Palestinian Apartheid or the death fatwa time again

I doubt very much this story will make as much as a blip on the radar of the wire services because the world is only is concerned about what Jews do to Arabs. Jerusalem Post:

The Palestinian Authority has issued yet another warning to Palestinians against selling their homes or properties to Jews, saying those who violate the order would be accused of "high treason" - a charge that carries the death penalty.

The latest warning was issued on Wednesday by the Chief [Islamic] Judge of the Palestinian Authority, Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, who reminded the Palestinians of an existing fatwa [religious decree] than bans them from selling property to Jews. Sheikh Tamimi's warning came in response to reports that Jewish businessmen from the US had purchased 20 dunams of land from Palestinians on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Warning the Palestinians against engaging in "suspicious real estate deeds," the religious leader said that according to Islamic teachings it was a "grave sin" to sell houses and lands to Jews. He said that the ban also applies to real estate agents or middlemen who are involved in such transactions.

He warned that anyone who ignores the warning would be punished in accordance with Islamic teachings and would also be ostracized by his community and family. Sheikh Tamimi also issued a ban on renting out property to Jewish individuals and organizations under the pretext that they would spread moral, political and security corruption there.

Of course, there was the standard bit to deny the reality of Jerusalem.

The city of Jerusalem is the religious, political and spiritual capital of the Palestinians," he said. "The Jews have no rights in Jerusalem. This is an occupied city like the rest of the territories that were occupied in 1967."

Scores of Palestinians have been murdered over the past three decades for allegedly selling their property to Jews or for acting as intermediaries in real estate deeds involving Jews. Several fatwas issued by PA Islamic clerics have ruled that any Palestinian who sells his property to Jews would face the death sentence.

And remember the Palestinian talking points – Netanyahu and Lieberman are the obstacles for peace. What the Palestinians refuse to acknowledge is that Jerusalem is an ancient Jewish city. Imagine the world outcry if sraeli-Jews started to murder anyone who sold or rented a building to an Arab in Israel -my ears burn with just the thought of it. Furthermore, what is commonly referred to as “Arab’ East Jerusalem possessed a thriving ancient Jewish Quarter until the Jordanians ethnically cleansed the area in 1948 with tactics no Israeli government has ever dreamed of implementing in the Gaza Strip.

Peace Obstacles

Yesterday morning it was Bibi Netanyahu who the Palestinian Authority thought was an obstacle to peace and by evening it had added Avigdor “Yvette” Lieberman as the evening obstacle to peace. Ynet News.

Incoming Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is a racist who will hinder regional peace efforts, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday evening.

Yasser Abed Rabbo said Lieberman constituted "an obstacle to peace" and that he would "harm Israel first of all." "We are not obligated to hold talks with a racist hostile to peace like Lieberman," Abbas' aide said.

Oh, and like the Palestinians don’t possess a racist bone in their mouths…I have been waiting a long time to use this expression which often gets quoted at me when I would complain about the Palestinian leadership in progressive circles…one does not make peace with one’s friend but one’s enemies. Someone needs to send the PA the memo.

Ynet carries some of the highlights of Lieberman’s inaugural speech as Israel’s Foreign Minister:

Concessions are not the way to make peace, incoming Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday during the changing of the guard ceremony at the Foreign Ministry. "Those who think that through concessions they will gain respect and peace are wrong," the new minister said. "It's the other way around; it will lead to more wars."

(…)Lieberman, who will also serve as deputy prime minister, delivered an aggressive speech, noting that "by uttering the word peace 20 times a day we won't make peace. Those who want peace should prepare for war and be strong," he added. "There is no country that made concessions like Israel. Since 1967 we gave up territory that is three times the size of Israel. We showed willingness. The Oslo process started back in 1993 and to this day I have not seen that we reached peace."

Lieberman added that Israel is not obligated by the Annapolis conference, but rather, only by the Road Map initiative. However, responding to the new minister's remarks, a senior US official said the Obama administration remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lieberman also turned his attention to Egypt

"Egypt is an important element in the Arab world and in the world in general," he said. "I will certainly be happy to visit Egypt, but I'll also be happy to see Egypt's leaders visit here, including the Egyptian foreign minister. I respect others and I want them to respect us; I'm in favor of the principle of reciprocity."

But Yvette has some harsh words for the bureaucrats in his department by “telling them that workdays start at 7:30 am and that the daily evening meeting will be held at 10 pm.”

I am so going to enjoy Lieberman's term as Foreign Minister. I can't think of a more entertaining Israeli politician. And he hasn’t even put in a full week yet! I would be remiss if I didn’t point out Lieberman is quite correct concerning Israel’s obligations towards the Annapolis Accord as it was never ratified or accepted by either the Israeli Cabinet or the Kessnet. Olmert never dared put it to a vote. And not only was Annapolis not ratified by the Israeli government; Hamas did not sign on and without Hamas’ implicit agreement, the accord is just another meaningless document.

The full text of Lieberman’s speech can be found here.

and the band will not play on

According to this Ynet News report Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is saying the world must pressure Israel to make peace.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that Israel's new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, "does not believe in peace," and urged world leaders to pile pressure on him. "Benjamin Netanyahu never believed in a two-state solution or accepted signed agreements and does not want to stop settlement activity. This is obvious," Abbas told the official Palestinian news agency. "We have to tell the world that this man does not believe in peace, so how should we deal with him? Let's put the ball in the world's court so that it puts pressure on him and assumes its responsibilities."

Abbas' remarks came hours after Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister at the helm of a right-wing government that has said it will hold talks with the Palestinians but isn't committed to the two-state solution. "We will carry out peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority with a view to reaching a final accord," Netanyahu said Tuesday. "Under the final accord, the Palestinians will have all the rights to govern themselves except those that can put in danger the security and existence of the State of Israel," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Authority said Netanyahu's statements "mark a start that is not encouraging" and urged US President Barack Obama - who has vowed to actively pursue peace talks - to put pressure on Israel.

All of which is a rich irony coming from a man whose own mandate to govern the Palestinian Authority has expired and whose government is in civil disarray. Very little news is reported worldwide on the extent of the civil war Fatah and Hamas. Yes, we hear unity talks are ongoing or unity talks have broken down but it’s the day to day chaos of the civil war which threatens any agreement that is not widely reported. In fact, one can be forgiven into believing all is relatively stable in the Palestinian House.

Furthermore, Netanyahu’s record is considerably brighter than Abbas. Not only did Netanyahu honour the spirit of the Oslo Accords (a crucial mistake in my opinion) he signed the Wye Agreement. While Abbas has yet to fully implement the pre-road conditions which Abbas signed on to on the behalf of the Palestinians.

Even if an agreement was pressured into being tomorrow and duly signed, the Israeli settlements completely disbanded; there would be no peace because the Palestinian society is a state divided. The Palestinians at this point cannot deliver on any point while there is an ongoing civil war being waged in their society.

But Abbas other failure as leader of the Palestinians is in not demanding Netanyahu answer why he will not sign onto a ‘two-state’ solution, and what conditions need to be realized in the Palestinian Authority which would allow Netanyahu to make a commitment to a ‘two-state’ solution as a viable option.

Even if there are no conditions which could arise to make Netanyahu change his mind; this needs to be stated as well as ensuring Netanyahu commits publicly with what he is prepared to do or offer. While campaigning Netanyahu committed his party towards working for financial prosperity of the Palestinian Authority but it remains merely in the realm of campaign rhetoric of the airy-fairy sort. If Abbas was any kind of leader he would be demanding the details and concrete commitments. This must be the basis of any negotiations and anything else is subterfuge by both the Israelis and Palestinians and gives cover to umpteen lies and distortions.

In the end, I am at a loss to understand what Abbas has done to prepare his people for peace and reconciliation with their neighbors - the Israelis. Certainly, if Abbas was committed to the peace process as he claims - this kind of thing would not be encouraged and we could reasonably assume a statement issued from his office would issued forthwith - saying so.

But go ahead, pilloried Israel, even bully the Israelis into making painful and significant concessions but don’t act surprised and shocked when the bombs continue to go off in Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Jerusalem or kassams continue to be launched against Sderot, Ashdod or Ashkelon. And don’t bother sending your ‘condolences’ for the victims.