WASHINGTON // Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, yesterday told a joint session of the US congress that while Israel was ready to make "far-reaching compromises" for peace, it is not prepared to accept a territorial settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the 1967 lines.
"The precise lineation of those borders must be negotiated. But Israel will not return to the indefensible boundaries of 1967," Mr Netanyahu said as he outlined his vision for peace with the Palestinians to a receptive crowd of American legislators.
Blaming the absence of a peace agreement squarely on the Palestinians, Mr Netanyahu urged members of Congress to "forcefully" oppose the Palestinian drive at the UN for a declaration of statehood in September. He also urged Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, to "tear up" the unity agreement with Hamas, which he characterised as the "Palestinian version of al Qa'eda".
"I said I would accept a Palestinian state. Palestinians must accept a Jewish state," Mr Netanyahu said to long applause and one of 25 standing ovations.
The demand for Palestinians to accept Israel as a "Jewish state" is a relatively new one, and one Palestinians have so far rejected because of the potential ramifications for Palestinian refugees, as well as for the 20 per cent of Israel's population that is non-Jewish.
And Palestinians have already said Mr Netanyahu's speech left them no choice but to pursue independence through the UN.
"After the Netanyahu speech, the Palestinians have only one choice -- to go to the UN in September, to the General Assembly," negotiator Mohammed Shtayeh told AFP, referring to plans to seek UN recognition in September of Palestinian statehood.
Mr Netanyahu did not bring anything new to the table in his speech. Rather, he essentially brought "three no's" that his government has often repeated: no right of return of Palestinian refugees and their descendents to the homes and lands they fled or were forced to flee in 1948; no division of Jerusalem; no return to the pre-June 1967 armistice lines.
Mr Netanyahu was careful to frame this demand in language used by Barack Obama, the US president, who had twice over the past week called for a territorial settlement to be based on the 1967 lines, sparking a diplomatic row with the visiting Israeli delegation.
But Mr Netanyahu also rejected other aspects of Mr Obama's vision for a settlement. There could be no immediate or even short-term withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Jordan Valley, he said, due to Israel's "unique" security needs, and thus no Palestinian border with Jordan as Mr Obama envisaged in his speech last Thursday.
Moreover, while Mr Netanyahu said some settlements might be abandoned by Israel as part of its "far-reaching" compromises, he also said the "majority of the 650,000 Israelis" living in settlements in occupied territory, as well as other "places of critical strategic and national importance" would be incorporated into the final borders of Israel.
Nevertheless, he insisted that Israel would be "generous" with the size of any Palestinian state and said if the Palestinians accepted his vision of a final agreement -- which rejected every fundamental Palestinian demand regarding a two-state solution -- Israel would be the "first country" to vote for Palestinian statehood at the UN.
Mr Netanyahu spoke for 45 minutes yesterday to many of the same people he had addressed Monday at a banquet in Washington arranged by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Aipac, a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group. More than 250 members of the US Congress, or more than two-thirds of all US representatives, had turned out for that dinner.
US legislators were due to host thousands of Aipac activists on Tuesday, who were to descend on the Hill to lobby members on a number of issues."
Top of their agenda was US military aid to Israel, where Aipac activists urged members of Congress to support US$3.075 billion (Dh11.29) in aid to Israel for 2012.
Israel is by far the largest recipient of American foreign aid, whether military aid, direct foreign aid or in the form of loan guarantees. According to Alison Weir, president of the Council for the National Interest Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, the US gives more aid to Israel than to the entire sub-Saharan region of Africa.
But Aipac activists also lobbied members to pass more stringent sanctions on Iran, as well as support a number of resolutions currently making their way through the House on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
One of these, House Resolution 268, calls on the Obama administration to lead an international effort to oppose a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood at the UN, and threatens the Palestinian Authority with a suspension of US aid if it includes "unreformed" Hamas members in its government.
The bill, which has been referred to the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, has bi-partisan support and was submitted by Eric Cantor, a Republican, and Steny Hoyer, a Democrat. Both are among the more popular members of Congress judged by the reception their names received when announced at the Aipac banquet Monday night.
Both are also able to command sizeable donations from the pro-Israel lobby in America. According to the Open Secrets website, part of the Center for Responsive Politics, a watch-dog that tracks money in US politics, Mr Cantor is the second largest recipient of donations from the pro-Israel community, while Mr Hoyer is the eighth.
okari@thenational.ae
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Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
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Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5