CMEP Bulletin: Responding to the Ongoing Violence

Violence continued this week in Israel-Palestine with daily stabbing attacks and other violence by Palestinians against Israelis, followed by often lethal Israeli responses. Many of the attacks were in the Hebron area. Rockets from Gaza into Israel were answered by Israeli air attacks. Israel told New Zealand it did not want that county to introduce a resolution in the US Security Council calling for suspension of Israeli settlement construction and home demolitions in an effort to reduce violence and reignite negotiate negotiations with Palestinians.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Monday while he does not want a binational state,“…we need to control all of the [Palestinian] territory for the foreseeable future.” He added, “I am asked if we will live forever by the sword – yes”. The EU Foreign Minister said Tuesday that Netanyahu and Abbas need to demonstrate that their commitment to the two state solution “is real and not just fake” or “just an empty slogan”. The White House said expressed opposition to the idea of taking away the Jerusalem residency rights of tens of thousands of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. The Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister was quoted saying she wants to see the Israeli flag flying over Temple Mount and that Jews should be allowed to pray there; Netanyahu asked her to clarify that these were her personal views, not policy. Ma’ariv reported a planning commission next week will consider approving what is known as the Biden plan to build 1,600 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in Jerusalem; announcement of this plan during a good will visit of Vice President Biden caused a diplomatic crisis in 2010.

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