Israel Negotiates / Active mediators
By Ze'ev SchiffIsrael has essentially agreed that in exchange for the release of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit and an end to the Qassam rockets, it will release Palestinian prisoners and hostages. The question, from its point of view, is not the principle of the act, but the number of prisoners and the way in which they will be released. Israel's inclination is for a mediation effort similar to that carried out by the Germans in the deal with Hezbollah.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz thanked the "mediators" at a meeting he held on Friday with ambassadors in Tel Aviv. The gathering was held at the Labor Party's headquarters, not at the Defense Ministry, and he spoke in Hebrew while simultaneous translation was provided for the guests. The U.S. ambassador, Richard Jones, was interested to hear whether Israel's desire for mediation would include other matters in addition to Shalit.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has taken a very tough stance on the price that Israel is willing to pay for the release of the soldier. When he authorized the arrests of Hamas ministers, parliamentarians and other leaders, the idea was that this would facilitate Shalit's release. If these arrests do not contribute to the soldier's release, the detainees will be tried on charges of assisting and contributing to terrorism.
National Infrastructures Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer proposed a conditional release of Palestinian prisoners: namely an agreement on how many prisoners would be freed, in stages, and conditioned on an end to the Qassam attacks from the Gaza Strip. If rockets are launched, the prisoners' release halts.
Ben-Eliezer is due in Turkey this week, and he is expected to also meet with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The two important mediators are Egypt and Turkey. Egypt has so far failed to reach concrete results. This stems mainly from the fact that Hamas' political leadership in the territories does not have real control over its factions, including its military wing. There are indications that some of the orders issued by the Hamas leadership are not being carried out. Still, the Egyptians have not given up and efforts are being made to restrain military operations, including those of Israel.
It is unlikely that any mediation can be effective without Syria's involvement. If this assessment is correct, then the Turkish meditation initiative has greater significance in view of Ankara's influence over the Syrian government. Relations between the two countries have improved considerably and Syria has shown willingness to act against the Kurdish PKK terrorist group. For its part, Turkey is working on the U.S. so that no actions are taken to overthrow the Assad regime or isolate Syria.
The assessment is that Turkey, more than any other country, can influence the Syrian government to affect Khaled Meshal and the Hamas leadership in Damascus for an end to the current military confrontation in the Gaza Strip. Turkish success will elevate Ankara's importance as a mediator in other aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, it has been made clear to Turkey that, in negotiations with the Palestinians, Israel's focus is Mahmoud Abbas, head of the PLO and Chairman of the Palestinian Authority - not Hamas.
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Israel is inconsistent. The government talks of war, but should formally, through the Knesset, declare war on Palestine. This would be a big shock to the system. Not all killings of civilians is a war crime or a crime against humanity. No one was ever prosecuted for the WW2 bombings of cities or the American bombings of North Vietnam. This was all terrible but it is not all war crimes. While Israel 'talks war' and yet 'acts police' confusion reigns. By declaring war on Palestine, Israel can proceed until Palestine asks for a cease fire and negotiations to end the war...the choice is theirs. But please, in this month, the 60th anniversary of the blowing up of the King David Hotel, please let us have a stop to Jewish whining about terrorism...how many Jewish civilians did Begin and others kill in that Hotel??
In another article on this web site today I read Olmert stating "we will prosecute this war...". If this is not a war, then why does the israeli government, Prime Minister, defense secretary etc... continue to refer to it as a war. Does the government think its a war and its not telling the people. Is it not a war and Israel is using it as an excuse to drop artillery shells, missiles, bombs, and kill civilians. No civilians were killed in the taking of Shalit but 50 Palestinians have died and over 100 injured during this non-war. If it is not Israeli war crimes then it is crimes against humanity, take your choice.
Samal...the action is war, not crime. you are not dealing with proper soldiers, I agree, but they are fighting for their country, whether you like them or their country. They do not know how to do anything properly, but the issue is one of politics not anything else. Israel is not fighting them properly, in my view, which is why the situation just goes on and on. I also don't think the leadership on either side really wants peace, each still wants victory. Thus, your life is on the line.
You are correct Gerald, thank you for making my point. This is a war, not a police action against crime. The war is also taking place within Israel and the Hamas leaders are, indeed, conducting this war. They are now captured, like Rudolf Hess was captured in 1941. all the actions against Israel (I'm ex-IDF, so you can guess my side in this war)are war. the palestinians are soldiers and their leaders are officers. Israel pretending otherwise only makes it more difficult to eventually put all this behind them when the settlement is reached. Civilians are also killed in this war, on both sides. That's war. Cpl Shalit is a POW, as are the Hamas leaders in Israel's hand...and others. Prisoner swaps occur in wars.
on Gaza You are so wrong. If Cpl. Shalit is a POW, than all of the Government fficials are also POW's. They Directed the operations, gave the orders, etc. They were, in fact, soldiers. Cpl. Shalit was kidnapped from inside Israeli territory and carried into Palestinian territory by the Hamas militants. Also, if this is war, than there should be no complaints of civilian casualties; in a war, people get hurt!
Michael Davis says: "Cpl Shalit was not kidnapped. He is a soldier who was in uniform and armed when a military action occurred and he was captured. He is a POW." He was not 'captured' by a recognized military unit, he is being held for ransom (blackmail), and he has not been allowed to visit with the ICRC, despite receiving wounds in the kidnapping action. He is NOT a 'pow' by any standards of the definition. He is a hostage, and I don't believe that he's is still alive, and the HAMAS is lying and trying to achieve a negotiation outcome without proof that he's OK. This was exactly what they did with Eli Asheri (Z"L) and tried to do with Noah Moskowitch and also the case of IDF Reservist David Pelzan, who was kidnapped and murdered by PLO terrorists.(Jun 10, 1985) How quickly we forget...
Cpl Shalit officially is not a POW. However if he were then the Palestinians are braking the Geneva convention by not having a Red Cross representative to officially visit him periodically as you mentioned. The legal fact is; there is no such a state named Palestine and Cpl Shalit was kidnapped by a terrorist group. Just like the Turkish government has every right to protect Turkey's integrity by fighting the PKK separatists, Israel has the right to protect its own land and people against the terrorists.
I am asking the free world to resolve the problem by forcing mediatoring on the israeli and falestinian side. The sides have to eccept any decision made by neutral nations. enoug blood is flooding the midle east and its time to say enough.
Mr. Olmert trapped Mr. Peretz as hostage to Hamas and effectively neutralized his opponent for any future leadership.
Would I be correct in saying that this latest incursion into Gaza has more to do with the establishing of some 'military credentials' for Ehud Olmert and Amir Peretz, than anything else? Cpl Shalit was not kidnapped. He is a soldier who was in uniform and armed when a military action occurred and he was captured. He is a POW. This is terrible and he should be seen immediately by the Red Cross as per the Geneva Conventions. Israelis should become more sensible and accept that they are 'at war with Palestine'. Stop whining about every casualty,(terrible though every one is)and prosecute the war vigorously. This is not a call to fall into every trap set in front of them, something Israel seems to do all the time now.
"If these arrests do not contribute to the soldier's release, the detainees will be tried on charges of assisting and contributing to terrorism." - Statement of Olmert's intent - Haaretz Such a direct threat against these people clearly shows they are viewed as hostages. "For its part, Turkey is working on the U.S. so that no actions are taken to overthrow the Assad regime or isolate Syria." - Haaretz As if the US, in the midst of planning attacks on Iran and North Korea has the manpower for another war, too.