You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:
In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:
1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
2) The current status of the situation with Syria and Iran
US Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled his scheduled visit to Israel in an effort to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. According to Israeli sources, Kerry put off the visit “to give (Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas) more time” to decide whether to drop his insistence on a freeze on Jewish building before returning to negotiations. They also say that Kerry has given up his wide-ranging peace plan and replaced it with “a gradual multi-step peace plan between Israel and the Palestinian Authority”. Kerry has asked the European Union to “step back … from its peace seeking efforts” and follow the American plan that entails gradual work, as he wants the Israeli and Palestinian governments to establish trust between them. Kerry has changed his plan because Israel will not accept Mahmoud Abbas’s preconditions for the return to negotiations and Abbas will not accept Israel’s conditions. “Under Kerry’s plan, Israel and the Palestinians would enter into negotiations on core issues immediately, based on the recognition of two states, the right of the Palestinian people to independence and the preservation of Israel’s security interests and main settlement blocs.” Under this scenario, the Palestinians would receive an economic aid package and the Israelis would freeze settlement construction. Some long-term Palestinian prisoners held by Israel may also be released as a goodwill gesture.
Meanwhile, according to Palestinian officials, Kerry is being hesitant to put for his peace initiative for fear that it will be rejected. Kerry was originally expected to present his plan on June 7.
In any event, the fate of negotiations will most likely be determined in the next two weeks. Right now, the US doesn’t consider Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be the real obstacle to renewing the negotiations. The US believes that it is possible for Netanyahu to make a peace deal because he is not a real ideologue. The US believes that what motives Netanyahu is political survival. The US believes that if Netanyahu can get his coalition to support negotiations with the Palestinians, he will support it. The US believes that the real obstacle in Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. The US dislikes that Ya’alon is drawing closer to the settlers.
A potential agreement to restart negotiations would most likely consist of the following parameters: Israel will release a list of “pre-Oslo” prisoners. This list of prisoners include those were were charged with serious crimes with some of them even convicted of murder. Though Israel will not announce that it is freezing construction in the settlements, it will do that quietly, with a few isolated exceptions to be approved discreetly among all parties. In return, the Palestinians will receive an attractive economic package and Israel will announce a series of benefits in Areas C and B which will markedly improve the Palestinians’ freedom of activity and movement. In exchange, the negotiations will be resumed without any preconditions. It will not be resumed from where the negotiations between former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abu Mazen left off but from where the negotiations between former Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Alaa and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni stopped. The underlying principles will be: “Everything is up for discussion. Nothing is settled until everything is settled.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinians are busy with a construction plan to build six cities, two airports, a high-tech complex, a university and a system of highways to connect all of these things in an effort to create territorial continuity in the West Bank as authorities refuse to wait for the revival of peace talks. The majority of the projects are in the Israel-controlled Area C, and many of them have already begun. Some are awaiting the approval of the Civil Administration, the Israeli governing body that operates in the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to push the projects that the Civil Administration will reject through negotiations as “confidence-building steps.” In view of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s frequent visits to the region, the plan looks grounded in reality. The petitions submitted to the Civil Administration reveal the Palestinians intend to erect five cities, and a tourist town on the shores of the Dead Sea. The two airports will be built in East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. Plans are also in place to better harness the natural water and energy resources and water purification facilities.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that a two-state solution not within the pre-1967 borders is meaningless. Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath added, “The Palestinian Authority will return to the negotiating table only if Israel agrees to negotiate on the basis of 1967 borders or freeze settlements and free “political prisoners.” “We’re not demanding that settlers be removed at the moment just that settlements not be expanded.
Netanyahu said on that when it comes to peace talks with the Palestinians, “it’s time to stop negotiating about the negotiations. I want peace. To achieve peace, we must negotiate peace,” he said. “We want to see this American effort succeed. Israel is ready for the resumption of direct negotiations for peace without preconditions. I think it is time to stop squabbling over preconditions. I think it’s time to stop negotiating about the negotiations. I think we have to start peace talks immediately.” Netanyahu added, “My goal is to see a historic compromise that ends the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians once and for all. This will entail a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state, with iron clad security arrangements for Israel – recognition, security, demilitarization. I believe that these are the elements for peace. I don’t pose them as preconditions for negotiations. I look forward to enter those negotiations without preconditions without delay. I am ready for such a peace. I hope the Palestinians are ready too.”
Israel’s deputy defense minister, Danny Danon said “there is certainly no majority” in the Likud for establishing a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders. “A Palestinian state on the 1967 lines is something dangerous for Israel, and therefore I oppose that idea. The Public should not be misled”, as Israel would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, whether the United States sends envoys or not, whether it presents initiatives or not. When asked if Israel would “annex” the West Bank, Dannon said that Israel will not do so, but will continue its settlements activities “on vacant lands in the West Bank. Jews in the West Bank aren’t settlers anymore, they are citizens of the state of Israel.” He further stated that several Israeli members of Knesset agree with his opinions despite the fact they do not go public about them.
Officials in Netanyahu’s office said that Danon had stated a personal opinion and his comments did not reflect government policy. Netanyahu “is interested in a resumption of negotiations without preconditions,” and that his positions regarding support for a two-state solution continues. “Netanyahu calls on the president of the Palestinian Authority to restart talks without delay at which all issues will be raised to discussion,” the sources said. “The Palestinian Authority will raise its demands, and Israel will raise its demands which include, among others, stringent security arrangements, recognition of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, and the declaration of an end to the conflict.” Netanyahu urged his ministers in a cabinet meeting to put their differences aside for the moment. “In order to face the challenges [on diplomatic and security issues] and many other challenges ahead, the government must function as a whole,” Netanyahu said. “The citizens of Israel chose us so we could focus on getting big things done and not on little, narrow political interests, and that is what we will do.”
Israel’s chief negotiator with the Palestinians, Tzipi Livni, said that she is working with the U.S to restart talks, despite those within the government that oppose it. “It is true that within the Likud there are radical elements and within the government there are those that oppose an agreement. However, the prime minister is the one who will have to decide whether he surrenders to radical elements or will promote his policy that he declared,” she said. “It harms the peace process.” A member of Livni’s political party, Hatnua (“The Movement”), MK Amram Mitzna said, “The condition [of Hatnua’s inclusion in the coalition] is the advancement of the peace process. If we reach the conclusion that it’s not part of the process, we won’t be [in the government],” he said.
In light of Danon’s statements regarding the peace process, several Israel Knesset members called for Danon to resign. Labor Party MK Nahman Shai said, “The prime minister must immediately relieve Danny Danon of his duties because of the grave damage his words inflicted on US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to revive peace negotiations.”
Danon attacked the politicians who were attacking him and said that “Likud is a democracy that accepts different streams and opinions, and the majority within the party is against [two states].” In response to Justice Minister Tzipi Livni comments about him who said that she left Likud because of views like his, Danon said: “Wonderful. She wants us to be the contractors who carry out her plans and those of the leftists? Her place was not in Likud to begin with.” Regarding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s statements in favor of a two-state solution, Danon said that “there is a difference between statements and actions,” but added that he opposes the statements, too. “If there is actual action [to implement a two state solution] there will be an ideological struggle and a confrontation within Likud, but we are not at that point,” he said. “The Palestinians refuse to even be partners.”
Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said there has been a de facto settlement freeze in Jerusalem neighborhoods located beyond the Green Line since the beginning of the year. “One should view this as a temporary hiatus,” Lieberman said. “We have an interest in [Secretary of State] Kerry succeeding. You don’t always have to be right; you can also be smart. If we do enter talks, they will be very tough,” he said, “but the alternative is a binational state, something we do not want.”
Israel rejects Palestinian preconditions for negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said rejecting Palestinian demands for a settlement freeze ahead of negotiations and stressing that nothing on the Israeli side stands in the way of talks progressing. He called preconditions an “impassable obstacle.” He accused Mahmoud Abbas and the PA leadership of creating conditions they know Israel will never accept as an excuse to avoid talks. Every time Israel gives the Palestinians what they want, he said, they add new demands. Netanyahu rejected the idea of an international force guaranteeing Israeli security in the event of a two-state solution. Netanyahu did, however, accept some role for international troops in the region, but added “we cannot rely on them.” Netanyahu also pledged to press ahead with construction in the West Bank. “Building in Judea and Samaria will continue, it is continuing even today, but we have to understand what is happening around us. We have to be smart, not only right. Settlements in the main blocs do not fundamentally change our ability to reach an agreement.” The real issue, the prime minister stressed, is whether the Palestinians can accept the Jewish state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he receives telephone calls “several times a week” from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Israel officials said that Kerry has submitted a package of demands to the government unacceptable even to the most pro-American ministers in the Cabinet saying that Netanyahu’s government could collapse if the prime minister agrees to U.S. demands for unilateral withdrawal from or a total housing freeze in the West Bank. However, Labor opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich said that her party would support the government and would consider joining the coalition if a peace agreement was made with the Palestinians adding that there wouldn’t be a “better Palestinian partner in the next few years” and that the dramatic shifts around the Middle East are not in Israel’s favor.
An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) Report: Kerry to Postpone Mideast Visit
2) Kerry replaces peace plan with phased proposals
3) Kerry hesitates to propose Mideast peace plan for fear of failure: Palestinian official
4) US Still Believes ‘Business With Bibi Is Possible’
5) Netanyahu in Poland: Stop Negotiating About Negotiations
6) PM: Recognition of Israel not precondition for peace talks
7) Israel official says no Palestinian state with pre-1967 boundaries as Kerry prepares visit
8) Dannon: “The Palestinian Future is In Jordan”
9.) Under Fire, MK Danon Not Budging
10) Amid uproar, deputy defense minister stands by rejection of two states
11) PMO, distancing itself from deputy minister’s comments, says gov’t wants two-state solution
12) Netanyahu calls for quiet in coalition
13) Lieberman acknowledges East Jerusalem settlement freeze: We want Kerry to succeed
14) Netanyahu says he will never accept preconditions for talks
15) Netanyahu getting ‘several’ calls weekly from Kerry on Palestinian state
16) Labor would ‘reconsider joining the coalition’ to advance peace talks
17) Palestinians lay groundwork for future state
18) Erekat: 2-state solution not within 1967 lines meaningless
19) Shaath: PA willing to resume talks on basis on 1967 borders
Syrian President Bashar Assad said that he made a “serious decision” to open a front with Israel along the Golan Heights. In doing so, Assad called on all Syrian factions to join with Palestinian forces in resisting Israel along the Golan Heights. In response, Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “any who threaten to harm, or harm, Israel will be harmed.”
A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles is as follows:
1) In wake of border clashes, Assad, Netanyahu swap threats
2) ‘Assad hopes to unite war-torn Syria against Israel’
Israel senior minister, Yuval Steinitz, warned that Iran is getting closer to reaching the “red line” of nuclear capability mentioned by Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a speech to the United Nations last fall saying, “The Iranians are getting very close now to the red line… They have close to 200 kilos — 190 kilos (418 pounds) — of 20 percent enriched uranium. Once they have 250 kilos (551 pounds), this is enough to make the final rush to 90 percent,” which is the level of enrichment required for a nuclear warhead. “It is a matter of weeks or maybe two months to jump from 20 percent to 90 percent with so many centrifuges,” said Steinitz. “What they are doing now — instead of crossing the red line, they are widening and enlarging their capacity by putting in more centrifuges, faster centrifuges.” Iran’s aim, charged Steinitz, was to build a nuclear arsenal, not just a single bomb.”Many people are saying it’s a question of the Iranian bomb – whether they will have it or not. No. We are speaking about an Iranian arsenal,” he said. Iran’s big fear was that a Western military strike could wipe out their nuclear facilities “within a few hours,” he said. “The Iranians feel very vulnerable, especially from American air operations. This is their main concern — that if the West, if NATO, if America decide to attack them, a few hours of accurate air raids might destroy their nuclear facilities,” added Steinitz.
The link to this article is as follows:
1) Steinitz: Iran is Getting Closer to Nuclear ‘Red Line’
From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).
We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).
Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l