The first quarter of 2018 saw the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (hard-pressed and increasingly isolated of late), seeking support and political backing in the European Union’s capital. His move comes at a time in which the Trump administration is following through with its new approach to the Middle East conflict, in particular regarding the issue of Jerusalem. Years of Abbas’ evasive tactics and threats undercutting direct peace talks, as well as his unilateral actions in the UN undermined not only the possibility for peace, but took their toll on Mahmoud Abbas’ credibility as a partner for peace – at least in the eyes of the Americans.
After the United States had proclaimed their recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and their intent to move their embassy accordingly, Abbas shifted gears. His fury led him to verbally assault various US-leaders including the President, going as far as calling US-Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman “Son of a dog”.
The culmination of his undiplomatic rant against the U.S. was the cancellation of his planned meeting with American Vice-President, Mike Pence, in Ramallah this January. And while Pence was visiting Israel undeterred, proclaiming the U.S. Embassy move this May already as a timely present for Israel’s 70th birthday, Abbas travelled to Brussels to counterbalance this move by seeking recognition of the State of Palestine by the European Union.
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Media Arrangements
Sunday, January 21st
19:30 Arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport. To be welcomed by Minister of Tourism, Yariv Gideon Levin. Open coverage. Arrival to Masada Gate at 17:30-18:30; MBU by 18:30 to Shalom Gate (prior coordination with Sharon, GPO, 050-6205288; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., required!)
Monday, January 22nd
10:00 Welcome ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Open coverage. Entry by 07:30. For additional details, please contact the Prime Minister's Media Adviser's office at 02-6705465; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
13:30 Visit to the Knesset: Address the plenum and meet with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. Coverage by expanded pool (invitations only). For additional details, please contact Tal Vider, Knesset Media Adviser's office at- 050-6230076; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
20:00 Dinner at the Prime Minister's Residence, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Joint statements before dinner. Coverage by pool only. For additional details, please contact the Prime Minister's Media Adviser's office at 02-6705465; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Monday, 4 November 2017), made the following remarks at the start of his appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee:
"I welcome this opportunity to discuss the foreign policy of the State of Israel – its goals, actions and results. I think that the results are plain to see even here at the Knesset, with the delegations that you describe.
We are, in effect, in the midst of a diplomatic flourishing that is unprecedented in the annals of the State of Israel. We are in continuous contact with a growing number of countries on six continents if one separates between North America and South America, which I visited this year, each one of them, replete with meetings, and agreements with the heads of major powers, especially the US, China, Russia, India, Japan and many G-20 countries. We are spreading out in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Islamic countries, including in the Middle East.
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(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
President Rivlin: “Our independence, our sovereignty in this land, was not based only on diplomats making votes- But the vote gave Israel something very special: a place among the nations.”
“The UN has an important role in helping us find a peaceful solution to the conflicts of our region. It must continue to work for friendship between nations, not through boycotts, or one-sided moves, but through dialogue.”
President Reuven Rivlin published a video today (Tuesday), marking 70 years since the United Nations vote on Resolution 181 passed on 29 November 1947 – known as the “Partition Plan” – which affirmed international support for the creation of the a Jewish nation state in the Land of Israel.
The video was sent especially to an event commemorating the historic vote, hosted by the Israeli delegation to the United Nations in New York, with the attendance of US Vice President Michael Pence, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, and President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder.
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(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 28 November 2017), in Nairobi, met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and informed him that Israel will be opening an embassy in Kigali.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We are opening a new embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali as part of Israel's expanding presence in Africa and the deepening of cooperation between Israel and the countries of Africa."
Also discussed at the meeting was the possibility of opening a direct air link between the two countries.
Photo credit: Haim Zach (GPO)
Revelation oath of the coalition talks
After a five-month standoff, during which politicians of the negotiating parties held bored voters at bay with empty rhetoric coming out of all-night negotiation marathons, the party leaders of the CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic and Christian Socialist Parties) and the SPD (German Socialist Party) wrestled their way through to the decision on February 7th that they were willing to enter into this forced marriage. Now, only the majority vote of the members of the SPD stands between the will of the political decision makers and the actual recreation of the "Grand Coalition".
Europe first – means Israel not last, but least
With its Coalition Contract i, this grand coalition positions itself as an opposite pole to Trump's America. While the slogans "America first" and "Make America great again" are defining the politics of national interest in the USA, the so-called GroKo is banking totally on "Europe first". In fact, the preamble of the contract reads like it was written for the next European Commission and not by the future government of a sovereign national state. The dream of the newly designated German Foreign Minister, Martin Schulz, of a United States of Europe found its way anonymously into the Coalition Contract. The absolute focus of Germany's (foreign) policy on Europe does not bode well for the relationship between Germany and Israel.
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This has been a very eventful week here in Jerusalem as President Trump broke with 70 years of tradition to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Here are some ways we have felt led to pray afterwards:
1. REJOICE! Join in the celebration of the government and citizens of Jerusalem and Israel that at long last, the USA has recognized “the obvious” – that Jerusalem was already the capital of the Jewish people 3,000 years ago; and since the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948, has served as their chosen capital.
2. RESIST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS. Friday, we were praying in Succat Hallel, facing the Temple Mount, as thousands of Muslims were there for Friday prayers, and were expected to erupt into major violence afterward. The Lord reminded me of a vision I received in October and November of 2014 (to read the full vision, click here: https://www.succathallel.com/2014/11/a-vision-of-the-temple-mount-a-menacing-dragon-and-a-season-of-increasing-shakings/)
I felt the Lord wanted us to ask Him as the Supreme Judge of the courtroom of heaven to once again issue a “gag and restraining order” against this dragon spirit of incitement to violence in Jerusalem.
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(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, today (Tuesday, 28 November 2017), at the Presidential Palace, welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him to sit next to him at the festive lunch in honor of the former's inauguration. Presidents, delegations and ambassadors will attend the lunch, at which Prime Minister Netanyahu will deliver greetings.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has already met on the sidelines with the presidents of Gabon, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Botswana and Namibia, as well as with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
This afternoon Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold marathon bilateral diplomatic meetings.
Photo credit: Haim Zach (GPO)
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks today (Tuesday, 28 November 2017), on the occasion of the inauguration of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta:
"We would like to work with you and with every one of your countries to electrify Africa. We believe in Africa. So for every, every one of your initiatives, there will be an initiative on our part to seize the future, to make life better and safer for your people. It's good for you, it's good for us, it's good for Africa. Now there is a challenge. The challenge that we face is also security. There is a savage disease. It rampages so many countries. Boko-Haram, A-Shabab, the awful Jihadists in the Sinai. This is a threat to all of us, and I believe that we can cooperate with other countries between us and with others. And if we work together we will defeat the barbarians. Our people deserve better, we can provide it for them.
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(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Rivlin: “Egypt is an extremely important ally. Our connection is more important than words can say, and it can never be taken for granted. We have found a way to live together in peace and friendship. This is a message to the whole region, and the whole world.”
Ambassador of Egypt: “Egypt is adamant to seize the golden opportunity to reviving peace talks to achieve a credible and comprehensive peace agreement.”
Yesterday, (Wednesday morning) President Reuven Rivlin hosted at his residence in Jerusalem, a special reception marking 40 years since the historic visit to Israel by the then President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Anwar Sadat. The ceremony also included addresses by Ambassador of Egypt, Hazem Khairat; Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yuval Rotem; and former Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Justice (Ret.) Eliyakim Rubenstien, who had served at the time as an aide to Moshe Dayan, and was part of the Israeli negotiations team. The event was attended by senior Israeli figures, Ambassadors and diplomats representing countries from around the world.
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