Weekly Commentary: The Shock And Awe Plan For New Netanyahu Government
Dr. Aaron Lerner 25 May 2016

The temptation is great for the new Netanyahu Government (I term it "new"
because of the addition of Yisrael Beiteinu) to continue with the approach
of trying to placate Washington and the Europeans.

But with Herzog still in the opposition the knives are out. And no matter
how nicely we may dance on the gangplank Mr. Obama and the Europeans won’t
be satisfied.

So, keeping this in mind, there is an alternative possibility.

A balanced plan that shows that the Netanyahu Government intends to move on.

Key features:

1. Drop linkage from the "systematic and structural economic development
plan for the minority sector" that was approved on 30.12.15 by the cabinet.

The minorities get the benefits because they deserve them - not as a reward
for jumping through hoops.

2. Gaza Port plan endorsed with port built at the end of a causeway with
Israel controlling passage on the bridge as per Minister Yisrael Katz's
proposal.

Gaza gets its port without Israel forfeiting its security.

3. Transfer management of the passages from Judea and Samaria to Jerusalem
to the Passages Authority with the funding to upgrade the passages to their
professional standards.

A significant improvement in the quality of life of Palestinian workers and
others. Yaalon's last move as DM was to announce NIS 350 million to improve
all the passages. But without the transfer of control of the passages into
Jerusalem to the Passages Authority the hodgepodge of authorities now doing
a dismal job (takes over two hours for workers to get through the Jerusalem
passages in contrast to 17 minutes in the others) may likely continue.

4. All plans in Judea and Samaria waiting for the nod of the Minister of
Defense signed off [including Area E & Maaleh Adumim] & announce intention
to double the number of housing units in Ariel and all other large Jewish
communities in Judea & Samaria.

This benefits Israelis by reducing housing costs while providing thousands
of jobs to Palestinians.

Will the world scream?

Of course.

But the screaming about 10 or 100 or 1,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 housing
units is almost the same volume.

And this as at the same time everyone has something to be optimistic about.

Everyone is gaining.
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