U.S. congressman: Netanyahu wants to be a peacemaker
Howard Berman said Israeli premier 'deserves credit for difficult decisions' he has made so far.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel newsHoward Berman, the influential California congressman and staunch Israel ally, praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for making "difficult decisions" since returning to office.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu and his colleagues are the ones who have taken the difficult decisions, and for this they deserve more credit than they get," Berman said of the premier, whom the Palestinians blame for derailing peace talks. "I believe [Netanyahu] well understands intellectually what peace requires, and he wants to be a peacemaker."
Berman also warned Tuesday that Jerusalem's continued rule in the West Bank threatens its status as a democratic Jewish homeland.
Speaking at an Americans for Peace Now luncheon in honor of APN activist and Jewish community leader Irwin Levin, Berman (D-CA) said: "Throughout my nearly three decades in Congress, and now as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been preoccupied with issues involving Israel's security and Middle East peace."
"I made my first congressional trip to Israel in 1983," Berman said. "It was then that I began to discern the primary problem Israel would have to face if it maintains its rule over the West Bank and Gaza."
"Either it would eventually have to rule over a disenfranchised Palestinian majority, or if it enfranchises the Palestinians Israel would eventually cease to be Jewish," he said. "I call it the demography-democracy problem. I knew I wanted Israel as a Jewish homeland to be a democracy. That was 1983."
Berman continued: "Over the years, I discovered two things: first, I learned that there were indeed many Palestinians who were prepared to accept Israel and who genuinely believe in coexistence. Second, I discovered the immense toll the occupation is taking on Israel."
The lawmaker said the United States cannot negotiate a peace treaty with Israel on the Palestinians' behalf.
"It is time for Palestinian Authority President [Mahmoud] Abbas to come to the negotiating table," Berman said.
"The United States cannot negotiate on the Palestinians' behalf by proxy, as some have reported President Abbas would like. It would be unfortunate indeed if the Palestinians chose to stay on the sidelines rather than negotiate for the statehood they have long craved."
Berman also hinted that the Obama administration erred in raising Palestinian hopes that Israel would commit to a complete freeze of settlement activity.
"We may have done him a disservice by not making clear at the outset of the administration that negotiations should not be linked to a settlement freeze," he said.
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Netanyahu hasn't done anything to advance the peace process. The settlements are a violation of International law, binding UNSC resolutions and defy rulings of the ICJ at the Hague. This cannot be disputed. If Netanyahu was interested in serious negotiations Israel would immediately announce an end to further expansionsion of settlements and their commitment to all of the above not to mention the so-called road map. If anyone truly believes this man is a peace maker I have a bridge to sell them in the desert!!
Berman is an old man who serves up the same old sleight of hand- promotes talking about 2 states while stealing more land. He needs to get honest or be quiet. Berman adds nothing to discussion other than making Jews look like liars.
In Netanyahus peace, everything stays the same as now, with settlements still expanding and borders flexible. Those Palestinians who resist will be killed, along with anyone else in their vicinity. Eventually, the Palestinians will understand that resistance is futile and live their lives as a permanent and peaceful underclass to their Israeli masters. Netanyahu (and others) have been working this peace plan for a long time, but it hasn't borne fruit yet. In fact, all this plan has done is enrage people around the world at Israels brutality and aggression. Hamas is stronger than ever as is Hizbollah to the north. It seems that Netanyahus peace has not only failed, it has placed the nation of Israel on a dangerous with fewer and fewer friends to support them. If Netanyahu truly wanted peace, he would resign and let those better qualified take the helm.
is totally biased and his word is worthless when it comes to peace in the ME and Netanyahu's intentions. As long as the US (and congressman like Berman) provide unconditional support to Israel, Israel has no interest in peace. This is not an opinion this is fact. Israel talks the talk but will never go for peace as long as the the status quo remains unchanged.
Being a peacemaker without justice results in a fleeting peace. Netanyahu is not laying the foundation for peace when he calls for the continuance of the IDF in Palestine and lays claim to more of Palestine while planting trees. Most Palestinians will accept two states returning to the 1967 borders and reclaiming land taken from them over the last fourty years. Netanyahu is offering much less with strings attached. Obama tried for justice but faltered in the face of Netanyahu. It is Netanyahu and his many supporters that create the barriers to peace.
And he doesn't.
Howard Berman happens upon a scene of a big guy beating a little guy with a stick. Berman approaches the big guy and says, "Hey, that must be tiring!" Have fun! I will see you at synagogue.
Berman and Rahm Emanuel have their ears to the ground. It's true, America will not support apartheid indefinitely. The litany of excuses for the occupation is wearing thin. The Palis are suicide bombers (but there have been none in over two years now). The "rain of Quassam rockets" threatens Israeli security (but there have been 7 rockets in the past year, and not a single casualty). The Palis won't recognize Israel (but even Meshal says a de facto recognition is acceptable to Hamas). The pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. is justifiably scared that the American people are gonna wake and ask a simple question: Have the billions of dollars in aid to Israel bought us peace and stability in the Middle East?