The latest batch of controversial emails released by the US State Department shows that Hillary Clinton may have been seeking to encourage an anti-Israel atmosphere, and generate Palestinian protests, in order to force Israel to the negotiating table.Based on emails released from Clinton’s private email server, the Washington Free Beacon reported on Monday that four years ago, on December 18, 2011, former US ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering, sent Clinton an email suggesting that she should consider a plan to restart the then-stalled peace negotiations by instigating Palestinian demonstrations against Israel.
According to the PNN, Pickering described, in the emails, the effort as a potential ‘game changer’ in the region, recommending that the United States undertake a clandestine campaign to generate unrest.
“This is far from a sure thing, but far, in my humble view, from hopeless,” Pickering wrote.
Pickering’s reasoning also demonstrated his condescending approach toward the Palestinians. “It [the demonstrations] must be all and only women. Why? On the Palestinian side the male culture is to use force. Palestinian men will not for long patiently demonstrate — they will be inclined over time and much too soon to be frustrated and use force. Their male culture comes close to requiring it.”
According to the Free Beacon report, Pickering noted that the administration must keep its role in the demonstration a secret, so as not to irritate ties with Israel.
“Most of all, the United States, in my view, cannot be seen to have stimulated, encouraged or be the power behind it, for reasons you will understand better than anyone,” he wrote.
Pickering additionally suggested that the government enlist non-profit groups in Israel to operate against it. “I believe third parties and a number NGOs on both sides would help.”
Another Clinton confidant, Anne-Marie Slaughter, who served as Clinton’s director of policy planning at Foggy Bottom from 2009 until 2011, sent a staff-wide email to Clinton staffers in September of 2010, recommending that they undertake a “Pledge for Palestine” campaign, with the aim to convince US millionaires and billionaires to donate significant portions of their wealth to the Palestinian cause.
“Such a campaign among billionaires/multi-millionaires around the world would reflect a strong vote of confidence in the building of a Palestinian state and could offset the ending of the moratorium for Palestinians,” Slaughter wrote in the email. “There would also be a certain shaming effect re Israelis, who would be building settlements in the face of a pledge for peace.”
Clinton’s responses to these ideas were not recorded in the emails.
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