Observation: Proposed Pollard-Freeze Extension Exchange Tests Commitment Of
Obama Administration To Peace Process

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 18 September 2010

IMRA understands that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would have no
problem getting his cabinet to approve a three month extension of the
settlement construction freeze in exchange for the release of Jonathan
Pollard. Just as important - if not more - none of the parties in the
ruling coalition are expected to threaten to leave the government in the
event that such a deal is implemented.

In the coming days we will see just how seriously interested the Obama
administration is in extending the settlement construction freeze for
another three months.
They certainly "talk the talk" when it comes to lecturing Israel about the
need to make "sacrifices for peace"

But now the shoe is on the other foot.

Is President Obama willing to make a "sacrifice for peace"?

President Obama can release Jonathan Pollard from prison (where he has
already served several fold the sentence others have for similar offenses)
with the stroke of a pen in a move that is not subject to either review or
oversight.

The proposed Pollard-Freeze Extension exchange is probably the most straight
forward test of an American administration's commitment to the peace process
since the very start of Oslo.

A deal that requires no more than a thirty second phone call from Washington
to set into motion.

By the way: now that the proposed exchange trade is public, what will J
Street and other American "pro peace" groups that have no qualms publicly
pressing Israel to "make sacrifice for peace" do? Will they publicly press
President Obama to offer the exchange?

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719 Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http:www.imra.org.il