by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Sept. 7, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

             Playing good-cop/bad-cop White House officials blasted Israel for continuing settlement construction in the West Bank—the territory annexed from Jordan after the 1967 Six-Day War.  While the Palestinians like to call the West Bank “occupied territories,” the truth is Israel won the land from Jordan, with Palestinians having no legal claim to the land other than a future negotiated settlement with Israel.  U.S. authorities rebuked MIT-educated Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu for honoring ongoing building permits, negotiated before he agreed to suspend settlement construction as a Palestinian condition for resuming peace talks.  “United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.  Netanyahu knows it ‘s impossible to negotiate peace with half the Palestinian people.

            Obama’s officials, like those of former President George W. Bush, have ignored half the Palestinian people living under Hamas rule in Gaza.  Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hasn’t been able to reconcile differences with Gaza’s Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.  Haniyeh seized the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority June 14, 2007 after winning a parliamentary majority Jan. 26, 2006 in internationally monitored elections.  Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while encouraging free elections in Gaza, never accepted the outcome.  Bush officials shunned the Hamas government and worked exclusively with U.S. ally Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority demands that Netanyahu suspend all settlement construction.  Netanyahu knows that that it’s a farce and charade to negotiate a peace deal with only the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

            White House criticism of Netanyahu is designed to placate Palestinians and other Arab states accusing the Bush administration of taking Israel’s side.  Obama has already antagonized many Israelis and American conservatives who view Israel as the most important ally in the Middle East.  “We are working to create a climate in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it harder to create such a climate,” said Gibbs, softening his tone.  Gibbs also knows that before Hamas is brought into the equation, peace efforts remain futile.  Special White House envoy former Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) was briefed about Netanyahu’s intent to honor ongoing construction projects in the West Bank.  Palestinians know that in any negotiated settlement they stand to take over new Israeli construction projects.  Acting harshly toward Israel is good PR on the Arab street.

            Mitchell knows the game more than most.  He recognized the inviolate nature of U.S. relations with Israel and seeks to introduce rhetorical balance.  “We are working with all parties—Israelis, Palestinians and Arab states—on the steps they must take to achieve that objective,” said Gibbs, forgetting that ignoring Hamas can only boomerang.  White House officials so far have only not resolved the political schism inside the Palestinian community.  Winning concessions from Netanyahu makes good press but doesn’t resolve deep divisions inside the Palestinian community.  Before expecting Netanyahu to make concessions, Palestinians must resolve their difference and unify to begin the arduous peace process.  Palestinians need to hold new parliamentary elections to figure whether Hamas’ 2006 victory was a fluke or backlash.  If Abbas wins, then Palestinian unity talks can begin.

            Netanyahu rejects a unilateral settlement freeze when there’s no reciprocation on the part of Palestinians.  Israel is still wondering what it’s supposed to get for halting settlements when it’s only dealing with half the Palestinians.  Suggesting that Obama loses credibility in the Arab world because of continued Israeli construction ignores prior Netanyahu’s prior obligations, but, more importantly, that Palestinians must resolve their civil war before real progress can be made.  Egypt, Jordan, Syria and other Arab states would spend their time more wisely convincing Palestinians to unite around one leader.  As long as Abbas and Haniyeh are at loggerheads, the White House knows there can be little progress.  While there’s nothing wrong with PR, there’s something very wrong with blaming Netanyahu when Palestinians must get their act together.  No construction halt will reconcile Gaza and the West Bank.

            Calling Mitchell’s talks with Israel “a very open dialogue” in “very intense discussions” gives away the good-cop/bad-cop scenario where the U.S. pounds Israel publicly but nods-and-winks in private.  Israel’s strategic alliance with the U.S, both nuclear and conventional, isn’t threatened by artificial demands about halting settlement construction in the West Bank.  West Bank and Gaza officials must come under one banner to pursue Mideast peace and create an independent Palestinian state.  “The process will continue,” said an unnamed State Dept. official, adding, “Israel’s stated intent to place limits settlement activity.”  Netanyahu won’t be bullied into giving away the store.  Like his conservative mentor former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Netanyahu wants his name etched into the Pantheon of Mideast peace making.  To get there, he won’t sacrifice his principles or Israel’s national security.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.