Israeli Government Freezes Peace Accord with Palestinians Amid Elections Looming

The Israeli government has formally frozen its two-month-old peace accord with the Palestinians, a move aimed at bolstering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position ahead of expected elections. Netanyahu's ruling coalition is on the brink of collapse, and he is seeking to capitalize on right-wing support to avoid a parliamentary vote that could topple his government. The Cabinet meeting, where Netanyahu presented a list of demands for the Palestinians, was a mere formality, as the peace process has been stagnant for weeks. The decision to freeze the accord is seen as a strategic move to divert attention from the Israeli government's internal struggles and to tap into nationalist sentiment, which is likely to intensify in the run-up to the elections.

Key Takeaways:

• The Israeli government has formally frozen its two-month-old peace accord with the Palestinians, citing a need for new demands to be met before additional West Bank land is ceded to the Palestinians.
• The move is seen as a bid by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to woo right-wing support ahead of likely elections and avoid a parliamentary vote that could topple his government.
• The Cabinet meeting, which approved a list of demands for the Palestinians, was largely pro forma, as the peace process has been paralyzed for weeks.
• The decision to freeze the accord is significant in light of the Israeli government's awareness that the United States is unlikely to play a significant role in enforcing the Wye peace agreement due to internal turmoil.
• Netanyahu also used the Cabinet session to claim that Palestinian demonstrations against the U.S.-led air assault on Iraq reveal who Washington's real friend in the region is.

Statistics:

• The two-month-old peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians was reached in October in Wye, Md.
• The Israeli government has been criticized for its slow compliance with the Wye agreement, with many experts believing that Netanyahu's government is more interested in maintaining control over the West Bank.
• The new elections, which Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to order, will likely roil Israel's tumultuous political scene at a delicate time in Middle East peacemaking.

Sources:

• The Los Angeles Times - Sunday's Cabinet meeting
• The Los Angeles Times - The Israeli government's decision to freeze the peace accord with the Palestinians
• The New York Times - The Wye peace agreement and its significance in Middle East peacemaking