2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

PEACE PROCESS
right and real way to liberate Palestine” He added: “There is no legitimacy for Israel, no matter
how long it will take.” Hamas’ violence and rhetoric will further isolate Gaza and imperil the
prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel Continues to Facilitate Delivery of Humanitarian Goods
Despite Hamas’ violence, Israel is committed to ensuring that the Palestinian people in Gaza
continue to receive needed humanitarian supplies. Since the end of Israel’s military operation in
early 2009, Israel has facilitated the delivery of millions of tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza
Strip. Israel has significantly expanded the transit of commercial goods into Gaza, facilitating
the delivery of a greater variety of products, including candies, spices, toys, cosmetics and
housewares, and the export of goods, including produce, from Gaza to markets mainly in
Europe. Today, Israel is also facilitating the delivery of construction material into Gaza.
Abbas Refuses to Talk with Israel, Takes Damaging Steps at U.N.
While security cooperation with Israel remains strong and the violence from the West Bank
has been reduced, PLO Chairman and PA President Abbas has taken harmful steps at the
United Nations and has refused to hold talks with Israel. On Nov. 29, 2012, the U.N.
General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution granting the Palestinians non-member state
observer status, marking a direct blow to Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. In addition to
upgrading the status, the resolution delineated the boundaries of “Palestine” to include “the
Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967”—all the territory held by Arabs within the 1949
Armistice line—and called East Jerusalem the capital. Given U.N. acceptance of the maximum
Palestinian demands, the PLO will find it difficult to compromise in talks with Israel.
UNGA recognition of a virtual state of Palestine does nothing to advance that process and
hinders resumption of real peace talks. This move also is a direct violation of the Palestinian
commitments made in the Oslo peace agreements, which say the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
must be solved through direct negotiations between the two parties. Abbas has indicated that
he will use this recognition to isolate Israel and attack her in international fora.
In addition, Abbas has set unrealistic preconditions for resuming negotiations, including a
freeze on construction in the Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem and the demand for release
of Palestinian prisoners who committed mass murders.
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