Netanyahu faces double intifada from Palestinians and settlers
PM's box of tricks is running out, as world loses trust over Dubai killing and Fayyad joins Bil'in protest.
By Aluf Benn Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Israel news Middle East peacePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is busy day and night, preparing Israel for a fateful confrontation with Iran. But his real problem may occur elsewhere. The territories are heating up, with the Palestinians escalating their protests against the settlements and the separation fence. The settlers, meanwhile, can smell Netanyahu's weakness and are undermining the authority of the state.
Two events in recent days indicate the threat of an outburst: the protest in Bil'in, which Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad participated in, where some of the 1,000 demonstrators tore apart a short portion of the fence; and the invasion of dozens of right-wing activists into the ancient synagogue of Na'aran, saying "we will return to Jericho and Nablus." In both incidents, the violence was limited and no one was injured. But the struggle over the West Bank has transitioned to a new stage.
Fayyad, the former darling of official Israel, is proving to be Netanyahu's most problematic rival. The one-time economist and technocrat has gradually become a politician - enjoying exposure, kissing children, stepping up to the head of the "White Intifada," as dubbed by researchers Shaul Mishal and Doron Matza in their article in Haaretz this week. On Monday, the Palestinian government adopted a plan of action for "non-violent opposition" to the settlements and the fence.
Fayyad's White Intifada is different from its predecessors. It has a clear political goal: Declaring a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders by the summer of 2011. By then, Fayyad will have completed the building of national institutions and will work on gaining international recognition through a diplomatic pincer movement on Netanyahu. He is receiving enthusiastic approval from the U.S. administration as a successful manager. Some 2,600 Palestinian policemen have already graduated from the training course run by U.S. General Keith Dayton in Jordan and are back in the territories, expecting to serve an independent state, not as subordinate agents of an Israeli occupation. The foreign ministers of France and Spain, in a joint article published yesterday in Le Monde, called to expedite the establishment of a Palestinian state and complete its recognition by October 2011.
The protests against the fence and the settlements, as seen through the lens of the international media, have a strong impact and present Israel with a dilemma. Its initial response was "to strike at the enemy in his home base": a wave of arrests of those who organized protests at Bil'in and Na'alin, and IDF raids in Ramallah to arrest members of the International Solidarity Movement. Israeli security officials explained to their foreign counterparts how these parties "present Israel with an existential threat." But these actions failed. The Palestinians were not deterred and continued to demonstrate, knowing Israel would not dare harm Fayyad and his people.
Netanyahu's next step will be a major public relations campaign against "incitement in the Palestinian Authority." But Fayyad is prepared for this: He holds a report from the U.S. administration giving him high marks on ridding Palestinian school books of anti-Israeli propaganda.
The prime minister's position is also worsening vis-a-vis the settlers, as the temporary settlement freeze approaches its planned end in September. Will he go back to building at full speed, as promised, and risk creating a rift with U.S. President Barack Obama? Or will he continue with the freeze and risk a settler intifada? Washington is concerned Israel could lose its control over the extremists in the settlements, and of a possible internal rift in the Israel Defense Forces, whose religious soldiers and officers may refuse to obey orders to evacuate or raze settlements.
Governments of the "world" are losing their limited patience with Netanyahu and his government, as the criticism in Europe for the "murder" of senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh - even from the likes of a friend of Israel like Nicolas Sarkozy - has shown. The diplomatic process remains stuck, and the "economic peace" is exhausted. The Red Cross reported last week that the lives of Palestinians have not improved, and that "it is nearly impossible to have a normal life in the West Bank."
Netanyahu is in dire straits. His box of tricks is running out. The Palestinians and settlers are exploiting his weakness. The world does not believe him and questions his control on the ground. Unless he surprises everyone with a daring initiative that will restore control to his agenda, the prime minister will be facing a double intifada from Fayyad and the settler hilltop youth.
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Nice to see France and Spain at it again. After centuries in which they have wiped out or expelled many thousands of Jews, now they seek to destroy Israel - first by stealing the lands of the West Bank and Gaza from it and handing it over to hyper-breeding terrorists, then by cutting support for it in international institutions. Finally, when Israel is pushed back to the sea, will they start taking in the Jewish refugees?
All the loonie lefties who believe there will be a palestinian state are dreaming. It hasn't happened in 43 years and it won't happen for the next 100 years. The West Bank is Jewish land as far back as 4000 years. The Jews are back, they are not going to move an inch, and the rest of the world can blabber on, but Israel will never listen because after 4000 years Jews know anti-semitism, no matter how it is repackaged. The rest of the world should get on with their lives. If they weren't so incapacitated by jealousy they would leave Israel alone.
But thousands of Jews have been resettled. All Jews expelled from the Arab world (no one complains about that...) have been resettled in Israel (and elswhere like South and North America). They don't live in refugee camps now, they don't blackmail the UN, they don't commit terrorist acts.
"The prime ministers of France and Spain called for the establishment of a Palestinian (arab) state...". So they want the Arab state #23, the third in Palestine, after Jordan and Gaza. Israel should ask France (and Spain) to establish the first Basque country in the southwest and also Israel should ask Spain (and Portugal, and the UK - Gibraltar) to re-create Arab state Al Andaluz, in occupyied Iberia as soon as possible because Arabs (from Arabia...) have "only" 22 countries.
"it must be silly week? as these goverments of the world could resettle all of these arabs elsewhere and solve this 90 year old problem in 5 minutes !" It must be silly week? As these goverments of the world could resettle all of these Israeli Jews elsewhere and solve this 90 year old problem in 5 minutes! Does that sound racist to you? In fact, both sentences are racist and totally impractical.
Dont think you be ruling the world like you do now but Muslim with be the one who would rule and every body will be after us (inash Allah)
Please keep your intifada peaceful as this is the best way to highlight israel's agressive nature and will rally the world in your favor. I would like you to shoot for a one country for two people like South Africa. Best of luck.
Hardman your comment was as ludicrous and as confused as your spelling. Israel, if you have not noticed, is located on the planet earth - it is one of many nations, with whom we need to trade in order to survive. We do not live in a vacuum. All of us would rather have a situation in which we were free to enjoy our biblical heritage - but some of us realize that there are other factors that have to be taken into account. Now, you may be one of those who would love to live in a theocracy but some of us prefer a democracy and do not want to end up like south Africa. There are many questions that we as Israelis need to ask about Fayyad's motives, but the fact does remain that he is extremely smart and makes a very good impression. Personally I trust him about as much as you can trust Bibi -but compared to the bouncer who is posing as foreign minister, he is certainly winning the political fight.
We hear them every day. They go like this: "There will not be a Janjaweed Pal state not right next to Israel Their only chance is to relocate to remote places like Madagascar, the Comorros or the Malvinas." ? J Rubinstein, Israel "... these goverments of the world could resettle all of these arabs elsewhere and solve this 90 year old problem in 5 minutes? - V Hardman The wider world needs to realise what it's up against. There is a whole Zio strand that seriously believes it would be in order to expel (ethnically cleanse) 2.5 million Palestinians from their home land - and no doubt Israeli Arabs too. The fact that this would be a humanitarian crime on a colossal scale matters not to them. The idea that other countries would help carry out this crime is breathtaking. The ethnic-nationalist fervour to rid the land of the 'inferior' race rings ugly bells. These cooks need reminded that there's a lot of similarly-minded Serbs, Rwandans etc behind bars for life for similar.
ground troops to lead a efficient fight against Iran-Syria-Hezbanon and Hamas threats of war aggressions. Israel police and border guard corp must counter such arabpal and co. subversion so IDF can train to face the challenges ahead .
Time will tell, Zionland will fall.
fayad is an illusion created by the meddling usa again. no viable state could be created in the arab area of israel and gaza will remain a seperate entity. nor will that proposed creation end the problem which will strengthen the activities undermining israel .
it must be silly week? as these goverments of the world could resettle all of these arabs elsewhere and solve this 90 year old problem in 5 minutes !
For years we have seen the Palestinian leadership attacking Israel as do their supporters who have almost completely ignored positive arguments for a Palestinian state - and so our leaders have dismissed them as Amalakites out to destroy us. We could not expect a Palestinian leader to do more that Fayad - he has done everything that we could have asked of him - he is the sort of Palestinian with whom we should be able to do business - and if we cannot then there can never be a Peace process. The question is why is he doing the pincer movement - is it his choice or is he just faced with no alternative. Netanyahu gets by by promising the last person to speak to him what they want to hear - it does not work - it just sets up conflicts for the future. Why should the world believe him - do we? Fayad is making us look as perfidious as the English did 60 odd years ago - we look immoral and indefensible - and maybe it is becuase that is what we have become.
Even, or especially, Netanyahu cannot fool all the people all the time. Whatever credit he had outside Israel had long been spent and he will have to face a Palestinan leader who is out-maneuvering and out-smarting him. All the IOU's are now due,and Israel will have to deliver. Sharon talked euphemistically of 'painful concessions'. Israel is yet to experience what this phrae really means It better prepare itself.
... I support Fayyad and what he's trying to accomplish. It reminds me of how Jews already had the institutions of statehood in place before the creation of Israel - all they needed was recognition and sovereignty. Only through the establishment of two states for two people will this conflict be resolved and the Zionist dream of Jewish statehood realized. I detest violence, but Israel will not see a need or an urgency to end this war unless they are shown this. Peaceful resistance is the way to go (let's remember, the first Intafadah was much less violent and led to the beginnings of a peace process in Oslo, while the more violent Second Intifada led to the West Bank Barrier). The fact that at least some of the Palestinian leadership has recognized this gives me optimism. I hope the Israelis and Palestinians are able to stop fighting each other and begin fighting for an end to this conflict, because their leaders aren't going to do it for them.
Id indeed becoming Israel's real potential threat. Neither Hammas nor Iran. The whole idea that Israel understands just force is ridiculous. Look Hammas and Hizabalah. Despite all the bla bla bla, they are trapped. Israel slaughtered Gaza and Hizabalah did not move a finger. However, civic disobedience and Fayyad startegy may work for the palestinians. If it is done elegantly, it can even mobilize part of Israel's population. That is indeed a threat to Nataniahu's stance
Israel, Israel will have lost because the borders will follow the green line and there will be no exchange of land. In the not too distant future, the US will not be able to veto a UN resolution that sets the borders and that will be the end of Israel's expansion policy. As time goes on, the US is becoming more and more isolated and less powerful because of its support for Israel. Soon its world situation will be such that it will have to throw Israel "under the bus" to keep from further decline. Basically it would be far, far better for Israel to whack the settlers and set the borders with Palestine now, while there is still something to negotiate. Everyone but the settlers KNOW that Israel will NOT be able to keep all the land it has taken. Bibi needs to decide whether he cares more about the future of Israel or the settlers. If he chooses the settlers, he dooms Israel to no future at all. The reality is Bibi cares more about his own temporary power than the future of Israel.
If Fayyad and Abbas keep violence from breaking out, Netanyahu won't know what to do. He seems stumped by the lack of violence even though he's doing his best to provoke it.
not right next to Israel Their only chance is to relocate to remote places like Madagascar, the Comorros or the Malvinas. Pals can do that with full support of The UN.the UK and France, but a stepping stone to a new genocide is not possible.
All Dr Salayam Fayyad has to to is to keep on track with honest work and state building. The unwise policies of the Israeli government will blithly continue do the rest.
And so far the vast majority of the Israelis seem to endorse Nethanyahu's acts, thus Israelis in general will face the consequences of Nethanyahu's acts. Also: I cannot comprehend the author's claim that 'just' Nethanyahu will face a double intifada. Nethanyahu will be safe and the innocent Palestinians are due to be attackted by vicious settler mobs aided by the IDF.
what a bunch of hear say, Israel This, Israel That, Israel this & That This is what the World is Tired of hearing as it comes more to light that the muslims have an alterior motive and Israel Bashing is just a front, need I say more Ben and I dont even like israel
Ya, it seemed that Bibi-and-his-ilk were beginning to go-off-the-rails a bit when the latest assertion-of authority latched onto the seemingly innocuous 'heritage-sites'... that performance in Trumpeldor's land was so quaint... what could be better for the "peaceful" image?...
Translation: He asked for it; he deserves it!
He is drunk but keeps driving...
Aluf Ben: "The Palestinians were not deterred and continued to demonstrate, knowing Israel would not dare harm Fayyad and his people." Not directly, no, but who says that the Israeli AUTHORITIES have to be the ones to harm him? All they need to do is find a gullible (and excitable) enough loonie settler, then take him aside and whisper in his ear: "that Fayyad, you know, when it comes down to it he's really no different from Mahmoud al-Mabhouh" Then they let their patsy loose and wait for him to come to the obvious (for him and for them) conclusion...... He'll then solve the problem for them, and with perfect deniability.
Netanyahu's popularity is dependent on maintaining fear within the Israelis. Whenever he plants a tree in a West Bank settlement, declares a Jewish heritage site, or evicts Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Netanyahu is trying to incite Palestinians. If successful, he can then leverage the fears of the Israelis to his own means, which is further expansionism. The settlers assist Netanyahu by reacting over the supposed settlement freeze. They march on Jericho. They attack a mosque. They interfere with the Palestinian olive harvest. All the while the settlers continue with the IDF ignoring settler excesses. Again the hope is that the Palestinians will react so that Netanyahu is empowered to suppress the Palestinians. Netanyahu's strategy is to never have a viable, independently governed, successful Palestine. Netanyahu wants continued security threats to enhance his longevity as prime minister and to continue to exploit Palestine.
Well what do you expect! The ENTIRE world bosses the leader around! Telling him what and what not to do. He is not the leader like Obama! No one is on China's back for the problems that is has. He does want Nobama wants then he loses and ally. If he was then it is a traitor. The "Palestinians" are going to be problematic all the same. However, Bibi needs to be tough for his people and nevermind the world. No one cares if Israel is killed. Why should care about them! Why! I do not agree why he allows Shaldit rot. That is something I hate about him. Otherwise, I believe he is a good man! Considered being hated, I do believe that is is thick skinned but never mind the world BIBI!
Netanyahu has sought an infitada from the Palestinians as a justification for his regime. He has no doubt understood that any opposition to the Settlers would produce a violent reaction. Netanyahu has made his bed and now he must lie in it.
Of course Gaza doesn't feature in all of this.
wouldn't be undercutting Abbas and Fayyad every change he gets. His comments undermine both Abbas and Fayyad among the Palestinians. This eliminates any potential peace partner, thereby leaving only Hammas as representing the Palestinian people. In this manner Israel can continue to oppress the Palestinians with little objections from Western countries.