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Netanyahu: Conversion laws and direct talks
Frank Kaufmann July 18, 2010 The recent US visit of Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, and his July 7statement that he is willing to "put aside all thegrievances and all the preconditions" to directtalks has intensified media giddiness, Mitchelldiplomacy, and has placed increased pressure onFatah leader Mahmoud Abbas.But now is not the time for talks.Even though some of Obama's earlier mistakesfrom the first US visit of the Prime Minister of Israel were ironed over, and even though allhearts yearn for peace, especially peace in the Holy Land, conditions at themoment are not conducive to success in direct talks.On July 17 Fatah rejected Mitchell's request for a move to direct negotiations. Thisis just as well; not especially for the reasons Fatah puts forward (mostly having todo with third party enforcement of border security), but for the fact thatconditions for success just aren't there.For successful negotiations even in simple things, both sides must be clear beforeentering conversation. If one (or both) of the partners suffers from internaldivision and conflict, it is futile to bother trying to negotiate with such an entity.For talks to proceed, internal division for both partners must be addressed beforeattempting to dialogue with someone else. The horrific Fatah Hamas split plaguing Palestinian representation in itself shouldbe enough of a red flag for George Mitchell to go catch up on his sleep for a while.Likewise divisions in the Jewish community (both in Israel and worldwide) bode illfor the prospect of frutiful talks, the current political opportunism and mediatitillation notwithstanding.On July 18 Netanyahu stated that he will oppose the legislation making its waythrough Israel's parliament that would give Orthodox rabbis in Israel more controlover conversions, rightly noting that this sensitive issue that goes to the heart of the age-old question of who is a Jew, would create a rift in the Jewish world. This piece of news might strike one as an internal, domestic matter, unrelated tothe urgent need for peace talks among Israelis and Palestinians. But it is not. It is
 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at theCouncil on Foreign Relations in New York
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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