Yossi Beilin calls on George Mitchell to quit
During a recent visit to Washington, former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said: “I believe the mission of Senator [George] Mitchell failed. I think Mr. Mitchell should resign. After one year in which nothing happened ¢but to the worse, I don’t think that he can continue his mission when the parties have not even met but for this bizarre meeting in the Waldorf Astoria in September which did not bear any fruits … although Mitchell is a good man, I know him personally, and he is full of good intentions, but it is a total failure”.
Beilin was speaking in a videotaped interview with Amjad Atallah, the Co-Director of the Middle East Task Force at the New America Foundation. On Atallah’s blog website here, there is a disclaimer: “The views of Mr. Beilin are his own and do not reflect those of Mr. Atallah or the New America Foundation”.
Other things that Beilin said in this 15-minute video of the interview with Atallah (which is posted on YouTube) are:
“I think the current Israeli government doesn’t believe in peace with the Arabs — it does believe in peace with the United States … The only player who really matters right now is the American player — and I’m not sure they’re ready to play” …
“I’m totally in favor of a total settlement freeze forever … [But] To put it as a precondition was a mistake. Then to reneg on it was a second mistake … Actually, the Administration put Abu Mazen in this impossible situation and did not give him a ladder so he’s still there on the tree with this precondition of a freeze. The freeze is a joke … So the Americans now have to suggest something else, either to the Palestinians or to both sides” …
There have been rumors over the weekend, based on a report in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, that the Americans are working on a new proposal to — guess what? — get the two parties back to the negotiations table, which they’ve been trying to do for the last year.
What is the American policy now, exactly? Obama has gone noticeably silent. And the State Department keeps repeating that the American policy is well known… but it has gotten exactly nowhere, so far.
Here are excerpts from the last two U.S. State Department briefings for journalists in Washington, last Thursday and Friday (in reverse chronological order):
US State Dept Briefing – Ian Kelly, 11 December 2009:
“QUESTION: Benny Begin, the Israeli cabinet minister, is saying today that as many as 10,000 settlers could go to the – to West Bank settlements next year despite this freeze on settlements. Is there any reaction to that?
MR. KELLY: I mean, well, clearly, you know what our policy on settlements is.
QUESTION: Were you – was there an understanding that this was – that this could happen despite the freeze?
MR. KELLY: I’m not aware that there’s any understanding. But our policy is absolutely crystal clear on settlements, where our focus is on getting the two sides together to – in a negotiation working towards a comprehensive peace. And we would discourage any activity that would hinder that kind of – those kinds of talks starting up again.
QUESTION: But have you actually raised this issue with the Israeli Government –
MR. KELLY: I’m not sure.
QUESTION: — fear of this particular plan?
MR. KELLY: This is the first I’m hearing about this particular statement by this Israeli minister”.
US State Dept Briefing – Philip J. Crowley, Asistant Secretaryif Crowl — 10 December 2009
“QUESTION: And if I could, just one more question on Human Rights Day. You mentioned repressive activity. I’m sure you’re aware of the human rights conditions in Gaza right now. I was wondering if you had any statements on the situation in Gaza and if you’ve spoken to the Israelis about lifting the siege and allowing international aid to flow through faster than what it has been so far.
MR. CROWLEY: We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. We’ve expressed that – those concerns to all of the parties. And we encourage everyone to take affirmative steps to improve the conditions on the ground for the people of Gaza.
QUESTION: So you’ve encouraged Israel to lift the siege on Gaza which is contributing to these human right violations?
MR. CROWLEY: We have had conversations – I’m not going to – without repeating your characterization, we continue to have conversations with all the parties about the situation in Gaza.
QUESTION: But nothing on lifting the siege?
MR. CROWLEY: Yes”. [n.b. - it is unclear from the transcript whether thid "Yes" is in answer to the question, or if Crowley is ignoring the question and calling on another journalist...]
Filed under: Israel, Middle East Peace Process, Negotiators and negotiations, Palestine & Palestinians
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