As the time draws closer for direct talks to begin between Israel and the Palestinians, I have to admit I was not very encouraged by reports on the Haaretz website that Prime Minister Netanyahu had told political supporters at home that he had made no promises to the US administration that he would extend the freeze on settlement building. Now the prime minister is a very shrewd and experienced political operative, and it is possible that he told members of his Likkud party this both to assuage their fears that he may give in too easily during negotiations and to maintain his political power base between now and September 26 (when the building freeze is set to expire) so that he can at least make a strong start in this latest effort at peace. But the other possibility is that he was genuinely signaling to his right-wing base that while he may be willing to sit down with President Abbas in Washington, but they need not worry because he in fact plans to allow the deadline to expire and building to resume. The only thing one can really say with any great certainty in observing this particular development is that Prime Minister Netanyahu is walking a very fine tightrope at home, and he knows it.

The prime minister has said that he is willing to put and the time and effort to work toward real and lasting peace, but when one looks at the social and political landscape of Israel at this moment in time, it is hard to see how he will achieve this without making difficult and likely painful concessions. One such concession might have to include an extension of the building freeze – if only as a show of good faith toward the Palestinians and a sign to the rest of the world that Mr. Netanyahu’s government is serious about making peace. I do not believe the freeze should be extended indefinitely, nor do I think it should be permanent, but I do think that if negotiations get off to a good start that the prime minister should think about extending the freeze for another 6 months, which would give both Israel and the Palestinians time to conduct direct talks without this Sword of Damocles hanging above their collective heads, set to drop on September 26.

Such a move would not, I believe, weaken the Israeli position in direct talks, and I think it would demonstrate to the Palestinian Authority that the ultimate goal of Israel is to live in peace, even above and beyond the Zionist dream of living in all of the land which historically Jewish. There is the added bonus, as well, of the rest of the Arab world and especially the Hamas leadership, that when it comes to international diplomacy and ultimately statesmanship, the PA is the recognized representative body of the Palestinian people, and not Hamas. No doubt Hamas will be agitated by such a move, seeking to impugn Israeli motives, complaining loudly that “temporary” actions are not meaningful and at the same time criticizing the PA leadership for buying into such an Israeli “deception.” In the end, however, if an extension would give Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas the room they need to make progress, then  I think the fleeting black eye Israel might get in the world media from Hamas would be worth the risk.

-Daniel E. Levenson

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

The New Vilna Review