To return to the new Peace Now website click here.

March 13, 2006 - Vol. 7, Issue 32

Policy In Search Of A Plan: Israel will reject any request by other countries to transfer money directly to the Palestinian Authority (PA), but will act together with international agencies in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the PA.

Policy In Search Of A Plan: Israel will reject any request by other countries to transfer money directly to the Palestinian Authority (PA), but will act together with international agencies in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the PA. A high-ranking official said that, as of now, the proposal that Israel stop collecting taxes and customs fees for the PA has been rejected for fear that this might intensify the disorder in Gaza. So what to do? Israel is holding secret talks with the U.S. with the aim of effecting transfers of funds to the Palestinians without the involvement of the PA. Within these talks, Israel is working to enable [a transfer of funds by] several humanitarian organizations, some of which are less than favorites with Israel. Among the groups that Israel is working to approve is UNRWA, the UN's refugee agency. Israel and the U.S. are preparing a list of international organizations, through which the money will be transferred to the Palestinians. The goal is to prevent a situation where funds from aid will reach terrorists, and conversely prevent hunger in the PA.

In the secret talks, the sides have been trying to reach agreement on the list of groups. The funds will be transferred to the PA through these organizations, after the appointment of the Hamas government. In practice, the U.S. is depending on Israeli intelligence information in order to determine whether each of the organizations on the list can be depended on. According to the emerging list, the groups through which most of the funds will be transferred are UNRWA, UNDP (the UN's development agency), and UNICEF (the UN's children's organization). In addition, non-governmental groups from various Western countries will also be added to the list. All sides understand that if the stream of international donations to the Palestinians halts, the PA will collapse economically, and thousands of Palestinians will suffer hunger.

Israel is also looking at the World Bank as a mechanism through which international aid can be funneled to the PA. The World Bank already manages a trust fund that provides budgetary support to the Palestinians. Expanding the World Bank's role could enable donors to sidestep a Hamas-led government. A Western diplomatic source said the proposal was being pushed mainly by Israel, and it was unclear whether it would be accepted by major donors because of complications involved in expanding the World Bank's mandate. It is unclear whether Israel could transfer to the World Bank the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. An Israeli official said doing so would require a court order. "The World Bank will not touch money that legally belongs to the Palestinians unless they have a request from the Palestinians," a Western diplomatic source said. A Western diplomatic source said Israel's proposal would amount to a major expansion of the World Bank's role. "It would be like the World Bank administering the entire Palestinian budget," the source said. "This would require a much bigger international decision." (Israel Radio News, 3/7/06; Ma'ariv, 3/8/06; & AP, 3/7/06)

Dead Serious: Three Palestinian youngsters-Raad Al-Batash, 8, Mahmoud Al-Batash, 15, and Ahmed A-Susi, 24-were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza last Monday, along with two members of Islamic Jihad. Children were also among those wounded in the strike. Despite the incident, Israel Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shakedi tried to explain that the Air Force has been successful in reducing the number of Palestinian civilian deaths in assassination operations (in 2005, one civilian was killed for every 28 attacks, compared with one civilian killed in every 12 attacks in 2003). But not every Israeli found such statistics comforting. Shai and Dror, who normally write a satire column for Ma'ariv, offered their thoughts on the matter, commenting, "To the mother of Raad and Mahmoud el-Batash, the eight-year old and 15-year old brothers, who were killed by the IDF strike in Gaza: Dear mother, Your sons were killed only because they were next to the vehicle that the IDF bombed. They were there by accident, and were killed by mistake. The Air Force commander says that in war as in war, innocent people are also killed. When a missile is fired to assassinate wanted men, sometimes children who were in the area are also killed, efforts are made to prevent this from happening, but nothing can be done. It happens.

"This apparently clears Shakedi's conscience. It does not clear our conscience. We wanted you to know that we did not send out this plane. We did not press the button that released the missile that killed your sons. We were not the ones who decided on this mission. In the meeting for planning the strike, when they said 'there is nothing to, civilians could be hurt, even children'-we were not there. Not us, not our priorities, not our values, not our conscience, not who we are, nor whom we would like to be. You should know that we are not the only ones who feel this way. We talk to friends, acquaintances, neighbors, parents, brothers, and people around us, and they feel the same way. They will not say so publicly, because the Israeli narrative does not allow people to come out against the army. It does not make it possible to say 'this is not my army.' It is forbidden to say that this army does not represent me. But it doesn't. Not when it kills children, at least. This letter probably doesn't comfort you. And you probably aren't reading it. The truth is that we are not writing it for you. We're writing it for us." (Ynet, 3/7/06; Ha'aretz, 3/7/06; & Ma'ariv, 3/8/06)

Saluting With No Questions Asked: The Shai and Dror column above is apparently a rarity in the Israeli media. A new study from the Keshev Association-whose president is writer David Grossman and chair is Dr. Daniel Dor of Tel Aviv University's Communications Department-examined Israeli media coverage of the Intifada. It found that in incidents when Palestinians are killed, the Israeli media relies almost exclusively on the Israeli security establishment's official version of the story. IDF spokespeople, usually dubbed "senior security officials," are quoted with finality, and only rarely are their versions measured up against Palestinians' accounts or is any independent investigation done to verify their accuracy. Over 3,300 Palestinians were killed by IDF gunfire since the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000. The Keshev Association examined the reporting methods in 22 such cases in December 2005. They studied news reports on Israel's three leading TV channels (1, 2, and 10) and three leading newspapers (Yedioth Ahronoth, Ma'ariv, and Ha'aretz). They scrutinized a total of 135 such news reports.

Of 48 reports of Palestinians killed as result of IDF gunfire, only eight reports provided an account other than the army's, and only once did a report give an alternative version of a targeted assassination. As a rule, the media reported twice as much on targeted assassinations-which are planned in advance and aimed at a particular person-than on Palestinian deaths in other army operations. In some of the incidents defined as assassinations, the fact that Palestinians were killed was mentioned as an afterthought later in the article. "Over the time period examined," the researchers said, "critical discussion on the policy of 'assassinations' was limited, and only 33 reports raised doubts as to its effectiveness, morality, legality, and influence on diplomacy. When it was brought up, it was usually only hinted at or found in the margins of reports, as commentary or supplements. This goes along with headlines proclaiming 'assassinations' or Israeli demands to increase targeted killings. One must conclude that the media actively agrees with the policy and its official presentation, or at least gave up its critical duty in such matters."

The study also criticized the word choices of news editors. "The favored phrase, 'targeted thwarting,' has positive connotations, which present the action as ['surgical']-harming only the intended target. This can be seen as a sort of legitimization of the act. This term is used over alternate terms with negative connotations, such as 'assassination' or 'extermination.' The study quotes former Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon: "The annihilation of whole neighborhoods is not a targeted war. Razing dozens of acres of groves is not a targeted war. Killing one terrorist along with half a neighborhood definitely isn't. Words create behavior patterns and behavior patterns expand the hatred and nourish terrorism. One can't talk about a 'targeted thwarting' when innocent children are killed, too." (Ynet, 3/8/06)

Block Party: A new report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the Israeli army has increased the number of roadblocks and barriers in the West Bank by 25% since last summer, tightening travel restrictions for Palestinians and making it harder for them to reach properties, markets, and medical services. OCHA said the number of road obstacles rose to 471 in January, from 376 last August, at the time of Israel's pullout from Gaza. The report said, "A picture is emerging" of a West Bank divided into three areas-north, central, and south. "Movement is easier inside these areas, but travel between them is hampered by a combination of checkpoints and other physical obstacles," according to the report. It said the roadblocks have helped create a system of roads limited for Israeli use, while funneling Palestinian motorists onto alternative routes where movement is restricted. It cited a new permanent system limiting Palestinian access to the West Bank's Jordan Valley, where many farmers own land. Farmers also have difficulty reaching fields in the northern town of Salfit and the southern city of Hebron, while rural communities have been isolated from cities because of the travel difficulties. Israel has pledged to revamp its system of roadblocks, pledging to use new technology and other measures to improve freedom of movement. The number of road structures remains well below its peak level of 735 in December 2003, the report said. (AP, 3/8/06)

Back To The Future, Part I: Writing in Ma'ariv, Ben Caspit said the Israeli security establishment is preparing recommendations for isolating the future Hamas government for the struggle against it. These recommendations still need to be approved by the top echelon in the security establishment and then by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. In general, the policy will be to try to restore the situation that existed in the territories on the eve of their capture in 1967, as far as possible. This does not mean physical withdrawal to the 1967 borders, but a clear separation and "breaking off contact" in everything that has to do with the economic system, the infrastructure, and the links between the Israeli territory, economy, and government and what is taking place in the Palestinian Authority (PA). Another proposal made at the discussion was the revival of the "Jordanian option"-a renewed attempt to involve Jordan in the handling of the PA and to revive a Jordanian affinity with what is taking place on the West Bank-a situation that vanished from the world in the past decade. Security sources said that the Jordanians did not dismiss out of hand the possibility that they might return to active involvement in what is going on in the territories.

Among the specific steps considered for "reducing as much as possible the affinity" between Israel and the PA, it was decided that Israel would continue to supply water and electricity to the territories until further notice, but fuel would no longer be supplied to the PA with Israeli mediation. The Palestinians will have to obtain the fuel on their own. Aid in the field of education was also ruled out. A very problematical distinction was drawn between the Palestinian education system, which is linked to the PA and operated by it, and, therefore, should not be helped, and the health services, which are also presumably run by the PA. Participants in the discussion voiced concern that footage of hungry and sick Palestinian children would cause enormous damage to Israel in the world. In Israel it has been decided that the health services will not be included on the list of boycotts. It was also decided that no budget or aid will be provided if it will be used for paying salaries of PA employees. Also discussed was the issue of the many internationally funded projects in the territories that are at various stages. It was decided that humanitarian projects will continue as usual, while non-humanitarian projects will be divided into two categories: those that are at an initial stage will be cancelled immediately, while those nearing completion will be finished. (Ma'ariv, 3/6/06)

Back To The Future, Part II: Aluf Benn had a slightly different take on this subject in Ha'aretz. He said the defense establishment is proposing that Israel fully disengage from Gaza and withdraw to new defense lines in the West Bank, which would include the Jordan Valley and key points along the central mountain range. Israel would also separate Gaza from the West Bank until a new Palestinian leadership arises. The border between Israel and Gaza will become an international one. Gaza will be cut off from Israel's water and electricity systems, after giving the Palestinians time to arrange alternatives. The Palestinians will be allowed to operate an airport and seaport, and will conduct all their foreign trade themselves. No Gazan workers will be allowed into Israel, nor will Palestinians be allowed to travel between Gaza and the West Bank via Israel. Israel will respond harshly to any rocket launches or other terrorist activities coming from Gaza. As for the West Bank, which is closer to Israel's population centers and Ben-Gurion International Airport, the defense establishment thinks a Gaza-style disengagement would be too dangerous. To prevent terror, the IDF believes that it must retain freedom of action in the West Bank. The general view of the defense establishment is that settlements don't contribute directly to security and also force the IDF to deploy troops for their defense. Moreover, there is no particular settlement whose location is viewed by the IDF as critical to security. In contrast, the defense establishment does place great importance on strategic control of certain points along the mountain ridge and a "security belt' running along the Jordan Valley. (Ha'aretz, 3/6/06)

The Feeling's Mutual: Settlers in the Benjamin region are discussing the possibility of disengaging from the State of Israel in the wake of events at the illegal outpost of Amona, and have begun to draw up practical plans for remaining in their homes, even after an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank. The settlers, who are holding these talks under the sponsorship of the Benjamin Regional Council, are discussing how to defend themselves without the IDF, and what their legal status would be without Israeli sovereignty. This is the first time that the idea of remaining without the State of Israel has gone beyond the crazy right-wing fringes, and is being adopted in a practical way by residents of moderate settlements under the aegis of a regional council. Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a conference in Tel Aviv, "Israel will not invest in construction or infrastructure development beyond the Green Line in the coming years. The government will change the order of priorities. This change in the order of priorities, combined with economic growth, will free up billions of shekels for infrastructure development in the Negev, the Galilee, and Jerusalem. We will invest huge amounts in infrastructure development in these areas." Olmert's associates clarified that this spending ban would not include the settlement blocs that Kadima wants to keep, adding that there is no point in investing money in settlements that will eventually be evacuated.

Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer called Olmert's comments a pre-election trial balloon. "If these are serious statements, he should cancel the status of the settlements as priority A zones, and elaborate immediately the size of the cutback in the settlement budgets." Oppenheimer also said that, "The settlers receive NIS 2.5 billion annually more than any other sector in Israel. According to our information, since the Six Day War in 1967, this gap has accumulated to an amount of NIS 45 billion. For example, in 2004, each average development town received an amount of NIS 800 per resident from the government, as opposed to NIS 1,240 for each resident in an average settlement." In related news, Labor Party Chair Amir Peretz announced that Labor would not join a government that did not pledge to evacuate all 105 illegal settlement outposts. "Whoever wants to be in a coalition with us will have to take this into consideration. We're talking about the evacuation of 1,500 people, most of whom disregard the law and symbols of the rule of law, such as the army and police. The evacuation of illegal outposts is not negotiable, but we will certainly discuss ways of evacuation," he said. (Ma'ariv, 3/5 & 8/06 & Ha'aretz, 3/8/06)

Flutters In The Polls: The weekly Israeli election surveys picked up some small movement in public opinion, with the number of undecided voters rising and a few minor parties coming closer to entering the next Knesset. If elections were held today for the 120-seat Knesset, with previous results in parentheses, the Dialog/Ha'aretz/Channel 10 survey found that Kadima would win 37 seats, Labor 19, Likud (+2), and Meretz-Yahad 4 (-2). There were no significant changes in the other parties, but the Green Leaf party has crossed the electoral threshold with two seats. About a fifth of the voters still don't know who they will choose-the total number of seats up for grabs stands at 24 (+7). In addition, 48.5% of respondents oppose Kadima's plan for a unilateral evacuation of additional West Bank settlements, which was floated last week, while 37% support the plan, although it was not clear that all respondents were familiar with the details of the proposal. The Geocartography/Army Radio poll gave Kadima 37 seats, Labor 16, Likud 15, National Union-National Religious Party (NU-NRP) 10, Yisrael Beiteinu 10, Shas 9, United Torah Judaism (UTJ) 7, the Arab parties 6, and Meretz-Yahad 5. Channel 1's poll found that Kadima would win 37 seats (-1), Labor 18 (+2), Likud 15 (-1), Yisrael Beiteinu 11, NU-NRP 10, Shas 8, and UTJ 8. The Maagar Mohot/Mishal Cham survey gave Kadima 36, Labor 18, Likud 18, Shinui 0, Shas 9, the Arab parties 7, Meretz-Yahad 5, NU-NRP 11, Yisrael Beiteinu 8, UTJ 6, Green Leaf 1, and the Pensioners Party 1. In the Dahaf/Yedioth Ahronoth poll, Kadima gains 37 seats (-1), Labor 20, Likud 14 (-1), Shas 11 (+1), Yisrael Beiteinu 10 (+1), the Arab parties 8, NU-NRP 8 (-1), UTJ 6, and Meretz-Yahad 6 (+1). And in the Teleseker/Ma'ariv survey, Kadima wins 38 seats (-1), Labor 19 (-2), Likud 17 (-1), Shas 9, NU-NRP 9, Yisrael Beiteinu 9, Meretz-Yahad 5, UTJ 5, and the Arab parties 9.

Analyzing the Ma'ariv numbers, Nadav Eyal wrote, "The main party to be concerned should be Labor. It has dropped by two seats, in comparison with last week, and reaches 19 seats.An analysis of the findings shows that the Labor Party is losing voters to Tafnit and the Pensioners Party, which are on the verge of the electoral threshold." In related news, right-wing activists conducting a survey of about 100,000 homes said that the percentage of floating votes and people who don't intend to vote is the highest in the history of the state-about 40%. The study was in preparation for a large-scale house-visiting campaign aimed at persuading former Likud voters who have gone over to Kadima to return to the Likud. The Israeli Peace Now movement has demanded that the State Comptroller order an immediate halt to the campaign on the grounds that it is a violation of the election law. Finally, over one-fifth of the Israeli Arab public will vote for predominantly Jewish parties in the upcoming elections, according to a survey commissioned by Al Shams radio station. This poll found that Kadima will get about 9.9% of the Israeli Arab vote, while Labor will get 7.5% and Meretz-Yahad and Likud will receive 1.6% each. (Ha'aretz, 3/9/06; Jerusalem Post, 3/7 & 9/06; IMRA, 3/3/06; Yedioth Ahronoth, 3/9/06; Ma'ariv, 3/9/06; & Israel Army Radio, 3/9/06)