Settlements showdown beckons for Netanyahu in Berlin

[bemildred]

(Reuters) - Benjamin Netanyahu faces a dressing down from Angela Merkel on Wednesday over his plans to build more Israeli settlements, a policy that has incensed Europe and left even Germany, one of Israel's strongest allies, questioning his commitment to peace.

The issue will overshadow consultations between the German and Israeli governments on issues ranging from Israel's defense and security to greater cooperation in science and research and could further strain already cool working relations between Netanyahu and the German chancellor.

The Israeli prime minister is still smarting from what he considers Berlin's betrayal after Germany abstained in a U.N. vote last week that upgraded the Palestinians' status to "non-member state" from "observer entity".

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Netanyahu will stop briefly in Prague on his way to Berlin to thank the Czechs for being the only European state to join Israel and the United States in opposing the resolution, underscoring how important the issue was for him.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/04/us-germany-israel-idUSBRE8B30UF20121204

[Jefferson23]

1. An Affront from Berlin Israeli-German Relations Strained after Abstention

Berlin has distanced itself from Israel with the decision to abstain from voting on enhancing the Palestinians' status in the UN General Assembly. Israel had expected a clear "no" vote, but Chancellor Angela Merkel balked at Prime Minister Netanyahu's uncompromising approach to the peace process.

It was one of the most unpleasant conversations that Christoph Heusgen had ever been required to have with Jaakov Amidror. On Wednesday evening, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign policy adviser told his Israeli counterpart that Germany would abstain in the following day's vote at the United Nations General Assembly on whether to grant the Palestinians the status of a "non-member observer state." Merkel's government had just decided, he said.

ANZEIGE
Amidror made it clear what he thought about the Germans' decision. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had been expecting Berlin to show its customary support for Israel by voting "no." The Israelis viewed Heusgen's announcement as an affront.

Germany's stance on this issue shows just how deeply frustrated its government is with the Netanyahu government's policies. The UN vote was a defeat for Israel. In the end, 138 of the 193 UN member states supported the Palestinians' petition, including France and 13 other European Union member states. Germany's abstention weighed particularly heavy because it meant that Canada and the United States were the only major Western nations to vote on Israeli's side.

remainder: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-abstention-in-un-palestine-vote-strains-ties-with-israel-a-870606.html

[bemildred]

2. This is getting weird now:

Sources: US behind European protest measures (Israelis blame US for European protests)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014325800

[Jefferson23]

3. Hopefully this plays out internationally to be a political positive for the Palestinians.

I do hope Bibi continues to make clear to the world that the world does not understand the Israeli
public mindset..that is a win for the Palestinians right there...he is such an arrogant bastard.

Thanks for posting, I had not seen it.

"The Americans are at a difficult position having backed Israel at the UN against the Palestinian bid. They did not expect this from Israel. Administration officials feel that Netanyahu is humiliating them and making a fool out of them by creating such a diplomatic crisis."



Israeli state officials estimate that Europe will take even tougher measures if additional construction is approved. The steps may include banning goods, reducing the scope of trade and placing limitations on scientific collaborations. Further construction may also result in the expansion of the de-legitimization campaign.



Nevertheless some Foreign Ministry officials believe that Europe fails to understand the Israeli public mindset. "They don't understand public opinion. What the Americans can do, Europe can't."

[KimonoGirl]

4. The egg on Israel's face is hard boiled! LOL

We can just hope Israel continues to f*** up like this. Let their mask completely slip. It's a matter of time.

[bemildred]

5. It's like Bibi wants a fight, with his friends, like he's the boss, they're his minions.

And he is way out of his weight class.

I keep hearing about the "Israeli Mindset", like the rest of the world was just somehow failing to grok the true situation, which only Israelis understand. The poor reality-based community still not understanding what the true deal is. This is not good.

[Jefferson23]

10. Exactly, and until he wakes up to that reality, the Palestinians gather further support.

And hopefully without more dead bodies on both sides.

[azurnoir]

7. ya I thought the part about the US 'giving' the EU the green light was rich

to put it mildly .....as if

[bemildred]

8. "Team America, World Police"

Yeah, it is rich.

[bemildred]

6. Ireland, Egypt latest to summon Israeli envoys

Australia, Brazil also summon envoys on settlement plans; UK says sanctions not an option as EU discusses "incentives, disincentives."

Ireland, Finland and Egypt on Tuesday became the latest countries to summon Israel's ambassadors to their states for discussions on Israeli settlement expansion plans.

Earlier in the day, Brazil and Australia joined Spain, France, Britain, Sweden and Denmark in calling in Israeli ambassadors over the announcement, which lay out plans for 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and steps up planning in the controversial E1 corridor.

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As country after country summoned their Israeli ambassadors in protest of settlement building plans, British Foreign Secretary William Hague clarified Tuesday that European sanctions against Israel were not an option.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=294608

[oberliner]

9. The whole world is against them

Or so it seems, sometimes.

[bemildred]

11. More like trying to get them to pay attention. nt