Gingrich, channeling Joan Peters and dancing to the tune of his bankroller

"Abraham Hassel (ph) from Jacksonville, Florida. 
"How would a Republican administration help bring peace to Palestine and Israel when most candidates barely recognize the existence of Palestine or its people? As a Palestinian-American Republican, I'm here to tell you we do exist. 
BLITZER: All right. Let's ask Governor Romney, first of all. 
What would you say to Abraham? 

Of continuing relevance: Boston Study Group report on an Israeli-Palestinian peace

Elie Wiesel answered

Wiesel, so quick to decry prejudice and injustice, has no time to inspect his own bias and ignorance. The Israel-based signatories to this letter eloquently demonstrate that Mr. Wiesel's ill-informed opinions deserve much less time than they have been accorded.

Apologetics 1: Obama did it!

Charles Krauthammer strains credulity by claiming the Israeli "gaffe" was the work of a hapless mid-level bureaucratic. One must be willfully stupid to believe his claims.

Just released: Israel and Palestine - Two States for Two Peoples: If Not Now, When?

The Boston Study Group on Middle East Peace started its regular meetings in September 2008. Its members all have a strong interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some have been intensely engaged with this subject for decades. Others have closely followed the conflict within the context of their professional work in conflict resolution, international law and international relations, religion and U.S. foreign policy.

The group’s principal contribution is the jointly written policy statement entitled Israel and Palestine—Two States for Two People: If Not Now, When? The statement stands as a collegial, collective enterprise that represents a consensus view of the group.

Prior to drafting the policy statement, each member undertook to research and write a background paper on one of the topics integral to our policy statement. The group as a whole discussed drafts of each of these seven papers (now chapters in this report), thereby benefiting each other with respect to both substance and organization.

Download from the Economist as well.

Israeli governments have gone to lengths to distinguish Jerusalem from the West Bank and "illegal" from "authorized" settlements.

See earlier post on Jerusalem.

U.S. "sources" have purported reminded the Israeli government that its obfuscations and posturing won't deter U.S. policy.

"The United States views East Jerusalem as no different than an illegal West Bank outpost with regard to its demand for a freeze on settlement construction, American sources have informed both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
"Later Sunday, Netanyahu met with his advisors to discuss Israel's response to Washington's demand."

............................................................

Netanyahu on Sunday, July 19, 2009

""I was surprised by the American demand," a source present at the meeting quoted him as saying. "In my conversation with [U.S. President Barack] Obama in Washington, I told him I could not accept any restrictions on our sovereignty in Jerusalem. I told him Jerusalem is not a settlement, and there is nothing to discuss about a freeze there."

"In my previous term [as premier], I built thousands of apartments in the Har Homa neighborhood of Jerusalem, defying the entire world," Netanyahu added. "Therefore, it is clear that I will not capitulate in this case - especially when we are talking about a mere 20 apartments.""

Added: An example (citing the reliably pliant WaPo) of how Israel's territorial distinctions about the land that it occupied in 1967 are exploited to validate its claims about East Jerusalem being distinct from the West Bank.

Prior posts on settlements.

On the repression of Palestinian culture in East Jerusalem:

"Imagine, if you will, living your entire life in the security line at the airport, on a bad day."

Abu Mazen concedes to the obvious: talks with Hamas

Abbas drops demand for Hamas to relinquish Gaza before talks - Haaretz - Israel News

Meantime, former PM Tony Blair, will face questioning about his role in the Middle East, including his hardline stance on Hamas.

In Washington, Obama delivers his first foreign policy speech as Democratic candidate to AIPAC, "Israel's lobby" as it used to describe itself. In this video he is intent to establish his bona fides, including his committment to Jerusalem continuing to be the unified capital of Israel (a non-starter for any serious Israeli-Palestinian agreement, it needs to be added). It has changed the claim to "America's pro-Israel lobby," as though other groups (such as the new J. Street) also concerned with Israel could not also be "pro-Israel."