Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Friday 21 July 2017

David Singer: Trump Should Dump PLO and Jump-Start Israel-Jordan Negotiations

Image credit: Israelidiplomacy.com
Here is the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

President Trump has completed six months in office without managing to get Israel and the PLO to resume their negotiations – stalled since April 2014.

Trump’s failure has not been for lack of trying.

The President has turned on his political charm offensive – inviting both Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to the White House – whilst making personal visits to Jerusalem and Bethlehem – all apparently to no avail.

Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner, Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, and United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman have been actively engaged on the ground in both Jerusalem and Ramallah in talks with Israel and the PLO – yet nothing of significance has emerged to indicate the PLO is ready to meet Israel without preconditions face to face across the negotiating table.

Even if these two adversaries resumed negotiations – there appears little chance of the PLO modifying demands that:
1. it be granted sovereignty over every square metre of Judea and Samaria (“the disputed territories”) and
2. Jerusalem be divided.
Offers by Israel in 2000/2001 and 2008 to cede its claims in more than 90% of the disputed territories have already been rejected by the PLO.

Trump needs to identify a new Arab partner to replace the PLO and join Israel in allocating sovereignty of the disputed territories between Jews and Arabs.

That partner should be Jordan – for four compelling reasons:
1. Jordan and Israel have enjoyed a signed peace treaty since 1994 which already contains provisions for resolving contentious issues in the disputed territories such as water, and refugees – and Jerusalem.
2. The PLO Charter does not recognise Jordan or Israel’s right to exist as separate territorial units:
 “Palestine, with the boundaries it had during the British Mandate, is an indivisible territorial unit.'
Palestine during the British Mandate (1922-1948) encompassed Israel, the disputed territories and Jordan.
3. Jordan’s 
· invasion and annexation of the disputed territories contrary to international law between 1948 and 1967
· continuing role in the disputed territories by extending Jordanian citizenship to the Arabs resident there until 1988 stamp it as eminently suited to resolve a problem it helped to create.
4. History, geography and demography qualify Jordan and Israel – the two successor States to 95% of the territory of the British Mandate – to resolve sovereignty over the disputed territories – just 4% of the Mandate.
Netanyahu eloquently articulated this position at the United Nations on 11 December 1984:
“Clearly, in Eastern and Western Palestine, there are only two peoples, the Arabs and the Jews. Just as clearly, there are only two states in that area, Jordan and Israel. The Arab State of Jordan, containing some three million Arabs, does not allow a single Jew to live there. It also contains four-fifths of the territory originally allocated by this body's predecessor, the League of Nations, for the Jewish National Home. The other State, Israel, has a population of over four million, of which one sixth is Arab. It contains less than one fifth of the territory originally allocated to the Jews under the Mandate.... It cannot be said, therefore, that the Arabs of Palestine are lacking a state of their own. The demand for a second Palestinian Arab State in Western Palestine, and a 22nd Arab State in the world, is merely the latest attempt to push Israel back into the hopelessly vulnerable armistice lines of 1949.”
This fetid swamp urgently needs draining – Israel and Jordan are the parties that can make it happen.

President Trump – over to you to weave your proven negotiating skills.

35 comments:

  1. David,

    Why as you state, does "Trump need to identify a new Arab partner to replace the PLO" such that Israel can allocate sovereignty of the disputed territories between Jews and Arabs"?  

    Your inane desire to cede portions of our land to the Arabs is dumbfouning.  Aside from security considerations (as I have pointed out numerous times), this is our Gd given homeland, the birthplace of the Jewish nation developed.  However, I immagine only an "expert" "international lawyer" like yourself OR the Swami could understand it.   

    Regarding your reasoning, I have addressed all 4 of your inane points below.

    1. Despite a very fragile peace treaty w/ Jordan, which as expert Dr. Colonel Moshe Elad points out provides literally no benefits to Israel, the Kingdom remains a radicalized, Jew-hating country, in danger of losing its sovereignty to radical islamists 

    2. If you insist on continuing with your inane proposals, try to get the facts straight. 

    Firstly, while Palestine and Transjordan were included in the same Mandate, they were treated as distinct territories. 

    Secondly, on September 16, 1922, the British passed a resolution effectively approving a separate administration for Transjordan, which received Independence before the Palestine Mandate expired in 1948.

    Thus, your statement that "Palestine during the [entire] British Mandate (1922-1948) encompassed Jordan", is factually incorrect.  However, I would agree that the PLO has irredentist tendancies toward Jordan, which is all the more reason not to give control of Judea & Sameria to the Kingdon.  Especially, as it has proven incapable of defending itself. 

    3.  Here you make the ridiculous argument that Jordan's illegal "invasion and annexation of the disputed territories contrary to international law between 1948 and 1967" qualifies it to have sovereinty over parts of J&S.  Why does Jordan's violation of international law & later its revocation of Jordanian citizenship to the Arabs entitle it to more land?  

    I guess, only an "international legal expert" such as yourself and the Swami can understand this point. 

    4. Netanyahu is not recommending that we cede land in J&S or as you state that Jordan as "a new Arab partner replace the PLO and join Israel in allocating sovereignty of the disputed territories between Jews and Arabs".

    On the contrary, he is recommending that the state of Jordan absorb all the "Palestinian" Arabs. 

    However, as you correctly (for a change) point out in point 3 above, in 1988 Jordan revoked citizenship to [many] of the "Palestinian" Arabs.  This then begs the question of "why would Jordan take them back now, especially given its fragile nature and the irredentist nature of the "Palestinian" Arabs?   

    Clearly, your lack of understanding of the facts could be cause for your ridiculous proposals which are full of contradictions.

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  2. P.S. I don't forsee any cooperation with Jordan on anything now that Israel mfinally is reclaiming sovereignty over the Temple Mount from the Waqf after the 2 murders of Israeli mpoliceman.....

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  3. I do not intend replying to any comments made by Noah Farbstein – as full of errors and as offensive as they might be – since he has refused to unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw 10 comments made by him in an exchange which took place between us at:
    http://daphneanson.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/david-singer-trump-can-end-israel-plo.html

    The following warning was issued to him:
    “Until you do I will not be responding to any of your comments in relation to this article or any previous or subsequent articles published under my name.”

    ReplyDelete
  4. Daphne

    Thanks for the vote of confidence which is greatly appreciated and just serves to hold Noah up to ridicule for his intemperate comments.

    No doubt you will receive a serve for publishing inane and wacky articles that are full of mis-statements of fact and inaccuracies.

    Enjoy...

    It is not free debate for someone to impugn my credit, reputation and character by falsely attributing statements to myself which I have never made and which I have coutreously asked to be unconditionally and unreservedly withdrawn - but which is met with these kind of responses:
    (i) "Why would I withdraw any of those points when in fact they are true?"
    (ii) "The above 8 statements accurately reflect your views and opinions on Israel & its security and your lack of knowledge regarding facts on the ground."
    (iii) "For a "Great" "International Lawyer" you seem absolutely impervious to the facts, both present and historical. I mean, do you actually think before writing this garbage or do you believe the inanity that you spew."
    (iv) "BY THE WAY, not only are you a deflector, you are a great contradiction. You continue to contradict yourself, which may be why your posts are so wacky."
    (v) " "So, in case the above is not clear, in no way do I withdraw my previous statements."
    (vi) “Your veiled offer to respond should I retract statements I made which reflect truths regarding your eagerness to give our land to our enemies is worthless.”
    (vii) "David - Feel free to respond with fact and try and defend your ridiculous posts.

    In doing so, I would advise you not steal language or ideas from my posts, such as calling my factual statements errors merely because I have pointed out all of your mistakes."

    I repeat:

    I will not be responding to any of Noah's comments in relation to this article or any previous or subsequent articles published under my name.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Noah, I find David to be a most stimulating thinker, and I am full of admiration for his deep knowledge of international law. He has been a presence on cyberspace long before I discovered his contributions and asked him if he would be kind enough to allow me to replicate his articles on here. He has a steady following on here, as I can tell from the statistics, despite the fact that his articles are not unique to this blog. I have learned a great deal from his expertise and am still learning. I bow to his superior knowledge of international law, and value it. I am still learning in many respects.

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  6. Daphne,

    Here is an article from Khaled Abu Toameh in Gatestone which refutes everything David has written on the willingness of the Kingdom of Jordan to inherit Pali Arabs.

    In otheer words, he indicates that David's Swami proposal regarding a Jordanian solution to the Israeli-Pali problem is non-existent.

    I don't think I need to tell you how respected is Toameh on the topic of Arab Palestinians, especially given that he is one.

    According to Toameh, "Jordan's biggest fear is that its kingdom will one day become a Palestinian state. Jordanian authorities seem determined to do their utmost to avoid such a scenario, even if that means being condemned by human rights groups".

    He continues to explain the silence of the West regarding the Kingdom's continued deportation of Arab Palestinians and revocation of their citizenship. This is justified by Jordan which argues that if it aids the Arab Palestinians and provides them with shelter and passports, this would serve Israeli interests.

    The entire article is HERE:
    https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4615/jordan-palestinians

    He contradicts everything "expert international lawyer and middle east analyst" David Singer has been writing about regarding Jordan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the reference, Noah. I often look at Gatestone Institute but missed that one. I am so busy of late with a book I'm trying to finish (not at all blog-related) and today with acting as a courier for a (non-related) small periodical I'm involved with that I will will look at Abu Toameh's article when I can.

      Delete
    2. Good luck on the book.
      Whats the topic?

      Delete
    3. An aspect of naval history, Noah. I'm too superstitious to give the precisetopicuntil it's finished.
      I have not posted two goading posts of yours to David, because it's not fair to him.

      Delete
  7. Noah, thanks for telling me about this article, published last week by the Zionist Organization of America on its website (zoa.org) regarding Jordan's support for terrorism against Israel.
    To quote you, the full article is HERE:
    http://zoa.org/2017/07/10369820-zoa-jordanian-parliament-should-retract-praise-for-arab-terrorists-who-murdered-two-israelis-on-temple-mount/

    I have decided not to post your entire comment, since I am anxious not to have on here what can be interpreted as ad hominem attacks on other posters. I know you will understand.

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  8. Understood.

    Thanks for posting the article.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have added the following to my sidebar, in the "Disclaimer" section:
    Commenters are kindly requested to avoid posting material which violates or infringes the rights of others (including their privacy and publicity rights, or which is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy, vulgar, obscene, profane or which may harass or cause distress or inconvenience to, or incite hatred of, any person.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Daphne

    I applaud your welcome decision and hope those who post comments take careful note.

    Regretfully I still will not respond to Noah's comments until he withdraws his comments to which I took exception.

    Hopefully ad hominem comments such as those posted by Noah will never see the light of day on your web site again.

    Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein has made a very appropriate response to the comments made by the speaker of the Jordanian Parliament in relation to the murders of two Israeli border police on the Temple Mount:

    "It is unthinkable that such a senior figure in a country with whom we have a peace agreement dares encourage the murder of Israeli citizens," the Knesset speaker said angrily.

    "Edelstein turned to the Jordanian parliament speaker and said, "Mr. a-Tarawneh, the basic thing that was demanded of you, as a public figure and as a human being, was to condemn this abominable crime. You were supposed to be one of the first to say: It is absolutely forbidden to act violently anywhere - and certainly not to desecrate holy places! And if you couldn't condemn - it would be preferable if you just kept quiet!"

    Edelstein noted that he meets parliamentary leaders all over the world, and always says that his goal is to create frameworks for regional cooperation, along with counterparts in Arab countries. "The kind of statements that were heard yesterday from your mouth distance this goal, and we can only regret that," the Knesset speaker stressed.
    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/232593

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another great example of our "Peace PArtners" in Jordan.
      I bet the Swami will like this.

      "Jordanian Police Forbid Jewish Tourists from Praying on Penalty of Imprisonment"

      http://www.jewishpress.com/news/middle-east/jordan/jordanian-police-forbid-jewish-tourists-from-praying-on-penalty-of-imprisonment/2017/07/24/

      Delete
    2. Noah, I cannot accept the other comment you keep posting. It is ad hominem.

      Delete
  11. Noah, again I will accept no further ad hominem attacks, so I thnk you for this part of your latest comment, having cut and pasted it in order to avoid the first line, in which the jibe occurs. Please do not make such jibes in future.

    Yesterday, Jordan "insisted the metal detectors be removed, with our promise to do that apparently securing the release of the Israeli guard who was almost murdered there".

    All of this despite the fact that the embassy guard should have diplomatic immunity and been released immediately.

    The FULL article is HERE (hat tip Israelly Cool):
    http://www.israellycool.com/2017/07/24/jordan-to-israel-do-as-we-say-not-as-we-do/

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  12. So, according to the article Jordan, "our partner in peace" is trying to force Israel into making dangerous security concessions at the Har HaBayit and has violated diplomatic protocol despite our "Peace Treaty".

    ReplyDelete
  13. Daphne

    The strength and durability of the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty was on display yet again to deal with the last week's explosive events - as discussed in this article
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israel-jordan-ties-strategic-occasionally-rocky-48816763

    Oded Eran a former Israeli ambassador to Jordan summed up the situation:
    "The incident in Jordan has a potential of disrupting the relations between the two countries," said Oded Eran, a former Israeli ambassador to Jordan.

    "However, the two countries have an interest to let this incident be solved in a very amicable way, providing that the two states can keep the perception of guarding their national interest," he said.

    That is how peace treaties should work and have worked in relations between Israel and Jordan and Israel and Egypt.

    Persons of goodwill should be anxious to see these treaties maintained rather than trashed - when the consequences for the parties would be disastrous.

    Well done Jordan and Israel.

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  14. AND yet more on the lack of possibility of a a solution involving Jordan, our esteemed "partner in peace".

    This time, not from the Swami, but from Cardoza Prof. of Law Malvina Halberstam, Esq.

    In her article, published by the ZOA, she actually embraces a Jordanian solution in theory, whereby Israel would retain all strategic, historic and religious areas (I can't see whats left to cede) with  the remaining area forming a Palestinian State in federation with Jordan, or becoming part of Jordan.

    HOWEVER, she concludes with a realization of the facts [as I have been saying or writing] that "it is not likely to be acceptable to the Palestinian Authority and probably not to Jordan either".

    The FULL article is HERE:
    Read more: http://zoa.org/2017/05/10363865-solutions-is-the-two-state-solution-the-only-solution-the-best-solution-a-viable-solution/#ixzz4nooH88rt

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  15. Daphne - my last post is not showing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This last point in David's article actually highlights how the treaty with Jordan is burdonsome to Israel and not how it helps Israel.

    I quote:

    "Israel also considers Jordan an important land barrier on its eastern flank. The stability of the U.S.-allied kingdom is seen in Israel as a major security interest".

    HERE, THE ARTICLE DEMONSTRATES WHY ISRAEL MUST EXPEND ENERGY, LIVES AND $ TO DEFEND A KINGDOM WHICH IS HOSTILE TOWARDS IT. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE KINGDOM FALLS TO ISIS OR ANOTHER RADICAL GROUP, WHICH WOULD HAPPEN W/O THE IDF, ISRAEL WOULD LOSE ITS BARRIER. HENCE, THIS IS A ONE SIDED AGREEMENT; ISRAEL PROTECTS JORDAN AND JORDAN INSTIGATES TROUBLE AT THE TEMPLE MOUNT, AT OUR EMBASSY AND AMONGST OUR TOURISTS, ETC.

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  17. AND here is more from our "Partner in Peace".

    In the following article in Israel HaYom, VERY respected writer Jonathan Tobin, senior online editor of Commentary Magazine, exposes Israel's capitulation to pressure from [you guessed it] our peace partner Jordan.

    Regarding Israel's the metal detectors on Har HaBayit, he states, "the reversal in response to what amounts to blackmail from Jordan will not help Prime ‎Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity, although it may help him in Washington".

    The FULL article is HERE:
    http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=19519

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  18. Daphne - my last post is not showing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have one comment on the post above this, Noah.

      Delete
  19. Today, yet again, more is revealed on our Jordanian "Peace Partners".

    Ted Belman writes the following. Specifically, note the last sentence of the first paragrap and the first sentence of the second.

    "It may be that the three terrorists on the Temple Mount were taking instructions from the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Also, there is talk about the MB behing the attack on the Israeli diplomat. If it is the MB behind this then rest assured King Abdullah is behind them.

    I hear also that King Abdullah wanted to keep the pot boiling on the Temple Mount and to have an intifadah rage for a few years. Kushhner wanted the situation to calm down and he ordered in blunt language both Abdullah and Abbas to cease and desist or there would be consequences".

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  20. Daphne - my last post is missing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It contains a thinly veiled dig at another poster, Noah. I am happy to post rational comments but not those that are ad hominem, those that play the man rather than the ball.

      Delete
  21. I hear ya, but what fun is it if we can't throw some jabs at each other!!!!!

    Isn't sarcasm and kibbitzing a common Jewish trait?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Personally, I have always loathed sarcasm, considering it the lowest form of wit. I do plead guilty to being sarcastic in my posts sometimes, since I have a well- developed sense of irony in regard to the rank hypocrisy of some of Israel's enemies. But I won't allow it towards fellow commenters who differ in their perception of what constitutes Israel's best interest.

      Delete
  22. If you loathe sacrasm then you should hate me! It usually gets the best of me, but I can take it as much as I can diosh it out.

    Although, as you say, I do detect quite a bit in your writing, especially regarding Aussie & British Politicians (and I do agree they are shamefull) or this recent headline about "An Equal Opportunity Palestinian Preacher".

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    Replies
    1. Guilty as charged, and with regard to certain clergymen too!

      Delete
  23. UPDATE: Israel's Jordanian Embassy likely to remain closed for foreseeable future.
    http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/israels-embassy-in-jordan-may-stay-closed/2017/07/27/

    So, with Israel's embassy likely to remain closed for the foreseeable, does that change "our strategic, if occassionally rocky" relationship with Jordan as per David's article above?

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  24. MORE from our "Peace Partner" Jordan with whom we have a "strategic, if occasionally rocky" relationship.

    "Peace Partner: Jordan’s King Vows to ‘Stop the Judaisation’ of Temple Mount"

    http://www.jewishpress.com/news/eye-on-palestine/peace-partner-jordans-king-vows-to-stop-the-judaisation-of-temple-mount/2017/07/29/

    I continue to reiterate that ceding any land in any part of Israel would to Jordan would be a strategic mistake of biblical proportions on par with giving them control to them of the Har HaBayit.

    ReplyDelete

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