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JPost Blogspot: "A rightist government in disguise" by Yariv Oppenheimer, Peace Now Secretary General

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's speech at Harvard University on the policy of settlement expansion points more than anything to the increasing gap between the government's public stance on the matter and the reality on the ground.

3/18/08

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's speech at Harvard University on the policy of settlement expansion points more than anything to the increasing gap between the government's public stance on the matter and the reality on the ground.

If we are judging based on actions, the Israeli government - disguised as a center-left government - is in fact a rightist government that continues to build settlements, which undermines the chances of reaching a political settlement, thereby turning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into an unsolvable one. Bibi Netanyahu could not have done it better.

Six months ago, the prime minister committed to advancing the process started at Annapolis and to re-open negotiations on a future permanent status agreement, which would include discussions on the core issues. The PM's statements were so unambiguous that Lieberman surrendered to the pressure of the right and left the government. Statements are one thing and actions are another. Prompted by Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Eli Yishai, Olmert made clear to his Palestinian counterparts a few weeks later that the negotiations would not include discussing the future of Jerusalem. Later, Defense Minister Barak announced that roadblocks in the West Bank could not be removed and hence would not alleviate even a little, the difficulties of Palestinians' daily lives.

The calls for a ceasefire by Hamas, mediated by Egypt, are being rejected by the government and preparations for the reoccupation of Gaza continue. Meanwhile, the IDF has resumed its 'targeted killings' policy, which only inflames the hatred and arouses the quest for immediate revenge on the part of the Palestinians. The security services and the IDF haven't been so trigger-happy in a long time.

The negotiations with the settlers proceed at a snail's pace and in the meantime, not even one outpost has been dismantled. Recently, the defense minister agreed to relocate outposts and not dismantle them, while simultaneously authorizing others and turning them into settlements.

With regards to the construction and the expansion of existing settlements, a cursory check at the reality on the ground reveals that even on this issue agreed upon at Annapolis, nothing has moved forward. Since this government was voted into power, it has authorized the construction of hundreds of residential units in Neguhot, Ma'aleh Adumin, Efrat, Talmon, Beitar Ilit, Elkana, Ariel, and Hebron (amongst many others).

In the areas of East Jerusalem, the government has authorized the construction of hundreds of residential units for various projects in the east of the city, while ignoring Abbas's pleas to freeze the construction until the negotiations run their course.

Apart from the desire to serve as ministers, it is difficult to understand the rightist factions in the Knesset, which do everything in their power to attack the government and bring about its collapse. It is safe to assume that even if Netanyahu were voted to serve as PM, Mofaz as defense minister and Itzhak Levi as the housing and construction minister, the criticism at home and abroad would not let them implement the rightist policies currently being pushed forward by Ehud Olmert.

However, when the government is disguised as a leftist government, it can effortlessly thwart any progress in reaching a peace deal.