Arlene Kushner: Analyzing The Failure of Kerry's Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

From Arlene Kushner:
April 4, 2014

Finished

The “peace process” is dead, but Kerry refuses to sign the death certificate.  Pathetically, he hovers over the diplomatic corpse as if he can invigorate it with new life.  He’s pushed on before when the situation seemed grim from his perspective. But this time I believe the situation is irrevocable. 

Consider:

At the request of US “peace” envoy Martin Indyk, Wednesday night our chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, accompanied by Netanyahu’s envoy, lawyer Yitzhak Molcho, met with the PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, who was accompanied by the head of Palestinian Intelligence Majid Faraj. 

Livni?  She’s pro-peace and conciliatory, and has consistently made statements about trying hard for “peace” that are infuriating.  But in this instance, she was pushed beyond patience.  When Erekat refused to consider withdrawing the applications to international agencies, she said this was an abrogation of understandings and announced the final release of 26 prisoners cancelled. Thank Heaven!

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian chief negotiator Erekat.
Credit: Europe Israel Press Associatioin (EIPA)
Photo not from original article

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This was the way Ma’an, an independent Palestinian news agency, described the meeting:

Questioning Tzipi Livni's Claims About The Second Lebanese War in 2006

In light of the fact that Tzipi Livni is joining Netanyahu's coalition, Eli Hertz writes about her role in Israel's Second Lebanese War and Livni's Misguided Sense of Accomplishments, noting questionable claims that Livni has made.

In brief, Hertz makes the following point:

1. Livni: “Security Council Resolution 1701 is an Israeli achievement”
   
   Fact: Adopting Resolution 1701 under Chapter VII was a clear goal of Israel that did not materialize.
   
   Under international law, Resolution 1701 that was adopted under Chapter VI is at best a declarative statement that lacks the legal authority or enforcement power whatsoever. All the rest is wishful thinking and the results on the ground will attest to it.

Arlene Kushner on Tzipi Livni Joining Netanyahu's Coalition -- And Why Bibi May Have Done It

From Arlene Kushner:
February 20, 2013

A Regrettable Turn of Events

Regrettable. Pathetic. Many adjectives apply to what took place here in Israel last night at the political level:

A party, the very first to do so, signed on to the coalition PM Netanyahu has been working to form: Tzipi Livni's party, Hatnua.  Not only has this left-wing party -- with six mandates -- joined, Livni herself will be Justice Minister AND will be responsible for negotiations with the Palestinian Arabs, reporting to the prime minister himself.  Netanyahu will lead a ministerial committee on the peace process that will include Livni and the defense and foreign ministers.

Amir Peretz, of Hatnua, will reportedly be given the Environmental Protection portfolio.

Credit: Samsonblinded

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Oi vey! To say that this is bad doesn't begin to do justice to the situation.  It's infuriating, disappointing, unsettling, and bewildering.