Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., April 19, 2009 Nisan 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:44 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  82
Last update - 08:32 06/04/2009
Abbas lays down terms for peace talks with Netanyahu
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: benjamin netanyahu 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday laid down his conditions for renewing stalled peace negotiations with Israel.

The new Israeli government "would have to accept the creation of a Palestinian state, stop construction in West Bank Israeli settlements and remove army roadblocks crippling life in the West Bank so that we can resume dialogue in order to reach a political solution," Abbas said.

The Palestinian leader was speaking during a visit to Baghdad.
Advertisement

A few hours before Abbas' declaration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened his new coalition's inaugural weekly cabinet session by announcing that the next weeks would be dedicated to setting a policy for the advancement of the peace process.

"Today, we will establish a political-security cabinet and in the coming weeks we will complete the formulation of our policy to advance peace and security," Netanyahu told the 30 ministers and seven deputy ministers gathered for the session in Jerusalem.

The premier's comments came amid fears that his right-leaning government would stem any progress reached by former prime minister Ehud Olmert's administration in peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria.

"This government is a genuine unity government," he added. "It was created out of a sense of deep responsibility concerning the need to deal with the urgent security, economic and social challenges that Israel faces. And so with that, we set to work."

The prime minister told the cabinet that he planned to annul the previous government's decision to create an Israeli 'White House' with the hopes of reaching a more "modest proposal" for the premier's residence.

Ministers were also to vote on a number of ministerial panels during Sunday's meeting.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu promised ministers that over the coming days he would appoint a chairman of the health ministry, following the ire raised over the lack of a Health Minister appointed to the new government.

Labor chief: Israel committed to signed agreements

In his first remarks since the Netanyahu government was sworn in, Labor Party chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that Israel is bound by agreements that it has signed with the Palestinians, and that he "was not devoid of doubts, despite the fact that I supported going to the government."

"In my view, only time will tell if this was the right move," Barak said. "I feel this was the right move. I feel a sense of overall responsibility that this is right for the country," Barak said in a holiday toast with moshav members.

The Labor chairman said the party will be judged by its ability to bear an influence on government decisions and the results of what will happen. "Here is our real test, whether we are able or not able to bring this government to take steps, not in the spirit of Lieberman's declarations, but in the spirit of our positions."

Barak said that in contrast to Lieberman's view, "the government of Israel is bound by all previous diplomatic and international agreements and it will continue to act and to work towards achieving peace agreements with all its neighbors through every avenue and it will formulate a plan for a regional agreement which includes peace and cooperation."

Related articles:
  • U.S. envoy: Arab peace initiative will be part of Obama policy
  • 'Israel, Palestinians to renew peace talks this month'
  • Gideon Levy / Was Israel's reported strike in Sudan an exercise in propaganda?
  • 'Teenage Bedouin gunwoman sought to avenge Gaza op'
  • Egyptian Islamists: Deny entry to 'Zionist terrorist' Lieberman
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Hebrew harmony
    Watch American Idol star Adam Lambert singing in Hebrew
    Top recipes exposed
    Try the cheap way to eat in some of Tel Aviv's top restaurants
      1.   Skip the details and go to the bottom line 11:18  |  Natallie Durson 05/04/09
      2.   Natallie who pays you 12:53  |  michael 05/04/09
      3.   If that`s what you think Durson,then you can join the pantomime. 15:54  |  Whiskey 05/04/09
      4.   Teheran initiative....? 16:12  |  For real 05/04/09
      5.   It was set 60 years ago, and continue unchanged 16:21  |  American in NY 05/04/09
      6.   Natallie`s bottom line: Israel is here to stay 16:32  |  Realist 05/04/09
      7.   So the peace policy announced by Lieberman 16:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/04/09
      8.   Failure is progress 16:54  |  Muslim 05/04/09
      9.   baruch ha shem 17:20  |  Akiva P 05/04/09
      10.   For real 17:42  |  John 05/04/09
      11.   Is this an anti-peace government? 17:52  |  MichaelF 05/04/09
      12.   Looking for a Palestinian “peace partner” 18:18  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 05/04/09
      13.   Abas lays down 19:09  |  Randy 05/04/09
      14.   Abbas Preconditions 19:18  |  Steve 05/04/09
      15.   YES AMERICAN, IT WAS SET 60 YEARS AGO 19:26  |  Brant 05/04/09
      16.   remember the acute past! 19:27  |  rigma 05/04/09
      17.   #1 settlements 19:28  |  elimelech 05/04/09
      18.   fine no deal 19:29  |  vik 05/04/09
      19.   Al the so-called negotiations are nothing but a lie! 19:33  |  Ahmad 05/04/09
      20.   Conditions For Renewing Talks 19:36  |  Brad 05/04/09
      21.   The Palestinians already rejected that!!!! 19:37  |  Doc Holliday 05/04/09
      22.   # 2 whiskey 19:49  |  Axel 05/04/09
      23.   # 7 michaelf 19:54  |  Axel 05/04/09
      24.   Abbas lays down terms 19:55  |  Joshua 05/04/09
      25.   Abbas puffs out his chest and blusters in front of the Iraqis 19:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 05/04/09
      26.   # 5 un-realist 19:58  |  Axel 05/04/09
      27.   Ms. Durson. Correct again. 19:58  |  Lou Medel 05/04/09
      28.   If the Palestinians have lied down their terms 60 years ago 19:59  |  Akram Zekaria 05/04/09
      29.   Thanks, that makes it much easier. 20:00  |  Jew 05/04/09
      30.   Abbas winning propaganda war 20:05  |  bronxite10 05/04/09
      31.   #7 MichaelF 20:05  |  Lou Medel 05/04/09
      32.   Poor Whiskey, living in denial... 20:23  |  BBSNews 05/04/09
      33.   Instead of the pals "laying out" their demands.. 20:29  |  Malone 05/04/09
      34.   Netanyahu the obstructionist 20:29  |  david 05/04/09
      35.   Western Support to Fatah Helped Hamas War Crimes In Gaza 20:54  |  Joseph.E 05/04/09
      36.   Why don`t the Arabs tell truth anymre?? 21:02  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 2nd try 05/04/09
      37.   a palestinian state can never be viable except in theory 21:40  |  zionist forever 05/04/09
      38.   Abbas commitments 22:05  |  Daniel 05/04/09
      39.   No negotiations without stopping QASSAMS.mortars and SHALIT BACK 22:23  |  Vittorio 05/04/09
      40.   Or else what? 22:32  |  Muslim 05/04/09
      41.   # 7 The usual Arab hysteria in full bloom 22:35  |  Lynn 05/04/09
      42.   Abbas is absolutely correct, he has delivered, Israel has not.... 22:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/04/09
      43.   I feel like Durson to a point 22:47  |  American 05/04/09
      44.   Peace Talks 22:51  |  iLove Israel 05/04/09
      45.   Spine. 23:01  |  BazMann 05/04/09
      46.   Terms for peace 23:03  |  WHG 05/04/09
      47.   All this, from a man that controls nothing! 23:08  |  redbourn 05/04/09
      48.   our terms: open spoken acceptance of israel as jewsih state, and 23:29  |  ralph 05/04/09
      49.   WB Arabs have only 2 real options (a) Hamas rule (b) Jordan rule 23:40  |  G Marcus 05/04/09
      50.   Dino barking again 23:43  |  Michael 05/04/09
      51.   "the formulation of our policy to advance peace and security" 00:33  |  Giora Me`ir 06/04/09
      52.   found some new demands ralph--the Israeli way 00:36  |  Labhras 06/04/09
      53.   above 00:48  |  moishe 06/04/09
      54.   JUST SEND ABBAS MONEY. 00:54  |  MONEY TALK !!! 06/04/09
      55.   # 18 ralph 01:09  |  Axel 06/04/09
      56.   #15 abbas delivered nothing 01:17  |  McQueen 06/04/09
      57.   To Swiss (bigot). Abbas has done nothing. 01:28  |  flyingdoc57 06/04/09
      58.   Swiss (Dino) #15 Abbas is wrong 01:35  |  Brod 06/04/09
      59.   To Durson 02:04  |  Liat 06/04/09
      60.   #15, not quite correct, Dino 02:08  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      61.   American: Moral Equivalency is Moral Deliquency 02:51  |  Brad 06/04/09
      62.   Can some one tell me if there are road blocks into Jordan? 03:03  |  Alfred 06/04/09
      63.   Uh Abbas, who are you set lay down terms? 03:20  |  Nechama 06/04/09
      64.   What Abbas really wants 03:31  |  Frank 06/04/09
      65.   Why is it `all quite` in the West Bank ? 04:48  |  Akram Zekaria 06/04/09
      66.   Peace through superior fire power...only way.. 07:07  |  Nemesis 06/04/09
      67.   Abbas 07:33  |  Raymond M. Eades 06/04/09
      68.   #8 Joshua 09:06  |  lily 06/04/09
      69.   #59 Alfred, the answer is: yes. 11:04  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      70.   Morality and politics : 12:37  |  Jean Van Daem 06/04/09
      71.   54 12:54  |  Jean-f. 06/04/09
      72.   Brad from Canada 12:56  |  John , Canadian 06/04/09
      73.   To Swiss - Maybe, an A For Effort But Results... 16:16  |  Eli 06/04/09
      74.   For real ready to govern? 18:00  |  John 06/04/09
      75.   Arabs stopped Israel from Abbas terms 22:19  |  peter 06/04/09
      76.   #1 22:31  |  Jane 06/04/09
      77.   first the result, then the negotiation? 23:04  |  nina 06/04/09
      78.   Bottom line. Israel living up to agreements, Arabs are not 23:45  |  David 06/04/09
      79.   #77 And we are supposed to take that seriously, David? 12:53  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      80.   beware of a person making `promises` 18:37  |  triska 07/04/09
      81.   Pal State never never land. 15:12  |  petra 19/04/09
      82.   #10 Ahmed so is the pal stance a lie 15:15  |  petra 19/04/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Durban II conference
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    21:38 Obama: Durban II risks 'hypocritical' Israel hatred
    15:00 Barak to Netanyahu: We must present regional peace plan
    11:39 U.S.: Palestinians need not recognize Israel as Jewish state before talks
    19:02 Obama, Netanyahu, and Zionists Against Occupation
    13:04 What would be the timetable for Israel strike on Iran?
    16:53 Knesset speaker: Umm al-Fahm is an inseparable part of Israel
    18:21 'Swiss leader's offer to meet Ahmadinejad compounds crime with a sin'
    14:57 'Hezbollah surveyed Egyptian towns close to Israeli border'
    13:45 How many Jews would there be if not for the Holocaust?
    22:31 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    21:15 American hiker, 29, hurt after falling 35 meters off unmarked trail
    19:57 Jewish groups praise Western states boycotting Durban II
    18:41 Hamas MP wounded after shot by Fatah-allied officer in West Bank
    18:06 Fischer: Israel weathering financial storm, but recession far from over
    12:38 Descendants of Tel Aviv's first families recreate city's birth
    17:36 Israel Railways changes its story over dismissal of Arab employees
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved