Israel’s Foreign Minister - Avigdor Liberman - has written to Her Excellency Baroness Ashton - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security “to demonstrate Israel's goodwill, desire to build trust and sincere desire to create a positive atmosphere vis a vis the PA, with the goal of bringing our neighbors back to the table of direct negotiations. “
The PA has refused to resume direct negotiations until Israel agrees to impose a construction freeze in the West Bank for the duration of such resumed negotiations - which Israel refuses to do.
Mr Liberman has listed the following “significant gestures” made by Israel to attract the PA to drop its demand for a freeze and return to the negotiating table - which he claims are “ not properly represented or reflected in the policy of the European Union or the Quartet on this subject.”
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- Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Shteinitz and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad concluded (July 31) arrangements with respect to the transfer of goods between Israel and the PA and related tax procedures as recommended by the International Monetary Fund.
- In light of the PA‘s budget crisis, Israel transferred at the beginning of the month of Ramadan (July 27) an advance of NIS 180 million (approximately USD 45 million) of August tax remittances. The money was intended to help the PA pay salaries in time to celebrate the holiday.
- An agreement was concluded (July 14) to employ an additional 5,000 Palestinian construction workers in Israel;
- The number of roadblocks was reduced to 10, most of which are normally open;
- The remains of Palestinian terrorists were returned (May 31).
- Israel agreed to develop the gas field off the Gaza shoreline.
- Israel is promoting infrastructure projects in Area C, including completion of a master plan. In 2011, 119 infrastructure projects were approved, 58 of them with international financing. Fifteen projects relating to the construction and renovation of infrastructures for schools and clinics have received "fast-track" approval.
Mr Liberman complains that there has been no willingness or positive attitude on the part of the PA to reciprocate these moves - and has pointed to the following actions undertaken in the diplomatic and legal arenas against Israel:
- Attempts to accelerate illegal construction in Area C of the West Bank where sole responsibility is vested in Israel (including dragging the EU into this problematic activity)
- Encouraging an economic boycott on the Israeli economy in the West Bank
- Generating repeated negative statements against Israel.
- Blaming Israel for the murder of Yassir Arafat
- Ongoing institutionalized incitement in the Palestinian media, attacking Israel and the legitimacy of the State's existence.
Mr Liberman has also made a stinging attack on PA President Mahmoud Abbas claiming:
- Mr. Abbas is apparently is uninterested or unable -- due to his standing in the domestic Palestinian scene vis a vis Hamas, and in light of the regional geopolitical situation -- to reach an agreement which would bring an end to the conflict, including addressing all the core issues.
- Mr Abbas is creating a culture of blaming Israel for delaying the process, while attempting to achieve advantages without negotiation via blackmailing and ongoing attempts to internationalize the conflict - which he says can be confirmed by the Jordanians.
- In a calculated manner, Mr. Abbas is focusing his dialogue with the international community on the subject of settlements. Unfortunately - Mr Liberman further claims - the international community tends to accept this discourse lock, stock and barrel, without criticism or a nuanced approach. This is a damaging attitude, which according to Mr Liberman does not reflect the reality on the ground.
Mr Liberman is at pains to further point out that:
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- The entire area of the settlements constitutes approximately one percent of the area of the West Bank.
- The last settlement which Israel constructed was in 1991.
- In the framework of the peace accord with Egypt (1979), Israel evacuated all the settlements and military bases in Sinai.
- In 2005 - Israel evacuated all of its settlements from the Gaza Strip, as well as four settlements in the northern West Bank - and since such withdrawal 14,000 rockets and missiles have been indiscriminately shot at towns and villages in southern Israel from Gaza.
Mr Liberman makes the following further points in relation to the vexed issue of settlements:
- Facts and history, as opposed to the simplistic stereotypes and political bias, contradict the idea that somehow the settlement enterprise is the main obstacle to renewing the negotiations.
- This premise simply does not stand up to the test of reality or the historic precedent of the peace process between Israel and its neighbors. Both peace accords, with Egypt and Jordan, were signed when settlements existed;
- The claim that settlements are the obstacle to peace is unfounded
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