Golan photos

Just putting up some photos to go with my radio story airing today on the Golan Heights.

What exactly is a “settlement” anyway… and who lives there?

Those questions came up in our newsroom this morning. And then I just came across this useful item from the LA Times. Gershom Gorenberg breaks down some of the basics on this issue that’s been a huge sticking point between the US and Israel at times, and within Israel itself. Incidentally, listen to my latest podcast for an interview Gorenberg. He graciously put up with me and my tape recorder at his home in Jerusalem a couple of weeks ago. It’s down at this very moment for some reason, but check out Gorenberg’s blog, South Jerusalem. He’s been writing a lot about this stuff.

Possible deal on West Bank settlements

If today’s NYTimes story is accurate, and the Israelis are willing to put a moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank, the big question is, will the Obama administration go for it? It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of tomorrow’s meeting between Ehud Barak and George Mitchell.

Here’s a link to my radio story from today’s program. And while you’re at it, check out our new and improved website.

BBC Online: West Bank checkpoints

BBC website ran an online version of my West Bank truck driver story today.

Remembering Mike

Some great quotes in this NYTimes story.

Three years in captivity

Haaretz has a photo essay on Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who’s been held in captivity for three years now.

Changes in the West Bank

The Israeli military says it’s pulling back from several Palestinian cities in the West Bank. Why? To make the Americans happy perhaps. Haaretz speculates:

It could also help narrow the Israeli-U.S. rift ahead of a visit on Monday of Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Washington. Barak hopes his talks with U.S. envoy George Mitchell will bridge differences over settlements.

Israeli prime minister evidently canceled a meeting in Paris this week with US envoy George Mitchell over the issue of settlements.

Meantime, the Israelis have been removing checkpoints to free up movement for Palestinians. An IDF spokesman told me this morning that internal checkpoints have been reduced from 35 to 14 in recent months. Still, a United Nations official said in an interview with me yesterday that it’s too early to tell what kind of an impact this will have on the lives (economic and otherwise) of Palestinians. In other words, let’s wait and see.

American Influence Podcast, #21

The latest podcast episode opens with a sequence on Obama’s response to the unrest in Iran. I included the president’s full answer to Huffington Post correspondent, Nico Pitney’s question from an Iranian citizen. It’s an interesting move by Obama to respond directly to a voice from the ground. But at the same time, he’s trying to deflect criticism from Iranian hardliners that the US is meddling in its internal affairs.

The issue of what to do about the situation in Iran dominated yesterday’s news conference. There wasn’t a single question for Obama about North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or the “struggle against violent extremism.” By all accounts, the president’s response to the violent crackdown on protests in Iran has become more forceful. But it’s still not enough for Iran expert Raymond Tanter of Georgetown University. The podcast includes the interview host Marco Werman did yesterday with Tanter for the program.

From Iran to Israel. This podcast episode includes two pieces I filed for the show from the Holy Land. The first item is about a Palestinian truck driver’s delivery route through the West Bank. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has a related piece today about military checkpoints being lifted to ease restrictions on Palestinians. It’s too early to tell if there’s much of an impact on the West Bank economy, but an Israeli military source told me the goal is to help Palestinians return to a normal “routine of life.” An official with the United Nations I just talked with was less optimistic. The official said many of the checkpoints that the Haaretz story describes as being “removed” are simply “un-manned.” That means the infrastructure for roadblocks (e.g. concrete barriers, guard posts, fences, etc.) is still in place and these checkpoints could be up and running again in almost no time.

Next, settlements. Here’s an AP story from today on the issue of “natural growth” in Jewish settlements on the West Bank. Essentially, the Israeli government agreed to stop expanding the settlements when it signed the “Road Map” peace plan in 2003, but it’s continued building and expanding them anyway. I visited some settlers and spoke to a founder of one of the “illegal outposts” that could be evacuated and demolished under Israeli law. Then, I included a long interview with writer and settlement opponent, Gershom Gorenberg. Follow his blog, South Jerusalem. Gorenberg is also supportive of the stand that Obama’s taking on the settlements.

Thanks for listening folks, and check out all podcast offerings from The World here.

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Netanyahu and a Palestinian state

I watched Sunday night’s speech on CNN International at a hotel in the Golan. The post-event headline on CNN was something like, “Netanyahu endorses Palestinian state.” The headline at Al Jazeera English was just the opposite, however, along the lines of “Netanyahu rejects Palestinian state.”

Something I overheard at an event on Tuesday night in Jerusalem, before getting on a plane to come back to the US yesterday, put the issue in perspective for me. A young supporter of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party giddily summed up:

“Saying Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian state on Sunday night is like saying the Bible endorses adultery.”

Why the settlements are bad

Gershom Gorenberg agrees with Barack Obama in focused piece at Slate.com about why Jewish settlements – particularly on the West Bank – are bad for Israel. Here’s what his argument boils down to:

“Israel cannot be a democracy with a Jewish majority and at the same time rule the West Bank.”

Stay tuned for more from Gorenberg. I did a great taped interview with him at his home in Jerusalem last week and will include part of our conversation in my next podcast.