Prospects for Peace Remain Dim at End of Volatile Year
Quartet Statement Shows Little Progress
Israeli Government Condemns "Price Tag" Violence Against Muslims, IDF
Newt Gingrich: Palestinians are “an invented people”
Report: Sharp Increase This Year in Provocative Actions
Women and Children Released in Shalit prisoner exchange
Send a Christmas Card to the President
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Quartet Statement Shows Little Progress
On December 15 the Middle East Quartet held separate talks with Palestinians and Israelis in hopes to jump-start the stalled peace process. However the statement released after the meetings indicated no progress has been made. It simply reiterated the September 23 statement, emphasizing “the important objective of a direct exchange between the parties, without preconditions or delay, beginning with a preparatory meeting and leading to the presentation of proposals on territory and security.”

The Quartet also included a phrase that has become commonplace in their statements, urging “the parties to refrain from provocative actions.” This statement is widely understood to mean Israel should stop building new settlements and some believe it has also come to mean that Palestinians should end their bid for recognition and membership in UN bodies.

Palestinian negotiators submitted their proposals on borders in November directly to the Quartet, while Israel has declined to do so citing their preference for direct negotiations rather than using the Quartet as a proxy. The Palestinians refuse to do so as long as new Israeli settlement building continues and there is no agreement to negotiate borders on the basis of the 1967 lines with adjustments.


Israeli Government Condemns "Price Tag" Violence Against Muslims, IDF
There has been a sharp debate in Israel this week over violent “price tag” actions perpetrated by extremists from settlement communities aimed at derailing the Israeli government’s efforts to remove illegal outposts in the West Bank. “Hilltop Youth” (young extremist settlers) entered an Israeli army base, lighting fires, vandalizing vehicles and throwing stones on December 13. On December 15 a mosque outside of the West Bank city of Ramallah was torched and defaced. It is suspected it was a “price tag” attack against the Palestinians in retaliation for Israeli army demolition of two illegal buildings in the West Bank outpost Mitzpeh Yitzhar.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak condemned what he called “a string of violent attacks by criminal groups of extremists.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an urgent meeting of defense officials, saying, “We must take care of these rioters with a heavy hand.” The Netanyahu government has decided to start treating the radical settlers the same way they treat Palestinians. Suspects arrested for price tag violence may be detained for long periods without charge and tried in military courts (similar to the treatment of Palestinians suspected of violent acts). But, despite the recommendation of members of his cabinet, including Defense Minster Ehud Barak, Netanyahu declined to label the extremists as “terrorists.”


Newt Gingrich: Palestinians are “an invented people”
In an interview last Friday with the Jewish Channel, Republican presidential nominee front-runner Newt Gingrich stated his view that Palestinians are an “invented people”. The statement was widely seen as inconsistent with long-standing U.S. policy in regards to a Palestinian state. His spokesman clarified Saturday afternoon that, “Newt Gingrich supports a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, which will necessarily include agreement between Israel and the Palestinians over the borders of a Palestinian state.”

However, when given the chance to backtrack and clarify the statement himself during Saturday night’s Republican debate, he instead went even further. He told the Iowa crowd, “Somebody ought to have the courage to tell the truth. These people are terrorists.” Gingrich’s statements have been widely condemned. Here is a sample of the reactions:

The Los Angeles Times reports on the Palestinian reaction to the comments.
David Remnick gives a historian’s perspective in the New Yorker.
Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk tells theNew York Times, "Gingrich is not pro-Israel at all.”
The Jerusalem Postsays the Israeli government has stayed quiet over the issue.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells PBS that the statements were “unhelpful.”

Report: Sharp Increase This Year in Provocative Actions
This week, Amnesty International announced the findings of an international coalition of 20 leading aid agencies and human rights groups who came together to discuss the dire situation in the West Bank. Since the beginning of the year more than 500 Palestinian homes and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. UN figures show that these demolitions have displaced more than 1,000 Palestinians. This is double the number from 2010 and the highest since at least 2005.

According to Peace Now, over the past 12 months, 4,000 new settlement housing units have been approved, the highest number since 2006. In November, Israel announced plans to speed up construction of 2,000 new units in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. Settler violence has also increased sharply according to UN reports. Violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians have escalated by over 50% in 2011 compared to 2010, and by over 160% compared to 2009. Settlers have also destroyed or damaged nearly 10,000 Palestinian olive and other trees during this year. The Israeli police closed over 90% of the complaints of settler violence without indictment in 2005-2010.

The groups blame the Quartet’s inaction for these statistics. “Israel’s escalating violations show the fundamental failure of the Quartet’s approach. It’s time for the Quartet to understand that they cannot contribute to achieving a just and durable solution to the conflict without first ensuring respect for international law,” said Phillip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Interim Program Director at Amnesty International.


Women and Children Released in Shalit Prisoner Exchange
The final part of the Israeli deal with Hamas to return prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is set to take place in the coming days, Hamas officials say. Six women and 55 children are among the 550 detainees to be released. There are currently 11 women and 164 children in Israeli jails. In October when the Shalit deal was struck, Israeli released 477 Palestinian prisoners out of the 1,027 agreed upon.


CMEP Christmas Card Campaign and Advent Resources
This year CMEP is helping to amplify your voices for peace by sending Christmas messages to President Obama and Secretary Clinton. You may fill out an electronic version of the card or print off the card to share with your congregation or group. Thank you for letting the administration know the U.S. Christian community encourages bold work for peace.

There are also Advent 2011 resources available on our website which includes scripture and reflections on peace, love, justice hope and joy. We hope you will reread, reflect and apply scripture in your lives today. We encourage you to share these with members of your congregation to help raise your concerns for peace in the Holy Land.
A big thank you as well to everyone who gave during our Thanksgiving Weekend fundraising campaign. Through your generosity we were able to exceed our goal of $3,000. Thank you!