The most comprehensive settlement freeze has been instituted under Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu. Even Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabins freeze had more exceptions.
Netanyahu is essentially saying to the Palestinians: Put up or shut up. If it truly is settlements that stop Palestinians from reaching a negotiated agreement with Israel, heres the chance.
Netanyahu was right to exclude east Jerusalem from the freeze. Jerusalem is Israels capital. There is no east or west Jerusalem, no divided city. There is one municipality. Netanyahu was also right to exclude work on construction already begun and to see through the fake attempts to characterize planned projects as already begun.
If the Palestinians sit back and say to others, or to themselves, Look, our pressure worked; lets not negotiate now, but hold out for more, this will just yield another example of the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. We had to laugh when we read that some Palestinian leaders are now proposing a two-state solution along the 1947 partition lines. Thats 60 years too late. If Palestinians do not negotiate on the heels of this settlement freeze, theyll just get stuck longer and longer.
Netanyahus intentions are clear. He rightly sees the Iranian threat as far more pressing than the settlement issue. The 10-month timeline is ominous. Do not think for a moment that its merely a deadline for peace negotiations. Its Netanyahus deadline for action on Iran.
Netanyahu does not think that Israel has lost its right to settle the land of Israel; he thinks Israel needs to bend on settlements in order to meet her most important national interest now: de-fanging Iran.
If that is done within 10 months, and if the Palestinians are not at the table, do not expect that settlement freeze to be extended.
Theres a lot on the line here. The settlement freeze is worth a try. And the ball is squarely in the Palestinians court.
