Will Obama Allow The Palestinians To Get Statehood? Will This Be The First Step Down The Road To Sanctions Against Israel

Kerry the Peacemaker Attempting to “Defuse” Tensions between Israel, Palestinians

By Lea Speyer December 14, 2014 , 10:00 am

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“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

US Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Europe to head off the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

US Secretary of State John Kerry headed to Europe early Sunday in his latest round of shuttle diplomacy aimed at heading off a Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, AFP reported.

Kerry is expected to first stop in Rome where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

European diplomats have been making little progress in their recent attempt to revive failed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Looking to draft a UN resolution which would force both parties to concede to peace, Europeans are waiting on the US for a response to its last proposal.

Kerry told reporters on Friday that he hopes to stop a showdown between Israel and the Palestinians at the UN.

“There are a lot of different folks pushing in different directions out there, and the question is can we all pull in the same direction,” the secretary told reporters while in Colombia. “What we’re trying to do is figure out what makes sense.”

“We’re trying to figure out a way to help defuse the tensions and reduce the potential for more conflict, and we’re exploring various possibilities to that end, which is why I’m also meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

Kerry’s last attempt at negotiating a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians lasted nine months. Talks collapsed in April, resulting in a dramatic increase in tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and Israel and the US.

Last month, Jordan drafted and circulated a resolution to members of the UN Security Council calling for a November 2016 deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from parts of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on July 23, 2014. (Photo: US State Department)

The US, which has veto power, and several other countries opposed the language of the resolution saying it was unbalanced. France, together with Germany and Britain, put together its own resolution in an attempt to garner support for Palestinian statehood from the 15-member council.

Palestinian Authority leaders have expressed their hope that a draft resolution be put to vote by the end of the year. The resolution would call for a return to negotiations and seek a two-state solution.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced Sunday that regardless of diplomatic efforts, the PA will seek international recognition towards statehood at the Security Council on Monday.

Speaking to Radio Palestine, Erekat confirmed that the Palestinian delegation at the UN would submit a proposal seeking a deadline for withdrawal of what he called Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian bid at the UN comes amid a recent wave of support by European governments recognizing a Palestinian state. Sweden, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and France are the latest countries whose lawmakers have passed motions recognizing a state of Palestine.

Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/25700/kerry-peacemaker-attempting-defuse-tensions-israel-palestinians/#tmjyc0esMCiJJmKt.99

Sanctions Threatened By Obama. Iran Goes Scott Free!

OBAMA THREATENS TO PUNISH ISRAEL FOR BUILDING IN JERUSALEM, WHILE EASING SANCTIONS ON IRAN

DECEMBER 8, 2014 · 12:00 AM

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Author(s):  United with Israel Staff
Source:  United with Israel.     Article date: December 7th, 2014

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A report revealed by Ha’aretz newspaper indicates that the Obama administration is going to impose sanctions on Israel because of its building plans in Jerusalem, and Congress is demanding clarification on the issue.

Republican Congressmen came together and dispatched a harsh letter to President Barack Obama, demanding that he provide explanations regarding the report.

“We urge you and your Administration to clarify these reports immediately,” 47 republican Congressmen demanded of the Obama administration. “Israel is one of our strongest allies, and the mere notion that the Administration would unilaterally impose sanctions against Israel is not only unwise, but is extremely worrisome. Such reports send a clear message to our friends and enemies alike that such alliances with the United States government can no longer be unquestionably trusted.”

“Further, at no point in time has Congress given the Administration the authority to sanction Israel… any attempts to undermine the U.S.’s support of Israel will only further diminish the Administration’s ability to get Congressional support for any potential agreement with Iran,” the letter warned.

Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC), who authored the letter, tweeted,“The White House is negotiating sanctions with Iran, but is unwilling to give a definitive ‘NO’ on sanctions against Israel. Appalling.”

Meadows further stated: “What message does it send to the world for the U.S. to impose sanctions against Israel while easing sanctions against Iran—a state-sponsor of terror with an abysmal human rights record?”

Penalizing Israel for Building in its Capital

Israeli building in Jerusalem. (Photo: Flash90)

Israel’s Ha’aretz first reported that following Obama’s growing frustration with Israel the Obama administration held secret internal meetings to discuss taking action against Israel for its ongoing building in Jerusalem. The meetings were attended by officials from both the State Department and White House.

The report has since generated much controversy.

When asked about the report Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf refused to answer questions. Harf simply replied: “I’m obviously not going to comment one way or another on reported internal deliberations. We’ve made clear our position on settlement activity publicly and that hasn’t changed.”

On Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest failed to give a definitive yes or no answer when asked about the Administration’s position during the White House press briefing.

Tough on Israel, Weak on Iran

The Free Beacon points out that the possibility of sanctioning Israel for its ongoing construction sends a signal that the Obama administration is willing to go further in its denunciations of Israel than any previous White House. At the same time, the Obama administration is working hard to relax the existing sanctions leveled against Iran, and to stop Congress from leveling further sanctions.

One senior congressional aide expressed shock about the possibility of sanctions against Israel while talking to the Free Beacon:

“If these reports are true, this would mark a new era of unprecedented hostility from the White House against our strongest ally in the Middle East. It’s impossible not to notice the irony of the administration mulling sanctions on Israel while threatening to veto new sanctions against Iran.”

“The Obama administration is against sanctions on Iran, but for them on Israel,” reiterated Noah Pollak, executive director of the pro-Israel organization Emergency Committee for Israel, to the Free Beacon. “Is [White House deputy national security adviser] Ben Rhodes wearing a green headband to work these days?”

Conservative Tom Published This Article on December 10 Before Any Mention Of Sanctions! Now Kerry Is Threatening Them. Has He Been Reading Our Playbook?

What Does Total Isolation Of Israel Mean? Will It Bring Peace To the Middle East? 

In a previous post, we mentioned "total isolation" as a possible outcome of the Kerry-Netanyahu talks. It will not make any supporter of Israel happy, however those who view the country as a "apartheid" nation, will be very pleased. 

So what is "total isolation?"  The best example is South Africa where sanctions were placed on the government, there was dis-investment in the country, and it was named a pariah nation.  It crushed the nation and caused a political change that prior to its institution would have never occurred. 

The first step in  this onerous political game was played out today when the Palestinians said they could not agree with the agreement that Kerry had proposed. They said unless  Jerusalem is the Palestinian  capital and that all land in Judea and Samaria was ceded to them, there would be no agreement. It is obvious to most that Israel will never agree to these two demands and especially the one relating to the holiest city in Judaism.

So where does this leave Kerry? He will be stymied and to get an agreement, he has only one point onto which he can exert pressure and that is Israel and on Netanyahu personally.  We suspect the Secretary of State will insist that Israel  acquiesce to the Palestinian demands. To ensure that the country can live in "peace"  there will be promises of UN and United States troops to guarantee that the borders are protected.  

However, the point that Netanyahu will insist there be no negotiations is Jerusalem. This is one point to which even the most peaceful Israeli will not agree.   It must remain a Jewish city, controlled and administered by the Israeli government.  The Palestinians know this. And for this reason they have placed it as one of their demands.

Netanyahu will and can be somewhat flexible on borders and other issues and will try to accommodate Kerry. However, the Palestinians will insist that all of  their demands must be met or there will be no agreement. They  believe (and are probably right) that Kerry will force the Israelis to swallow this bitter pill. 

 Kerry will have reached a deadlock. Netanyahu will not agree to Jerusalem. The Obama team wants an agreement  and have decided to do anything to accomplish that goal. It is at this point that the Secretary of State will  employ what we call the "total isolation" option. This proposal as it will be presented to Netanyahu will have the following points. Unless Israel agrees to the Palestinian demands:
     --Israel will be cut off from military supplies and equipment from the United States
     --All financial support (foreign aid) from the United States to Israel will end
     -- The United States will go to the UN and have Israel branded a "pariah" nation. This will include sanctions, dis-investment and the curtailing of all trade.
     -- As a result of the "pariah" designation, United States law would prevent supporters of Israel in this country from sending money, supplies, food, military equipment to the them. It could also  be interpreted to forbid tourism.

In other words, Israel would be starved for cash,  military supplies and friends until they agree to Palestinian demands for a peace treaty which will expand over time.  Israel will not be a comfortable place to live under these conditions.


We expect the declaration of the "total isolation" option to be done sometime after the first of the year, probably in the first quarter. However, it could be later depending on other events in the region and the world.

The unresolved questions are, will Netanyahu fold? Will Israel give up its ancestral Capital? Will Obama and Kerry be so gutsy? Will the world follow the Obama/Kerry team on this? How long could Israel hold out against such tremendous pressure? Would Russia and China intervene?

Of course, we could be wrong. However, with the recent death of Nelson Mandela, the memories of crushing the regime in South Africa have been rekindled and many of those who do not like Israel also were not fans of the ruling Afrikaners including Obama and Kerry.

Let's hope that we are wrong and that Kerry and Obama become involved in other issues that keep their attention and the Palestinian-Israeli issue loses its luster.  Unfortunately, we see no other way that the Obama-Kerry can complete their dream of bring about Middle East peace. It would be the wrong decision but that never has stopped this
Administration before.


Conservative Tom

Posted 10th December 2013 by tom vorenberg

Labels: conservative blogs conservative musings Conservative Tom kerry middle east Nelson Mandela Netanyahuobama peace in the Middle East South Africa total isolation option