U.S. mulls more steps in response to Israel’s land grab in West Bank

[Jefferson23]

Keep in mind we just rejected Abbas' plan for peace..so while we continue to mull things over......

Israeli official says expropriation announcement 'drove the Americans nuts'; Netanyahu’s advisers say move was not coordinated with them.‬

By Barak Ravid | Sep. 5, 2014 | 3:24 AM

The Obama administration is considering taking further action regarding Israel’s expropriation of 1,000 acres of West Bank land this week, on top of the condemnation Washington has already issued.

“Maybe our reaction will find expression in other ways,” a senior U.S. official told Haaretz, but declined to give details.

On Sunday, the Civil Administration governing the West Bank, which is subject to the Defense Ministry, announced the expropriation of around 4,000 dunams of land near five Palestinian villages in the Bethlehem area. It declared the land state land.

The Civil Administration said the move had been ordered by the government in response to the abduction and murder of three Jewish teenagers in the Hebron area in June. The expropriation was designed to create contiguity between the Green Line and the settlements Betar Ilit, Kfar Etzion and Gva’ot.

A senior Israeli official said the expropriation announcement “drove the Americans nuts.” In recent days senior officials in the Obama administration have sent extremely sharply worded messages to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.614260

[Jefferson23]

1. Israel issues tenders for 283 homes in West Bank settlement

After Israel announces largest West Bank land seizure since 1980s, Land Authority announces new homes in settlement of Elkana.

AFP
Published: 09.05.14,

Israel published Friday tenders for 283 new homes in a West Bank settlement, just days after announcing its biggest land grab on Palestinian territory for three decades.


The expansion of the Elkana settlement, in the northwest of the West Bank, was approved in January and the tenders published Thursday, Israel's Land Authority said on its website.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4567900,00.html

[Jefferson23]

2. Hamas leader: No to Israel's disarmament demand

A senior leader of Hamas on Friday rejected Israel's demand that the group be disarmed as a condition for ending the long-running blockade of the Gaza Strip and permitting the opening of an air and seaport there.



Ismail Haniyeh told a gathering near Gaza City that "we cannot accept or deal with any international decision to disarm the resistance" – a reference to Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4567926,00.html

[Jefferson23]

3. Report: Hamas' Mashaal agreed in Doha meeting with Abbas to Palestinian state within 1967 borders

In meeting last month with the emir of Qatar and Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas leader says it wants a full partnership with PA, according to protocol leaked to Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal expressed his agreement to the founding of a Palestinian state within the 1967 Green Line in a meeting with the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar published what it said was the protocol of the meeting.

The meeting took place last month in Doha during Israel's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. Abbas and the emir invited Mashaal to join their meeting to discuss ways to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian sources said.

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Report-Hamas-Mashaal-agreed-in-Doha-meeting-with-Abbas-to-Palestinian-state-within-1967-borders-374546

[Jefferson23]

4. The West Bank falls short in its confrontation of the occupation

By: Amon al-Sheikh

Published Friday, September 5, 2014

As the war on Gaza winded down, Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti sent a letter from his Israeli jail cell urging the members of the movement to confront the occupation in the West Bank. He did not speak explicitly about armed confrontation. However, operations involving firing at settlements and checkpoints were revived.

Tulkarem – Over the 51-day war on the Gaza Strip, the towns and camps of the occupied West Bank witnessed several protests, which turned into confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces on some occasions and led to the martyrdom of dozens of people and injury of several hundred. The protests were not merely a response to the situation in Gaza. To a large extent, they were also an extension of the continuous confrontations with occupation soldiers and settlers which were intensified by the war.

Midway through the aggression, sporadic shooting incidents took place at military checkpoints and in the direction of Israeli settlements, without any side claiming official responsibility. A few days ago, a bomb exploded in a bus station used by settlers near Nablus. But it remains unclear if it was a criminal act or a reaction to the war on Gaza. However, the question remains, could the above be construed as the beginning of a real confrontation?

Political analyst Jihad Harb does not see any serious signs of armed resistance in the West Bank, which is completely under the control of the occupation. In addition, the Palestinian Authority has worked in the past few years to guarantee that no armed factions are present on the ground. He told Al-Akhbar that a return to the situation in 2002 is almost impossible. "All what is happening is popular demonstrations and throwing rocks, what could be termed as popular resistance. However, it needs development and a political leadership to be maintained," he indicated. Harb explained that the orientation towards an armed clash between Palestinians and the occupation still does not exist; but, "it cannot be completely dismissed, especially in the advent of unexpected developments."

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/west-bank-falls-short-its-confrontation-occupation

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. What is the USA prepared to do?

Will it give Israel 5 billion in military aid instead of 3 just to show them who is boss?

[Jefferson23]

6. Obama and Kerry still want the Kerry plan...I'm not sure how they'll get Bibi to agree

this time, a bail out of some kind is one theory out there that will persuade him.

Not that it will mean a viable state and what Egypt just offered and Abbas smartly rejected is another red flag.
Sisi is going to help Israel, that much is certain.

[Jefferson23]

7. Palestinian Authority President Abbas to Qatari Emir Tamim: Meshaal is lying

By: Elie Hanna

Published Friday, September 5, 2014

During the war and destruction in Gaza, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) arrived on August 21 in Doha, to complain to the Qatari emir about “(Khaled) Meshaal the liar,” whose group he accused of trying to stage a coup in the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas seemed tense. He brought to Emir Tamim bin Hamad “two issues that we cannot resolve”: The failed negotiations with Israel and the relationship with Hamas. “Hamas wants to drive me mad,” Abbas said. He relayed to the emir what the Israelis had told him, that “[They] have arrested 93 members of Hamas who were preparing to stage a coup in the West Bank, with help from Saleh al-Aruri from Turkey, while the liaison person between them in Amman was a man called Jawad.”

The emir said he understood where the president of the Palestinian Authority was coming from, adding, “You have provided information sourced from Israel, (then) it is definitely correct.” Moments later, Khaled Mehsaal and Hamas’s delegation enter the hall. Abbas’s contagious tension spreads to his “opponents.” Abbas then made a statement that he concluded thus, “You have carried out the coup in agreement with Dahlan, and to this moment, you still have ties with him.” At this point, Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk interjects and says, “You still believe this story?” Abu Mazen replies, “Don’t interrupt me; don’t provoke me Abu Omar.” The “provocations” and accusations then continue, until the emir decides to end the meeting until a later time when Abbas has calmed down.

Al-Akhbar has obtained a copy of the minutes of the meeting, excerpts of which are published below.

After emir Tamim welcomed the Palestinian president, and inquired about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, the following conversation took place:

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/palestinian-authority-president-abbas-qatari-emir-tamim-meshaal-lying

[Jefferson23]

8. Smoking gun missing from Shin Bet transcript on Hamas coup plot

Dozens of investigators questioned lead suspect Riad Nasser almost around the clock, amounting to hundreds of pages of transcripts, far more than the norm.

By Chaim Levinson

Last month the Shin Bet announced that a high-ranking Hamas operative was the head of a Hamas network planning to overthrow the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. But transcripts of the Shin Bet’s interrogation indicate that the operative, Riad Nasser, told Israeli security officials that Hamas’ plan...

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.613587