Four years ago, then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton considered a secret plan created by her advisers to clandestinely foment unrest among Arabs in Judea and Samaria, in order to push the Israeli government back to the negotiating table.
The revelation arises from emails released as part of the investigation into the Democratic presidential frontrunner’s private email server.
The Washington Free Beacon reported Monday that in a December 18, 2011, email, former US ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering suggested that Clinton consider restarting peace negotiations by stirring up Palestinian demonstrations against Israel.
Pickering described the idea as a potential “game changer in the region.” Clinton reportedly asked that his email be printed.
“What will change the situation is a major effort to use non-violent protests and demonstrations to put peace back in the center of people’s aspirations as well as their thoughts, and use that to influence the political leadership,” Pickering wrote.
“This is far from a sure thing, but far, in my humble view, from hopeless,” he added, and suggested that the protests be led by women, because they are less likely to turn to violence.
“It must be all and only women. Why? On the Palestinian side the male culture is to use force,” Pickering wrote. “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.”
Pickering added that the US must keep its role in the demonstrations secret.
“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, suggesting that the government enlist leftist non-profit groups in Israel. “I believe third parties and a number (of) NGOs on both sides would help.”
Another Clinton confidant, Anne Marie Slaughter, sent an email to Clinton staffers recommending that they undertake a “Pledge for Palestine” campaign to convince US millionaires and billionaires to donate significant portions of their wealth to the Palestinian cause.
Slaughter wrote in the September 2010 email that the campaign would include “a certain shaming effect re Israelis, who would be building settlements in the face of a pledge for peace.”
As in other, previously leaked emails from Clinton’s server, the ideas discussed are largely broached by Clinton’s confidants, and she usually does not respond to them, either positively or negatively. However, the emails do appear to indicate the atmosphere that surrounds Clinton, and the way the people closest to her regard the Jewish state.
