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Last update - 09:15 13/09/2008
Fayyad: World support for peace is meaningless unless Israel halts settlement expansion
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service, and Reuters
Tags: Israel, Javier Solana 

The international community's support for the peace process is meaningless so long as there is no real pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told visiting European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Friday.

During his meeting with Solana in Ramallah, Fayyad said Israel's continued building in the settlements is a blatant violation of international law, according to Israel Radio.

Solana also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who updated him on the status of peace negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian leader reiterated his opposition to any partial agreement or interim deal with Israel, Israel Radio reported.
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Any future agreement must include resolutions to the core issues of the conflict, including the status of Jerusalem, the future borders, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Abbas told Solana.

Israel Radio reported that Abbas conferred by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday. The Palestinian leader is due in Washington for a meeting with President Bush later this month.

Solana: Israel, PA fumbled peace talks after Annapolis
Solana on Friday issued a harsh criticism of the management of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since the Annapolis Conference, saying that from the beginning the talks were carried out far too slowly.

In an interview with Haaretz after his arrival Friday for a tour of Israel and the Palestinian territories, Solana expressed doubts over whether a deal could be completed by the end of the year, saying that the longer the sides wait to go forward with talks, the less they are likely to succeed.

"Because time is shorter, it will more difficult to do," Solana said in regard to the talks, adding "I think we have to maintain the momentum."

Solana also expressed his hope that peace talks would go forward regardless, saying that in 2009 "it will be much more complicated to do."

EU mulls partnership talks with Syria
The European Union is willing to renew talks for a partnership pact with Syria once Damascus takes more steps to meet Western demands, the EU's foreign policy chief said on Friday.

The signing of an already-drafted association accord has been stalled since the assassination three years ago of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Syria has denied assertions the attack was orchestrated from Damascus.

Solana told reporters in Tel Aviv: "The attitude of the EU is to continue with Syria the negotiations as soon as it decides it's clear enough that Syria has changed its position."

Solana did not spell out what the Western demands were, but the EU has expressed concern about preventing weapons smuggling across Syria's borders to the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran.

"There is no doubt that if Syria changes their position in the way we are talking about, and they have done some change in that direction, then we'll consider no doubt," resuming negotiations for the pact, Solana said.

At this point there had not been any decision taken by the EU to resume these talks with Syria, he added.

Solana praised recent indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, under Turkish mediation, and said they ought to be resumed. Formal negotiations between Israel and Syria stalled in 2000.

"I think it's good. I think the contacts between Israel and Syria, through Turkey, should continue," he said.

Syria said last week it had postponed a further round of talks with Israel after the resignation of Israel's chief negotiator Yoram Turbowicz, who was stepping down as chief of staff for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert, embroiled in a corruption scandal, has pledged to resign once his Kadima party chooses a new leader in a primary election scheduled for next week.

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      1.   EU top parasite who`s given Iran respite to contiue with nuke 15:57  |  Absolute Sweden 12/09/08
      2.   Solana track record? Israel must be destroyed 16:02  |  Arie 12/09/08
      3.   EU actions is leading to a new Islam invasion and more painfull 16:25  |  JP 12/09/08
      4.   Has the World become Hostages to Oil...? 17:54  |  Dagma 12/09/08
      5.   Israel too busy building "Illegal Setlements" to talk. 18:01  |  Labhras 12/09/08
      6.   HIS EXCELLENCY, JAVIER SOLANA 18:20  |  Brant 12/09/08
      7.   no onw really believes in Palestinian/Israheli Peace! 18:32  |  get real 12/09/08
      8.   #4 Dagma, brilliant conclusion 18:42  |  Mark B. 12/09/08
      9.   GET REAL YOURSELF 18:51  |  Brant 12/09/08
      10.   Foot dragging indeed by Israel. The Saudi Plan was on the table! 20:57  |  Ivar 12/09/08
      11.   The Same Formula Brings the Same Results 21:21  |  Tom 12/09/08
      12.   Abbas cannot be trusted. 21:42  |  Jean Van Daem 12/09/08
      13.   HOW ON EARTH DID HE GET THIS JOB ? 23:34  |  Arik Silverman 12/09/08
      14.   to #5 labras, "But the inevitable outcome is getting perilously" 01:51  |  JP 13/09/08
      15.   We have a problem Fayyad: Israel is not hearing very well 02:24  |  Mark B. 13/09/08
      16.   Tell UK not to rent its embassy from Leviev 03:12  |  ted 13/09/08
      17.   Bush`s settlement 04:41  |  lady from USA 13/09/08
      18.   Fayyad`s statement is obviously true 07:05  |  Johnboy 13/09/08
      19.   One State Sooner 07:54  |  Ben 13/09/08
      20.   We have unquestionable rights on the Land of Israel. 08:36  |  Jean Van Daem 13/09/08
      21.   Fayyad: World support for peace is meaningless unless Israel hlts 08:41  |  martin list, m.d. 13/09/08
      22.   the overworked international law only appears to apply to israel 08:42  |  v.hardman 13/09/08
      23.   get real 09:09  |  x-ray 13/09/08
      24.   Fayyad says it exactly as it is.... 10:18  |  Esther 13/09/08
      25.   Right of Return 10:28  |  Matthew Houston 13/09/08
      26.   #25 mathew ther are no documentary records to prove any claims 10:43  |  v.hardman 13/09/08
      27.   Re Matthew #25 11:21  |  Esther 13/09/08
      28.   The Arab refugees are the victims of the Arab states ? not ... 12:00  |  Jean Van Daem 13/09/08
      29.   Johnboy: she is allowed her imperatives 12:56  |  Fish 13/09/08
      30.   Has Solana any Idea olf the `Palestinian Charter 13:46  |  Dolly 13/09/08
      31.   PEACE NOT WANTED 14:56  |  X-MILITARY 13/09/08
      32.   ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS 15:14  |  X-MILITARY 13/09/08
      33.   Fayyad`s Crap 15:18  |  Brod 13/09/08
      34.   Riiiiight... 15:44  |  Gili 13/09/08
      35.   #29 Oh, I see someone with their head up their arse, Fish 16:41  |  Johnboy 13/09/08
      36.   He is right 17:11  |  lev 13/09/08
      37.   World support for peace is meaningless unless Israel 17:35  |  Joseph.E 13/09/08
      38.   Johnboy, from 1947 to 2000 18:02  |  Fish 13/09/08
      39.   Even with no settlements, there will be no peace 19:42  |  lady from USA 13/09/08
      40.   Halt expansion only? What about removing all settlements... 21:48  |  Palestinian Brit 13/09/08
      41.   #25 "Right of return" 22:35  |  hala 13/09/08
      42.   Peace comes when Palestinians from Egypt go home 22:43  |  sam 13/09/08
      43.   Fayyad`s support for peace is meaningless 23:36  |  Realist 13/09/08
      44.   Palestinian Brit - We will never be under your dirty kind... 01:38  |  BF 14/09/08
      45.   Palestinian Brit 01:48  |  Jane 14/09/08
      46.   LIBIRATION MOVEMENT 02:11  |  X-MILITARY 14/09/08
      47.   Murder more Jews for Peace 02:22  |  steve from raleigh 14/09/08
      48.   Nothing More Meaningless Than Arab Claims of Oppression 03:01  |  Tex 14/09/08
      49.   Matthew Houston...right of return 03:07  |  John 14/09/08
      50.   #35 Johnboy 05:19  |  Moshe 14/09/08
      51.   He is absolutely correct 10:31  |  John 15/09/08
      52.   John 12:31  |  lady from USA 15/09/08
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