Political/Leigslative Update - October 24, 2007
This week's political update was written by Natan Nussbaum (SEAS '09). Each week, a different member of the political affairs committee will be contributing the update. Thank you to Natan for this week's update:
1. Annapolis Summit
While Bush and Rice are very optomistic about what can be accomplished at the upcoming peace summit, both the Israelis and Palestinains are more hesitant. Rice said that Israel must divide Jerusalem as part of a compramise between Israel and the Palestinians. However, Over half of the Knesset has signed a petition demanding that Olmert not offer to relinquish control of any parts of Jerusalem.
2. Olmert Assassination Attempt
There was an attempt by men inside Fatah to assassinate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on his way to a meeting with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in June. The attack was obviously foiled and men were taken into custody by the PA. However many suspects were released a few months after. Some were recently taken back in to custody by the request of the Israeli government.
3. Gaza Sanctions
In response to the Kassam rocket fire against Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak plans to approve a list of civilian sanctions against the Gaza Strip. One such sanction would be to cut off power to certain areas of the Gaza strip anytime a Kassam is fired.
4. Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Resigned
Iranian nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, resigned and will be replaced by Saeed Jalili. Larijani is considered moderate in Iran compared Ahmadinejad and others. The Iranian congress voted on a resolution recognizing his work as negotiator. This is seen as a protest to Larijanis resignation and the appointment of the more radical Jalili.
5. Iran still meddling in Iraq
A senior State Department official, said on Tuesday that there was no doubt the top leaders in Tehran were directing Iranian forces and that the administration is holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq. Among the charges are that Iran is supplying militants with sophisticated bombs and weapons training.
1. Annapolis Summit
While Bush and Rice are very optomistic about what can be accomplished at the upcoming peace summit, both the Israelis and Palestinains are more hesitant. Rice said that Israel must divide Jerusalem as part of a compramise between Israel and the Palestinians. However, Over half of the Knesset has signed a petition demanding that Olmert not offer to relinquish control of any parts of Jerusalem.
2. Olmert Assassination Attempt
There was an attempt by men inside Fatah to assassinate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on his way to a meeting with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in June. The attack was obviously foiled and men were taken into custody by the PA. However many suspects were released a few months after. Some were recently taken back in to custody by the request of the Israeli government.
3. Gaza Sanctions
In response to the Kassam rocket fire against Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak plans to approve a list of civilian sanctions against the Gaza Strip. One such sanction would be to cut off power to certain areas of the Gaza strip anytime a Kassam is fired.
4. Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Resigned
Iranian nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, resigned and will be replaced by Saeed Jalili. Larijani is considered moderate in Iran compared Ahmadinejad and others. The Iranian congress voted on a resolution recognizing his work as negotiator. This is seen as a protest to Larijanis resignation and the appointment of the more radical Jalili.
5. Iran still meddling in Iraq
A senior State Department official, said on Tuesday that there was no doubt the top leaders in Tehran were directing Iranian forces and that the administration is holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq. Among the charges are that Iran is supplying militants with sophisticated bombs and weapons training.