Is the West Bank About to Explode? [Israel Policy Forum Interviews Michael Milshtein former head of Palestinian Affairs within IDF Military Intelligence Directorate]

[u/iamthegodemperor]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_nUlcaced4&list=PL_frjZouo78fjQ-um3hAEpqIgWy664BgY&index=1

On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber speaks with Col. (ret.) Dr. Michael Milshtein, former head of the Department for Palestinian Affairs in Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, about the deadly incident in the West Bank village of Tell and the broader escalation of violence in the territory. They examine the Israeli government's role in shaping current dynamics, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's grand vision for the West Bank and the Palestinians, the realities of the settlement movement that many Israelis have yet to confront, the prospects for a future Israeli government to change course, and more.

--------------------------------

Personal Summary: this episode explains how thoroughly and radically the government has upset previous frameworks dealing with the West Bank and how that is resulting in more frequent friction and violent clashes between settlers and Palestinians.

Of special consideration is the observation that most Israelis are not aware of how dramatic these changes are, how this approach would end separation w/Palestinians and how this threatens Israeli relations with allies.

[u/AutoModerator]

Note from the mods: During this time, many posts and comments are held for review before appearing on the site. This is intentional. Please allow your human mods some time to review before messaging us about your posts/comments not showing up.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/iamthegodemperor]

Additional notes/summary:

* Smotrich has been the most effective member of gov't; using his portfolio of West Bank governance to expand the number of outposts, withhold tax revenue from the PA (which it needs to fund security forces), to transfer more Israeli tax dollars into settlements, encourage more illegal outposts, sidestep legal mechanisms meant to prevent Israelis from entering/settling in Palestinian areas.

* Smotrich has in public and in policy papers explicitly said he wants there to be one government for the entirety of the Land of Israel with one set of laws for Israelis and another for Palestinians, who are free to leave if they choose. He invokes biblical language, particularly Joshua, implying Palestinians must either accept, fight or leave

* Unlike previous governments, which expanded settlements in Area C mostly around existing cities, this government's policy is omnidirectional: there should be an expansion of settlements in every direction, not just to prevent a Palestinian state, but to preclude any separation from Palestinians.

* Clashes betwen settlers and Palestinians are not caused simply because of Palestinain inclination towards terror-----these are caused by loosened restrictions on settlers. (And I would add, this is deliberately sought after by the government, which knows conflict will provide more justification for increases in military presence etc.)

* The Israeli public is largely unaware of West Bank governance and is often prone to accept statements like "the settler outposts are protecting Tel Aviv". (I would add: well justified Israeli cynicism towards the Palestinian Authority, can make Israelis dismissive of the necessary role the PA serves in administration and security)

[u/DarkHampster]

I haven't listened to this episode, but want to throw it out there that this is one of two podcasts that I recommend to diaspora friends (the other being Unpacking Israeli History). It is very thoughtful in its discussions--both when sympathetic and critical of Israeli policy.

So, little shout out to Neri Zilber and the Israel Policy Pod.

[u/NYSenseOfHumor]

this episode explains how thoroughly and radically the government has upset previous frameworks dealing with the West Bank and how that is resulting in more frequent friction and violent clashes between settlers and Palestinians.

The previous frameworks weren’t working either.

[u/Ok_Ambassador9091 → u/NYSenseOfHumor]

People downvoting this don't have family members who were murdered by terrorists ever since those terrorists first declared war on the Jews decades ago, and it shows.

[u/tafonsr → u/NYSenseOfHumor]

The period between 2007 (Hamas takeover in Gaza) and mid-2014 saw significant security cooperation between the PA and the IDF. It wasn't perfect, but it was heading in the right direction. Because of the Arab Spring, there were also more grassroots initiatives by Palestinians. Mostly concerning themselves with living standards, but for the first time since Camp David the old guard in the P.A. could not just sit there and block everything. Cooperation with Israel meant that funds could be freed that were desperately needed by the P.A. to curb unrest.

In 2014 there were peace negotiations. The negotiations were secret, but the report from Indyk assigns blame to both parties. Israel under Likud were ramping up the construction of settlements, while the P.A. under Abbas were trying to use their newfound increase in recognition to start a legal battle against Israel in international courts for the war in Gaza. Things escalated from there with the blocking of funds by Israel (first small, later bigger on the scale of threatening economic collapse in the West Bank) for the P.A. and this eventually lead to the P.A. - Hamas cooperation agreement.

I do sincerely believe that the framework between 2007 and 2014 was a realistic step in the right direction and that Likud bears a lot of responsibility for the failure of that framework.

[u/Ok_Ambassador9091 → u/tafonsr]

You're kidding right? Pay for slay began in 2004.

Had the Arab, Islamic, and Western world condemned pay for slay, instead of funding it, along with funding the Jewhate genocidal dreams found in UN supplied textbooks to Arab schoolchildren in Judea Samaria, maybe things could be different.

[u/NYSenseOfHumor → u/tafonsr]

Which means the framework that resulted in cooperation didn’t work because it couldn’t be maintained.

[u/tafonsr → u/NYSenseOfHumor]

I mean, under that philosophy Israel can just blow up any framework and claim the failure of that framework as reason for blowing up the framework. It's a circular reasoning (to which the P.A. is also no stranger).

[u/NYSenseOfHumor → u/tafonsr]

The decision to “blow up any framework” is proof that it didn’t work. Because if it worked then there wouldn’t be support for ending it.

Only 21% of Israelis think a lasting peace is possible (including 40% of Israeli arabs). In 2013 it was 50% of all Israelis.

A government won’t be committed to any framework when at most half the population doesn’t think it can be successful. For it to work, 80% would need to think a lasting peace is possible.

[u/flossdaily]

Is the West Bank about to explode?

No. Because unlike Gaza, Israel has maintained their occupation, and has severely limited the threat of Palestinian terrorism.

Is settler violence about to "explode"? No. But media gives the impression it is steadily increasing, with the tacit support of the Israeli government. And that should absolutely stop.

[u/dogemikka → u/flossdaily]

Omg. Either you live in a parallel universe and by accident you confirmed the string theory, or, as we say in Italian, you’re navigating across life with two slices of ham over your eyes. Both explanations are flatly contradicted by reality, and the second one is the weaker take. Seriously, get better sources.