White House officials criticized Israel for using “excessive force” in Jerusalem, trying to contain a new Palestinian uprising, seeing youth attack Israelis on the streets with knives, hatchets, screwdrivers and any homemade weapons. Regardless of the ongoing conflict, failing to reach consensus over the years on a two-state solution, Palestinians again unleashed violence on the streets to advance a stagnated political agenda. Ramallah-based 80-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of executing Palestinian youth, blaming Israel for creating intolerable conditions leading to the violence. “People wielding knives, meat cleavers, axes, trying to kill people on the streets,” prompted a crackdown by Israeli police, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Recent street violence prompted the White House to call for calm.
Calling the White House comments about excessive force “misleading,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yalon asked Washington to take another look before passing judgment. Palestinian street violence near al-Aqsa Mosque at Temple Mount prompted Israeli officials to add extra security restrictions in the area. Israeli Public Security Minister Gila Erdan called Washington’s “excessive force” remarks “foolish,” given the routine response of police to contain violence in the U.S. Restrictions on egress and ingress to al-Aqsa Mosque directly relate to street violence in the area. Showing how today’s State Department misreads the situation, spokesman John Kirby acknowledged Israel has a right to maintain order. Secretary of State John Kerry signaled he’d make a visit to the region to help quell growing violence before it morphs into another full-fledged uprising.
President Barack Obama has had differences with Netanyahu, especially over the July 14 P5+1 [U.S., U.K, France, Russia, China and Germany] nuke deal with Iran. Netanyahu continues to believe it paves the way for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Recent unrest in Jerusalem hurts tourism, directly impacting Israel’s Gross Domestic Product. As with past Palestinian uprisings, they hope to bring Israel back to the peace table, hoping to win concessions for a future state. Kerry ended his nine-months of shuttle diplomacy July 24, 2014 for a Mideast peace in complete frustration, the closest Obama came to a Mideast peace deal. Like his predecessors, Kerry found out the hard way, the peace process changed after Sept. 11, when former President George W. Bush refused to deal with the late Palestine Liberation Chairman Yasser Arafat because of his history of terrorism.
When Obama took office Jan. 20, 2009, the State Department, led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, reverted back to a pre-Sept. 11 mind-set dealing with Palestinians no matter what their terrorist involvements. Conservative foreign policy voices on Capitol Hill didn’t accept Clinton’s old-school approach of hammering Israel to make unilateral concessions to Palestinians. After Sept. 11, Israel’s national security became paramount for the Bush White House, no longer doing business-as-usual with Palestinians. “Obviously, we don’t like to see that, and we want to see restrictions that are elevated in this time of violence to be as temporary as possible if they have to be enacted,” said Kirby, ignoring the Palestinian street violence, laying blame squarely on Israel. Netanyahu rejected Kirby’s statements, especially for not insisting Palestinians stop the uprising.
Obama’s position on Israel could undermine Hillary’s presidential bid, especially if she adopts the White House’s views. Whatever went wrong with the Mideast peace plans, it has nothing to do with halting street violence in the Holy Land, one of the world’s most sacred travel destinations. Christian, Jewish and Muslim pilgrims can’t easily visit sacred sites when street violence threatens safety. If Hillary adopts the White House policy toward Israel, it’s going to alienate Jewish groups who would ordinarily vote Democratic. Hillary recalls her husband’s frustration unable to pull off a Mideast peace-deal in the waning days of her husband’s, former President Bill Clinton, administration. Putting the onus on Israel was a favorite practice of successive administrations, until Sept. 11. Bush-43 gave Israel everything needed to reinforce its national security after Sept. 11.
Watching another uprising or “intifada,” the U.S. response should remind Palestinians that terrorism won’t win concessions for a Palestinian state. Responding to the State Department’s criticism of Israel’s attempt to restore order, Netanayu put his cards on the table. “What do you think would happen in New York if you saw people rushing into crowds trying to murder people? What do you think they would do? Do you think they would do anything differently that we are doing?” asked Netanyahu. Kirby’s remarks complicate things for former Secretary of State and Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, who must distance herself from Obama’s policy or face a backlash in the polls. Whatever the bloodshed in Jerusalem, the State Department can’t tolerate Palestinian terrorism as a way of getting back to peace talks. White House officials must condemn terrorism wherever it occurs.
