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Last update - 07:25 17/04/2009
Obama wants Israel to hold parallel talks with Palestinians and Syria
By Akiva Eldar, Avi Issacharoff, Natasha Mozgovaya and Agencies
Tags: Mitchell, Obama, Israel news 

The Obama administration is preparing a Middle East peace process that will include simultaneous bilateral talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and between Israel and Syria. The plan is based on the Arab peace initiative that offers establishing normal relations between Israel and Arab League states in exchange for withdrawing from the occupied territories and establishing a Palestinian state.

The United States will put together a "security package," including demilitarization of the territories from which Israel will withdraw and the option of stationing a multinational force in them for years.

The Obama administration believes that a breakthrough in the peace process between Israel and the Arab states would restrain Tehran's influence and contribute to the diplomatic effort to block Iran's nuclearization.
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The regional peace plan will be the focus of President Barak Obama's meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah in the White House later this month.

Senior Palestinian Authority officials told Western diplomats Thursday that PA President Mahmoud Abbas will be invited to the White House after the Jordanian king's visit to discuss the Palestinians' participation in the initiative.

Abbas' visit is expected to take place before Obama's first meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But American sources have not confirmed this is so.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is pressing the U.S. administration to adopt the Arab initiative, which began as a Saudi initiative. In an article published some two months ago in the Financial Times, Prince Turki al-Faisal, former head of Saudi intelligence and former Saudi ambassador in Washington, wrote that failing to act on this initiative would lead to a reevaluation of Riyadh's relations with Washington.

Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman object to resuming negotiations with the Palestinians on a final-status arrangement. However, Defense Minister and Labor leader Ehud Barak has spoken in closed forums of his support for simultaneous talks with the Palestinian and the Syrians as part of a regional peace agreement and security arrangements.

On the eve of special American envoy George Mitchell's meeting with Abbas, there are increasing pressures among Fatah's leadership to put an end to the negotiations with Israel and demand equal rights for the territories' residents, in view of Israel's refusal to recognize the two-state solution.

Imprisoned Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Qureia, who led the talks with former foreign minister Tzipi Livni following the Annapolis conference, also support this position.

In all his talks in Jerusalem Thursday, Mitchell strongly dismissed the arguments against establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Mitchell is presenting support of a two-state solution as a fundamental condition for the U.S.'s recognition of a Palestinian unity government. Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak support this position.

Mitchell is to meet Abbas, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the head of the PA's negotiation team head, Saeb Erekat, in Ramallah Friday.

The Palestinian leaders will ask the Obama administration to treat Israel as the U.S. treats the Hamas government - total boycott - following Netanyahu's demand Thursday that the Palestinians first recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Netanyahu did not mention Israel's agreement to the two-state solution.

Jordan's King Abdullah will meet with President Obama next Tuesday to discuss cooperation toward improving the political and security situations in the Middle East.

Abdullah is the first Arab leader to meet Obama in the White House. The two are expected to discuss cooperation in dealing with various issues in the region, including security, reforms and the Arab peace initiative.

Abdullah is a strong supporter of the Saudi plan. It offers Israel recognition by all Arab states in exchange for withdrawal from territory it occupied in the 1967 war, establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.


Related articles:
  • Lieberman to Mitchell: Past Mideast peace efforts failed
  • Peres: Talk of IDF attack on Iran is 'not true'
  • Abbas lays down terms for peace talks with Netanyahu
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      1.   Connecting Iran and the Arab tinderbox 04:45  |  Brod 17/04/09
      2.   Pretty simple, really 04:48  |  Jasper 17/04/09
      3.   How many times did we tell you? 04:48  |  BBSNews 17/04/09
      4.   Man Oh Man 04:55  |  Heinz 17/04/09
      5.   President Obama, this might work. I hope so. 05:00  |  Lou Medel 17/04/09
      6.   Israel should just go to war... 05:20  |  Nathan 17/04/09
      7.   A favourable proposal similar to other peace plans 05:32  |  Smadar 17/04/09
      8.   Saudi "Peace" Plan, in reality a declaration of war 05:44  |  G Marcus 17/04/09
      9.   who cares what that dictator obama wants..... 05:49  |  glenna 17/04/09
      10.   This really proves what an idiot Obama is 05:52  |  McQueen 17/04/09
      11.   #3 who the hell is "we"? You and the other Israel-haters here? 05:54  |  McQueen 17/04/09
      12.   "just solution" to refugee problem = no return 05:55  |  McQueen 17/04/09
      13.   To BBSNews (#3): Checkmate. 05:59  |  Morris Valentine 17/04/09
      14.   Good Luck Trying To Herd Feral Cats, Obama 06:09  |  Jeff Northridge 17/04/09
      15.   BBSNews 06:19  |  TonyL 17/04/09
      16.   It has alaways been 06:49  |  Narcosis 17/04/09
      17.   Back asswards as usual Jasper... 06:51  |  BBSNews 17/04/09
      18.   Israel used to have the power 07:00  |  Akram Zekaria 17/04/09
      19.   Look, how many times does haaretz have to tell you all? 07:08  |  Johnboy 17/04/09
      20.   "diplomatic effort to block iran`s nuclearization" 07:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      21.   Rank novice stupidity 07:18  |  Ilan 17/04/09
      22.   #13 You aren`t listening, are you Morris? 07:19  |  Johnboy 17/04/09
      23.   PA asks the Obama for "total boycott" of Israel 07:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      24.   #14 Err, Jeff, can I point out...... 07:33  |  Johnboy 17/04/09
      25.   Israel of course is the nation-state of the Jewish people, and... 07:37  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 17/04/09
      26.   "stationing a multinational force in the territories" 07:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      27.   Time Obama ask the Arabs & not Israel ! 07:53  |  Akram Zekaria 17/04/09
      28.   Obama wake up 08:30  |  Joshua 17/04/09
      29.   A LONG LASTING PEACE, LONG LIVE OBAMA 09:01  |  indrajaya 17/04/09
      30.   Obama wants.... 09:12  |  DT 17/04/09
      31.   MV #13... there are no absolutes... 09:28  |  Esther 17/04/09
      32.   McQueen, if I hated Israel I would not be here... 09:31  |  BBSNews 17/04/09
      33.   appeasment 09:38  |  g. lee 17/04/09
      34.   to BBS news, (blatant bullshit station) 09:40  |  w. bone 17/04/09
      35.   2 X 0 = 0 09:48  |  Natallie Durson 17/04/09
      36.   Things are looking up.Jeff sent his shortest post to date. 10:11  |  Labhras 17/04/09
      37.   A MAN OF PEACE 10:15  |  indrajaya 17/04/09
      38.   Israel is no longer a partner in the peace process 10:30  |  Colin Wright 17/04/09
      39.   All is fine Let Obama learn the hard way 10:34  |  Baruch Gold 17/04/09
      40.   Abbas/Hamas - same same not different 10:40  |  lily 17/04/09
      41.   Oy Esther #17!!! Can`t you stop to think before writing? 10:44  |  S 17/04/09
      42.   To indrajaja 10:51  |  Beggar 17/04/09
      43.   #1, BRODS failure of grasping reality 11:03  |  VIPER 17/04/09
      44.   #3, BBSNEWS, partially happy overall though 11:06  |  VIPER 17/04/09
      45.   earth to barach gold--wakey wakey 11:12  |  the grim reaper 17/04/09
      46.   It is also very stupid.... 11:14  |  Anne 17/04/09
      47.   Saudi blackmail 11:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      48.   # 13 Morris Valentine Excellent post. 12:17  |  petra 17/04/09
      49.   COLIN WRIGHT LOL CAN YOU GET ANY FUNNIER? 12:23  |  Petra 17/04/09
      50.   OBAMA IS THE SAME AS BUSH 12:26  |  Petra 17/04/09
      51.   #47Cipora Julianna Kohn correction 12:28  |  alan woods 17/04/09
      52.   #23 cipora invokes the `fortress massada complex` 12:31  |  Ahem 17/04/09
      53.   Morris Valentine 12:43  |  examiner 17/04/09
      54.   #50, woods 12:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      55.   Obama`s right 13:08  |  GullyFoyle 17/04/09
      56.   B- BS News hides his name. 13:29  |  Tshveles Klapper 17/04/09
      57.   #29 indrajaya 14:06  |  GullyFoyle 17/04/09
      58.   # 23 CJK 14:17  |  Axel 17/04/09
      59.   # 13 mv inventing the squared circle 14:22  |  Axel 17/04/09
      60.   Israel won`t attack Iran 14:32  |  GullyFoyle 17/04/09
      61.   we will not leave the golan 14:43  |  harzion 17/04/09
      62.   obama may or may not want a great many things 14:45  |  harzion 17/04/09
      63.   isreal is no fortress 14:50  |  harzion 17/04/09
      64.   Who will replace Israel as the new Palestinian Jailers? 15:25  |  American in NY 17/04/09
      65.   Obama wants 15:28  |  Ralph 17/04/09
      66.   #55 Obama is right 15:36  |  Joshua 17/04/09
      67.   israel and uavs 15:38  |  harzion 17/04/09
      68.   axel "the great finale of 6 million dead" 15:39  |  harzion 17/04/09
      69.   cipora is of course quite right 15:41  |  harzion 17/04/09
      70.   Mr. McQueen`s Injustice as Justice 15:55  |  Yaakov Sullivan 17/04/09
      71.   Solve our fight by arab initiative peace 16:20  |  Zaina Kayed Shehab 17/04/09
      72.   Arabs put the plan and they must execute it 16:26  |  Abu Yusuf 17/04/09
      73.   The Golan ? a paramount strategic asset for Israel. 16:50  |  Mario Sala 17/04/09
      74.   Johnboy # 24 The "Security Package" 16:57  |  Jeff Northridge 17/04/09
      75.   # 71 mario 17:10  |  Axel 17/04/09
      76.   harzion-get off it 17:12  |  R. Sole 17/04/09
      77.   Talking "peace" without peace partners 17:20  |  Christopher 17/04/09
      78.   To Morris Valentine 17:29  |  Suspicious 17/04/09
      79.   Obama is an illuminated genius. 17:29  |  Dr D 17/04/09
      80.   SOMEBODY tell the President .He must have Hamas utterances 17:43  |  PETER SM 17/04/09
      81.   BBSNEWS Haters 17:48  |  Suspiciuos 17/04/09
      82.   the Saudi Plan 17:57  |  yuval 17/04/09
      83.   harzion~get off it 18:04  |  R. Sole 17/04/09
      84.   The Idiot in Chief strikes again 18:38  |  Lynn 17/04/09
      85.   # 20 Cipora JK....what do you expect from 18:47  |  Lynn 17/04/09
      86.   G Marcus 18:49  |  Observer 17/04/09
      87.   #9 Glenna 18:55  |  Observer 17/04/09
      88.   r sole "the hand that feeds you" 18:56  |  harzion 17/04/09
      89.   Dear Israel: Walk and Chew Gum 19:14  |  binny 17/04/09
      90.   All the world says "Two states" 20:06  |  Keith T. 17/04/09
      91.   Liars cheats 21:49  |  Jeff 17/04/09
      92.   nathan 22:01  |  yakov 17/04/09
      93.   # 68 Cipora and Harzion 22:53  |  Ardi 17/04/09
      94.   #78, Ardi 23:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/04/09
      95.   Obama needs Israel 00:00  |  Reid 18/04/09
      96.   #82 keeith should spend time on study before posting 00:16  |  vhardman 18/04/09
      97.   # 55 Gully----ble 00:21  |  Lynn 18/04/09
      98.   # 58 Axel.....I doubt the US will attack and kill 00:24  |  Lynn 18/04/09
      99.   Lynn excitement over approval ratings #77 00:31  |  Ahem 18/04/09
      100.   AXEL...look who is talking 00:43  |  Lynn 18/04/09
      101.   Keith T. # 82 The World Does Not Have The Authority 01:01  |  Jeff Northridge 18/04/09
      102.   RE: Saudi "Peace" Plan, in reality a declaration of war 01:30  |  Alexa 18/04/09
      103.   BBSNews 01:31  |  Alexa 18/04/09
      104.   To #65 Joshua - Obama is right 01:47  |  fit2Btied 18/04/09
      105.   Lynn excitement over approval ratings #77 01:48  |  ahem 18/04/09
      106.   Re: Akram Zekaria 01:50  |  Alexa 18/04/09
      107.   Re: Abu Yusuf 02:02  |  Alexa 18/04/09
      108.   Re: BBSNEWS Haters 02:04  |  Alexa 18/04/09
      109.   Obama has three years and a bit 02:16  |  sabra 18/04/09
      110.   #77, Lynn 04:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/04/09
      111.   20~ Cipora one of your best posts. 06:18  |  Akram Zekaria 18/04/09
      112.   If Abbas can`t make Hamas accept 2-State 07:34  |  Akram Zekaria 18/04/09
      113.   96~fit2Btied " Obama is right" 07:41  |  Akram Zekaria 18/04/09
      114.   Johnboy-# 19- reality check 08:24  |  Daniel Leopold 18/04/09
      115.   #6 Nathan inTel Aviv (Tal Abeeb) 09:10  |  Johnny 18/04/09
      116.   98~Alexa Leave the dream to those who are sleeping ! 09:50  |  Akram Zekaria 18/04/09
      117.   Palestinians will continue to avoid peace 10:54  |  Henk 18/04/09
      118.   Parallel talks 11:23  |  dani.a 18/04/09
      119.   #88 #93 Two states 13:25  |  Keith T. 18/04/09
      120.   Morris Valentine # 13 Israel has rented WB & Gaza with its blood 14:35  |  American in NY 18/04/09
      121.   the usa did nothing for israel until after the 1967 war 16:17  |  harzion 18/04/09
      122.   the usa needs to defend the gulf oilfields 16:22  |  harzion 18/04/09
      123.   Bibi, we stand behind you and behind Israel 16:32  |  Nechama 18/04/09
      124.   harzion @61 Echoeing my points thanks.. 16:37  |  Whiskey 18/04/09
      125.   Actually harzion..Obama`s "tempus is fugitting" now with his 16:38  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/04/09
      126.   Obama will be around for a long time 17:06  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      127.   Obama got elected because of the bad economy 17:19  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      128.   Well hank You know exactly what they want,don`t you? 17:21  |  KATHY 18/04/09
      129.   Hey,hey Johny in Houston.@108 I don`t Ever Recall.. 17:27  |  Whiskey 18/04/09
      130.   Anonymous About Obama and economics.@118.Okay,Okay BUT! 17:39  |  KATHY 18/04/09
      131.   Kathy --here is why the peace process does not work 17:44  |  aishling 18/04/09
      132.   Funny R.Sole Telling harzion who knows better,SAME AS MOST OF US. 17:49  |  Whiskey 18/04/09
      133.   Kathy--lets face it --it is because he is black 2nd try 17:54  |  ismus 18/04/09
      134.   Obama has only been in office for 3 months 18:01  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      135.   Harzion --you are wrong ---again. 18:03  |  yimri. 18/04/09
      136.   To Anonymous @ Addendum on Obama being around.. 18:33  |  KATHY 18/04/09
      137.   #129 Kathy "bend to the Arabs" 18:45  |  ballistic 18/04/09
      138.   #128 Ismus---- BINGO!!!! 18:46  |  ballistic 18/04/09
      139.   And to ismus(Second try)for your twisted information..here it is 19:42  |  KATHY 18/04/09
      140.   To aishling From limerick no less.Don`t need old refernces Thank 19:52  |  KATHY 18/04/09
      141.   Briefly harzion..America needs us and have allways needed us 19:54  |  Whiskey 18/04/09
      142.   Kathy--discounting "old references" may come back to haunt you. 20:35  |  aishling 18/04/09
      143.   yimri 21:50  |  harzion 18/04/09
      144.   harzion and his friends 22:06  |  uriah 18/04/09
      145.   yimri in 1968 president johnson eager to hide arms supplies 22:10  |  harzion 18/04/09
      146.   ,MAN FROM LIMERICK PRODUCES SOME 22:47  |  vhardman 18/04/09
      147.   #143--got your facts wrong Harzion--again. 22:48  |  yimri. 18/04/09
      148.   yimri "congress voted" 23:21  |  harzion 18/04/09
      149.   yimri some more facts 23:26  |  harzion 18/04/09
      150.   from 1966 -1970 aid increased to 102 million dollars a year 23:33  |  harzion 18/04/09
      151.   yimri american schools and hospitals abroad 23:38  |  harzion 18/04/09
      152.   To #113 Akram Zekaria 02:05  |  GullyFoyle 19/04/09
      153.   harzion - You`re wrong 03:33  |  Ari 19/04/09
      154.   ballistic...wake up! who are the mongers,ballistic? 05:25  |  Maria 19/04/09
      155.   You know why America is contributing a lot of money 05:33  |  MMM 19/04/09
      156.   Think....USA send money to Palestinians 05:41  |  MMM 19/04/09
      157.   The world needs Israel...you better believe it! 05:44  |  MMM 19/04/09
      158.   Jeff Northridge 74, Some UN Peacekeeping Operations areSuccessful 05:48  |  Reader 19/04/09
      159.   ari have you taken note of the number of israelis 06:54  |  harzion 19/04/09
      160.   #157 and the unsuccesful ones ??un ran away in .... 08:20  |  vhardman 19/04/09
      161.   who is david gardner and why is he abusing us 08:26  |  pinkun 19/04/09
      162.   For aishling..My response 16:39  |  KATHY 19/04/09
      163.   #6 Nathan and going to war. 16:54  |  John Allen 19/04/09
      164.   To all the anti (Israeli) zionists haters. 17:12  |  John Allen 19/04/09
      165.   To yimri wherever he/she is:You are merely Quibbling 18:22  |  Whiskey 19/04/09
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