I remember many years ago talking to a Arab dentist, a resident of Tira, close to Kfar Saba, while he actively supported the notion of a Palestine state on what is called the West Bank. When I asked him if he and his family would be happy to live in Hebron, Nablus or Ramallah, he told most belligerently that no way would he want to live under the PA. Israel for all its faults towards its Arab citizens is far better than life ruled by the PA.
Maybe my comments the other day regarding Trump’s “Deal of the Century” were too cynical and yet, the question must be asked about the timing of the release of the “deal”. Is it a vehicle to ensure Bibi contained premiership? Will it ensure that Trump’s photo appears on Time magazine and that he and/or Bibi are awarded the Noble Peace Prize?
As reported by The Times of Israel “Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law expressed hope that Israel would wait until after the March 2 Knesset elections before it annexed parts of the West Bank, further distancing the position between Washington and Netanyahu, who claimed this week that the Trump peace plan gave Israel a green light for immediate action. “
The same day, The Times of Israel reported that in a closed meeting “US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told a gathering of American Jewish and Christian Evangelical leaders that it would take a long time for a Palestinian state to emerge under the White House’s Middle East peace plan.”
If the above statements are coupled with other pronouncements from both the Israeli and US sides, there are contradictions left and right which leads me at least to the assumption that the “deal” was released now, 30+ days before the March 2 Israeli election as a means to boost Netanyahu’s rating and national profile.
Cynical, yes, but look what else Netanyahu is up to. He flys to Moscow from Washington to brief his “good friend” Vladimir Putin, Russia’s supreme leader. And wow, he flies back home with Naama Issachar. What an achievement for Bibi. The savior of Naama Issachar.
And now, at least according to media reports, our knight in shining armor is going to bring Jonathan Pollard to Israel, before the March 2 election. Actually, if anyone can its Bibi and credit must be given. His world status to say nothing of his national standing will gain a massive boost.
Gantz could not have achieved this, nor any of the other horseman.
I had to cringe the other when I saw Gantz on the evening news speaking for the Washington following his meeting with Trump. Gantz must be cursing the TV cameras. As he concluded his bland remarks he wiped his nose with his hand. Did none of this support team think to check that he had at least a handkerchief handy? And what of his media team – wiping his nose on camera with is hand? Did he wash his hand before shaking hands with Trump of others? Trump, quite correctly I guess would have refused to shake his hand.
And just as a side gripe, why does she “that must be obeyed” feature in all photos along Bibi. She was not elected, no one voted for her; I wonder what state secrets she is privy to? It could be a major security issue!
Back to the “deal”.
Other than the news clips on TV or what has been published in the English-language press in Israel, I have not read the full text of Trump’s “deal”. I found interesting the comments of the Israeli Arab population of the “triangle” area who, under the “deal” would find themselves no long Israeli citizens rather citizens of the PA.
I remember many years ago talking to a Arab dentist, a resident of Tira, close to Kfar Saba, while he actively supported the notion of a Palestine state on what is called the West Bank. When I asked him if he and his family would be happy to live in Hebron, Nablus or Ramallah, he told most belligerently that no way would he want to live under the PA. Israel for all its faults towards its Arab citizens is far better than life ruled by the PA.
And so with the election rolling ever closer, who do I vote for? Frankly, I have no idea. The first time around I voted Blue & White. The second time I voted Yisrael Beytenu in the naïve hope that Liberman would knock heads and somehow see a government formed. This time around I don’t myself voting Blue & White. Gantz does not inspire confidence, the Blue & White have no base ideology save to remove Netanyahu from power. That is the way it seems. I’ve heard nothing about their plans for the future; how they are going to tackle the crisis in the health service, housing, transport. Their single theme is the removal of Netanyahu.
If Netanyahu was not facing criminal charges, I would I guess vote for him however, with the charges against and others in his party and collation, plus constantly seeing “her that must be obeyed” everywhere, the Likud is a no go. As is Yisrael Beytenu.
Had Ayelet Shaked been leading the Yamina party as a right-wing liberal group, I could at a pinch cast my vote for them. However, with the inclusion of Bezalel Smotrich and Rafi Peretz, there is no way I can support Yamina, even if it is in Naftali Bennett’s view just a “technical block”.
I’d actually hoped that the election would be a week or so later and I would be away and not have to worry about who yo vote for.
And if I choose not to vote, what even?