PA brings in peace groups to make its case
Reports from Ynet and Barak Ravid for Haaretz
B’Tselem picket against the ‘transparency’ bill which stipulates that all Israeli NGOs receiving funding from foreign agencies – the European Endowment for Democracy gave B’Tselem a grant to fight this bill – have to declare and display this in all their work. Photo by AFP.
B’Tselem to address UN Security Council’s informal meeting on West Bank settlements
The Palestinian delegation has succeeded in convening the UNSC in an informal framework to discuss Israeli settlements; the meeting, to take place on Friday, will be addressed by the executive director of B’Tselem and a representative of Americans for Peace Now.
By Itamar Eichner, Elior Levy & J.S. Herzog, Ynet news October 13, 2016
The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations successfully initiated an informal meeting of the Security Council on Israeli settlements in the West Bank that is to be held on Friday and to be attended by representatives of B’Tselem.
According to the UN’s website, the “Arria-Formula meeting,” which is how Friday’s discussion has been defined*, is a “very informal, confidential” meeting that enables “Security Council members to have a frank and private exchange of views.”
It is believed that this meeting is the Palestinian delegation’s first step in a plan to have the Security Council issue a resolution against Israel regarding the settlements.
Friday’s meeting will take place at 10am EDT (5pm Israel time) and will be co-chaired by Angola, Egypt, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela. The meeting’s title is ‘illegal Israeli Settlements: Obstacles to Peace and Two-State Solution.’
B’Tselem’s executive director, Hagai El-Ad, will present an up-to-date summary of West Bank settlements to the 15 countries that sit on the Security Council. “This is the most important international forum that deals with the occupation and perhaps the only one that can promote significant action on the matter,” he said.
“This will be one of the most important diplomatic opportunities in the history of B’Tselem,” El-Ad added. He explained that he would repeat on Friday that “the occupation is not an internal Israeli matter, and the Israeli public is not authorized to decide if it wants it to continue. It is a clear international matter.”
L, B’Tselem’s executive director, Hagai El-Ad. “The occupation is not an internal Israeli matter… it is a clear international matter.”
A press release from his organization stated, “The responsibility for ending the occupation and the human rights violations that it entails lies first and foremost with Israel, yet this reality will not change as long as the international community stands idly by.”
Israel’s permanent representative to the UN, Amb. Danny Danon, criticized the meeting, saying, “The Palestinians continue to look for a way to bypass direct negotiations and are generating diplomatic terrorism against Israel. It’s sad and disappointing that precisely on days of self evaluation and prayers for the unity of the people of Israel, Israeli organizations are giving moral cover to the persecution of Israel at the UN.”
Peace Now announced that it would not be participating in the meeting. However, Lara Friedman of Americans for Peace Now will speak—her organization is affiliated with but not subsidiary to the Israeli Peace Now.
At the UN, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon holds up a card he says is used to teach Palestinian children ‘How to Stab a Jew’. Photo by Reuters
The Israeli organization did take the opportunity to condemn Danon, stating, “Danon needs to explain that this year alone, Israel built 1,200 new housing units in the territories. Danon needs to explain that there is no Palestinian people and in the opinion of the Israeli government, a two-state vision isn’t forthcoming.
“But Danon is afraid, and so instead he attacks the Israeli peace camp and spreads hateful messages against those who oppose him and the government. Tomorrow, there will be no Israel representative of Peace Now before the Security Council. As for the negative message seeking to disconnect from the world and destroy Zionism, we leave that to Danon.”
UN Security Council to Hold Special Meeting on Israeli Settlements
Israeli officials concerned that meeting would be especially critical and prepare ground for anti-settlement resolution.
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz premium
October 06, 2016
The UN Security Council is to hold a special meeting next week on Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The Arria Formula meeting* will not involve a vote and is expected to be open to the media. Foreign Ministry officials fear it will turn into an international demonstration of condemnation of the government’s policy in the territories and set the stage for an anti-settlement resolution in the Security Council after the U.S. elections.
The meeting will be held on October 14 at the behest of Egypt, Venezuela, Malaysia, Senegal and Angola, with a push from the Palestinians. Arria Formula meetings allow all council members to initiate debates on subjects of specific interest to them. Attendance is not mandatory.
In May the group held a Security Council meeting to discuss international protection for the Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
Jerusalem officials say they believe all Security Council members will attend the meeting, stressing that the Palestinians and the host nations succeeded in exceptional fashion to open the session to the press. Jerusalem officials fear that in the wake of the U.S. condemnation of the decision to establish a new settlement for the Amona evacuees, Security Council members will level particularly harsh criticism. They fear the atmosphere from the informal meeting could affect the Security Council’s monthly meeting on the Middle East on October 28.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN General Assembly last month that the Palestinians would renew their efforts to pass a Security Council resolution condemning the settlements and declaring them illegal. Arab UN ambassadors met in New York on Wednesday to discuss possible articles for a resolution, though Arab states have not reached a consensus on a draft resolution.
Senior Israeli officials and Western diplomats believe the Palestinians are unlikely to push seriously for a Security Council resolution on the settlements until after the November 8 U.S. election. Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office officials fear that President Barack Obama will advance Security Council resolutions on the settlements or the principles for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A senior Israeli official said this issue was at the centre of a Foreign Ministry meeting on Thursday.
The official, who requested anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity, said some senior Foreign Ministry officials presented more pessimistic scenarios. One figure suggested that the latest State Department and White House condemnations express a mood that could lead to U.S. steps in the Security Council after the election.
* See also Status of settlements at last shuffles to Security Council which explains the Arria formula
And:
Hagai El-Ad’s address: Israel’s cunning disguises
Reports from Foundation for Middle East Peace and JPost: Take away that man’s citizenship!
Comment by Akiva Eldar in Al Monitor: Paralysed Israel rejects all help