Saturday, January 30, 2016
President Obama Speaks on Advancing Equal Pay
On the 7th anniversary of the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay
Act, President Obama announces new steps to advance equal pay for women.
Oval Office Chat: President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil
On January 29, President Obama spoke by phone with President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff
to discuss shared concerns over the spread of the Zika virus in the
Western Hemisphere.
The leaders
agreed on the importance of collaborative efforts to deepen our
knowledge, advance research, and accelerate work to develop better
vaccines and other technologies to control the virus.
The leaders
also agreed to continue to prioritize building national, regional,
and global capacity to combat infectious disease threats more broadly.
President Rousseff also confirmed her attendance at the Nuclear Security
Summit to be held in Washington, D.C. from March 31 to April 1, and the leaders agreed to work together to make
the Summit a success.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Friday, January 29, 2016
House Democrats News Conference
House Democrats hold a closing news conference following their annual retreat in Baltimore.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
President Sergio Mattarella of Italy to Visit the White House
President Obama will host President Sergio Mattarella of Italy at the White House on February 8, 2016. President Mattarella will visit the United States February 6-13.
Italy is a valued
NATO Ally and a close partner on a broad range of global challenges.
During their meeting, the Presidents will discuss our shared efforts to
counter ISIL and the global refugee crisis. They will also exchange
views on economic developments in Europe, the
importance of concluding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership, and other issues of mutual interest.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Veep Talk: Nicos Anastasiades and Benjamin Netanyahu
Vice
President Biden called President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos
Anastasiades today to follow up on their meeting on the margins of the
World Economic Forum in Davos earlier
this month. The Vice President briefed President Anastasiades on his
positive discussions with Turkish officials on finding a settlement to
reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation. President
Anastasiades updated the Vice President on the tripartite
meeting in Nicosia yesterday between Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli
leaders, which the leaders agreed was a positive step for regional
cooperation and security. Vice President Biden and President
Anastasiades agreed on the importance of achieving a Cyprus settlement,
and the Vice President pledged continued U.S. support to help both
sides reach a successful agreement.
Following
up on their recent discussion in Davos, Switzerland, Vice President
Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier today to discuss
ongoing
efforts to improve Israel-Turkey relations and advance energy
cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean.
Source: The White House, Office of the Vice President
Cuomo, Biden Kick Off 'Strong Families, Strong New York' Campaign
Earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo was joined by Vice President Joseph Biden, to kick off the "Strong Families, Strong New York" campaign
to push for passage of the Governor’s paid family leave proposal in New
York State.
The Governor has proposed that New York enact a 12 week
paid family leave policy – which would be the longest benefits period in
the nation for such a policy – to help working families care for a new
child or seriously ill relative.
More information is available at www.ny.gov/paidfamilyleave.
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Katie Beirne Fallon Leaves White House Post
Statement by President Obama
Republicans
and Democrats in Congress have their differences - but when it comes to
Katie, they're united in their admiration and respect. She came into
her role at a time
when we needed to build up our relationships with folks in both
parties. And from bipartisan budget agreements, to protecting a deal
that will prevent a nuclear Iran, to ensuring the long-stalled Ex-Im and
IMF reforms were enacted, we simply could not have
made the progress we've made without her. It's never easy to lose a
close advisor, and it's even harder when they've become a good
friend. That said, there's nobody better prepared to step into this role
than Amy Rosenbaum, and I'm very pleased she's agreed
to serve as my next head of legislative affairs.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
The First Lady Honors the 2016 School Counselors of the Year
As part of her Reach Higher initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted
the 2nd Annual School Counselors of the Year in the East Room of the
White House.
Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Rally in Des Moines, Iowa
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Trump declined to participate in a debate with other Republican presidential candidates.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Republican Presidential Candidate Debate
A look at the final Republican Presidential candidate debate before the
February 1, 2016 Iowa Caucuses. An exchange between former Florida
Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio on immigration reform
was included.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Social Conservatives and the Iowa Caucuses
The Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, who has pledged his support for Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), previews the Iowa caucuses and discusses the role social conservatives have historically played in them.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Advance Estimate of GDP for the Fourth Quarter of 2015
Jason Furman
WASHINGTON,
DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued
the following statement today on the advance estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the
fourth quarter of 2015.
The economy continued to expand in the fourth quarter, but at a slower pace than in the third. Overall, the most stable and persistent components of output—personal consumption and business investment—rose a solid 2.7 percent over the four quarters of 2015. Weaker foreign growth continued to weigh on domestic output in the fourth quarter, underscoring the importance of policies that open our exports to new markets while promoting strong domestic demand. There is more work to do, and the President is committed to policies that will boost our long-run growth and help ensure everyone shares in it: including through high-standards free trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, increasing investments in infrastructure, and raising the minimum wage.
You can read the complete statement here.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Claim Thousands of Dollars in Valuable Tax Credits
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) remind New York taxpayers to check their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC can reduce the amount of taxes owed or provide a substantial tax refund. However, based on IRS estimates, each year more than 430,000 eligible New Yorkers—including nearly 250,000 in New York City alone—may fail to claim the credit. (See chart below for county-by-county estimates.)
EITCs are
refundable federal, New York State, and New York City credits for
working taxpayers earning up to the $53,267 maximum. To qualify,
taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they don’t owe any tax or aren’t required to file.
“The New
York State EITC is one of the most generous state income tax credits in
the nation,” said Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone.
“Last year we paid New York taxpayers more than $1 billion, the highest ever paid in a year. It’s cash that counts—cash that eligible New Yorkers have earned.”
“EITC
benefits can make a tremendous difference in the lives of eligible
working New Yorkers,” said Sam Roberts, Commissioner of the Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance. “These are dollars that can help
low-income taxpayers make ends meet, and in turn benefit local
economies. We encourage all working New Yorkers to make sure they claim
the credit if they’re eligible.”
In tax year
2013, the latest year for which federal data is available, more than
1.75 million New Yorkers received the federal EITC. When the federal,
New York State and New York City benefits were combined, the benefit to
working families and individuals was more than $5 billion. The average
benefit was more than $3,000 per household.
Are you eligible?
Every year,
thousands of New Yorkers qualify for the EITC for the first time as
their filing status or personal financial situation changes.
The income
limit varies based on number of children. The maximum for the 2015 tax
year is $53,267 for a family with three children.
To qualify for the credit, in addition to meeting the income qualifications, taxpayers must:
- earn wages from employment or self-employment,
- have a valid Social Security number,
- have a qualifying child living with them for more than half the year, or, if they don’t have a qualifying child, be at least 25 years of age and under age 65, and
- have investment income of less than $3,350.
The Tax
Department also reminded those ineligible for EITC benefits to look for
other possible tax credits that they might be eligible to claim, such as
the child and dependent care credit.
How much is the credit worth?
The maximum
credits increase annually and vary based on factors including family
income and number of children. For tax year 2015, the maximum of the
combined federal, state and New York City credits is $8,427 (for a
family with three children) – a $134 increase over tax year 2014.
Taxpayers
who were eligible in previous years but didn’t claim the credit may
still be able to submit an amended income tax return for up to three
years.
Noncustodial Parent Earned Income Tax Credit
New York was
the first state in the nation to enact a Noncustodial Parent EITC in
2006. The refundable credit adds to the many ways that New York
encourages low-income noncustodial parents to work and stay current with
their child-support payments.
In 2013, almost more than 7,200 taxpayers claimed the Noncustodial Parent EITC for a total of $3.6 million.
For more information
Contact a NYS Tax Department representative at (518) 457-5181
Source: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
Source: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
Cuomo Announces Appointments to the NYS Dept. of Financial Services
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced
three appointments to the New York State Department of Financial
Services. These appointments follow the Governor’s recent nomination of Maria Vullo to serve as the Superintendent of DFS.
The Department of Financial Services is
charged with protecting consumers and markets in New York State from
fraud and financial crises, as well as reforming the regulation of
financial services to keep pace with dynamic changes within the
industry. DFS was created in 2011 by the merger of the state’s Banking
and Insurance Departments.
“These individuals bring with them practical
knowledge and experience that will greatly aid DFS in its role as a
regulator and help consumers, investors and markets in New York State,” Governor Cuomo said. “Their commitment to public service will be an asset to the talented team at DFS and I am proud to welcome them.”
Matthew L. Levine
has been appointed Executive Deputy Superintendent for Enforcement. In
this role he will guide the Department's enforcement actions to ensure
that regulated parties are held accountable for unlawful business
practices, coordinating with other senior staff and law enforcement
agencies under the direction of the Superintendent.
Mr. Levine is a former federal prosecutor
and trial lawyer with significant experience in matters involving the
financial markets and health care fraud. He has also represented clients
in private practice, most recently as the founding principal of his own
law firm in New York City. For nearly a decade, he served as an
Assistant U.S. Attorney, first in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
District of Columbia and later in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
Eastern District of New York. There, he served as Acting Chief of the
Business & Securities Fraud Section and supervised a group of
federal prosecutors conducting major securities fraud and other
white-collar prosecutions. Before becoming a federal prosecutor, he
worked in private practice as a Litigation Associate at the New York
City office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where he
represented corporate and individual clients in civil and criminal
matters.
Mr. Levine clerked for the United States
District Judge Barefoot Sanders in Dallas, Texas. He earned his J.D. at
Columbia School of Law and a B.A. in Government at Lehigh University.
Richard A. Loconte has been appointed Executive Deputy Superintendent for Communications and Strategy at DFS. Mr.
Loconte brings with him more than 20 years of experience in
communications and public policy. Since 2008, he was the Deputy Head of
Government Affairs & Associate General Counsel at AIG, Inc. There,
he represented AIG before regulatory agencies and other government
bodies on legislative and regulatory issues related to the insurance
industry and the broader financial services sector, and was instrumental
in reestablishing the company's federal government affairs office in
Washington, DC.
From 2005 - 2008, he was the Deputy
Executive Director for the Association for a Better New York (ABNY),
where he oversaw the organization’s communications, administrative
functions, and legal matters. Prior to his time at ABNY, he was the
Director of Public Affairs at the Grand Central Partnership. Mr. Loconte
has also held roles at the New York City Department of Finance and the
New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. He earned his J.D. from
Brooklyn Law School and a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham
University.
Jennifer L. Smith
has been appointed Special Assistant to the Superintendent at DFS. Most
recently, Ms. Smith was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP, where she worked with former Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye
on various commercial and appellate matters. While at Skadden, she also
served as Assistant Counsel to the Commission on Judicial Nomination and
has handled multiple pro bono matters, including representation of
domestic violence victims and representation of a client seeking
executive clemency through the Department of Justice’s 2014 Clemency
Project.
Prior to her time at Skadden, she was a
Trial Attorney for Bolan Jahnsen Dacey, and Greenberg Traurig, where she
litigated civil matters. She also developed a program with Sanctuary
for Families to provide legal services to homeless and battered women
and their children at the New York City Department of Homeless Services
Prevention Assistance & Temporary Housing (PATH).
Ms. Smith earned her J.D. at Benjamin N.
Cardozo School of Law, an M.A. in Organization and Leadership from
Columbia University, Teachers College, and a B.A. in English and
Anthropology & Sociology from Lafayette College. She received the
Empire State Counsel Award from the New York State Bar Association in
2013 and 2014.
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
'Flashback Friday': Jimmy Carter Debate with President Gerald Ford (Domestic Issues)
September 23, 1976 - The two presidential candidates argue over the nations economy and decisions on tax cuts and federal spending.
Meet Danny Glover, Bernie Sanders' National HBCU Outreach Director
With the first presidential nominating contests
looming in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. Bernie Sanders is turning his
attention to key primary states that are more diverse, to secure
minority voters who have been largely absent from his campaign events so
far.
The Vermont Independent is leading his main
rival Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, locked in a close race in Iowa,
but trailing behind her in South Carolina, where African-Americans are
expected to make up more than half of the Democratic primary vote.
As an effort to make inroads with Black voters,
Sanders recently launched his "Feel The Burn HBCU" tour. Each stop will
feature some of his notable black supporters, including Dr. Cornel West,
former Ohio state senator Nina Turner, actress Tatyana Ali from the NBC
sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Run the Jewels" rapper Killer
Mike. Prominent Black Lives Matter Activist Shaun King will headline
the second leg of the tour on Thursday, Jan. 28 at Tougaloo College in
Tougaloo, Mississippi.
NBCBLK recently spoke with Danny D. Glover, the campaign's National Historically Black Colleges and University's Outreach Director, who's spearheading initiative. He spoke about plans to visit about 10 HBCUs and why Sanders' populist message resonates with minority students.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
Zika Fears: Airlines Offer Free Refunds, Rebooking for Pregnant Fliers
Major airlines and cruise lines are offering
free refunds or rebooking for pregnant women and their companions in
response to growing concerns over travel to countries and regions
affected by the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
The virus, which may be linked to an increase in cases of a birth
defect called microcephaly, is "spreading explosively" through Latin
America and the Caribbean, a World Health Organization official warned
Thursday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a travel alert on Jan. 15 advising pregnant women to consider delaying travel to affected areas to avoid the possibility of being infected.
Airlines contacted Thursday by NBC News would
not provide figures on the number of cancellations they are handling as a
result of the warnings. But they said they are trying to make it easy
for affected travelers.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
What Is the Zika Virus? Your Questions Answered
The World Health Organization meets next week to decide whether to declare Zika a global emergency.
The virus is spreading fast across the Americas, and WHO expects 3-4 million people
to be infected over the next year. Scientists are urgently looking into
whether the virus causes birth defects. "We know many people are
concerned or scared," says Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Here are some answers to questions many are asking:
How worried should I be?
It depends on where you live. For most U.S.
residents, Zika is unlikely to be a problem. That's because it take two
factors for the virus to spread: actively infected people and the right
kind of mosquitoes to spread it.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
Little Respite Seen from Hot, Dry South African Summer – Weather Service
Reuters, 29/01 15:34 CET
By Ed Stoddard
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – An El
Nino weather pattern which has triggered historic drought in South
Africa remains on track to keep conditions hot and dry for the rest of
the summer over most of the country including the maize belt, the
country’s weather service said on Friday.
South African maize prices have raced to record highs
because of the drought, which the central bank once again cited on
Thursday as a concern driving food prices and inflation when it raised
interest rates by 50 basis points.
“Most models are showing the continuation of a strong El
Nino episode towards the late-summer season with the expectation to
start gradually decaying during the autumn and early winter seasons,”
the service said in its monthly outlook, which gives rolling forecasts
for the following five months.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Venezuela Opposition Leader Urges Fast Action to Oust President
Henrique Capriles
Reuters, 29/01 15:11 CET
By Andrew Cawthorne and Diego Ore
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition must define within weeks its strategy for ending Nicolas Maduro’s presidency given the OPEC nation’s “monstrous” economic crisis, opposition leader Henrique Capriles believes.
Having won control of the National Assembly last month
due to voter ire at Venezuela’s punishing recession, the opposition
coalition has vowed to find a constitutional mechanism to oust Hugo
Chavez’ successor in the first half of 2016.
Options for the multi-faction coalition include demanding
his resignation, forcing a recall referendum as allowed half-way
through his term, or reforming the constitution to trigger a new
presidential election.
“We have to find a common position. The clock is ticking …
We can’t wait longer than the first quarter,” Capriles, a state
governor who narrowly lost a 2013 presidential vote to Maduro, told
Reuters in an interview late on Thursday.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Russia to Talk to OPEC About Pumping Less Oil to Boost Prices
Oil prices continue to get a bit of a boost from the idea that major producers – particularly Russia – may cooperate to cut production.
Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak has confirmed they would take part in a meeting some time next month between OPEC member-states and other oil producers.
He said Saudi Arabia had proposed that oil producing countries cut
output by up to five percent each. That would represent a reduction of
around 500,000 barrels per day by Russia.
“This is a subject for discussions, it’s too early to talk about
it,” he said, adding “We think it’s reasonable to discuss the
situation.”
But some analysts believe Russia is actually likely to increase production this year to protect its economy.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Thursday, January 28, 2016
National Security Council Notes: The President's Meeting on Counter-ISIL
President Obama today
convened his National Security Council to discuss the intensification of
our campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL. The President was briefed on
ways we and our partners in the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL
continue to accelerate and integrate the military campaign and
diplomatic efforts on all possible fronts, including working with
international partners to counter ISIL’s stated goal of expansion beyond
Iraq and Syria.
The President
emphasized that the United States will continue to counter ISIL
terrorist plotters in any country where it is necessary. Noting that
ISIL affiliates and other violent extremists attempt to find safe haven
in areas with limited or poor governance, the President directed his
national security team to continue efforts to strengthen governance and
support ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Libya and other countries
where ISIL has sought to establish a presence.
Degrading and
destroying ISIL will continue to require coordination and cooperation
among a wide range of global partners, and the United States is strongly
committed to continuing to lead the shared efforts of the Global
Coalition to Counter ISIL.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Pregnant Woman Diagnosed With Zika Virus; 3 Confirmed NYC Cases
A pregnant woman was diagnosed with
Zika virus after visiting a country stricken with the mosquito-borne
illness that may cause birth defects, New York City health officials
say.
New York City
Commissioner of Health Mary Bassett said that the woman was diagnosed
with the virus recently, bringing the city's total of residents
diagnosed with the disease to three.
Four other people in New York have been diagnosed with the virus --
including one each in Monroe, Nassau, Suffolk and Orange Counties.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
White House Daily Briefing
Spokesman Josh Earnest briefs reporters and responds to their questions
on a variety of topics, including lead contamination in Flint,
Michigan’s drinking water, Monday’s Iowa caucuses, and the spread of the
Zika virus.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Senate Democrats on Flint, Michigan, Water Contamination
Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and other Senate
Democrats announced an amendment to an energy policy bill dealing with
lead contamination of the water supply in Flint, Michigan.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Military Reforms
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter speaks to reporters and responds to
their questions about efforts to improve the quality of life for
military personnel, including the doubling of maternity leave from six
weeks to 12 weeks across all forces.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
Senator Rand Paul Campaign Rally in Des Moines, Iowa
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) delivers remarks at a campaign event at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Click here for video.
Source: C-Span
The Obama Nominations: Terrence J. Campbell & Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl
WASHINGTON,
DC – Today, President Obama nominated Terrence J. Campbell to serve on
the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
“Terrence J. Campbell has
had a distinguished legal career and I am honored to ask him to serve as a judge on the federal bench,” said
President Obama.
“I am confident he will serve the American people with distinction from the District Court bench.”
Terrence
J. Campbell is a member in the law firm of Barber Emerson, L.C. in
Lawrence, Kansas, where he practices both civil and criminal
litigation.
He joined the firm as an associate in 1999 and was elevated to
membership in 2005. From 2005 to 2008, Campbell also served part-time
as a Traffic Judge Pro Tem for the District Court of Douglas County,
Kansas. In 2001, Campbell served part-time as an Adjunct
Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law teaching
contracts. Campbell began his legal career as a law clerk to the
Honorable John W. Lungstrum of the United States District Court for the
District of Kansas from 1997 to 1999. Campbell received
his J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of Kansas School of
Law in 1997 and his B.A.
magna cum laude from Concordia College
in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1992.
Today, President Obama also nominated Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
“Throughout
her career, Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl has shown unwavering integrity and
an outstanding commitment to public service,” said
President Obama. “I am proud to nominate her to serve on the United States Court of Appeals.”
Jennifer
Klemetsrud Puhl is an Assistant United States Attorney in the District
of North Dakota, where she currently serves as the Criminal Supervisor
in the Fargo Office
and is also a member of the appellate team. In addition to having
extensive trial experience, Puhl regularly advises on appellate briefs
and arguments for the office and has argued a number of cases before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit.
Puhl
was born and raised in Devils Lake, North Dakota. She remained in
North Dakota for college and law school and received her B.A.
magna cum laude in 1997 from the University of North Dakota and her J.D.
cum laude in 2000 from the University of North Dakota School of
Law. After graduating from law school, Puhl served as a law clerk to
the Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring of the North Dakota Supreme Court from
2000 to 2001. From 2001 to 2002, she worked as
an associate in the law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered in its
Minneapolis, Minnesota office. In 2002, Puhl returned to North Dakota
to join the criminal division of the United States Attorney’s Office for
the District of North Dakota, where she prosecutes
a wide variety of criminal matters. Due to her broad expertise, Puhl
has been named to a number of leadership roles, including Computer
Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator, National Security Cyber
Specialist, Human Trafficking Coordinator, and Project
Safe Childhood Coordinator.
In
addition, Puhl routinely speaks in the community regarding her work,
including educating children on the dangers associated with social
networking.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed into Law
Statement by the Press Secretary on S. 142, S. 1115 and S. 1629
On Thursday, January 28, 2016, the President signed into law:
S.
142, the “Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015,” which
requires the packaging of liquid nicotine containers to be subject to
existing child poisoning prevention
packaging standards;
S.
1115, the “Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act,”
which provides the Congress with additional information on the status of
Federal Agencies' outstanding
grant awards; and
S.
1629, the “District of Columbia Courts, Public Defender Service, and
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Act of 2015,” which
amends certain authorities of the
District of Columbia Courts, the Court Services and Offender
Supervision Agency, and the Public Defender Service for the District of
Columbia.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Israel’s Labor Party Leader: Two-State Solution is Unattainable Today, Calls for Separation from Palestinians
January 28, 2016
— The leader of Israel’s Labor party, Isaac Herzog revealed his new
plan in a speech he gave in Tel Aviv at the National Security Studies
Conference on January 19th, where he concluded that it is currently
impossible to implement a two-state solution in the immediate future.
Below are excerpts from his comments reported by numerous Israeli and
world media outlets.
“I’ve been observing the situation for some time and I
realize that right now it would be impossible to negotiate a two-state
solution… I’ve not abandoned the idea; my basic position continues to be
that the only way to solve the conflict is by implementing a two-state
solution… The reason we cannot achieve it right now is that Netanyahu
and Abbas… are held hostage by their supporters and they are alienated
from one another.
“The basic principle is separation from the
Palestinians; we should separate wherever it is feasible. This will
increase security. We should complete the fence around the settlement
blocks, us here and them there. That will lower the level of terror
immediately. Ariel Sharon did it successfully. The separation wall will
reduce terrorist’s attacks and each of us will be able to go on with his
life.
“I suggest withdrawing from 28 Palestinian
villages surrounding Jerusalem and building a wall that will keep them
out of the city. We don’t need hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in
our capital… By doing this we will reduce the level of friction. Anyone
who wants to work here will have to receive permission from the various
security agencies. I don’t describe this as a diplomatic measure. It is a
security measure. What I am saying is that peace is unobtainable right
now so let’s achieve security so that we can talk about peace.
“We will be here and you, Palestinians, will be
there…live your lives, improve your economy, create employment.”
Regarding Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza, Herzog said:
“They will have no immunity and for
every attack they’ll pay a heavy price. This won’t mean dummy bombings
of empty areas. We’ll employ an effective iron fist and shut down their
radio and TV stations. After that they won’t have Internet or mobile
phone services. They won’t be able to transmit instructions to
terrorists. We’ll take harsh and severe steps, including ones directed
at their leaders.”
Following his speech, Herzog went
to Paris where he met with French President Francois Holland at the
Elysee Palace, telling him that current French and EU resolutions
restricting trade with Israel to the 1967 boarders only reward terrorism
and the BDS movement and nullify the possibility of advancing regional
moves. Herzog added, “Israelis won’t accept anyone imposing decisions on
them. Israel is a sovereign state, hence any such decision or step only
damages Israeli public willingness to advance toward a change in the
Middle East.’’
“Herzog’s remarks”, said Rabbi Marvin Hier,
Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, “reflect a widely held
opinion in Israel on all sides of the spectrum that what we have before
us today is a three-state solution, with two separate Palestinian
entities that don’t speak to each other, one in Ramallah and the other,
headed by Hamas, that make prospects for peace in the near future
untenable.”
Source: The Simon Wiesenthal Center