IMRA Middle East News Updates

PM Netanyahu: It is not wise just to annex

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 22:09:38 +0000

PM Netanyahu: It is not wise just to annex
[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: PM Netanyahu cites American recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the Golan Heights. It should be noted that American
recognition came 38 YEARS after Israel wisely applied Israeli sovereignty
over the Golan WITHOUT waiting for American recognition of the move.]

"The second opportunity is to finally determine our eastern border, to apply
Israeli law on the Jordan Valley and to do so with international
recognition, i.e. American recognition. It is not wise just to annex, even
though this is an important step which, to my regret, is impossible for a
transitional government. For a future government, of whatever kind, it is
possible. This is a legal restriction. However, it is not enough.

Just as I wanted American recognition for our sovereignty over the Golan
Heights, I want American recognition for our sovereignty over the Jordan
Valley. This is important. It has been said that we did not formally discuss
the plan; true, it has not yet come up. But the subject has been discussed.
I have raised it with Secretary of State Pompeo and I intend to raise it
before the Trump administration. The time has come to apply Israeli
sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and to also arrange the status of all
Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, those within the blocs and those
not within the blocs. They will be part of the State of Israel."

Excerpts from PM Netanyahu's Remarks to the Makor Rishon Economic, Society
and Innovation Conference in Jerusalem 8 December, 2019

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Comparison of press releases: PM Benjamin Netanyahu Speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 18:27:47 +0000

Assistant State Dept. Secretary Schenker: PM Netanyahu did not present any annexation plan to Pompeo when met

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 18:27:30 +0000

Assistant State Dept. Secretary Schenker: PM Netanyahu did not present any
annexation plan to Pompeo when met

Special Briefing - David Schenker, Assistant Secretary Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs
Press Briefing Room Washington, D.C. December 6, 2019
https://www.state.gov/assistant-secretary-for-near-eastern-affairs-david-schenker-on-iraqi-global-magnitsky-designations/
...
QUESTION: Can - you probably won't have an answer to this, but the House -
can you take this question if you don't have an answer? The House just
passed a legislation opposing settlements, Israeli settlements, and also -

MS ORTAGUS: That's a big surprise. No, we can't take the question.

QUESTION: Why not? And also saying that Israel should not be allowed to
annex the Jordan Valley. So since the Secretary just met with Prime
Minister Netanyahu and you were there, presumably, right? Both of you.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SCHENKER: Well, it was actually - it was a four eyes
meeting, but I did talk to the Secretary -

MS ORTAGUS: Meaning it was the two of them. It was a one-on-one.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SCHENKER: Yeah, sorry. I can tell you that -

MS ORTAGUS: Four eyes -

QUESTION: Oh, oh, oh, oh. Sorry. I thought you were being -

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SCHENKER: So I can tell you that there's -

QUESTION: I thought we were going back to the schoolyard insult.
(Laughter.)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SCHENKER: Sorry. Yeah, no, no, no. So it was a
one-on-one, but I can tell you I spoke with the Secretary. I can tell you
that there was no annexation plan, full or partial, for any part of the West
Bank was presented to - by Israel to the United States during the meeting,
and that has long been the U.S. Government position, that the ultimate
disposition of territory is to be determined between the parties.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Weekly Commentary: Israel Democracy Institute Fails To Advocate

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 23:08:59 +0000

Weekly Commentary: Israel Democracy Institute Fails To Advocate Democracy
Dr. Aaron Lerner 5 December, 2019

One might think from its name that the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI)
seeks to promote democracy in the Jewish State.

Instead they have been recently focusing their efforts to promote a
profoundly anti-democratic change in the election process.

They have been spending a fortune on huge advertisements calling for the
election law to be changed so that the leader of the largest party
automatically becomes prime minister.

Why would such an arrangement necessarily reflect the will of the people?

Consider an example of 3 large parties - two from one camp while the other
camp has only one large party.

Each of the two large parties from one camp have 25 seats for a total of 50
seats in the Knesset while the large party from the rival camp has 26 seats.

The IDI program would have the leader of the camp with 26 seats become prime
minister.

That's promoting democracy?

This week Yisrael Beiteinu called for changing the rules so that under
certain circumstances the president of Israel (who is not elected by the
public) would pick someone to be prime minister who would head a government
of "experts" that would rule the country for a year with the Knesset
effectively neutralized.

I have reached out repeatedly to the IDI to comment. Stone silence.

This isn't the first time IDI failed.

When Ariel Sharon was elected on a platform NOT to leave the Gaza Strip and
pulled out, the head of the IDI maintained that this was a democratic move
since leaving the Gaza Strip was good for democracy.

Its unfortunate that IDI appears to favor a "the ends justify the means"
approach.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Weekly Commentary: Would Enemy "Target Banks" Include Chinese Owned Israeli Infrastructure?

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 22:20:08 +0000

Weekly Commentary: Would Enemy "Target Banks" Include Chinese Owned Israeli
Infrastructure?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 28 November 2019

The ongoing debate over the ramifications of Chinese investment in Israeli
infrastructure typically focuses on how it might be exploited in ways that
serve to compromise Israel's security or have a negative impact on relations
between the Jewish State and the United States.

There is though another factor which deserves serious consideration: the
extent to which our enemies might seek to avoid damaging Chinese owned
Israeli infrastructure.

There is no doubt that Israeli infrastructure takes a prominent place in the
"target banks" Hizbullah and Iran have prepared for the day that they
unleash their guided missiles against Israel.

The question is if Chinese ownership would cause a target to be removed from
the list. Would Hizbullah or Iran intentionally strike a Chinese owned (or
for that matter operated) Israeli port? How about a Chinese owned rail
line? desalination plant? you-name-it?

If the answer is in the affirmative this consideration could very well
trounce all others for much of Israel's infrastructure.

One would hope and expect that the leading Israeli national policy think
tanks address this matter.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

MEMRI: Jordanian Army Conducts Maneuvers Simulating Military Battle With Israel

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 22:11:11 +0000