Israel-Palestine: No Progress in Mitchell Tour

Israel-Palestine: Mixed Reception for US Envoy Mitchell in Tel Aviv

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While US special envoy George Mitchell's latest tour of Israel and Palestine has not ended, it does not appear to have broken the deadlock over talks. A statement issued after the two-hour closed-door meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mitchell described the discussion as effective and constructive, but there was no indication of a change in the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

After his meeting with Netanyahu, Mitchell saw Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Abbas reiterated demand for a full halt in settlements.

Mitchell told reporters that efforts to find a solution would continue, although at a lower level for the time being. He added: "We invited the two sides to send their representatives to Washington in the very near future to continue our discussions."

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The results of the 2009 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, are remarkable. including responses on U.S.-Israel relations, the Arab-Israel conflict, and the Iran nuclear threat.

A. US-Israel Relations

1. How would you characterize relations between Israel and the United States today? Are they very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative?

Very positive 11
Somewhat positive 70
Somewhat negative 14
Very negative 2
Not sure 3

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration’s handling of US-Israel relations?

Approve 54
Disapprove 32
Not sure 14

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the Netanyahu government’s handling of Israel-US relations?

Approve 59
Disapprove 23
Not sure 17

4. Do you agree or disagree with the Obama Administration’s call for a stop to all new Israeli settlement construction?

Agree 41
Disagree 51
Not sure 8

B. Arab-Israel Conflict

5. As compared with one year ago, are you more optimistic about the chance for a lasting peace between Israel and the Arabs, less optimistic, or do you think the chance for a lasting peace is about the same as it was one year ago?

More optimistic 12
Less optimistic 23
Same as one year ago 65
Not sure 1

6. In the current situation, do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state?

Favor 49
Oppose 41
Not sure 1

7. In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction?

Yes 37
No 58
Not Sure 6

8. As part of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?

All 8
Some 52
None 37
Not sure 2

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel.”

Agree 75
Disagree 19
Not Sure 5

10. Do you think there will or will not come a time when Israel and its Arab neighbors will be able to settle their differences and live in peace?

Will 43
Will not 51
Not Sure 6

11. Do you think that Israel can or cannot achieve peace with a Hamas-led Palestinian government?

Can 17
Cannot 79
Not Sure 4

12. Should the Palestinians be required or not be required to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in a final peace agreement?

Required 94
Not required 5
Not Sure 2

C. International Issues

13. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration’s handling of the Iran nuclear issue?

Approve 49
Disapprove 35
Not sure 15

14. Would you support or oppose the United States taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?

Support 56
Oppose 36
Not sure 7

15. Would you support or oppose Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?

Support 66
Oppose 28
Not sure 5

16. Do you think that anti-Semitism around the world is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Very Serious problem 56
Somewhat of a problem 43
Not a problem at all 1
Not sure 1

17. Looking ahead over the next several years, do you think that anti-Semitism around the world will increase greatly, increase somewhat, remain the same, decrease somewhat, or decrease greatly?

Increase greatly 15
Increase somewhat 30
Remain the same 42
Decrease somewhat 9
Decrease greatly 1
Not sure 2

D. Background Factors

18. In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?

Republican 16
Democrat 53
Independent 30
Not sure 1

19. Do you think of yourself as . . .

Orthodox 9
Conservative 24
Reconstructionist 2
Reform 27
Just Jewish 36
Not sure 1

20. How important would you say being Jewish is in your own life?

Very important 51
Fairly important 33
Not very important 15
Not sure 1

21. How close do you feel to Israel?

Very close 28
Fairly close 41
Fairly distant 22
Very distant 8
Not sure 1

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Fatah Holds Line on Israel's Settlements: On Tuesday, Fatah's Central Committee, the movement's key decision-making body, met with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Last week's tripartite meeting was discussed during the meeting. The faction declared that Abbas must not resume peace talks unless Israel freezes its settlement construction.

Mohammed Dahlan, a committee member, said the panel told Abbas he must not budge, as "settlements and negotiations are two parallel lines that will never meet". According to Dahlan, Fatah's reservation on the peace process is also an advantage that can be used as leverage against President Barack Obama's insistance on peace talks "without preconditions".

Netanyahu Blasts Goldstone Report on Gaza: Richard Goldstone told CNN on Wednesday that Israel had targeted civilian sites during the Gaza War, though he stressed that he did not believe it was an Israeli policy: "Some of the killing...was certainly intentional. There was no mistake in bombing factories. The Israeli intelligence has very precise information."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NCcexzbAkw[/youtube]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that any trial by the International Criminal Court of the war crimes alleged in the report would deal a death blow to peace:

[The UN] could revert back to the days when it compared Zionism to racism. It's starting in Israel, but it will reach other nations and it will hurt the UN. Anyone who supports the Goldstone report and its conclusions is in effect against peace.

If the report reaches the international court in Hague, it will bring the peace process to a halt because Israel won't take the risks necessary to achieve peace if it is not assured the right to defend itself. Anyone who desires peace must stop this report right now.