlers together to try to stop the peace process. But the incident also has a positive side: the world has seen what lies ahead if I fail.
Hamas says I'm in the service of the U.S.. What do they propose as an alternative? "Take up the armed struggle? But if they are afraid to launch their rockets Qassam! The attacks have not accomplished anything. Nor can expect anything from the international public opinion. Our only option Obama is confident. When in Washington understand that the conflict is detrimental to its own national interests, as he said that General [David Petraeus], \u200b\u200bthe U.S. imposed peace to the Israelis. Abu Amar
set the parameters and none of us can accept less: Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, borders of June 4, 1967, peer exchange of territory, removal of all settlements in our territory, negotiated solution to the problem of the symbolic return of refugees and tens of thousands. I am willing to accept an international force in our land, but in any case an Israeli army presence. If it agreement that Hamas will have no choice but to support it. Palestinian public opinion will force them to do so.
They too have read the results of the survey Dr. Nabil Kukali this week: a clear majority of Palestinians supported the 2:1 two-state solution.
Can you trust Obama? They say that after the November elections will be free of Jewish pressure. But then I start to think about the presidential election to be held within two years. Only if re-elected, and I'm not sure what-will be able to act without fear of AIPAC.
Meanwhile, we have to endure. That's the main thing yy hold wait time do its work.
OBAMA'S THOUGHTS ON THE EVE OF THE CONFERENCE:
most important thing is to minimize the damage.
Before my election I thought it was possible to influence people with logic. At the end of the peace is essential for both Israelis and Palestinians. How likely is Israel if in a few years the whole Arab world falling into the hands of extremist Islam? What opportunities will the Palestinian moderates? Do they not understand? Drive me crazy.
[Henry] Kissinger said that Israel has no foreign policy, only politics national. That is true for the Palestinians, and - alas - for us Americans. Everywhere domestic policy is what rules.
The economy is in a quagmire. The situation in Afghanistan can not be worse. (What fly would sting me during the election campaign promise to continue with this war?) The stooges of the Tea Party are gaining momentum. I suspect that the Jewish lobby is helping them in secret. Who is running the campaign mounted around the fact that I was not born in the United States? An Israeli Jew. And the campaign that I am Muslim? Another Jewish woman. They want to kill me. Why? Because I want to make peace, which is best for the interests of Israel!
Now the main thing is get through the November elections without too many scratches. As I told Rahm [Emanuel], at this point we have to suck up to the Jews. That's why I have again and again subsided to such disgusting Netanyahu. Now we have to find a compromise on the moratorium on settlement building.
my God, here we are, leaders responsible for the fate of entire nations, occupied with trifles such as freezing, instead of focusing on building a peace that would save the lives of thousands and tens of thousands of people!
most important thing is to leave behind the September 26, the date ending the moratorium, and then on 02 November election date. After that, what God wants. After all you may have succeeded in creating a situation that allows me to present my own peace plan and to charge. Always so quietly, of course.
Damn, am I not the fucking President of the United States of America?