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Olive Tree Initiative

Weekly News Digest

News, Editorials, and Studies on the Middle EastMarch 20th, 2011

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8/7/2019 OTI News Digest - 2011-03-20

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Table of Contents

Israel and Palestine ................................................................................................. 3Itamar: Already, The Aftermath .................................................................................................................... 3

A responsible government would calm, not escalate.................................................................................... 3

Palestinians Embarrassed, Not Proud, of Settlement Attack .......................................................................... 3

Settler violence continues across West Bank ................................................................................................ 3

Briefing on Protest for Palestinian Unity Becomes a Rally Itself..................................................................... 3

Netanyahu is Already Dividing Jerusalem .................................................................................................... 3Israeli Navy intercepts ship with Iranian arms bound for Hamas .................................................................. 4

Cyprus: No Cooperation with Flotillas to Gaza ............................................................................................. 4

Israeli-Arab MK Tibi: Palestinians ashamed of Itamar attack......................................................................... 4

Israel Goes Ahead with Fence Move, Despite Terror.................................................................................... 4

Can Netanyahu break the deadlock? ............................................................................................................ 4

Natural gas again flows from Egypt to Israel, but future of deal is unclear .................................................... 5

Abbas ready to delay new government, give Hamas a chance to join .......................................................... 5

Politics of Despair and Politics of Hope......................................................................................................... 5

Gaza after the revolution............................................................................................................................... 5

Wanted: The PMs Vision for Israel ............................................................................................................... 5

Middle East & The Arab World ................................................................................... 6The Arab Nightmare ..................................................................................................................................... 6Revolutions End ........................................................................................................................................... 6

What if Arabs had recognized Israel in 1948? ............................................................................................... 6

Where are the Arabs?................................................................................................................................... 6

Double standard seen in Arab response to Libya ......................................................................................... 6

Only Half a Revolution?................................................................................................................................. 6

American and International Foreign Policy ................................................................. 7Memo to Madam Secretary: First, Do No Harm ............................................................................................. 7

The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment........................................................................................ 7

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Israel and Palestine

Itamar: Already, The AftermathBlog Via Bernard Avishais Personal Blog:

Some solid and thought provoking comments on Netanyahu's decision to respond to the massacre in

Itamar by expanding settlements

A responsible government would calm, not escalateEditorial Via Haaretzs Editorial Board:

A responsible government would act now to calm and not to escalate, to pursue a diplomatic solution

and not a belligerent confrontation. But in Jerusalem we don't have a government like that.

Palestinians Embarrassed, Not Proud, of Settlement AttackNews Via Media Lines David E. Miller:

Interesting how even Hamas is separating itself from the attack. And how it seems that it was not

organized by a major Palestinian organization

Settler violence continues across West BankNews Via Maan with contribution by AFP:

Some settler responses to the Itamar attacks. Hopefully things do not escalate.

Briefing on Protest for Palestinian Unity Becomes a Rally ItselfNews Via New York Times Fares Akram:

Good article on the growth of civil society youth led in West Bank and Gaza the calls for for

Palestinian reconciliation: Hundreds of demonstrators calling for Palestinian unity took to the streets

here on Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, in an effort to prevent what they said were attemptsby political factions to hijack their movement for their own agendas.

Netanyahu is Already Dividing JerusalemNews Via Artutz Shevas Ekad Benari and Yoni Kempinski:

The Israel Land Fund organization claims that the current government is enforcing limited "borders"

with Palestinian East Jerusalem, including giving PA security jurisdiction, and prohibiting Israeli

movement.

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Israeli Navy intercepts ship with Iranian arms bound for HamasNews Via Jerusalem Posts Yaakov Katz:

Cargo vessel flying Liberian flag found with Chinese-made anti-ship missiles, as well as instruction

manuals in Farsi intercepted by Israeli navy.

Cyprus: No Cooperation with Flotillas to GazaNews Via Arutz Shevas Chana Yaar:

Cyprus is the first country to officially declare it will not cooperate with efforts by various anti-Israel

movements and countries to send flotillas to violate Israel's blockade of Gaza. Peres thanked his

counterpart for also being the first country to take concrete steps to prevent flotillas from leaving its

ports.

Terror activities in Gaza are unacceptable, stated Christofias, and therefore we have prevented

the flotillas from leaving.

Israeli-Arab MK Tibi: Palestinians ashamed of Itamar attackNews Via Ynets Roni Sofer:

Ahmad Tibi, Palestinian-Israeli Knesset Member (and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset), who is often

extremely critical and border-line hostile to Israel, denounced the Itamar attack, saying "The

Palestinian nation is ashamed", not allowing it to be justified, continued to say that "while it is true

that we are in the midst of a major dispute with the settlers, the murder of children is much more than

just crossing a red line."

Israel Goes Ahead with Fence Move, Despite TerrorNews Via The Israel Project:

The security barrier in Bilin to be moved in five weeks, releasing 700,000 square meters of land back

to the Palestinians, following ruling from Israeli Supreme Court. Israel recently opened 80 new gatesto allow Palestinians to reach work.

Can Netanyahu break the deadlock?Study Via BICOM:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely believed to be preparing an interim proposal to offer

the Palestinians. Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that produce a comprehensive and final agreement

by the end of this year are an increasingly unrealistic prospect; nonetheless, there is growing

international pressure for a breakthrough, including Britain and other European states, on both Israel

and the US.

The difficulty of balancing international and domestic political pressures could make it a defining

moment of Netanyahu's political career. Whether such a proposal brings momentum back to the

peace process will depend on the international reaction, and the extent to which the Palestinians feel

the pressure to return to talk

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Middle East & The Arab World

The Arab NightmareBlog Via Foreign Policys Blake Hounshell:

Some solid points about the uncertainty in the Middle East

Revolutions End

Editorial Via Foreign Policys Ellen Knickmeyer:

On the eve of a pivotal constitutional referendum, Egypt's young activists are struggling for direction.

What if Arabs had recognized Israel in 1948?Editorial Via Arab News Abdulateef Al-Mulhim:

Opinion article from a Commodore within the Saudi Royal Navy, on what could have happened if

Israel was recognized in 1948, and war not declared.

Where are the Arabs?

Editorial Via Al Jazeeras Robert Grenier:

If Arab states are serious about ending Gaddafi's menace to his people, they must take the lead in

helping the rebels.

Double standard seen in Arab response to LibyaNews Via LA Times Jeffrey Fleishman:

Concerns over Western involvement and possible reigniting of Islamic radicalism complicate the

situation, which is also coated with hypocrisy.

Only Half a Revolution?News - Via Human Rights Watchs Nadya Khalife:

There are real risks that women will be left on the sidelines, without a voice and unable to help shape

a transition to a democratic Egypt. The failure to include women in the constitutional committee and

the lack of women among newly appointed cabinet ministers does not bode well.

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American and International Foreign Policy

Memo to Madam Secretary: First, Do No HarmEditorial - Via Foreign Policys Aaron David Miller:

Miller a 30 diplomat on I-P writes an article stressing the limits and options of US power. He

mentions that I-P is Americas comparative advantage, but that the gaps are too wide

The Failure of the American Jewish EstablishmentEditorial Via NY Books Peter Beinart:

Peter Beinart, a keynote speaker from J-Street this year, and American Jewish writer, talks about the

decline of American Jews interested in Israel, and the reasons behind it.