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| Ahead of Kerry Visit, Netanyahu Goes to West Bank | Ahead of Kerry Visit, Netanyahu Goes to West Bank |
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| BARKAN, West Bank — Highlighting the obstacles to Washington’s push to revive the Mideast peace process, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday made a rare appearance in the West Bank to dedicate an elementary school in a Jewish settlement. | BARKAN, West Bank — Highlighting the obstacles to Washington’s push to revive the Mideast peace process, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday made a rare appearance in the West Bank to dedicate an elementary school in a Jewish settlement. |
| Mr. Netanyahu visited the school, named for his deceased father, three days before Secretary of State John Kerry was scheduled to return to the region for the fifth time in three months, and after two weeks in which right-wing ministers in Israel’s government said the idea of a Palestinian state had reached “a dead end” and promised to block efforts to establish one. While the prime minister ducked questions about the future of West Bank settlements, his presence in the contested territory was itself seized on as an important sign. | Mr. Netanyahu visited the school, named for his deceased father, three days before Secretary of State John Kerry was scheduled to return to the region for the fifth time in three months, and after two weeks in which right-wing ministers in Israel’s government said the idea of a Palestinian state had reached “a dead end” and promised to block efforts to establish one. While the prime minister ducked questions about the future of West Bank settlements, his presence in the contested territory was itself seized on as an important sign. |
| “Every time Kerry comes,” Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said in an interview, Mr. Netanyahu “does something to undermine the possibility of a Palestinian state. It’s more than provocative, it’s devastating.” | “Every time Kerry comes,” Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said in an interview, Mr. Netanyahu “does something to undermine the possibility of a Palestinian state. It’s more than provocative, it’s devastating.” |
| He added: “This government’s policies are disastrous for Palestinians, Israelis and the region. I don’t know what purpose it serves to undermine the two-state solution.” | He added: “This government’s policies are disastrous for Palestinians, Israelis and the region. I don’t know what purpose it serves to undermine the two-state solution.” |
| The settlement, Barkan, a 25-year-old community with 500 families, is part of three large settlement blocs that Israel has demanded be part of its state under any future agreement with the Palestinians. But Palestinian leaders see any activity in the West Bank as a barrier to peace, and Mr. Kerry has urged the Israelis to halt settlement expansion during his diplomatic push. | The settlement, Barkan, a 25-year-old community with 500 families, is part of three large settlement blocs that Israel has demanded be part of its state under any future agreement with the Palestinians. But Palestinian leaders see any activity in the West Bank as a barrier to peace, and Mr. Kerry has urged the Israelis to halt settlement expansion during his diplomatic push. |
| Israel has not begun any new West Bank developments, though it has moved more than 1,000 already-approved units closer to construction. Mr. Netanyahu’s visit on Monday was his first public appearance in a settlement since the Jan. 22 elections. | Israel has not begun any new West Bank developments, though it has moved more than 1,000 already-approved units closer to construction. Mr. Netanyahu’s visit on Monday was his first public appearance in a settlement since the Jan. 22 elections. |
| “His being here is enough, his being here says it all,” said David Haivri, a spokesman for the settlers in this area of the northern West Bank. “Netanyahu, by coming here, is making a statement of his commitment toward the development of these communities.” | “His being here is enough, his being here says it all,” said David Haivri, a spokesman for the settlers in this area of the northern West Bank. “Netanyahu, by coming here, is making a statement of his commitment toward the development of these communities.” |
| The awkward timing was reminiscent of an incident in 2010, when Israel announced 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem while Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was visiting. A year later, Israel approved new construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem on the eve of a White House visit by President Shimon Peres, one in a series of such moves that angered Washington. | The awkward timing was reminiscent of an incident in 2010, when Israel announced 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem while Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was visiting. A year later, Israel approved new construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem on the eve of a White House visit by President Shimon Peres, one in a series of such moves that angered Washington. |
| The State Department declined to comment on Monday. | |
| The visit, in which Mr. Netanyahu met with settlement leaders who oppose a Palestinian state and engaged with third-graders about his father’s Zionist zeal, came hours after Israel dropped several bombs on the southern Gaza Strip in response to overnight rocket fire. There were no injuries reported in either Israel or Gaza, and the clash may have been set off by an internal dispute between Hamas, the Islamic militant faction that controls Gaza, and the extremist Islamic Jihad group. | The visit, in which Mr. Netanyahu met with settlement leaders who oppose a Palestinian state and engaged with third-graders about his father’s Zionist zeal, came hours after Israel dropped several bombs on the southern Gaza Strip in response to overnight rocket fire. There were no injuries reported in either Israel or Gaza, and the clash may have been set off by an internal dispute between Hamas, the Islamic militant faction that controls Gaza, and the extremist Islamic Jihad group. |
| A member of Islamic Jihad died Sunday from wounds inflicted when Hamas police officers tried to arrest him in connection with the kidnapping of a Gaza resident. The man was also wanted by Israel. It appeared that the rockets may have been launched by friends of the slain militant, since Islamic Jihad leaders said they remained formally committed to the six-month-old cease-fire with Israel that Hamas has been struggling to preserve. | A member of Islamic Jihad died Sunday from wounds inflicted when Hamas police officers tried to arrest him in connection with the kidnapping of a Gaza resident. The man was also wanted by Israel. It appeared that the rockets may have been launched by friends of the slain militant, since Islamic Jihad leaders said they remained formally committed to the six-month-old cease-fire with Israel that Hamas has been struggling to preserve. |
| Invoking the legacy of his father, a hawkish historian who viewed Arabs as “an enemy by essence,” Mr. Netanyahu addressed the exchange with Gaza during his visit here. “Jews must be able to defend themselves, by themselves, and to act with determination, against any enemy that tries to harm us,” he told the schoolchildren. | Invoking the legacy of his father, a hawkish historian who viewed Arabs as “an enemy by essence,” Mr. Netanyahu addressed the exchange with Gaza during his visit here. “Jews must be able to defend themselves, by themselves, and to act with determination, against any enemy that tries to harm us,” he told the schoolchildren. |
| He did not directly discuss the peace process or West Bank settlements, but said, “We will continue to develop our land.” | He did not directly discuss the peace process or West Bank settlements, but said, “We will continue to develop our land.” |
| “The most important thing is to deepen our roots, because all the rest grows from there,” Mr. Netanyahu added. “We are here today to deepen our roots.” | “The most important thing is to deepen our roots, because all the rest grows from there,” Mr. Netanyahu added. “We are here today to deepen our roots.” |
| Many leaders and analysts on both sides expect Mr. Kerry, who has made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a centerpiece of his agenda, to bring with him this week a concrete plan for restarting talks. Several people close to the process said Washington is trying to reassure Jerusalem on security, not just in regard to the Palestinians but also involving Syria and Iran, in order to press Mr. Netanyahu to make concessions that would give his counterpart more flexibility to resume negotiations. | Many leaders and analysts on both sides expect Mr. Kerry, who has made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a centerpiece of his agenda, to bring with him this week a concrete plan for restarting talks. Several people close to the process said Washington is trying to reassure Jerusalem on security, not just in regard to the Palestinians but also involving Syria and Iran, in order to press Mr. Netanyahu to make concessions that would give his counterpart more flexibility to resume negotiations. |
| An Israeli news channel reported Monday night that Mr. Abbas had agreed to return to talks for a limited time, citing unnamed sources, but Xavier Abu Eid, a spokesman for the Palestinians’ negotiations unit, said the report was untrue. | |
| Israel is eager to restart talks in part to fend off mounting European criticism of its policies in the West Bank. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, weakened by the recent resignation of his new prime minister and facing intense pressure from his own party to take action against Israel through United Nations institutions, is wary of being seen as negotiating simply for the sake of negotiating. | Israel is eager to restart talks in part to fend off mounting European criticism of its policies in the West Bank. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, weakened by the recent resignation of his new prime minister and facing intense pressure from his own party to take action against Israel through United Nations institutions, is wary of being seen as negotiating simply for the sake of negotiating. |
| “It is extremely risky for Abu Mazen to meet with Netanyahu and come back with a failure, the repercussions are going to be very negative,” Ziad Abu Amr, the Palestinian deputy prime minister and a close aide to Mr. Abbas, said in a recent interview, using the president’s nickname. “We want to make sure there are certain guarantees that would ensure the success of any effort.” | “It is extremely risky for Abu Mazen to meet with Netanyahu and come back with a failure, the repercussions are going to be very negative,” Ziad Abu Amr, the Palestinian deputy prime minister and a close aide to Mr. Abbas, said in a recent interview, using the president’s nickname. “We want to make sure there are certain guarantees that would ensure the success of any effort.” |
| Mr. Abu Amr was one of several Palestinian, Israeli and international officials who suggested that Mr. Kerry might issue an invitation for talks based on certain parameters — including the pre-1967 borders with minor adjustments — that would somehow circumvent Mr. Netanyahu’s insistence that there be no preconditions for negotiations. “This is not a routine visit,” he said. “We are expecting him to come with a proposal.” | Mr. Abu Amr was one of several Palestinian, Israeli and international officials who suggested that Mr. Kerry might issue an invitation for talks based on certain parameters — including the pre-1967 borders with minor adjustments — that would somehow circumvent Mr. Netanyahu’s insistence that there be no preconditions for negotiations. “This is not a routine visit,” he said. “We are expecting him to come with a proposal.” |
| Tzipi Livni, the Israeli minister in charge of negotiations, also said in a recent interview that Mr. Kerry’s efforts “cannot be endless,” and described the current dynamic between the sides as “icebergs melting into cold water.” | Tzipi Livni, the Israeli minister in charge of negotiations, also said in a recent interview that Mr. Kerry’s efforts “cannot be endless,” and described the current dynamic between the sides as “icebergs melting into cold water.” |
| At the school dedication here, Gershon Mesika, a leader of the settlers’ council, pressed Mr. Netanyahu to strengthen settlements, not evacuate them to create a Palestinian state, saying: “Peace does not mean stealing the house and the childhood of a child.” | At the school dedication here, Gershon Mesika, a leader of the settlers’ council, pressed Mr. Netanyahu to strengthen settlements, not evacuate them to create a Palestinian state, saying: “Peace does not mean stealing the house and the childhood of a child.” |
| In a third-grade classroom after the ceremony, the school principal, Sigalit Ben Eli, asked, “How can you ensure the continuation of Zionism here in Samaria?” using the biblical name for this part of the West Bank. | In a third-grade classroom after the ceremony, the school principal, Sigalit Ben Eli, asked, “How can you ensure the continuation of Zionism here in Samaria?” using the biblical name for this part of the West Bank. |
| Mr. Netanyahu did not bite, instead quizzing the students on the Holocaust and the Inquisition. | Mr. Netanyahu did not bite, instead quizzing the students on the Holocaust and the Inquisition. |
| “All sorts of bad things happened to the Jews,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “Why? Because they did not have a country. They did not have a land of their own, they did not have an army of their own.” | “All sorts of bad things happened to the Jews,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “Why? Because they did not have a country. They did not have a land of their own, they did not have an army of their own.” |
| He added: “This is what my father saw. If you understand, remember it.” | He added: “This is what my father saw. If you understand, remember it.” |
Isabel Kershner contributed reporting from Jerusalem, Fares Akram from the Gaza Strip, and | Isabel Kershner contributed reporting from Jerusalem, Fares Akram from the Gaza Strip, and Michael Gordon from New Delhi. |