terrorist cells on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea that could launch attacks against Israeli hotels.


Israelis hope the Palestinians, along with the global community, will recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish People.


As Palestinian and Israeli negotiators hold their positions on borders, security, Jerusalem, and refugees, the stalemate continues. Meanwhile, the Palestin- ians, in an effort to pressure Israel, have sought international recognition. More than 100 countries have approved of a Palestinian state, encouraging unilateral steps toward independence. Israel and the U.S. see these steps as unproductive and a threat to peace.


However, America, along with other countries, has upgraded the diplomatic status of the Palestinians, allowing them to fly their flag in national capitols. In addition, millions of dollars have poured into Palestinian coffers to encourage state-building. The Palestinian Authority is the largest recipient of foreign aid in the world, reportedly receiving $1.2 bil- lion in 2009, and $1.8 billion in 2010.


Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad plans to officially declare statehood this year. Abbas would like to seal that declaration with international recogni- tion from the Quartet, along with U.N. Security Council resolutions affirming independence.


Some Israeli experts believe U.S. Presi- dent Barack Obama will adapt a new peace plan, based on the Clinton Param- eters (introduced in 2000), that would


On Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, near Kikar Zion, Israelis celebrate Jerusalem Day, remembering the day when Israel captured the eastern part of the Old City from the Jordanians during the 1967 Six Day War. This year, Jerusalem Day will take place on June 1, 2011.


22 JewishVoiceToday.org | March/April 2011


be similar to Ehud Barak’s offer to Arafat. Others think that Obama will adapt the Arab Peace Initiative, with the urging of the State Department. Forcing Israel to accept either plan would jeopardize her security in today’s volatile environment; and, in the case of the Arab Initiative, would not allow for defensible borders.


In December 2010, at the Saban Center, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton outlined America’s new peace demands. She de- clared the U.S. would “push the parties to lay out their positions on the core issues without delay and with real specificity.” She encouraged Palestinians in their efforts at state-building, and pledged another $150 million in direct assistance. She said the U.S. and the world could not impose a solution on the two parties. But pushing and prodding, constant pres- sure, and forced one-on-one diplomacy proves America is determined to broker a final peace deal, dragging along Israelis and Palestinians.


As the main peacemaker in the Middle East, the U.S. may fear that peace is slipping out of American hands down a slippery slope into the hands of other players. The Palestinians welcome this, and with Hamas, remain committed to the elimination of Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land.


Israel continues to lose international sup- port while the Palestinians gain global legitimacy. Eventually, it will be divine intervention that keeps Israel settled in the Promised Land, and keeps the Holy City in Jewish hands.


Carrie Hart is a Middle East news correspondent, reporting on political, diplomatic, and military issues affecting Israel and the international community. Watch for her “insider’s perspective” on Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis—which can also be viewed in high def on our website, jewishvoice.org.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28