Rabin's Legacy: More than 100,000 Israelis gathered in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Renowned author David Grossman, whose son Uri Grossman died in combat this past August during the war with Hezbollah, addressed the crowd. "Yitzhak Rabin took the road of peace with the Palestinians, not because he possessed great affection for them or their leaders. Even then, as you recall, common belief was that we had no partner and we had nothing to discuss with them. Rabin decided to act, because he discerned very wisely that Israeli society would not be able to sustain itself endlessly in a state of an unresolved conflict. He realized long before many others that life in a climate of violence, occupation, terror, anxiety and hopelessness, extracts a price Israel cannot afford. This is all relevant today, even more so. Any reasonable person in Israel, and I will say in Palestine too, knows exactly the outline of a possible solution to the conflict between the two peoples. Any reasonable person here and over there knows deep in their heart the difference between dreams and the heart's desire, between what is possible and what is not possible by the conclusion of negotiations. Anyone who does not know, who refuses to acknowledge this, is already not a partner, be he Jew or Arab, is entrapped in his hermetic fanaticism, and is therefore not a partner.

"Let us take a look at those who are meant to be our partners. The Palestinians have elected Hamas to lead them, Hamas who refuses to negotiate with us, refuses even to recognize us. What can be done in such a position? Keep strangling them more and more, keep mowing down hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza, most of whom are innocent civilians like us? Kill them and get killed for all eternity? Turn to the Palestinians, Mr. Olmert, address them over the heads of Hamas, appeal to their moderates, those who like you and I oppose Hamas and its ways, turn to the Palestinian people, speak to their deep grief and wounds, acknowledge their ongoing suffering. Go to the Palestinians, Mr. Olmert, do not search all the time for reasons for not to talk to them. You backed down on the unilateral convergence, and that's a good thing, but do not leave a vacuum. It will be occupied instantly with violence, destruction. Talk to them. Make them an offer their moderates can accept. They argue far more than we are shown in the media. Make them an offer so that they are forced to choose whether they accept it, or whether they prefer to remain hostage to fanatical Islam.

"We have no choice and they have no choice. And a peace of no choice should be approached with the same determination and creativity as one approaches a war of no choice. And those who believe we do have a choice, or that time is on our side do not comprehend the deeply dangerous processes already in motion.

"Maybe, Mr. Prime Minister, you need to be reminded that if an Arab leader is sending a peace signal, be it the slightest and most hesitant, you must accept it. You must test immediately its sincerity and seriousness. You do not have the moral right not to respond. You owe it to those whom you would ask to sacrifice their lives should another war break out. Therefore, if President Assad says that Syria wants peace, even if you don't believe him, and we are all suspicious of him, you must offer to meet him that same day. Don't wait a single day. When you launched the last war you did not even wait one hour. You charged with full force, with the complete arsenal, with the full power of destruction. Why, when a glimmer of peace surfaces, must you reject it immediately, dissolve it? What have you got to lose? Are you suspicious of it? Go and offer him such terms that would expose his schemes." (Ha'aretz, 11/5/06)

Syria Talks, Saudi Initiative on the Agenda: Defense Minister Amir Peretz called the Saudi peace initiative a potential "basis for negotiations" in a speech on Tuesday. "We could see the Saudi initiative as the basis for negotiation. This doesn't mean that we're adopting the Saudi initiative but it can serve as a basis." Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit also weighed in, saying, "If I were the prime minister, I would seize this initiative immediately. I certainly do not accept all the Saudis' demands, but I say: Let's talk." Sheetrit, a member of Olmert's Kadima Party, said Olmert must prove to the public that his party has not abandoned the diplomatic track to which its members committed themselves in the party's election platform.

Regarding the Syrian track, Peretz said that he intends to make negotiations with Syria a part of the daily public agenda. He also said that "If Syria pressures the Hamas leadership in Damascus to end the affair regarding kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, this could constitute a catalyst for beginning diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Syria." Olmert's office reportedly responded coldly to the Peretz comment. (Ha'aretz, 10/31/06; Yedioth Ahronoth, 10/27/06; Ma'ariv 11/3/06)

Taking Sides: Writing about Wednesday's Israeli Cabinet decision to approve a series of specific military actions in Gaza but not a widespread assault, prominent Israeli military analyst Ron Ben Yishai commented, "the principle reason for postponing the decision is apparently the desire to avoid interfering in the Egyptian-Qatari effort to release Gilad Shalit. All those involved in the negotiations for the release deal are now in Cairo managing intensive and detailed talks on the conditions. The second reason to defer the decision is the coming meeting of Olmert and Bush in Washington. This meeting is intended to coordinate the Israeli and American positions on two issues of top strategic importance: Iran's nuclear armament and an American Middle East peace initiative, that appears to be in the making. But the Cabinet decision has an additional element, which presents a new official goal for Israel and the IDF. The Cabinet decided to approve 'actions that will allow responsible elements in the Palestinian Authority, which are not the Hamas government, to realize their responsibility.' This strange decision, apparently following American pressure, means that starting now Israel will work to strengthen the Palestinian security structures (mostly compromised of Fatah supporters) that back the President - and at the same time to weaken those of Hamas, towards the possibility of a conflict between them."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is searching for ways to achieve political progress without involving the Hamas cabinet. Among the ideas offered by her ministry is: looking at whether the Road Map must still be the basis for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations; conducting talks whose outcome would be presented as a referendum to the Palestinian public or as the Fatah party platform in new elections; and rethinking the goals of the talks - a final arrangement, principles of a final arrangement, or a series of moves to allow an exit from the present impasse. Livni is expected to present her ideas to Olmert before his U.S. trip next week. Olmert's bureau chief, Yoram Turbovich, is already en route to Washington to hold advance talks with the Administration.

Meanwhile, a Ha'aretz editorial criticized Livni's decision to cancel her participation in the UN-sponsored conference in Qatar. Livni's announced that she would not attend because Hamas legislators are also expected to participate. "It is difficult to comprehend what motivated Livni's decision, especially in light of the fact that she will permit senior Foreign Ministry officials to take part in the conference. Does this mean that the presence of a representative from the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the same place as parliamentarians from Hamas does not indicate recognition of Hamas, while a minister's participation in the event would translate into recognition of the movement? Perhaps Israel should declare a boycott of Qatar, the only Arab state that is willing to maintain friendly relations with it and to permit an Israeli representation to operate in Doha, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties? Or perhaps the conference should be boycotted because it includes representatives from, among others, Iran, Syria and Lebanon?" (Ha'aretz, 10/30/06 & 11/5/06; Ynet, 11/1/06; & Yedioth Ahronoth, 10/31/06)

Revolving Door: At the request of the Israeli General Security Service, IDF Major General Yair Naveh has issued an order banning 19 right-wing activists from the West Bank. "Each of them has the means and the intent to perpetrate secret and violent activity against Arabs of their property. The orders were based on concrete intelligence information," said a security official. The rap sheet of the 19 includes suspicion or conviction of attacking a Palestinian shepherd, torching the car of a policeman during the evacuation of an illegal settlement (Amona), attempted arson, disrupting a policeman in the course of the evacuation of a different illegal settlement (Havat Gilad), and placing a fake bomb in Jerusalem's central bus station. The activists appear to have as much respect for the new orders as they do for the rule of law. Every few days one of the 19 is arrested for violating the order. In one instance, an activist arrested for violating the order said in court, "the order is irrelevant to me." He was then released. (Ma'ariv, 11/2/06)

Olive Harvest Conflicts: The Settlers Council and the Headquarters for the Land of Israel Organization have teamed up to field a new force called "olive commando" to protect "the safety and the rights of the settlers during the olive picking season." The commandos will also prevent the "theft of state property," investigate and document "events," prevent "Palestinian and left wing organizations' provocations," provide legal advice, and handle complaints. The force is made up of three teams of twelve, each of which will be accompanied by a lawyer and an olive expert.

Meanwhile, clashes between settlers from the settlement of Shvut Rachel and Palestinian olive harvesters resulted in one Palestinian being evacuated for hospital treatment, another injured, and two injured settlers. The clashes occurred at a site claimed by the settlers, but which the Civil Administration confirms belongs to the Palestinians. A local former said that the IDF escorted the farmers to their lands, but that twenty minutes after the soldiers left "20 settlers came and started attacking us. They beat me and my wife and injured one of the harvesters. They broke his jaw and also beat his wife and father. When the soldiers came back the assailants had already left." The Palestinian farmer filed a complaint with the authorities, which resulted in the Palestinians being forbidden to harvest for the rest of the day.

Yesh Din-Volunteers for Human Rights (an Israeli human rights organization) reported Monday that the IDF had blocked access to groves at five West Bank villages, farmers from three villages were not allowed to cross the separation barrier to reach their fields, six villagers were informed that their lands had been closed or seized by the military, and farmers from ten villages were ordered to harvest olives on specific dates and seek advance permission before entering their lands.

Olive growing is among the most important agricultural sectors in the West Bank and provides the main livelihood for tens of thousands of Palestinian families. (Ma'ariv, 11/2/06; Ynet, 11/2/06; B'tzelem Report, 10/29/06; & Ha'aretz 10/30/06)

Blue Skies: The IDF views Israeli Air Force flights over Lebanon as a bargaining chip to be used in negotiations with the international community, according to a document approved by Chief of Staff Dan Halutz. The political echelon responded angrily to this report saying that the army's job is to define operational needs, not determine political strategies. The Bush Administration wants Israeli sorties and supersonic flights over Lebanon to end, because of concern that it could weaken the Lebanese government. (Israel Army Radio, 11/2/06; Israel Radio, 11/3/06)

Outposts Thrive: Despite an order by Defense Minister Amir Peretz last month for a detailed plan for the demolition of 100 illegally built houses in the West Bank - comprised mostly of settler homes but also including some Palestinian homes - and a plan for evacuating illegal outposts, the security establishment appears to have done little on the matter. "If they had begun to make such plans, we would have felt great commotion and a heavy work load, but in practice, nobody actually made any change to their daily routine," said a security source involved in the plans for the demolition of the illegal construction and the evacuation of the outposts. Peace Now filed a petition last week to the Israeli High Court of Justice to compel Israeli law enforcement agencies to take action at the outpost of Migron, which was built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands. (Ma'ariv, 11/2/06; Peace Now Report, 11/1/06)

Respect for the Court: Despite an order by Israel's High Court of Justice freezing all construction at a mammoth settlement project called East Mattityahu, a new access road has been paved to the site. In the wake of a Peace Now petition, the court froze construction of the 3000home project in January, based on the fact that the construction was not properly authorized and included construction on privately-owned Palestinian lands. At the court's urging, criminal investigations have also been opened against those who authorized the construction. Nevertheless, the new road passes through the territory at the heart of the legal case. Government lawyers told the court that they take these violations of the law and court order seriously, but that the judges should retroactively approve this road as a temporary humanitarian measure to assist the eighty residents who moved into finished homes at the site in question before the court froze construction. Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer said, "The State Attorney is sinning at the scene of a crime and is trying to authorize illegal construction, turning the High Court decision into a sad joke. The state should act against law breakers, not cooperate with them." (Ma'ariv, 11/2/06; Ha'aretz, 10/30/06)

Palestinian Economy: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on the status of the Palestinian economy from March to September 2006 - the period since Hamas came to power - found that the PA's funding has dropped by 60% and that its activity was damaged by Israel's decision to halt the transfer of Palestinian tax revenue that Israel collects on the PA's behalf. The report found that income from foreign sources could only cover vital expenditures and salaries, and the 140,000 PA employees have only received about 40% of their regular pay. The report criticized the PA for increasing the number of beneficiaries to pension plans. The status of banks in the PA is stable, in part because loans given by banks in the PA are covered by the assets of the Palestinian Investment Fund. The Palestinian monetary authority and the Bank of Israel have cooperated to ensure that two Israeli banks continue to do business with Palestinian banks, while arrangements have been made to discover funds intended to finance terror. (JTA, 11/2/06; Ma'ariv, 11/2/06)

Austria's Haider vs. Israel's Lieberman: Ha'aretz Chief Political Columnist Akiva Eldar commented this week that, "the prevalent comparison between Avigdor Lieberman and Joerg Haider does an injustice to the Austrian nationalist whose party joined the government in the winter of 2000. Haider is far from being a righteous man, but even in his most fascist days, he never called on Austria to rid itself of citizens who'd been living in the country for generations. Also, Haider never suggested standing up legislators representing these citizens in front of a firing squad. Natan Meron, at the time Israel's ambassador to Austria, noted that once the leader of the Freedom Party joined politics, he never uttered a single anti-Semitic statement. With the entry of his party into the coalition, Haider signed a declaration promising to abide by the European principles of democracy and human rights, and to protect the rights of minorities. Prior to that, he apologized to the Jewish people for his statements that downplayed the Nazi horrors. What about Lieberman, then? Has he accepted the article in the government's basic guidelines that includes the commitment to 'respect the civil rights of minorities and not accept any expression of racism in the country'? .Shimon Peres, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, warned Austria at the time that the inclusion of Haider in the coalition will 'ostracize it from the family of nations.' Matan Vilnai, then minister of science, culture and sport, threatened to boycott the Austrian national soccer team. In response to the Freedom Party's inclusion of him in the coalition, then-prime minister Ehud Barak declared that Haider was persona non grata in Israel. Jewish organizations the world over competed over the intensity of their criticism of the Austrian government.The silence of the leadership of mainstream Jewry in the world, in view of the legitimization of a person such as Lieberman, undermines the moral high ground they hold in the struggle against Israel-haters throughout the world. If a Jewish politician who aspires to transfer an Arab minority across the border can sit in an Israeli cabinet, why should an anti-Semite not sit in an Austrian government?" (Ha'aretz, 10/30/06)

Visas for Palestinian-Americans: An apparent Israeli policy of refusing to renew or grant visas to Palestinian Americans appears to have been overturned following American pressure. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke about the issue during a speech to the American Task Force on Palestine last month. The West Bank and Gaza are home to 35,000 U.S. citizens of Palestinian descent. (Washington Times, 10/29/06; American Task Force on Palestine)

Fast for Rabin: The rabbinical council of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism, the Israeli affiliate of the Union of Reform Judaism, has announced a fast day to commemorate Rabin. The decision is modeled on the Fast of Gedalia, which commemorates another Jewish leader murdered by fellow Jews. Reform rabbis will also refrain from performing weddings and other celebrations on this day. (Yedioth Ahronoth & INT, 11/2/06)

Settlers Evict Students who Attacked Soldiers: When students from the Yeshuat Mordechai Yeshiva in the settlement of Nahliel threw eggs at the living quarters of the very soldiers there to defend them, Brigade Col. Amir Abulafiya announced that the soldiers would no longer protect the students. The committee of Nahliel also took action, instructing the headmaster of the yeshiva, Rabbi Yigal Shendorfi, to leave the settlement with his students. The chairman of the secretariat, Ilan Ben Shevet explained, "we have a high regard for the security forces and wish to have good neighborly relations with the Palestinians, but the yeshiva students are disgracing us and committing acts of violence against everybody." However the yeshiva students refused to leave, even after they were summoned before a rabbinical court. The settlers' leaders then asked a court for an eviction order against the students. (Yedioth Ahronoth, 10/31/06)