Thursday, January 22, 2009

Obama: the pressure on Israel begins


-Hillary Leila Krieger

US President Barack Obama declared his intention to pursue peace between Israelis and Palestinians [and] announced that [a] new envoy, George Mitchell [pictured], would soon be dispatched to the region.

[Obama] backed Israel's security needs but also called for the Gaza border crossings to be open as part of efforts to consolidate a recent ceasefire. [H]e called on Israel to open the border crossings and the Palestinian Authority along with the international community [to] monitoring access points.

"It will be the policy of my administration to actively and aggressively seek a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Israel and its Arab neighbors," he said.
[Jerusalem Post]


Mitchell: 'Every conflict can be solved' -Herb Keinon

The peace agreements reached in Northern Ireland are proof that "there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended," George Mitchell, US President Barack Obama's choice for new Middle East envoy, told The Jerusalem Post last month.

Mitchell said: "I understand your feelings. But [c]onflicts are created by human beings, and can be ended by human beings. It may take a long time. But with committed, active and strong leadership, it can happen here in the Middle East."

Mitchell, was the head of a committee established soon after the outbreak of the second intifada in September 2000, to determine the causes of the violence and ways to end it. The Mitchell Report called for an immediate cessation of violence and a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian Authority security cooperation, and a series of "confidence-building measures." The [report called for] Israel to "freeze all settlement activity, including the 'natural growth' of existing settlements."

One government official said Mitchell's position on zero settlement construction, together with new National Security Adviser James Jones's articulation of frustration at Israel, would likely put Israel and the new administration on a collision course.
[Jerusalem Post]


UPDATE:

Hamas Is Not the IRA: The Myths, Misconceptions and Misapplication of the Northern Ireland Peace Process
- John Bew and Martyn Frampton

It has become fashionable to look to the lessons of the peace process in Northern Ireland as holding insights for other areas of conflict in the world. However, [t]he aims of the IRA posed no existential threat to the British. This is not the case where Israel and Hamas are concerned. Hamas' founding objectives are irreconcilable with the existence of the Israeli state.

Unlike Northern Ireland, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one in which a number of regional powers have an important stake. Moreover, also unlike Northern Ireland, it would appear that some of the main players in the conflict have no interest in peace and stability.
(ICA-Jerusalem Center)


Israel Rules Out Opening Gaza Border -Adam Entous

Israel has all but ruled out fully reopening border crossings with Gaza as long as Hamas rules the enclave or stands to benefit from the easing of restrictions, a top adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. The adviser said Israel would allow the "maximum" flow of food, medicine, oil and gas to Gaza, but steel and cement needed for rebuilding would have to wait. "If opening the passages will strengthen Hamas, we won't do it," he said.

This week, Israel told the UN and other aid groups planning for the rebuilding that they must apply for project-by-project Israeli approval and provide guarantees none of the work will benefit Hamas.
(Reuters)

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