India-Israel Cooperation: Krishna’s Visit to Tel Aviv

India and Israel have vowed to upgrade their relations in all fields amid the emphasis by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on working out a joint strategy to "checkmate" the scourge of terrorism affecting both the countries. Krishna’s visit to Israel assumes significance because the last such trip took place in July 2000 when the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh traveled here.
The two countries signed an Extradition Treaty and a pact on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners as Krishna wound up his two-day visit here, first by an Indian Foreign Minister in over a decade.
During his stay, Krishna met the top leadership including President Simon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu besides holding elaborate talks with his counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.
Landmark Visit
Krishna’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories earlier this week was a landmark one. In this India displayed, for the first time, open even-handedness, compromising neither its core interests nor core beliefs. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the external affairs minister candidly laid down the significance of India-Israel relations, speaking without hesitation of the reasons why cooperation with Israel was necessary. He stressed agriculture: this country has in recent years counted on Israeli aid in technologies and techniques relating to dryland farming. But mention must be made of the defense equipment and technologies that we get from Israel, which are vitally needed on our borders. The unmanned aerial vehicles and night-fighting equipment of Israeli make have vastly improved India’s management of the border regions with Pakistan and enhanced our capabilities to neutralize infiltration by terrorist groups. It was, therefore, natural for Krishna to mention anti-terrorism cooperation. In recent years, Israel has emerged as a significant source of military hardware alongside Russia and some Western countries.
Tel Aviv’s Support for New Delhi’s UN Seat
Krishna was received with warmth in Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, after his talks in the Israeli capital, indicating the importance the Palestinians attach to India’s unflinching political support for their cause of “an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state”, to quote from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September, where India made a strong pitch for granting Palestine UN membership in the face of opposition from the United States and its Western allies.

Friendship with both Israel and the Palestinians is not a zero-sum game — one cannot be at the cost of the other, although certain constituencies here continue to adopt such a shortsighted approach. This was underlined without blushing during Krishna’s recent sojourn. If it is important for various reasons to do business with Israel, it is no less necessary to uphold the principle of Palestinian rights and make efforts to give it practical shape.

Current Predicament in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

At this moment, US President Barack Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and at least 120 heads of State or Government, might have already arrived in New York to attend this year's UN General Assembly. At this year's UN General Assembly, we can UN member countries to debate and discuss issues pertaining to nuclear safety, famine in Africa, Libya and other major issues. But the highlight of the debate and discussion for this year's UN General Assembly definitely focused on Palestinian Authority's application to join the United Nations as a member country.
The determination of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in wanting to file in an application for Palestine to become an UN member country is very firm. After giving his address at the UN General Assembly on 23 September, Mohamoud Abbas submitted Palestine's application documents to join the United Nations as a member country to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. After this, the "showdown" at the UN General Assembly between the Israeli regime and the Palestinian authority will officially be on at the UN platform.
Movement Against Palestinian Authority
At this stage, apart from the Israeli regime which has continued to intimidate the Palestinians, the United States, the European Union and the so-called Quartet West (the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations) are still making last-minute effort to discourage and to advise the Palestinian Authority on giving up its application to the UN as a member country. The consequence after the Palestinian authority filed an application in wanting to become an UN member is indeed unpredictable. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has also warned his fellow Palestinians that in the coming days, Palestinians will face even more (unpredictable) problems.
Abbas indeed knows very well that the consequence for the Palestinian Authority to file in an application to become an UN member can be very serious. However, regardless of what will happen to the Palestinians in the coming days, he has decided to fight for the independence of Palestine through seeking the help of the UN member countries now. Such a strong determination taken by the Palestinian Authority in wanting to become an independence country has reflected the political reality that in addition to the despair of the Palestinians after engaging more than 20 years of peace negotiation with the Israeli regime, their despair has also exposed the hypocrisy of the United States in its handling of Israeli-Palestinian affairs all along.
Although the United States has expressed its support for the "two state solution" framework to allow peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis, but it appears that all the peace proposals coming from the United States in wanting to resolve the pending Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are but empty talks. These empty talks coming from the United States can only let the Palestinians getting "excited" for a short while only. This is because in order for the United States to support and implement the Israel-Palestine "two-state solution framework", the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority must first resolve the vast and varied issues between them. These issues have included calling the Israeli regime to stop building more Jewish settlements in the Palestinian occupied land and for the common border between Israel and Palestine to retract back to the 1967 period. In addition, the Israeli authority must also allow the Palestinians to use East Jerusalem as its capital; to allow the tens and thousands of Palestinian refugees scattered in Jordon and other countries to return to their homeland, and so on. However, so far, the Israeli authority has even refused to issue an official command to stop the Israelis from building more Jewish settlements on the Palestinian land. As such there is no hope for the Palestinian Authority to expect the Israeli regime to take action on other issues that can move toward the two-state solution plan for Israel and Palestine.
Pressure on Israeli Authority
As a strong ally of Israel, the US Government has, besides repeatedly proclaimed that it will support the independence of Palestine, and besides issuing regrets to deplore the uncalled for action taken by the Israeli regime on the Palestinian land, the US Government has not taken any actual or pragmatic action to support the Palestinians. The US Government is afraid to offend the influential Jewish community in the United States.
The US Government dares not exert pressure on the Israeli authority and force the Israeli regime to make concessions toward the Palestinian Authority so that the Israeli-Palestinian peace talk can be resumed again. In this regard, the United States cannot escape the responsibility for causing the present predicament between the Israeli and the Palestinian Authority that has in turn led the Palestinians having to use the United Nations as its next political platform to resolve their pending problems.

Obama's Call To Back to 1967 Frontier Only Solution to Middle-East Crisis

US President Barack Obama has called on Israel to go back to 1967 frontier. He made this call while delivering a speech on the Middle East situation at the US State Department in Washington on 19 May. Although Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Obama's call, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outright turned down it. On the very next day, Israeli Prime Minister rushed to Washington to have talks with Obama on this issue. Obama told him, 'It is essential to demarcate the Palestine-Israel boundary on the basis of the 1967 frontier. In that case security of both the states would be ensured.' Laying highest importance on the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, Obama said: 'Like other independent states they have also right to have a sovereign homeland. All states should have its defense forces to protect their sovereignty.
Certainly, Israel has capability to protect its sovereignty by combating any external aggression or attacks'. President Obama observed that sustainable Palestine and secure Israel could be ensured if they can settle their territorial boundary through mutual negotiations and consensus. Obama reiterated that the US firmly believes Palestine-Israel boundary dispute could be solved through mutual discussions and negotiations. In this connection Obama straightway told Netanyahu that he (Israeli prime minister) has no capability to sign a peace accord with Palestine.
Imaginary, Emotional Approaches
Obama's apprehension that hardliner Netanyahu is not in favor of Middle-East peace had proved to be true on the very next day. Immediately after holding two-hour meeting with Obama, Netanyahu declared that Israel would not make any compromise with its territorial boundary with Palestine that Tel Aviv established through 1967 war. In addition to rejecting Obama's call, Netanyahu did not even hesitate to tell that peace in the Middle East could not be established through any fake, imaginary or emotional approaches. Netanyahu had shown the audacity to brand the very objective, realistic and acceptable approaches of Obama as something fake or emotional. We feel shame when we hear words of peace from the mouth of this racial, warmonger and extreme hardliner Zionist leader Binyamin Netanyahu. With the extreme patronization and provocation of the United States, Israel has become so much desperate and arrogant that it does not hesitate to throw away the very proposal of the US President. This peculiar and abnormal state -- Israel had come into being in 1948 under a joint UK-US conspiracy by illegally evicting Palestinian people from their homeland. This illegally born state under the evil design of British-USA that used the United Nations in their unholy mission is the most defamed racial state of the world. This illegally born state that is regarded as the apple of discord in the Middle East has been destroying world peace for the past 63 years. Still then the Palestinians who have been struggling for establishing their self-right and to have their own homeland finally had agreed on 'Two Nations' theory in the greater interest of peace.
To attain that objective the undisputed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had signed the peace treaty. On the basis of that agreement a self-ruled limited landmass was created for the Palestinian people that were the first step towards establishing independent and sovereign Palestine state. One and half decades have already elapsed since signing of that peace treaty by Arafat. But because of breach of trust by Israel and because of its obstinate attitude the dream of an independent state for the struggling Palestinians has still remained a far cry.
US Patronizations and Supports
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the HAMAS are two major organizations of the Palestinian people. Both of them have no objection to extend recognition to Israel on the basis of 1967 boundary. Relatively hardliner HAMAS also has no objection to recognize such a formula that was enunciated by the Arab League. But despite making repeated commitments, Israel has been betraying with the Palestinian people.
Tel Aviv has been repeatedly denying accepting the independent and sovereign entity of the State of Palestine. Rather, the warmongering leadership of Israel has been continuing its subversive policy like evicting the Palestinian people from their homes, constructing new settlements on Palestinian lands, military aggressions, economic blockades etc. In such evil design, Israel has been getting US patronizations and supports all thorough.
Destabilizing World Peace
Now time has come for the US President to deeply realize that Israel is an aggressive states -- it is an enemy of world peace. However, it is most encouraging that the world leaders have extended supports to the proposal made by US President Obama for resolving the Middle East crises.
Under such situation the United States must take strong measures to compel Israel to stop its military aggression and raising settlements on Palestinian lands. Stern actions should also be taken to force Israel to keep restrained in the interest of establishing permanent peace in the region. Finally, the Muslim World should take immediate steps to ensure independent, sovereign and safe state for Palestinian people

Whither Middle East Peace Process?

US President Barack Obama, during his maiden visit to the Middle East in May 2009, delivered an important speech in the Egyptian capital -- Cairo. In that address, Obama said that Israel would have to suspend the construction of its legal settlements on the Palestinian lands on the West Bank for the restart of Arab-Israel peace talks. Almost instantly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected the proposal of the US President. The Israeli prime minister said that the building of the settlements was suspended for one year that means up to September 2009 during the tenure of President George W. Bush and after expiry of the timeframe Israel will again start the construction. President Osama had to withstand that insult silently. It had become clear that the Fatah party government of Palestine would not sit for peace talks unless Israel stopped building settlements.
Arab-Israel Conflicts
Since then, Israel has established a good number of new illegal settlement areas on the West Bank and the captured East Jerusalem and built several thousands of structures on the Palestinian lands. Rather arrogant and aggressive Netanyahu and his government blamed the Palestinians for the capture of lands. The argument of the Israeli government was the Palestinians are divided, among them the HAMAS is determined to eliminate the existence of Israel, so no peace talks are possible with them. As the United States and European Union (EU) have recognized HAMAS as terrorist so the plea of Israel is acceptable to them. In the internal politics Obama has earned the wrath of the US capitalist over his national health bill. And his popularity was nosedived.
In addition, Obama did not get enough opportunity to think over the Middle East as he lost majority in the Congress in the midterm polls. Moreover, he will have to seek votes in November 2012 to become the US President for the second term. Obama knows it very well that it will not be possible for him to win the election by annoying the 'most powerful' Israeli lobbies in the US. And as a result, he prefers keeping mum on the issue of Arab-Israel conflicts.
Unexpected Address
President Obama on 19 May gave a completely unexpected statement at the US Department of State. He had definitely an intention of revising to some extent the present anti-US policy in the Middle East. At the beginning of the so-called 'Arab autumn' process the US seemed to be against the trend. But as the development began going out of the control of the US policy Washington welcomed the revolution in Tunisia and Egypt one after another. But in other places the United States is still lagging behind the pace of developments. Washington was in a dilemma for a long time regarding the mass upsurge in Yemen and Syria. Huge criticisms were raised in the US over mysterious indifference of the Obama administration to sending of Saudi Arabian troops to quell rebellion in Bahrain.
In his State Department address, Obama made attempts to minimize those criticisms. He said: 'The US welcomes those changes that expand the scopes for self determination and opportunities- there should not be any doubt about it. For many decades we have been admitting the no change in situation of this region or the Middle East, but now we have gotten the chance of following the path through which the world could advance in the right direction.'
Obama in that address further said that the basis of the Arab-Israeli crisis would be a 'secured Israel' and on the basis of an independent Palestinian state, and the borders of the two states will be along the demarcation line that was before the 1967 war. But Obama said that some changes along the common borders here and there were possible on the basis of mutual understanding.
On 2 May, the US commandoes swooped on a residence at Abbottabad in Pakistan and killed Usama Bin Ladin. Since then popularity of Obama has jumped high repeatedly. The US President might have thought that he would implement his 2009 Cairo address riding on this popularity. Besides, he might have realized that Israel has been using the peace talks with the Palestinian as a technique of killing time and the crisis will no be solved this way. Now he is thinking over the 2002 Saudi proposal. In that Saudi proposal it was stipulated that the borders of Palestine and Israel will be fixed along the demarcation line of 1967 and all Arab states will recognize Israel simultaneously.
Bad Tempered Dialogue
The US foreign policy is not determined in Washington. This is determined in Israel and the Israelis secure this control by dint of the strength of the Israeli lobbies in the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was scheduled meet the US President in Washington on the following day of the speech of Obama. Prior to his departure for Washington, Netanyahu announced that the 1967 borderline was not acceptable to Israel. He said that the ground realities have under gone many changes (because of illegal Israeli settlements) since 1967 and those changes cannot be ruled out. In other words, he said that the Jews (those came from Europe) had the right to build settlements in the areas where they have settlements during the Bible era that means in entire Palestine.
The Jewish people in the United States could hardly be one-thirtieth of the total population. But in pursuance of Zionist conspiracy, they have taken control of the US politics, economy, and media. Of them, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the most powerful group. It being said that no bill in the US Congress could be passed without approval from the AIPAC. Obama might have thought that he will be able to create influence by addressing the AIPAC conference. The AIPAC conference silently heard the speech of Obama. But when the US President referred to the 1967 borderline they raised voice in unison to condemn him. To pacify the anger, President Obama was compelled to announce that the United States will oppose the Arab proposal in the UN General Assembly in September 2011 for giving recognition to the Palestinian state.
Netanyahu also addressed the AIPAC conference. In his address, the Israeli Prime Minister said that the 1967 borderline was not acceptable to his country for security reasons. He had again referred to the Jewish settlements in the Bibal area. And it is needless to mention that the address of Netanyahu was welcome amid repeated clapping from the audience. Netanyahu has again demanded that as a condition for establishing peace Israel must have to be recognized as a Jewish state. His proposal means forfeiting the birth right of the Palestinians, expelled from Israel, in returning to their homeland, which the United Nations accepted for many times. The proposal will give Israel the liberty of expelling nearly 2 million Palestinian from that country. The Palestinian will accept the proposal.
On 24 May, Netanyahu was more cordially greeted in the joint session of the two houses of the US Congress than the AIPAC conference. During his address to the House, both the Republican and Democrat members of the Congress gave him standing ovation 18 times. By this time, Obama and Netanyahu held face to face meeting in the White House. According to available information, their discussions were exciting and bad tempered.
Split in Western Alliance
However, Obama was given rousing receptions during his visit to Irish Republic and the United Kingdom. He earned the rare distinction of addressing the joint session of the British Parliament in Westminster Hall. Before him no US President was fortunate to address the joint session of the British Parliament. In his address, Obama traditionally raised the Palestinian issue and said: 'We (US and Europe) are united for cause a secured Israel and an Independent Palestinian state.
But Obama knows it better that the Europe is now not united with the United States on the Palestinian issue. Virtually Europe is getting more intolerant with each passing. So long the Arab-Israel issue has been under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States. It was true that a quartet was formed on the issue comprising the United Nations, EU, Russia, and the United States. But that quartet was absolutely ineffective. Former US President George W. Bush appointed his cohort in misdeeds -- Tony Blair -- as the representative of that quartet. It seemed from the statements of Tony Blair that protecting interest of Israel was his prime concern. He is going to Jerusalem off and on and Israelis are receiving him very cordially. It being heard that Tony Blair has been benefiting for her relations with Israel.
Now the EU could have realized that the US foreign policy is determined in Tel Aviv, not Washington. And as a result, no just solution of the crisis is possible by the United States. Some of the EU countries believe the Europe now will have to take responsibility from the United States the initiatives of solving the Arab-Israel crisis. Some of the EU countries, including France, have hinted that they are ready to recognize the independence of Palestine if it is unilaterally declared by the Palestinians.
The Europe has some special advantages also. The Israeli lobbies are very active in Europe particularly in France and Germany. But they are yet to become so stronger like the AIPAC in the United States. In addition, the progress of Israeli economy still largely depends on Europe. Israel is enjoying the duty free access to Europe in exporting goods like other EU members. That means Israeli Prime Minister will find no courage to show his red eyes to the Europe the way he has been demonstrating his audacity to hackle the US President. Under the above circumstances, the people, who support an independent Palestinian state inside Israel, will be encouraged.
Recent Development
Meanwhile, a significant change has taken place in the situation of the Middle East. Israel has been successful in laying a siege to Gaza for long four years with active support from the Hosni Mubarak government of Egypt. That the Egyptian Government acting on behalf of the Israeli Administration has closed down the Rafa Crossing on the southern frontier. But a post-revolution Egypt is not ready to act as a guard of Egypt. Egypt opened the Rafa Crossing on 28 May. Most countries in the Middle East are now witnessing mass upsurge. The friends of Israel in Europe believe Israel will be more friendless if 'Arab Autumn' gets perfection. Under the above circumstances, it will be better for Israel to reach a settlement without killing time.
The Arab League, at a meeting in Doha on 22 May, has decided that despite objection from the US they will move a resolution in the UN General Assembly in September for giving recognition to an independent Palestinian state with the border of 1967. That resolution will create very complex situation for the United States. Under pressure from Israel, the United States will try to oppose the resolution. However, most countries in the world are likely to give recognition to the Palestinian state. The public opposition of so many countries will surely hamper the international dignity of the United States.
Only one option has been left for Washington to adopt. The option is supporting the Arab League resolution. If the United States fails, Washington should abstain from voting against the proposal and handover initiatives of resolving the Middle East crisis to the EU.

Obama's Efforts To Resolve Israeli-Palestinian Conflicts

Barack Obama has been on the job as the US president for more than two years now. All along, he has been working hard to promote peace between Israel and Palestinian. However, until today, Obama's effort in this area has not achieved any obvious positive result. In fact, the Israeli-Palestinian peace talk has gone into a dead end. But Obama seems to be a US President that will not easily give up a goal such as settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. On 19 May, President Obama boldly came out with his "1967 Israeli-Palestinian Border" proposal hoping that this proposal could break the deadlock of peace negotiation between Israel and Palestinian.
West Asia War
On Israeli-Palestine peace negotiation, President Barack Obama advocated that Israel's territorial border should return to the border line before the June 1967 West Asia War as a base for Israel's peace negotiation with the Palestinian state. However, the immediate reaction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "very angry". According to media report on 20 May, when Netanyahu met Obama at the White House, Netanyahu has furiously given Obama "a good lecture." He said that Israel absolutely cannot accept Obama's peace proposal. This is because if Israel's territory were to return to the pre-1967 borders, Israel will be unable to defend itself.
To pacify Netanyahu's "anger", President Obama did make special arrangement by giving a talk to the pro-Israel lobbying group known as "the American Israel Public Affairs Committee" to clarify his so-called 1967 peace proposal program. Obama said that according to his peace proposal, both Israel and Palestinian can exchange land and by the time the Palestinian can really achieve its goal to become an UN statehood country, the Israeli-Palestinian borders will no longer be the pre-1967 borders.
Peace Proposal
During the June 1967 War, Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula (later on Israel returned it to Egypt), the Jordan West Bank, Gaza and the Golan plateau. Currently, Israel is firmly in control of the West Bank, and has long incorporated Syria's Golan plateau into its territory. Now, President Barack Obama wants Israel to return all these occupied lands to their original owners, Israel will of course strongly resist such a peace proposal coming from the United States.
As for Palestinian, the Palestinian authority has also expressed their dissatisfaction over President Obama's Middle East policy because in his speech, Obama only mentioned the exchange of land between Israel and Palestinian but Obama did not mention the issue pertaining to the return of over a million Palestinian refugees to the Palestinian state. Nevertheless, in principle, the Palestinian did welcome President Obama's 1967 peace program and said that as long as Israel is willing to accept this proposal, the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks can resume.
Multitude Disputes
From our perspective, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's rhetoric and claim that Israel will not be able to defend itself if its borders were to return to the pre-1967 War clearly cannot hold any ground. This is because Israel in the strongest country in West Asia. Israel processes advanced missiles, first-class Air Force and more importantly, Israel has nuclear weapons (although Israel has never admitted nor denied about it). We cannot think of any Arab country that dares to offend or violate Israel's territory with light heart.
For sure, there are multitude disputes between Israel and Palestinian. But the world has already entered the 21st century. Many impossible things in the past have also become possible. There is a need for the leaders in Israel to look ahead and make some bold decisions. Otherwise, the future prospects of peace between Israeli and Palestine will only become increasingly bleak.

Agreement Between HAMAS, Fateh Historic Achievement

The people who had become disheartened by the events of the past few months in the Middle East got a sense of relief and joy at the joining together of the two large groups of Palestinians -- HAMAS and Fateh. Otherwise, the everyday tensions of the Islamic world had drowned them in despair. Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Jordan--the political storms at last gave some relief. For the past four years, tensions between the two groups were good news for the enemies of Islam, especially Israel. But today, when this news was announced that in spite of the many attempts of their enemies the two groups have reached to work together, it was enough to make Israel and its guardian writhe with jealousy.
Israel bared its fangs and immediately announced its decision to withhold tax revenue from the Fateh group. This was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He even said that the Fateh will have to choose between Israel and the Islamic group, while its chief protector the United States without making any comment, announced that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken to Netanyahu and Fateh leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Differences and Act
Attempts at reconciliation between the HAMAS and the Fateh started two months ago and now, at last, these attempts had reached fruition. Both parties have shown their appreciation. The world history has is witness that whenever Muslims put their differences on the back burner and put up a united front, they have always got success, while the Koran has told them to set aside their differences and act as one. And whenever, on the orders of the Almighty, they have said "Labbayk " [Arabic for 'I have come O Lord' they have tasted success]. Now that Palestinians have chosen the path of unity, definitely success will be their fate and their enemies will be wiped out.
Enemies of Islam will know the strength of Islam. They know that Muslims do not rest until they have wiped out their enemies from existence. That is why they know that whenever their community gets united, it spells trouble for them. They know that unity among Muslims means trouble for them and that is why they keep putting obstacles in their path. They keep threatening the Fateh that if they sort out their differences with the HAMAS, then its cooperation with Israel will be put in grave danger. This means that behind the scenes, the Fateh was threatened that if it makes up with the HAMAS, then its cooperation with Israel and the United States will be in jeopardy and can also end in war. But all their attempts came to naught and both the groups have signed this historic document.
Important Step Taken
From the news pouring in, the signatures are of Abu Zauq of the HAMAS and Azam Ahmad of the Fateh. HAMAS leader Khalid Mashal and Fateh leader Mahmoud Abbas did not affix their signatures on this agreement, but in the joint statement that was issued in Egypt both leaders showed agreement and called it an historic achievement. Observers of the events in Palestine and Israel agree that this has been a very important step. This will be very beneficial for the Palestinian public, and the most important aspect of the Palestinian state coming up.
Muslims and all right-thinking people of the world wishes that war in Palestinians will end and both sides will jointly be able to struggle for an independent Palestinian State. Because of this fratricidal struggle, both sides were suffering heavy losses, as they had to concentrate on two fronts which were frittering away their strength. Now they will be able to land a heavy blow on their enemy. Now that both the groups have sorted out their differences, they will concentrate on a single point--the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, and land a body blow to their enemy.
Joy for Islamic World
With this agreement not only the Palestinian factions are happy, but the entire Islamic world rejoices, because the land of Palestine is for Muslims. Regardless of which part of the world he may be living in, Palestine has a spiritual connection. This is where He turns to when Muslim recites His prayers. That is why there is a wave of joy to welcome this agreement.
All those who preach peace in the world are in darkness regarding this agreement and are trying to secretly sabotage it. This process has started. That is why the Fateh and the HAMAS and the Palestinian public should guard this agreement and protect it from their enemies, who are shamefully trying to prevent the building of an independent Palestinian State. The whole world, Muslims and all right-thinking people and good wishes are with them.

Peace Process, Power Balance in Middle East

The action taken by the President of the United States Barack Obama to open the door of discussion between Washington and Damsyik can be deemed as a manifestation of his open attitude toward the Islamic world. This is what Obama promised when he spoke in Cairo on 4 June 2008. His Cairo speech is historical because it is considered as the starting point from which Washington opened up the room for negotiation to all Islamic countries, regardless they are friends of foes.

Restoration of Ties
The diplomatic ties between these two countries have broken since the assassination of the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri in 2005, which was allegedly masterminded by Syria. The restoration of the ties will culminate at the appointment of the new US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. The appointment is only pending approval from the US Senate.

It is noteworthy that since the incident in 2005, Washington had recalled its ambassador in Damsyik, until today. Senator John Kerry, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations only visited to Syria last week and had an opportunity to discuss with President Bashar al-Assad about bilateral relations and peace process in Middle East. It is so evident that the relations between the US and Syria is moving toward a better path.

Objections Raised
Washington's implicit agenda to befriend Damsyik is used as a catalyst for stability in Middle East, especially in relation to issues involving Iran. The US hopes to isolate Teheran and in turn weaken Hamas fighters in Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Obama's strategy to be friendly to Damsyik received objections especially from the Republican Party and Israel. They object for the reason that Damsyik still provides assistance to Hezbollah group, which is defined by Washington as a terrorist group.

Groups doubtful of Damsyik got an opportunity they were waiting for when the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, accused Syria of having provided Scud missiles to Hezbollah. Peres made the accusation when he visited to Paris last week, though it could not be proved with solid evidence.

It is no longer a secret that Damsyik indeed sympathizes Hezbollah by providing weapons, but it has never provided Hezbollah long-range missiles. If the accusation is true, then the fact that Hezbollah possesses Scud missiles could alter the power balance, especially between Lebanon, Iran, Palestine and Israel.

Considering Hezbollah was capable to defeat the troops of the Israeli regime in 2006 without Scud, with the more accurate long-range missiles, Hezbollah would definitely be capable of giving an impact as terrific as the scenario wherein Iran presumably possesses nuclear arms.

Syria indeed has the North Korean-made missiles, Scud D, which can strike a target 700 km away. If it is launched from Lebanon, Scud D can strike Jerusalem as well as Tel Aviv. In addition to its accuracy in hitting the target, Scud D also has good precision. Therefore important targets such as Dimona nuclear plant which is said to be the pulse of Israel's nuclear arsenal can be easily destroyed. Similarly, other targets such as Ben-Gurion airport can also be struck easily with Scud D.

Insincere Israeli Attitude
Although Peres's allegation cannot be verified yet, the implication is already felt and the first will probably be that the Senate would not approve the appointment of new ambassador to Damsyik. If the accusation is true, then they obviously have violated the Resolution 1701 of the United Nations Security Council intended to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

However, if we examine carefully, to deliver Scud to Lebanon is a rather difficult task. The southern part of the country is a Hezbollah-influenced area monitored by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) also participates in the peacekeeping team through the Malaysian battalion (Malbatt).

Many analysts are of the view that the actual motive behind Tel Aviv's wild allegation was to fail the endeavor undertaken by Obama administration to start a new peace process in Middle East. It is not exaggerating if we say White House has started to get bored with Benjamin Netanyahu's insincere attitude in the efforts of seeking solution.

Netanyahu's recent announcement of constructing new illegal Jewish settlements in Jerusalem was akin to a slap to Obama's ongoing effort to assure the Islamic world that there would not be new illegal settlement during his tenure as the president.

There are rumors saying that White House has prepared a new plan for peace in Middle East, which clearly outlines the concept of two sovereign countries -- Palestine and Israel. To fail the latest effort, Tel Aviv has resorted to the factor of Hezbollah as a shortcut to undermine the authority of Obama administration when facing the issues of Middle East.

Tel Aviv dared to take such an approach as Washington itself refuses to acknowledge Hezbollah as a legitimate representative of the Lebanese people.

Presence of Hezbollah Parliamentarians
We should note that the presence of Hezbollah parliamentarians formed a main factor for the establishment of a Unity Government under Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Similar situation happens in Gaza Strip where Hamas is defined as a terrorist group while it is also a legitimate government.

But if Peres's allegation is true, for sure it would not only alter the political landscape in Middle East, it would also bring impacts to the region of Middle East. Hezbollah equiped with Scud would definitely countervail the arrogance of the Israeli regime.

Tel Aviv will be more careful in issuing threat to destroy Iran's nuclear plant like what it did on Syria in 2007. Likewise, it will be more restrained with its arbitrary actions against the Palestinians. It is not overboard to assume that Hezbollah equipped with Scud will actually speed up the peace process in Middle East, instead of retarding it as alleged by some quarters.

Increasing Coldness in Israel-US Bilateral Relationship

A slight coldness has developed between Israel-US ties during Barack Obama's regime. Israel has much doubts and suspicions about the US designs, whereas Obama wants that Israel should not get unchecked, while exploiting the US dependence and that it should demonstrate more caution and moderation in its attitude.

The Israeli extremist government is quite worried having fears that the United States wants to impose a peace agreement with it under which the Palestinians can unilaterally announce their independent state, and that the United States can also make a progress toward announcement of ending tension from Syria as well.

Undefeatable Alliance
In the wake of these apprehensions, Israel is worried about to what extent these differences emerging between the United States and Israel, which would affect the construction projects for the Jewish settlement in Israel. However, there is a proclaimed resolve that an undefeatable alliance between the two countries exists.

The fear that the gulf emerged in the views of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Obama can take any shape has reduced Israel's trust on the United States.

Impact of Arab-Israel Tension
Netanyahu apprehends that Israel could be forced to give Palestinians two concessions, which Israel does not want to do. Moreover, in such a situation, the Palestinians will get strengthened. Obama is promising for the establishment of peace in the region, and for the first time, he has openly stated that Arab-Israel tension is causing damages to the US reconciliation.

Netanyahu explains it as the United States wants to forcefully impose a peace agreement on Israel. Seven Israeli ministers met for three times last week in order to find out a way to end coldness between Israel and the United States. However, no agreement could be reached in all three meetings under which the United States could be appeased by stopping construction of the Jewish settlements in eastern Baitul Maqdis (in Palestine was the first Qibla [direction, in which Muslims face when praying]).

Netanyahu also expressed his displeasure with the US Administration by not taking part in the Nuclear Security Summit held recently in Washington. US President Obama ferociously spoke against Iran and North Korea at the Nuclear Security Summit and said that new strict policies could be announced against Iran. Obama, however, did not name Israel in the summit, whose prime minister did not bother to participate at the summit.

Uranium Enriching Issue
Egypt and Turkey alleged Israel that it also has nuclear weapons urging the world states to deal with the Israeli weapons as well. The US President's reaction to this identification was quite bizarre. On one hand, Obama was saying that Israel should essentially join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT), and on the other, the US President refused to make any comment on the Israeli nuclear program.

Obama avoided speaking on the Israeli nuclear program because it is the result of the US oversight. A process of useless investigation continues in the United States for a long time, which is based on making Israel a nuclear power through the US oversight. The investigation is being prolonged with the objective that at any stage it could be suspended for not reaching any conclusion.

The issue is that enriched uranium of the level of weapons development, got disappeared from a the US experimental site in Pennsylvania, and the United States has not yet clued to the same. The US concern to check the nuclear proliferation would depend on identifying where has the uranium gone.

A person namely Steve Levin was a member of the Israeli Army. He also took part in the 1948 Israeli war, and later on, he became head of the Israeli spy agency. He was also a close friend of first Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. The same person was the builder of Israel's nuclear program. In 1940s, Ben-Gurion as the head of a Jewish agency made a weapons purchase program, stealing and smuggling in the United States through a big network, and also their shifting to Israel. In this connection, the purchase of small weapons, heavy machine guns, arms-manufacturing material, planes, ships, and tanks was made from the United States discarded material places, and they were shifted to Palestine.

On nuclear front, Levin purchased Apollo Steel Company Pennsylvania at a cost of $450,000. Intelligent inventor Dr Zalman Shapiro was the founder and president of the Apollo Steel Company. This company also included a corporation of nuclear material. By September 1968, 587 pounds highly enriched uranium was declared missing through this organization. It was learned as a result to the 1968 investigation that this enriched uranium has been shifted to Israel, and it has also been used in weapons development there. Despite this disclosure, the United States did not take any action.

Kennedy was the last US President who was very cautious about proliferation of nuclear material, and was also serious regarding the US embargos on Israel. Later, Israel had freedom to steal enriched uranium from the United States, take it to Israel, and use it in making nuclear weapons. Despite knowing all about it, the United States did not take any action.

Israel's Growing Arrogance
Now, Obama desires to find John Kennedy's footprints and tread on them, but it has not remained easy for him to do. Israel has intruded into the very thinking of the United States through the Jewish lobby to the extent that it has become very difficult for the United States to take any action against Israel.

Israel's arrogance has increased to the level that it has become able to even eyeing the United States. US President Obama convened an international summit in Washington to devise a strategy to check proliferation of nuclear weapons. Israel did not give importance to attending this summit, and Netanyahu himself did not take part in it, although the heads of big nuclear powers took part at the summit. Netanyahu did not participate at the summit, so that it could not have to disclose the secrets of its nuclear power before the world opinion, and that it could also not have to make any final promise regarding the nuclear weapons. He also does not want to sign the NPT on the US request.

The coldness in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel is increasing. However, these relations have not yet reached open tension. Nevertheless, Israel does not care much about the United States.

62 Years of Israeli Occupation of Palestine

Recently, 62 years of Israeli occupation of Palestine have been completed. On this occasion, the Zionists warring jets and helicopters kept flying in the air space of occupied Baitul Maqdas (Holy House) while Israel kept the Gaza Strip entirely sealed off. On the other hand, the Palestinians held protest rallies and demonstrations against illicit Israeli occupancy; forced expatriation and Israeli brutalities, in the occupied territories. (According to the Christian calendar, this date is 14 May 1948).

In his message on the occasion of the anniversary of Israeli occupancy, US President Barack Obama said: "To this day, we continue to share a strong, unbreakable bond of friendship between our two nations, anchored by the United States' enduring commitment to Israel's security". Obama said that he takes pride in the profound friendship between the people of the United States and Israel. He added that "I look forward to continuing our efforts with Israel to achieve comprehensive peace and security in the region, including a two-state (Palestine and Israel) solution."

Violations of Human Rights
Despite all kinds of violations of human rights by Israel and its armed warring activities spanning over decades against the people of Palestine, the US Presidential declaration to strengthen the unbreakable ties with Israel is lucid evidence that in fact it is only the United States which has been fanning the dispute between Israel and Palestine.

The fact is that the United States has played a pivotal negative role in bringing this dispute to this exacerbated level. The United States, on the one hand, talks about the freedom of Palestine while on the other hand it is taking steps to not only further strengthen Israel militarily but the United States also continues supporting Israel on political and diplomatic forums.

US Double Standard
There could be no greater evidence of the double standard and hypocritical policies of the United States which claims that it has made attempts to ameliorate the state of affairs in the Middle East to set up peace across the world. This very United States has vetoed from time to time the resolutions approved by the UN platform regarding Israel aggressive activities and Israel inhumane cruelties and brutalities committed against the people of Palestine.

Amid such state of affairs, the US efforts for the establishment of peace in the Middle East are merely fake and a show off. It is because the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has enunciated that the feet of Washington will never flounder at the security and support of Israel. The United States shall stand along with the Israel and will help Israel in every hour of difficulty.

Establishing Illegitimately
The question arises here that a state that has been established illegitimately and remains always ready for launching aggression but the world's sole superpower also declares open support for it (Israel) then where the peace shall be established and how, in the first place. Israel too is no less in making actions to show off and pretending to issue nice statements as compared to the United States, in any way.

During his interview to the Israeli radio, the Israel defense minister Ehud Barak has said that Israel should remove the occupancy of the lands of the people of Palestine. The Israel defense minister said that Israel government will have to handle the issues that have divided the people of Palestine and Israel in order to remove the expanding gulf between the United States and his government.

The Israel will have to realize this fact that the world will no more tolerate the Israel rule which continued its hold over the Palestinian people for the last many decades.

However, during his interview to a US TV channel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the construction of Jewish settlements within occupied Baitul Maqdas will not be stopped at any cost, at all. The statement of the Israel Prime Minister is a reaction to the statement of the defense minister of the same country. In alternate words, Israel will never end its occupancy from the land of Palestinians.

Israeli Ambidextrous Policies
Israel has already seized vast areas of Palestine. If the Israel expansionist designs and activities continued in the same way then Israel will also occupy the remaining parts of Palestine as well. Thus, in this way, the implementation of the two-nation plan will turn into something impossible.

The United Nations should take notice of these double and ambidextrous policies of Israel and should run a movement on diplomatic forum in order to stop them, so that the people of Palestine could have their right of freedom and the establishment of enduring peace in the Middle East could be come-at-able.

Israeli Premier's Stand Challenge to US Administration

The disagreements between the administration of US President Barack Obama and the Israeli Government, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the settlement activity in occupied Jerusalem have increased. According to US dailies, these disagreements were clearly evident at the latter's meetings and tense talks with US officials.

Internal and External Interests
Netanyahu considers himself more powerful than the US President and his administration's officials because he enjoys great support from the two largest establishments in the United States, the Congress and the Jewish lobby, AIPAC (American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee). Therefore, he appeared uninterested in the calls on him to halt the settlement activity and go back to the table of indirect negotiations with the Palestinian side.

This arrogant stand on the part of the Israeli prime minister constitutes the greatest challenge, not only to President Obama, but also to the entire governing US establishment. This challenge makes it incumbent on the governing US establishment to confront the Israeli prime minister forcefully and effectively in a way that will serve the United States' internal and, particularly, external interests.

Successive Israeli Governments rebelled against the White House in the past, but the disagreements and crises that resulted from their action were not so serious that they were difficult to contain or overcome. The current crisis, however, is completely different in terms of its timing and the magnitude of dangers that it entails.

Wars in Region
The United States is currently fighting two ferocious wars in the region, one in Iraq and the other in Afghanistan. At least about a quarter of a million US soldiers are taking part in these two wars, and the Israeli settlement activities and acts of aggression began to have a negative effect on the US soldiers in these two wars, as was admitted by Commander of the US Central Command David Petraeus.

What we mean to say is that the United States cannot contain the current crisis through the same means that it used to contain previous crises. In addition, Israel currently suffers a quasi international isolation and increasing campaigns of hatred in the circles of the peoples of its allies in the Western states, namely in Europe.

Aggression Against Gaza Strip
Israel is no longer the only democratic state in the Middle East that represents the Western culture and abides by the law. Rather, it has become a terrorist rogue state in the eyes of many people following the war crimes that it committed during its latest aggression against the Gaza Strip and after it used the passports of more than six Western states (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Australia, and Italy) in assassinating martyr Mahmud al-Mabhuh. Al-Mabhuh, one of the founders of the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, was assassinated in an allied and peaceful state, the United Arab Emirates.

We do not know who will emerge as a winner in the current conflict between Obama and Netanyahu, between the president of a superpower and the prime minister of a small state that cannot live or rather survive without the former's support and backing. What we do know, however, is that the United States is the loser so far, only because this crisis broke out the way we saw, which was humiliating to the United States and to its international and regional standing.

Freezing Settlement Activity
What is certain is that the United States will not give up its Israeli ally because of the current crisis. On the other hand, Netanyahu will not make it easy for the United States to back down on its current stand on the need to halt or freeze the settlement activity to save what has remained of the peace process, which is truly collapsed. Netanyahu announced that occupied Jerusalem is not a settlement, but an eternal capital for the State of Israel.

What is noticeable is the fact that the Arab states are standing as spectators and not trying to help their US ally in such a confrontation with Israel. But this is not a strange stand because these states have no weight and value and are accustomed to living on the sidelines and to receiving insults and slaps.

India Suffers From Misconception About Israel

Several alarming incidents have taken place during the last couple of days. The first such incident concerned the announcement made by Israel that those people of Israel who intend to visit India can go there without any fear or threat to them. The advisory issued by Israel was no less than a glad tiding for India because earlier, the United States and Britain had issued a travel advisory to citizens people to travel to India most cautiously, because the presence of terrorists in India could jeopardize their travel and threaten their lives.

India's Internal Matters
In view of the movement for a separate Telengana state, the United States and Britain had cautioned their people to avoid visiting Andhra Pradesh also. Under such circumstances, the advisory issued by Israel to its people appears to be extremely satisfactory. Some circles, however, appear to be greatly concerned about the reason behind this advisory issued by Israel. It is so fully aware of India's internal matters that it is acquainted with every security measure that the Government of India takes, and Israel feels that Indian security agencies would leave no stone unturned to protect Israeli citizens visiting India.
Has Israel given an assurance that India attaches more importance to Israel than to the United States or Britain? Perhaps, Israel is not very incorrect in thinking so, which was proved by yet another alarming incident. It relates to the clandestine India visit by the chief of the Israeli National Security Council, Uzi Arad.
The National Security Council is an important institution in Israel like that of the Mosad. The council is directly accountable to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Arad called on Indian National Security Adviser. M.K. Narayanan – who has been appointed new Governor of West Bengal -- and held discussions on important issues, which included, inter alia, the Afghan war and the Iranian nuclear program. Clearly, it was enough to ring alarm bells in some political circles.

Debatable View
One can understand that the Iranian nuclear program is a matter of grave concern for Israel but what has the issue to do with India is beyond anyone's comprehension. Reportedly, Narayanan avoided saying anything on the issue in view of the sentiments of minorities. Yet, why Israel included the issue in talks with India is being considered extraordinary. It is also learned that certain circles in India take Israel as the last word on issues relating to security. They take the Israeli security system as unparalleled in the world.
The two security advisers also discussed purchase of arms and weapons. This implies that the closeness between India and Israel is increasing to a level that is a matter of grave concern. Incidentally, one official circle is of the view that Israel is the most powerful country militarily. This is a debatable view.

Security Arrangements
Security arrangements in Israel are undoubtedly most stringent. No suicide attacks take place there as in India and some neighboring countries. Yet, one wonders against whom these arrangements are directed? If the standard of these stringent measures is gauged by the fact that Palestinians can cause no harm to Israel, then we must not lose sight of the fact that Palestinians have no military power at all. Is it not a fact that they are carrying on their struggle for the past 60 years without any kind of sophisticated weapons? They do not even have ordinary weapons.
Palestinians under the "Intifada" come out with stones in their hands to face the fully armed Israeli army. The weapons that Palestinians have are no more than fireworks! Further, Palestinians do not believe in carrying out suicide bomb attacks as Al-Qa'ida militants and terrorists. If the Israeli security is taken as unprecedented and unparalleled in comparison to Palestine, it is not short of comparing a lion with a goat.
As far as Israeli might is concerned, the fact is that it has spent most of the 60 years of its existence in developing and increasing its military power. It developed rockets, sophisticated rifles, fighter planes, and as is known to the world, it also developed nuclear arms by hoodwinking the international community. The details have been published in a book the Zionism: The Real Enemy of Jews authored by a BBC staff member. Publishers in the United States and Britain had refused to publish the book for fear of Zionists, but now the book in two volumes is available in bookstalls in London. Anyway, three major wars have been fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The first such war took place in 1948 when Israel came into existence.

Indulgence of Golda Meir
As for the military might of Arabs, the less said the better! Arabs were no comparison to Israel as far as weapons and arms were concerned. The weapons, which Israel had reached there from the United States, with the active indulgence of Golda Meir. The details of the arms are available in this book too. In short, Israel proved mightier than Arabs in the war. The second war took place in 1957 but all Arab countries including Egypt were found wanting, and the third one took place in 1973. Initially, the Egyptian Army proved mightier, which led Moshe Dayan and Ariel Sharon to decide to carry out nuclear attacks on both Cairo and Damascus. Yet, former US President Nixon exerted pressure on Golda Meir and prevented Israel from carrying out the nuclear attack.

Formidable Adversary
However, Israel received one jolt in war. Its military might proved futile in 2006 when it faced the Hezbollah of Nasarullah in Lebanon. The defeat that Israel suffered in that war blew the lid off the myth of it being invincible! The commission set up by Israel to find out and investigate how Nasarullah's guerillas managed to defeat the Israeli attack has yet to submit its findings! The fact remains that until today, Israel had never faced any formidable adversary. If a section in India believes that Israel is the most powerful country, it should bear this fact in mind. If this section feels that Israel's military power is superior to that of Arabs, and Israel is the mightiest and invincible country, it would be nothing short of living in a fool's paradise by this section in India. Going by all that is taking place, one reaches the conclusion that by protecting its superiority in security arrangements, Israel intends to get huge sums of money from India. Depending fully on Israel in matters of security may also probe as self-deception for India.

New British Approach to Middle East Peace Plan

The British Parliamentary Committee (BPC) has demanded that the European Union (EU) should link its relations with Israel with efforts for establishment of peace in the Middle East. Even more significant is that the said committee has also called on the British Government to establish contact with HAMAS that controls the Gaza Strip. The committee is rightly of the opinion that without large-scale cooperation from the Palestinian organization HAMAAS, no durable peace is possible.

Israel's Conditions
The demand by the BPC has come at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while reiterating his five conditions for restoration of peace in the region, maintains that the future Palestinian state would not be allowed to keep any arms and weapons.

However, Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Atias maintains that no country in the world has any right to force Israel not to allow its population to live in the Palestine territory. He has categorically asserted that the process of construction of the Jewish habitats would continue in occupied Baitul Muqaddas and the West Bank.

Israel's current aggressive attitude is no different from its earlier stand. In fact, it is this attitude that has spoilt peace in Middle East, and has created new issues by terming HAMAS's armed struggle terrorism. Statements made by Netanyahu and Ariel Atias are, in fact, a part of the conspiracy that aims at sabotaging peace efforts in the region. The conspirators are active even at a time when the rein of the US, Israel's master and mentor, is in the hands of Barack Obama, who is striving to improve US relations with the Islamic world, and who has already held Israel responsible for the inhuman conditions prevailing in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu-Obama Meeting
During his recent meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, Obama had categorically said that Israel must stop all construction work, particularly those of new Jewish hamlets in the occupied areas. Obama has exerted further pressure on Israel that it should recognize the two-nation theory, and allow the establishment of a Palestine state.

Yet, despite pressure from Obama, what the Israeli leadership is doing is no secret. Adding conditions to the establishment of a Palestine state and demanding that it should be prohibited from maintaining any kind of army tantamount to a slap on Palestinians' self-respect. Under such circumstances, talking about establishment of peace in the region is entirely meaningless.

That is why the BPC has demanded linking of relations with Israel to put efforts toward establishment of peace. Although the attitude and inclination of European countries and the US has usually been sympathetic, and that the Palestine issue continues to hang fire, is largely because of the patronage that Israel enjoys from the European countries and the US. Else a handful of Judaists could not dare to play with the dignity of the Arabs.

Significance of Plan
However, it is commendable that going by Israel's arrogance, the BPC has called on the European countries to link relations with Israel with efforts for establishment of peace. There are scant chances that it will have any impact on Israel until the US also adopts a hard attitude in this regard.

The other significant aspect is the BPC's attitude toward HAMAS. In fact, both the US and the EU have described the armed struggle by HAMAS as terrorism and have been delinking it from the peace efforts in the Middle East. Yet, the truth is that HAMAS continues to enjoy the majority support of the Palestinians and Mahmoud Abbas is taken to be a sympathizer of the Zionist forces.

In such a scenario, HAMAS's role in efforts for establishment of peace becomes more significant. By admitting it, the BPC has displayed its wisdom. The BPC is quite correct when it said that by refusing to talk to HAMAS, the UK is gaining nothing. The BPC has also termed the Israeli action in the Gaza Strip inappropriate.

Whatever stand the EU or the British Government may adopt on the demand, the report is evident that a tendency to criticize the Israeli aggression openly is developing in the UK, Europe, and the US.

Israel's Challenge to US Calls To Halt Settlement Activity

The US envoy to the Arab region, Senator George Mitchell, begins a new tour during which he meets with Arab and Israeli officials under the theme of "advancing the peace process and looking for ways to overcome the obstacles that stand in its way."

US-Israeli Tension
This tour is different from the previous ones as it comes amid US-Israeli tension because of Benjamin Netanyahu's defiance of the US Administration's calls to freeze the settlement activity and dismantle the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu refused to present any commitment to freezing the settlement Activity during his recent visit to the White House. His aides bragged about this stand and considered it a sign of strength and firmness. This stand prompted his foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to "reprimand" Senator Mitchell and lecture him on how what he termed Israeli concessions through a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip led to an increase in the rocket attacks on Israeli towns and settlements in the south.
Nothing has changed since Mitchell's last tour about one and a half months ago. The Israeli settlements are expanding on the pretext of natural growth and Lieberman continues to hold his post as Foreign Minister, while Netanyahu gave the Israelis a free hand to settle unconditionally in occupied East Jerusalem. Furthermore, his government issued decisions to confiscate Palestinian lands in occupied Jerusalem and build 50 housing units in the Shaykh Jarrah Neighborhood of Jerusalem.
We do not know how Senator Mitchell and his administration will deal with this Israeli challenge. Until now, this administration has been contented with expressing its "resentment" of and "opposition" to the settlement activity without taking any practical punitive steps.

Paying Price for Verbal Opposition
What we fear most is that this administration might ask the Arabs to immediately pay a price for its verbal opposition to the settlement activity by taking normalization steps with Israel, such as opening their airspace to Israeli flights, activating the trade exchange, and opening trade offices in occupied Jerusalem.
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Arabs' presentation of a peace initiative alone is not enough. She added that normalization steps must be taken to explain this initiative and reassure the Israeli public opinion and Government by showing how serious the Arabs are toward peace.
The first and most prominent response to Ms Clinton's call came from the heir apparent of Bahrain, Shaykh Salman Bin-Hamad Al Khalifah. He wrote an article in the US Newspaper the Washington Post in which he called on the Arabs to move toward the Israelis through the Israeli media to facilitate the peace efforts between the Arabs and Israelis. He said: "We, the Arabs, have not done enough to directly communicate with the Israeli people."
The US State Department immediately welcomed the Bahraini heir apparent's article and asked Senator Mitchell to go to Manama to congratulate him on his stand and to convey the US Administration's thanks to him and to his government.

US Stand Towards Arab-Israeli Conflict
There is no argument over the fact that the current US Administration's stand towards the Arab-Israeli conflict is totally different from that of the former administration that was led by George Bush and the group of the neo conservatives.
However, as Arabs and particularly as Palestinians, we must not pay the price for this difference in advance by reversing the Arab peace initiative in order for us to begin full normalization before a complete withdrawal.