IDF kills Three

Bei einem Luftangriff im Flüchtlingslager Shati [in mäßiger Nähe des Anwesens von Hamas-Führer Haniyeh] wird ein fahrendes Auto durch israelische Kampflugzeuge attackiert. Drei Personen, die den Al-Aqsa-Brigaden [Fatah] zugerechnet werden sind getötet, zwei weitere verletzt worden. Die Hamas verlautbart das die Fatah acht ihrer Mitglieder in der Westbank verhaftet hat. Israelische Truppen setzen westbankweit zehn Palästinenser fest.

Die gestrige Meldung [Sources close to Defense Minister Ehud Barak criticized Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday as acting recklessly in seeking conflict with settlers on the issue of unauthorized West Bank settlement outposts.] wird nun etwas dataillierter dargestellt: Defense Minister Ehud Barak has reached an agreement with leaders of the settlement movement for the peaceful evacuation of 18 outposts in the West Bank, sources close to the minister told Haaretz. ... The agreement between Barak and the Yesha Council, which represents the settlers in the West Bank, was struck after long months of deliberations. The talks were organized by Barak's adviser on settlements, Eitan Broshi, and the minister's chief of staff, Brigadier General Mike Herzog. ... Sources close to the defense minister said Barak had on three occasions presented Olmert with a compromise for the consensual eviction of 18 of the outposts. Olmert opted to postpone the deal each time, claiming the timing wasn't right, the sources said. The settlers from the 18 outposts would, under the agreement, move to existing, neighboring communities. However, Barak's negotiators did not agree to allow the settlers from the various outposts to move to other outposts. In exchange for moving to preexisting settlements, the settlers stand to receive building concessions. Additionally, Barak offered to grant them permits for infrastructure projects which the government has shelved for some time. Barak's associates said he thought that an agreement could also be reached on the evacuation of Migron, which is located near Ramallah and is the largest outpost on the list. Barak's people said the settlers realized that evacuation of the contested outpost was inevitable, as it is located on privately owned Palestinian land. Es gibt hier drei Dinge anzumerken: 1.tens wäre ein erster Schritt besser als nichts. 2tens könnte ein deal mit Siedlerbewegungen bezüglich Kompensationsleistungen Signalwirkung für weitere Abbaumaßnahmen darstellen. 3.tens: Falls diese Geschichte überhaupt stimmt [mal wieder Barak Ravid als Author -umpf-], was wir erst sehen wenn Siedler freiwillig outposts verlassen, was ich mir zur Zeit beim besten Willen nicht vorstellen kann wären die Erfolge in den Verhandlungen nebst der Olmert-Breitseite ein innenpolitisches Zeichen für mangelnde Kommunikation innerhalb der Koalition. Die Darstellung seitens Labor Olmert habe den deal mehrfach verhindert sieht mir nach Märchen aus. Denn die Liste der 26 zu verhandelnden outposts stammt aus den Händen Haim Ramons [Kadima, Olmert-Vertrauter] und wurde im September 07 übergeben. DEr israelische High-Court hatte im Rahmen der Migron-Outpost-Anhörung Ende Oktober von Barak einen Regierungsplan zum outpost-Abbau verlang. Barak erbat sich bei der Anhörung eine weitere "extension" um Verhandlungen mit den Betreibern der outposts über einen geregelten und freiwilligen Abzug voran zu treiben. Für ein "postpone the deal each time" ist da wohl kaum Platz. Ein weiteres Anzeichen das der deal wohl nicht trägt ist: Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman is preparing to resign from the government, sources from his party, right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu, said on Monday. According to the sources, Lieberman, who also serves as Vice Premier and chair of Yisrael Beiteinu, will hold a press conference on Wednesday to announce his decision. Die innenpolitischen Folgen wären einen Stärkung des Rechtsblocks der gegen Zugeständnisse an die Palästinenser ist, ein Kabinettsumbau [der zusätzlichen Zündstoff vor der Veröffentlichung des Winograd-Berichts in die Diskussionen bringt] und die Steigerung der Möglichkeit von vorgezogenen Neuwahlen. Diese Variante halte ich für unwahrscheinlich: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert renewed efforts to bring United Torah Judaism into his coalition last week amid threats by Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman to remove his party from the government. Ein AP-Bericht: Olmert coalition at risk as Mideast peace talks resume

Das erste "core-issue"-Treffen zwischen israels Aussenministerin Livni und dem ramallahnischen Verhandlungsführer Qureia endet nach kaum 1,5 Stunden mit dem Ergebniss das man zu einer Serie von ... "nicht-core-issues"-Gesprächen verpflichtet und dann mal weiter sieht. Zudem wird vereinbart das man die Öffentlichkeit nicht länger über den Stand der Dinge unterrichten will. ["They started talking about the core issues," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel confirmed. The two plan to meet about once weekly, Israeli officials said, but had no further details. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinians.]

"Regarding the threat of a nuclear Iran, all options are on the table," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told MKs at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Monday. Olmert arrived at the FADC meeting to give committee members an update on the Iranian threat, as well as the situation on Israel's northern border and negotiations with the Palestinians. While Israel was considering even extreme possibilities, such as military action, "the threat of a nuclear Iran gives context to the options that we're putting on the table," Olmert said.

Ein Bericht zur dräuenden Verfassungskrise in Ramallah: The Palestinians may soon have two separate parliaments - one in the West Bank controlled by Fatah and the second belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The PLO Central Council, which met in Ramallah on Sunday, is expected to vote to dissolve the current Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC], which is dominated by Hamas. The council is also scheduled to call for early parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories. However, it's unclear how such elections would take place in the Gaza Strip, which is entirely controlled by Hamas. [Noch weiß man nichts Genaues.]

The American Jewish Congress has taken a national U.S. magazine to task for failing to publish an advert promoting women in authority in Israel. Ms. Magazine, which "boasts the most extensive coverage of international women's issues of any magazine available in the United States," rejected the advert showing Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Livni and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, which carried the tagline "This is Israel."

Akiva Eldar über die Auswirkungen einer Gaza-Konfrontation: A large-scale Israeli military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip will not only not strengthen Abbas' status in the territories; it will fatally damage him and might even bring about a Hamas takeover of the West Bank. The pictures of the dead and wounded Palestinians in the Strip will thwart the shred of a chance that Fatah will keep its pledges in security matters not only in Gaza, but in the West Bank, as per the first stage of the Road Map.