Israeli Mideast experts warn Netanyahu of third Intifada

Israeli Mideast experts warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that construction policies in the settlements or the burning of a major mosque by extremists could help trigger another uprising in the West Bank. The burning of a major mosque by Jewish extremists was the greatest risk, Israeli daily (Haaretz) quoted the experts as saying. Violence could also be sparked, they said, if Netanyahu's plan goes through to build 850 new housing units in the West Bank, especially if the diplomatic stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians continues. The implementation of construction plans without diplomatic progress could undermine the Palestinian people's support of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the experts said. It could also weaken the Palestinian security forces that are keeping a lid on violence, they added. The experts included advisers on Palestinian affairs and experts on Egypt, Jordan, North Africa, Turkey and Iran, although Iran's nuclear program was not discussed, Haaretz reported. The experts presented statistics showing that the outbreak of the first intifada in December 1987 and the second intifada in September 2000 were both preceded by attacks by Palestinian individuals, usually using improvised weapons. Netanyahu was told that such a trend is apparent now as well, according to the Israeli daily. Netanyahu reportedly did not respond when the experts warned him that the construction of the 850 apartments he pledged as compensation for the evacuation of Ulpana could trigger a new Palestinian uprising, Haaretz said.