July 29, 2013
"Those Talks"
Before I write about "those talks," I want to return to the matter of the Palestinian Arab prisoner release approved by the Cabinet yesterday at the strong-arm prodding of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
This entire incident signals for me a time for activism. Those of us who care deeply about this issue must not be silent. From time to time I've asked my readers to participate in activism by way of sending messages to members of our government. And I'm asking it here, more extensively than I ever have before.
If you care, truly care. If you are alarmed. And angry. And saddened. Please, work with me here so that our voices can begin to be heard.
There are different groups of people within the Israeli gov't or closely associated with it who need to hear from us now. Those who supported the release have to know:
[] That you think it should never have happened and feel great anger/disgust/disappointment (you pick the word) that it did. Add a brief sentence or two if you wish about why it shouldn't have happened: encourages terrorism, shows Israeli weakness, subverts justice, wounds bereaved families, etc. etc.
[] That you will not be quiet about this. The nation of Israel requires more courageous or wiser leadership than what they have provided.
[] That you will watch the positions they take in the future, and if you are Israeli, let them know that this will affect how you vote.
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This message, in your own words, said politely and briefly, but strongly, should go to:
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who requires a message of grievous disappointment. See below at the bottom of this post an article about what he said regarding releasing prisoners just five years ago. :
Fax: 02-670-5369 (From the US : 011-972-2-670-5369)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon -- Likud, who should be told that people were disappointed in him because he knows better:
E-mail: myaalon@knesset.gov.il Phone: 02-675-3256
Gideon Sa’ar, and Yuval Steinitz -- both of Likud, who might have been expected to know better:
E-mail: gsaar@knesset.gov.il Fax 02-649-6578
E-mail: ysteinitz@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-649-6579
Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Sofa Landver -- both of Yisrael Beitenu:
E-mail: iaharon@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-649-6188
E-mail: slandver@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-649-6744
Yair Lapid, Yael German, Yaakov Peri, and Shai Piron -- all of Yesh Atid:
E-mail: ylapid@knesset.gov.il Phone: 02-640-8385
E-mail: ygerman@knesset.gov.il Phone: 02-640-8341
E-mail: ypery@knesset.gov.il Phone: 02-640-8422
E-mail: spiron@knesset.gov.il Phone: 02-640-8433
Shai Piron almost voted against and you might note this and encourage him to be courageous next time.
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Those who opposed the release of prisoners must be praised and encouraged. They need to hear that many are behind them and that they are supported and appreciated. Tell them that the future of the nation of Israel depends upon courageous leadership such as they demonstrated:
Yisrael Katz and Gilad Erdan -- both of Likud. Katz in particular is tough.
E-mail: yiskatz@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-649-6525
E-mail: gerdam@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-675-3982
Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel and Uri Orbach -- all of Habayit Hayehudi. Much rests with Bennett and how he leads his party; he needs to understand that there are people looking to him for leadership. Uri Ariel is also tough.
E-mail: nbenet@knesset.gov.il Phone 02-640-8430
E-mail: uria@knesset.gov.il Fax: 02-675-3738
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I am well aware that you may look at this list and consider it daunting. IT IS NOT. You can write e-mail messages that apply to several persons, click on one address at a time, paste in the message and send to that person. (Of course, a handful of people require "special" messages.)
When you have a choice of fax or e-mail, fax is better. E-mail is better than trying to reach an aide on the phone.
HOWEVER YOU DO THIS, PLEASE DO IT IMMEDIATELY. The Knesset is about to recess for the summer.
As always, please share as broadly as possible -- especially with Israeli citizens.
Accept my gratitude for your efforts and cooperation.
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Now the news on the "talks" in a nutshell:
Invitations have been extended by Kerry to Netanyahu and Abbas by phone. I have this on exceedingly solid information (from an Arabic speaking Israeli Jew with PA contacts). There are news reports that the written invitations included reference to "the '67 lines." But there were no written invitations.
However, there was something else, called a "draft," that reportedly was sent to the PA. And this apparently made reference to the '67 lines. This is not something that Netanyahu has seen, I am told. A "draft" of what? It would seem a proposed outline for the talks, and it would seem that Kerry is playing to the PA here.
My source says that Kerry refused to put anything in writing to the PA promising that talks would proceed on the basis of the '67 lines, but that he verbally promised to push this position at the table.
Remember that Indyk is going to be at the table as a US "mediator" and this is an exceedingly dangerous business.
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Everyone is gathering in Washington tonight: Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho for Israel, Saeb Erekat for the PA. The news is saying talks have begun, but this is not quite so. These are the talks about the talks: Venue, schedule for meeting and other procedural matters must be put in place, as well as, most importantly, the issues to be addressed first. These discussions will end by Wednesday.
Already I am reading about disagreements regarding what needs to be discussed first, and expectations for the substantive talks to proceed meaningfully are quite low. Keep in mind, however, that Netanyahu said the prisoners will be released in stages as talks progress, so we might expect Abbas to drag things out until they are all released.
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Please see the following articles:
Tzipi Hotovely who says the right wing will stop any attempts to give away Judea and Samaria:
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Yoram Cohen, head of the Shin Bet, delivered a warning to the Cabinet about the dangers of releasing prisoners.
Israeli security will be diminished, "both in the immediate threat to the public, and because of the erosion in deterrence. The chance that the prisoners will go back to terrorism is relatively large."
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Five years ago, when Netanyahu was in the opposition, he said that releasing prisoners "reflects weakness and a loss of direction... The Likud government will replace Kadima's weakness with an aggressive and uncompromising policy toward terror."
Run that by us again?
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The government misrepresented its intentions about releasing terrorists. Ofir Yunis, who spoke on behalf of Netanyahu, has written on his FB page:
"I want to apologize to the bereaved families who understood from my answer to a parliamentary query three months ago that there was no such intention [to release prisoners] I am sorry from the bottom of my heart that professional bodies who were involved in the negotiations misled me."
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It's savta time again -- four young grandchildren are due tomorrow morning. I will likely not post again for a couple of days. And please understand that I cannot respond to all of your many e-mails.
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