Peace in the Middle East ?

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[Sirenoftitan]

Israel is ready to expand the powers of an investigation panel into its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said.  His statement followed Israeli reports that the head of the panel, Yaakov Tirkel, had threatened to resign.

Mr Tirkel has demanded that the panel be recognised as a state commission of inquiry with the power to subpoena witnesses and recommend sanctions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10458521.stm

[Sirenoftitan]

Barack Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu today sought to paper over the deep political rift between the US and Israel and publicly avoided any mention of the main areas of friction, including the continued expansion of Jewish settlements.

In stark contrast to their last meeting, in March, when Obama humiliated Netanyahu by refusing to hold a press conference with him and leaving the Israeli prime minister to eat dinner alone at the White House, the president described their latest discussions as excellent. Seated alongside Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Obama said he believed the Israeli prime minister was a man of peace.

Obama and Netanyahu put fallout behind them at talks by Chris McGreal, The Guardian

[Forty Watt]

Libyan aid ship sails for Gaza

A Libya-sponsored ship carrying 2,000 tonnes of aid has set sail from Greece for the blockaded Gaza Strip in spite of warnings from Israel not to approach the Palestinian territory.

The captain of the Al-Amal vessel, a Cuban national, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Saturday shortly before leaving the Lavrio Port, in southeastern Greece, that he planned to head for Gaza.

That would contradict a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry, which claims to have reached an agreement with Greece and Moldova to have the ship diverted to Egypt. However, the ship is the private property of a Moldovan owner, so it was not clear what impact the two European governments could have.

[bubbles]

Libyan aid ship sails for Gaza

A Libya-sponsored ship carrying 2,000 tonnes of aid has set sail from Greece for the blockaded Gaza Strip in spite of warnings from Israel not to approach the Palestinian territory.

The captain of the Al-Amal vessel, a Cuban national, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Saturday shortly before leaving the Lavrio Port, in southeastern Greece, that he planned to head for Gaza.

That would contradict a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry, which claims to have reached an agreement with Greece and Moldova to have the ship diverted to Egypt. However, the ship is the private property of a Moldovan owner, so it was not clear what impact the two European governments could have.

 i hope no one is injured or killed.

[Sirenoftitan]

An Israeli military inquiry into the naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla says commandos were under-prepared and mistakes were made at a senior level.  The report says the operation suffered from flawed intelligence-gathering and inadequate planning.  But it also praised the commandos involved and found the use of force had been the only way to stop the flotilla.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10603486.stm

[Forty Watt]

Israel launches Gaza Strip air strikes

Palestinian witnesses reported numerous explosions in Gaza City, and several people were reported to have been injured.

The strikes came after a rocket fired from the coastal enclave by militants earlier on Friday hit the Israeli city of Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast.

That attack caused no casualties but damaged a building and cars in the city, 12km (7 miles) north of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said he took the rocket attack on Ashkelon - which has a population of 125,000 - "very seriously".

There has been reduced rocket fire from Gaza because Hamas has reined in the attacks.  However, attacks from other militant groups go on, although they are pretty ineffective. 

[Sirenoftitan]

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed a Hamas fighter and wounded several other people.

Missiles struck central Gaza and Gaza City late on Friday; tunnels on the strip's southern border were also hit.

The strikes came after a rocket fired from the coastal enclave by militants earlier on Friday hit the Israeli city of Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10824909

[Forty Watt]

Let's hope this is it and there are no further incidents.

Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a Lebanese journalist have been killed in an exchange of fire in the border area.

The Lebanese say they opened fire after Israeli troops entered Lebanon. The Israelis deny crossing the border.

It is the first serious clash there since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militants.

Lebanon's prime minister condemned the "aggression". But Israel warned of "consequences" if violence continued.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10851692

[pacos_gal]

According to Philip Munger, who closely follows happenings in the Gaza, Israel, Lebanon area of the world, todays events have escalated to rockets being fired by Israel.  He has a very clear picture on his website, showing the tree being cut by Israel on Lebanon's side of the fence that started this whole thing.

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2010/08/israeli-troops-violate-un-resolution.html

The Israelis are now responding with heavy artillery and rocket fire, as well as white phosphorus. Numerous Lebanese soldiers and civilians have been injured in the exchange, which is probably escalating to include Hizbollah rockets, as I write.

[Forty Watt]

According to Philip Munger, who closely follows happenings in the Gaza, Israel, Lebanon area of the world, todays events have escalated to rockets being fired by Israel.  He has a very clear picture on his website, showing the tree being cut by Israel on Lebanon's side of the fence that started this whole thing.

With respect, I don't think the picture shows clearly that the Israelis are in Lebanese territory at all. It shows them working on the other side of the security fence certainly.  However, the security fence is not the border. The "blue line" which marks the border is beyond the security fence. Given that they are working just over the fence, it would appear they are not over the blue line.

Needless to say, I don't know for sure, but based on this photograph and without further evidence, it seems reasonable not to dismiss out of hand the Israeli statement -

In a statement, the Israeli military said its soldiers came under fire while they were "on routine activity in Israeli territory in an area that lies between the blue line [the internationally recognised border between Israel and Lebanon] and the security fence, thus within Israeli territory".

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/08/20108310240207599.html

[pacos_gal]

ahhh, okay, I didn't realize that the fence was not the border.  Lebanon must be treating it as such since this is the reason given for the initial altercation.  Which of course does not mean that Israel is treating it as the border or that it Is the border as Forty has pointed out. 

[pacos_gal]

Forty was correct in her estimation of that Israel was clearing brush on their side of the border, but on the other side of the security fence. 

This area has been in dispute by Lebanon, just as some other areas are in dispute by Israel, but it doesn't matter since both sides had agreed to honor the blue line border.  Lebanon broke that agreement when they fired on the Israelis doing brush clearing in what is their territory.

U.N. Supports Israeli Account of Border Clash

The United Nations peacekeeping force in South Lebanon, Unifil, said on Wednesday it had concluded that Israeli forces were cutting trees that lay within their own territory before a lethal exchange of fire with Lebanese Army troops on Tuesday, largely vindicating Israel’s account of how the fighting started.

A Lebanese Army spokesman had said on Tuesday that the skirmishes started after Israeli soldiers crossed into Lebanese territory to cut down a tree. Israel said that its forces were clearing brush, as part of routine maintenance work, in a gap between the so-called Blue Line, the internationally recognized border, and its security fence, and that it had coordinated its actions in advance with Unifil.

Yep, the security fence was what confused me, making me think that Israel had breached the border, but I don't live there.  Lebanese troops and government should be well aware of exactly where their border is and not make these kinds of mistakes.  Lives have been lost over a tree!  Is that any way for responsible governments to act? 
As long as this is the kind of thing that seems to be worthy of killing people, then it is hard to see where the hope lies for peace in the middle east.  I find it infuriating.

[Sirenoftitan]

A ship bearing aid for Gaza is preparing to leave Tripoli in Lebanon this weekend in the latest attempt to defy the Israeli blockade – with only women on board.

The Saint Mariam, or Virgin Mary, has a multi-faith international passenger list, including the Lebanese singer May Hariri and a group of nuns from the US. "They are nuns, doctors, lawyers, journalists, Christians and Muslims," said Mona, one of the participants who, along with the other women, has adopted the ship's name, Mariam.

Gaza aid flotilla to set sail from Lebanon with all-women crew

[Sirenoftitan]

The first direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for more than 18 months were in prospect last night after successful diplomatic efforts to find a formula designed to allow the talks to start.

The international Quartet of the US, EU, UN and Russia is expected to issue a statement today paving the way for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to open political negotiations with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A draft of the statement is understood to say that direct bilateral negotiations which "can be completed within one year" should resolve "all the core issues dividing the two sides and should "lead to a settlement, negotiated between the parties, that ends the occupation... and results in a [Palestinian] state at peace with Israel".

Israel and Palestinians poised for direct talks by Donald Macintyre, The Independent

[Forty Watt]

Netanyahu may just be the man to make history

Whatever else two days of high-octane schmoozing in Washington may have achieved, it has failed, at least as far as the outside world is concerned, to answer one of the great diplomatic riddles of the times.

Which is, what did Benjamin Netanyahu tell Barack Obama in July that convinced the US President that it was worth, first applying fierce pressure on the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter direct negotiations with Israel, with a view to achieving a peace deal within a year, and then launching the talks this week in Washington amid such fanfare. The White House has repeatedly made it clear to those who need to know that something was said – but not what it was.

Assuming that this is not mere spin, there is now a reasonable chance not only of solving the riddle but also of testing whether Netanyahu is as good as his word. That test is still to come. The Washington choreography was skilful; the Israeli Prime Minister used some positive language he has not used before; Abbas sought to shed his reservations, at least in public; the talks were given as good a send-off as could be expected.

[boodog]

That is interesting. The other day when I saw the press meeting with Clinton and Abbas, I remember thinking that Netanyahu seemed to have emotion in his voice - less fight and anger - especially when he said they could be "good neighbors". I hope this is the beginning of peace for them.

[Lani]

That is interesting. The other day when I saw the press meeting with Clinton and Abbas, I remember thinking that Netanyahu seemed to have emotion in his voice - less fight and anger - especially when he said they could be "good neighbors". I hope this is the beginning of peace for them.

In his appearance with Pres. Obama, he called his Palestinian counterpart his "Partner in Peace".

I watched both appearances and saw body language and heard words that were less antagonistic than in the past.  We can only hope.

[Lani]

And on a different note...

I was watching Secretary of State Clinton.  I did support her run for president.  Must say I was pleased with her appointment to SofS.  But I am even more proud of her since then.  Watching her with those two enemies at a press appearance was amazing.  From verbal to body language, the foreign reps respected her.  She was clearly in the moment and in charge.  And she was no barbie doll.  She was obviously hardworking, tired, and focussed on the job.  No makeup or hairdo could disguise the effort she has put into the negotiations.

Some are promoting her as Secretary of Defense.  I'm sure she can handle any cards dealt her.

[pacos_gal]

I have actually grown in my respect for Hillary Clinton.  I have to admit, she had to woo me over.  Not with pretty words, but with deeds and she has done that.  I have hopes for these peace talks.  They aren't particularly high hopes, but there is a little nugget there that says, maybe this time.  I never expected that Netanyahu would be a part of even a little hope. He just has never struck me as the man who would forward peace, but I am more than willing to let that seed of hope grow if there is even a little chance. 
This region needs peace between Israel and Palestine in the worst possible way for all peoples.  Both sides have lived with fear for too long, it does something to the psyche to live with that kind of emotion for too long of a period. 

[Forty Watt]

The elephant in the room

This is an interesting article about the consequences of excluding Hamas from Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.  It is also a reminder of the complexity of human behavior and the dangers of generalization.

Because of the depth of the analysis it's difficult to select quotes.  Here's my best shot.

Because of secrecy the world knows little about the movement's internal institution-building, diversity of opinion, consultative processes, and voting procedures. Along with neo-Orientalist depictions making it reducible to a 'militia' or 'terrorist' organisation, Hamas's own secrecy and miscommunication have solidified in Western public opinion stereotypes of hostility to peace and embrace of violence for the sake of violence.

Hamas is oversimplified. It is no exaggeration to note that Hamas is made up of several sets of Hamas - 'mini Hamases' - whose diverse trends of thought are all integrated into an overarching cohesive organisation. Its wide political spectrum has 'peaceniks' and 'refuseniks', 'soft' and 'hard' ideologues, 'extremist' and 'centrist' positions. [...]
 
May be the world does not want to know Hamas but it should care to know that there are those inside Hamas who would readily speak directly with Israel. Their reasoning is that it is better to get it directly from the horse's mouth, as it were, rather than hear from Israel through third parties. This is neither absolute or yet crystal-clear outside Hamas, nor a solid or uncontested position within Hamas. [...]

Perhaps Hamas is not the only party suffering from a siege mentality. Peace-brokers, Arab and Western, display symptoms of the same pathology.