Links Roundup

• MK Orlev of Jewish Home (formerly National Religious Party) evokes The Israeli Initiative in an interview with Arutz Sheva: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135933
• A Palestinian journalist talks about "the good old days" before the peace process: http://www.hudsonny.org/2010/01/the-good-old-days-beofre-peace.php
• A Palestinian refugee camp in Iraq run by UNHCR is closed: http://news.brunei.fm/2010/02/02/unhcr-end-of-long-ordeal-for-palestinian-refugees-as-desert-camp-closes/

United States Giving $40 million to UNRWA

The United States announced on Thursday that its pledge to UNRWA for 2010: $10 million for food and creation of jobs, and another $30 million for "UNRWA's core services," as a press release from the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem stated. Filippo Grandi, the new Commissioner General of UNRWA called this "an example of American commitment to supporting UNRWA and improving the daily lives of Palestinians throughout the region."

Arutz Sheva's coverage of the donation put things in perspective:

"The American funding comes despite a report commissioned by the European parliament, which showed that Hamas terrorists have been chosen by the agency's labor union to oversee its Gaza facilities, which was part of a Canadian decision last month to stop its UNRWA funding."

We at the Israeli Initiative hope that the United States will wake up and stop funding an agency that has been infiltrated by terrorists, and serves to perpetuate conflict in the region, rather than solve it.

Sources:

http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/pr020410.html

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/180003

Is a Two-State Solution "Delusional"?

Is a two-state solution "delusional?" We at the Israeli Initiative think so, and, to our surprise, MK Daniel Ben-Simon of the Labor party seems to agree!

Ben-Simon, a former writer for Ha'aretz, formerly served as head of the Labor's Knesset faction. Yesterday, he attended a meeting of the Knesset's Education Committee, where he heard about the growth of towns in Judea and Samaria. According to Arutz Sheva, Ben-Simon asked how can the State of Israel discuss establishing a Palestinian State, while the Jewish population of Judea and Samaria continues to grow.

The following is a translation of Ben-Simon's remarks, as reported by Arutz Sheva:

"Is our political path, talking about two states for two nations, delusional? Judea and Samaria are developing! We are delusional! I am sitting here in this meeting, and feel like I'm in a movie. My question is - Is there any coordination between policies and what is happening on the ground in Judea and Samaria?"

Our answer to Ben-Simon is no, there is no coordination between policies and facts on the ground when it comes to Judea and Samaria. Building is frozen for an expanding population of Israeli citizens. What is coordinated about that? Our government talks about a two-state solution, while ignoring the reality: The towns in Judea and Samaria are here to stay; they are filled with families, schools, offices and other institutions. We are not talking about evacuating a few caravans on a hill.

The Israeli Initiative encourages Ben-Simon and all other Knesset members to face the truth, and vote for the Bill to annex all Jewish municipalities in Judea and Samaria. This will help us take the first major step towards granting all citizens of Israel equal rights, and toward a realistic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Source: http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/200056

The Lobby for Greater Israel

Last night, the inaugural meeting of The Lobby for Greater Israel was held in the Knesset. The new lobby is made up of Knesset members from a variety of coalition and opposition members, and many ministers attended the meeting, in support of the lobby.

Yoav Sorek and Moriya Taassan represented The Israeli Initiative in the meeting. Moriya said: "We hope that this important lobby will grow to support Eretz Yisrael and help stop the discrimination against Israeli citizens living in Judea and Samaria."

For more information, read: http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=167656