Obama’s Regional Plan
By Ted Belman
As I have written many times, forget about the Roadmap and Annapolis. Obama is developing his own plan which bypasses negotiations and dictates the end game.
Ynetnew reports U.S.-led Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair informed Palestinian reporters Tuesday evening of a new strategy aimed at renewing Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations. The plan, which is being drafted by the “highest level” of the Obama administration, will provide the Quartet with “a new framework,” in the coming weeks according to Blair.
Report: Arabs drafting ‘moderate’ peace initiative
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Al-Quds al-Arabi quotes Palestinian sources as saying that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan revising Arab peace plan at Obama’s request to make it acceptable to US, Israel; new initiative to call for settling Palestinian refugees in Arab countries, future Palestinian state
The sources were also quoted as saying that the initiative will enable the Israeli flag to be displayed in Arab countries, while Israel will allow the Palestinian flag to be hung in Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, which, according to the initiative, will be the capital of the Palestinian state. The UN flag will adorn sites in Jerusalem’s Old City that are holy to the three major religions.
The Palestinians said the suggested amendments will require holding an Arab summit.
JPOST reports
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The offer will reportedly call for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the Old City designated as an “international zone.”The question of borders will be resolved with land swaps.
Some of the descendants of Palestinian refugees from Israel’s War of Independence in 1948 will reportedly be allowed a right of return to the Palestinian state, while others will be naturalized in their countries of residence throughout the Arab world.
According to the report, the idea of a revised Arab peace plan emerged during Abdullah’s meeting with Obama in Washington last month. The US president had reportedly asked his guest to formulate a new offer that would elucidate some of the issues that remain vague in the original initiative. Immediately upon returning to Amman, Abdullah took off for Riyadh in order to begin hammering out the new plan with his Saudi counterpart.
Palestinian sources quoted in the report said that Obama had requested that the plan outline a “timetable for normalization and the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and the Arab world, which will encourage Israel to employ the necessary means in order to create a demilitarized Palestinian state.”
Israel National News Report: Obama’s Master Plan for the Middle East
- U.S. President Barack Obama told Jordan’s King Abdullah two weeks ago to meet with leading Muslim Arab countries and persuade them to accept changes in the Saudi 2002 Initiative, according to the London-based Arabic language Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper.
President Obama’s major proposed alteration in the Saudi peace plan is for Arab countries to grant citizenship to approximately five million Arabs who are descendants of former Israelis while allowing them the right to move to a new Palestinian Authority country.
President Obama also reportedly told the king that he wants the United Nations flag raised over holy sites in eastern Jerusalem, where the PA would have total sovereignty under the Saudi plan.
Al Quds did not specify any other “concessions” to Israel but said that Arab countries should consider “other changes,” none of which were specified.
The president’s master plan calls for Arab countries to set a timetable for raising the Israeli flag in their capitals, a sign of recognition of the Jewish State. Simultaneously, the PA flag would be raised in Jerusalem neighborhoods, a move that would virtually make the Fatah-led government the de facto government in a significant portion of the Jewish capital.
Obama’s team has moved ahead at high speed on all tracks, including proposals for direct negotiations with Syria and diplomatic initiatives towards Iran, and it has put the ball in the court of Israel and the Arabs to accept his proposals and show that they want to reach an agreement.
I am not expecting Syria to approve of this so quickly. Nor am I expecting Israel to agree to the UN flag flying in the Old City so quickly because it would have implications for who’s in charge and the UN is no friend of Israel’s. Keep in mind that Obama will be pushing to internationalize the Old City.
When Peres met with Obama, he curiously said “there is no space between us and the United States.” Could he have been referring to this plan?
But to his credit when talking to Biden, he said “ending natural growth in settlements was a non-starter.”
“Israel cannot instruct settlers in existing settlements not to have children or get married,” Peres said.
Peres also rejected the idea of “linkage” between the Palestinian and Iranian issues, two topics the US administration has frequently mentioned together.
Good for him.
The only thing left to complete the Plan is to propose borders based on the fence and swaps of land. But the issue of Ariel and Maalot Adumin have to be resolved. In or out? Will Obama push for the position of the PA or Kadima. Whatever he does he will have Arab approval for it. I suspect somewhere in between but closer to the position of the PA.
Keep in mind that for the first time the Saudis, Jordanians and Egyptians want a deal so they are bending a bit to accomodate it. But you still have your rejectionist camp, lead in the Arab world by the Syrians.
Even if Syria was ready to abandon rejectionism, they would demand all of the Golan back. Then Iran would have something to say. They would demand that Israel give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for them doing so. Of course they would have to agree to accept the Plan and stop supporting their proxies.
China Confitential reports on Iran and Obama’s War of Necessity
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The Obama administration believes it may need Iranian assistance or cooperation for a limited war of necessity–an American military intervention in Pakistan to secure the country’s nuclear arsenal. Hence, the “grand bargain” that America’s defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, denies is in the works and China Confidential analysts insist is actually taking shape in spite of some setbacks.
This is the regional solution Obama is working toward.
The new plan may well fly:
The dealbreakers for Arafat and Abbas have been their insistence on full right of return and full withdrawal to 1967 borders. As long as the Saudis and the Muslim League agreed with them, they could not bend. But if Obama has indeed persuaded the Muslim League to abandon the right of return and compromise on borders, then I think that will be it. Abbas now has cover, and can say that as a loyal Arab, he is just going along with his Arab brothers in accepting their plan.
I surmise that Netanyahu and Rahm Emanuel cooked up this plan, and it all hinged on Obama persuading the Saudi king. That neatly explains all the “anomalies” we have been seeing: Netanyahu fights to eject Moshe Feiglin from the Likud, Netanyahu’s first preference for a coalition is with Kadima and Labor, Obama’s first outreach is to the Arabs, Obama bows down deeply to the Saudi King, and now even Hamas is moderating its stance a bit. It just all fits together too well.
Fistal could be correct, I am ready to believe anything negative re: BB.
We Jews also have a few aces up our sleeves in a worst case scenario such as this one for example: Judea creation movement in israel
The vast majority of the settlers will leave without a fight. Some for compensation, some because they will not fight the government or IDF and some because they only live across the green line for economic and quality of life reasons and not religious or ideological. Then there are the Ultra orthodox who gravitated over the green line due to being driven out of such places like Jerusalem by over priced housing, They won’t be any problem for the government. Lastly there is a hardcore ideological and religious right, that will try to fight but they are not unified and well distributed but will not lift a finger against another Jew, so they to will be removed. The only way to keep the heartland is to stay even without the protection of IDF and Israeli government support. First step would be to renounce Israeli citizenship. That would deny the Israeli government any legal basis to remove them or harm property. Israel can order her citizens but not non citizens, no legal jurisdiction. Many Jews from all over Israel and the diaspora would join them replacing some of those removed. The real embryo a a Jewish state would then come into being gaining the support I think of most evangelical Christians. If there can be two or three Pali states why not two Jewish ones?
There is some notion here that the settlers–many of whom have built illegally, without permits (this has now been carefully documented)should be allowed to stay where they are; that there should be no two-state solution; that the Arabs ought to accept permanent refugee status and camps…and that the US should simply shut up and hand up billions on a yearly basis. NEWS:it ain’t going to happen.
davidstill, replying to a stupid Jew who is also brain dead and illiterate is a waste of any of our time and energy so I feel bereft of adequate words for you so Just: Fuck You- and may all your hopes and dreams for us redouble and triple back to you and yours, while you still breathe. (That seems to be the only physically working bodily function going for you).
I have been communicating with Barry Rubin. He disses any pundit like Phillips or knish because they don’t have inside info. He gets the dope from insiders .
He takes the position that Obama has not made a wrong move yet. Reading between the lines, it would appear that discussions are talking place that would lead to a negotiated compromise so he is keeping his powder dry to see how they turn out.
This regional Plan could be acceptable to Israel depending how it comes down.
For Israel, sovereignty over Jerusalem is non-negotiable while an arrangement could made for non-Jewish holy sites but not under the UN. For a regional plan to be a basis for negotiations, it would have to end all claims and end the conflict, not just offer Israel a hudna. Israel would have to see what revisions the Arabs are offering but the plan cannot be take it or leave it. There is an opportunity that could be explored down the road but for now there are no details to show that is anything concrete and Israel is still reviewing its own policy to be presented to the world.
Obama has not made a wrong move yet
Ted, YET is a big word.
This is one arrogant administration and their track record sucks.
Why does Israel have to compromise?
Time for giving should be over.
Tell me other than Israel what other trusted friend does the US have in the ME.
NONE
Count out Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia ,Dubai.
How about swapping Gaza and/or the entire West Bank for the homes lost to 1 million Jews in Arab countries prior to, during and after WWII? Were that fact were on the table and negotiable, then a deal could be easily reached.
Why not have a “Pal” capital closer to Jordan, away from Jerusalem in some place where it would make sense?
EU Ambassador: Stop Building in Judea and Samaria
Reported: 16:25 PM – May/06/09
(IsraelNN.com) The EU Ambassador to Israel, Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal, said Wednesday that Israel must work towards creating a Palestinian Authority state if it would like to improve its relationship with the EU. He said that Israel must stop building new settlements, echoing statements made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Uzal did agree, however, that Israel needed time to formulate a clear diplomatic policy. He also called on Israel to demonstrate restraint in protecting itself, “not like it did in Operation Cast Lead.
I urge the EU to collectively drop dead, may the plague Black or otherwise lethal variety strike them all. A lethal dose of pig flu would be fitting and just!
away from Jerusalem
Yes Gary, away from Jerusalem and out of Israel altogether.
Israel returns to 1947 solution; Obama and the Arabs develop a new peace initiative which surrenders the Old City of Jerusalem to international jurisdiction. Israel, thus, abandons the Temple Mount – nominally to the UN Christians, actually to Muslims who will use the Aqsa while Jews can shed tears at the Wailing Wall.
The plan refuses the Palestinian refugees’ right of return, which gives us some hope: where the treacherous Jewish leaders give in, Hamas might stand tall and reject the concessions.
Comment 4 of Yamit82 in reply to DavidStill has it about right and I associate with his sentiments exactly.
This now really is a time for
1. sharpening the differences and also levels of ageement
2. focus on what needs to be DONE as opposed to just talked about
Yamit82 I am from a different tradition than you.
I will just say that in 1917 there were better talkers than Lenin.
But it was what people did that counted.
Somehow Ted has to take this lesson into his soul and being.
I am going to write a letter to Ted, to yamit82, to Jihad watch, to Pamela and people like that.
I will stand with the settlers without any compromise and unconditionally and rather than this being an individual thing I must build an organization around that. The key issue on the settlers is that they do not allow themselves be isolated
Individuals as individuals will be isolated and defeated.
From now on I judge people only on the basis of what they do.
Perfect timing! We were running low on Hershey Bars and nylon stockings.
It almost sounds as if some of you guys are giving up on Israel and Netanyahu in general. I believe that Bibi has bigger cahones than you credit. Obama is a real enemy of Israel; however, regardless of the fact that he walks on water, Israel will hold fast. Not to do so, will put Israel in extreme danger.
It almost sounds as if some of you guys are giving up on Israel and Netanyahu in general. I believe that Bibi has bigger cahones than you credit. Obama is a real enemy of Israel; however, regardless of the fact that he walks on water, Israel will hold fast. Not to do so, will put Israel in extreme danger.
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Netanyahu speaks at AIPAC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMoon-mAwsY
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses AIPAC Policy Conference 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7SWQ5BAR4&feature=related
Newt Gingrich at AIPAC Policy Conference 2009 – Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6K7zOwpAE&feature=related Best speech as usual.
Representative Eric Cantor at AIPAC Policy Conference 2009 – Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4MPwezc5rE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_ZP7cu_19w&feature=related Republican political comer good speech
Harman @ AIPAC: “Warrior on Behalf Of Our Constitution & Against Abuse of Power”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9R7yc8Msc4&feature=related
Springtime for AIPAC: Annual Confab Draws Protest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAVKR3GpZjo&feature=related
Ed you lose!
Netanyahu speaks at AIPAC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMoon-mAwsY
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses AIPAC Policy Conference 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7SWQ5BAR4&feature=related
Newt Gingrich at AIPAC Policy Conference 2009 – Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6K7zOwpAE&feature=related Best speech as usual.
Representative Eric Cantor at AIPAC Policy Conference 2009 – Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4MPwezc5rE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_ZP7cu_19w&feature=related Republican political comer good speech
Harman @ AIPAC: “Warrior on Behalf Of Our Constitution & Against Abuse of Power”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9R7yc8Msc4&feature=related
Springtime for AIPAC: Annual Confab Draws Protest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAVKR3GpZjo&feature=related
Ed you lose!
Yamit read Caroline Glicks article. I am surprised Ted didn’t post it.She is right on.
I told her earlier PM Netanyahu should not meet with Obama (the Muslim president) in the US.
They will gang up on him.
Israel must not give into the will of Obama and his cronies including the sissy chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel.
Do not withdraw from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights.Israel must put her nuclear arsenal on the table and let everyone know it will be used if necessary.
PM Netanyuha has to communicate with the American people who I believe support Israel.
Now the US administration is blaming Israel for creating Iran’s nuclear ambition.
Bullshit, Israel doesn;t need to be the scapegoat for the US failure to deal with governments like Iran.
PM don’t go to Washington.
And above all the liberal American Jews better stand up and be counted and let the administration know there will be no cattle cars this time.
Come on Ted forget about Rubin, Caroline is on top of the truth.