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U.S. Secretary of State Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem Saturday.
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Last update - 23:02 01/11/2009
Jordan and Egypt accuse Israel of 'derailing' peace efforts
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
Tags: Middle East Peace 

Leaders of Jordan and Egypt on Sunday warned that Israel's unilateral actions in East Jerusalem and other Arab areas were "derailing" efforts aimed at resuming peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and would thereby have a "catastrophic" effect on the region.

The remarks came in a joint communique issued at the end of a whirlwind visit to Cairo by Jordan's King Abdullah II where he held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, according to Jordan's official Petra news agency.

The two leaders discussed the "catastrophic consequences on the region's stability and security resulting from the failure to seize the current opportunity for making peace," the statement said.]

Abdullah and Mubarak "stressed the need for an immediate cessation of Israeli unilateral actions, particularly the building of settlements and jeopardising the identity of Jerusalem and holy places, which could only derail the chances of peaces."

The leaders of the only two Arab states to conclude official peace treaties with Israel so far echoed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rejection of a fresh appeal by U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to resume peace negotiations before Israel stopped all forms of settlement construction.

Clinton met with Abbas in Dubai on Saturday to review the latest efforts to ensure re-launching peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The leaders of Jordan and Egypt in their statement urged the world ommunity anew to intensify efforts with a view to finding a solution
for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state vision
through "serious negotiations."

Palestinians: U.S. keeping peace process paralyzed

Pointing an accusing finger at the United States, the Palestinians on Sunday said Washington's backing for Israeli refusal to halt Jewish settlement expansion had killed any hope of reviving peace negotiations soon.

On a one-day regional visit on Saturday, Clinton endorsed Israel's view that settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank should not be a bar to resuming negotiations - contradicting the Palestinian position.

"The negotiations are in a state of paralysis, and the result of Israel's intransigence and America's back-peddling is that there is no hope of negotiations on the horizon," said Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah.

He said the Palestinians were calling for the Arab League to formulate a "unified Palestinian-Arab position" on the stalled peace process.

Abu Rdainah on Saturday dismissed Clinton's statement that Israel is making "unprecedented" concessions on West Bank settlement construction.

"There can be no excuse for the continuation of settlements, which is really the main obstacle in the way of any credible peace process," he said.

Netanyahu: Palestinians should get a grip

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday hit out at the Palestinian Authority over its demand for a complete Israeli settlement freeze before embarking on any fresh peace talks, saying he hoped the Palestinians would "get a grip" and drop this precondition.

"We've done things that have not been done until today, although while we are taking steps toward negotiations, we have encountered preconditions demanded by the Palestinian side, which were never demanded before," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"Beginning negotiations is important to us, but it is no less important to the Palestinians. We are committed to negotiations, and we hope that the Palestinians will lift the precondition," said Netanyahu.

The prime minister also told the cabinet that Clinton had decided that U.S. President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, would extend his current visit to the region by a number of days in order to bridge the differences between the sides.

Israel is making a concerted effort to renew the peace talks, Netanyahu said.

Clinton: Israel making unprecedented concessions

During a press conference on Saturday night with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Clinton said: "What the Prime Minister has offered in specifics of a restraint on the policy of settlements which he has just described - no new starts for example, is unprecedented in the context of prior-to negotiations."


She also said a freeze in settlement building had not been a condition for peace talks in the past and urged both sides to resume talks now.

But Abbas' spokesman Abu Rdainah said following the comments: "A settlement freeze and acknowledging the terms of reference is the only way towards peace negotiations. Settlement is illegitimate and it is not possible to accept any justification for the continuation of the settlement activity or to defend it in the lands occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem."

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said Saturday the U.S. could not effectively engage in peacemaking while ignoring Hamas, and said Clinton's visit was "destined to fail."

During the press conference, Netanyahu said Israel was ready to start talks right away and that the Palestinians could bring their objections about settlements to the negotiating table.

"What we should do on the path to peace is get on it and get with it," he said.

The prime minister also blasted the Palestinian demand for a settlement freeze.

"But this is a new demand, it's a change of policy - of the Palestinian policy and it doesn't do much for peace - it doesn't work to advance negotiations," Netanyahu said. "It actually is used as a pretext... as an obstacle that prevents the re-establishment of negotiations."


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      1.   A tragedy in the making... 09:23  |  S 01/11/09
      2.   Why didn`t the PA complain about settlements when Olmert was PM? 09:52  |  Mark 01/11/09
      3.   peace? 10:03  |  Ned 01/11/09
      4.   If "Israel is making "unprecedented" concessions" 10:24  |  Joseph .E 01/11/09
      5.   Mark, they did. 10:28  |  Peter 01/11/09
      6.   #4 That`s one mighty big "if", Joseph E 11:08  |  Johnboy 01/11/09
      7.   to Givatayim 11:33  |  John the American 01/11/09
      8.   Why didn`t the PA complain about settlements when Olmert was PM? 13:43  |  Mark Lincoln 01/11/09
      9.   Palestinians I am sick of your racism approach 14:42  |  fredyr 01/11/09
      10.   US admin betrays peace. 14:48  |  Magnus K 01/11/09
      11.   Why should they start negotiations? 15:10  |  Moritz 01/11/09
      12.   # 4 : Stop Balaming and Start Working.. 15:13  |  Stephen 01/11/09
      13.   #1, Think land swaps 15:36  |  David 01/11/09
      14.   So what else is new? 17:17  |  hf 01/11/09
      15.   Throwing a temper tantrum is easier for the 17:29  |  Gina 01/11/09
      16.   as time flits by the terms get harder and 17:35  |  vhardman 01/11/09
      17.   Palestinians fear advancing peace talks 17:37  |  Gina 01/11/09
      18.   Abbas Has Lost Face; Misinterpreted Obama`s Speech 17:41  |  John Q. Public 01/11/09
      19.   #10 Stephen - Ever hear of Salami tactics? 17:57  |  *BEN JABO 01/11/09
      20.   Palestinians Reject Peace & compromise 18:06  |  Clive Marcus 01/11/09
      21.   Settlements 18:06  |  AM 01/11/09
      22.   #1, S, "a tragedy in the making" 18:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/09
      23.   To John The american 18:16  |  Clive Marcus 01/11/09
      24.   Bibi: "But this is a new demand, it`s a change of policy " 18:19  |  Esther 01/11/09
      25.   #1 S.....exactly and some of us Dems saw it coming 18:19  |  Lynn 01/11/09
      26.   Peter`s "international law" 18:27  |  SDHD 01/11/09
      27.   Johnboy and "strong-arming" the Palestinians 18:29  |  SDHD 01/11/09
      28.   Moritz asks a question 18:30  |  SDHD 01/11/09
      29.   To Ned from Chicago 18:30  |  Boris 01/11/09
      30.   Pres.Barak is now working hard for his 2nd TERM 18:47  |  Ahmed Casseem 01/11/09
      31.   Now look at this Picture,"what this smile of Bibi SAY" 19:01  |  Arik 01/11/09
      32.   Stephen 19:22  |  jake 1948 01/11/09
      33.   Stephen 19:22  |  jake 1948 01/11/09
      34.   Mark Lincoln # 8 19:23  |  Philippe 01/11/09
      35.   This is comical 19:25  |  Scott 01/11/09
      36.   Peace in our time 19:31  |  jake 1948 01/11/09
      37.   PA Dreams Of Reversing The Clock Back To 1947, But ... 19:35  |  Lavi 01/11/09
      38.   Palestinians should have done this LONG AGO 19:44  |  Katherine 01/11/09
      39.   PA Unrealistic About Obama 20:22  |  Jane 01/11/09
      40.   The PA has no interest in negotiations while hamas is strong... 20:53  |  ben 01/11/09
      41.   Israel... 21:13  |  Yosemite 01/11/09
      42.   Who are you trying to fool Bibi? 22:13  |  Fahmi Natour 01/11/09
      43.   Israeli Palestinian negotiations will lead to nowhere. 22:14  |  C2 01/11/09
      44.   Not since Monica Lewinsky has Clinton Looked Like Such a Fool 22:29  |  Arik Silverman 01/11/09
      45.   Cocede that the concession is overture to opression 22:43  |  AntiSettler 01/11/09
      46.   Peace or War 23:13  |  Hugh 01/11/09
      47.   #6 Johnboy`s 180?? 23:18  |  passerby 01/11/09
      48.   expect Jordan and Egypt to withdraw ambassadors soon 23:32  |  Matt T. 01/11/09
      49.   Settlements 23:44  |  Bill 01/11/09
      50.   # 4 joseph 23:59  |  Axel 01/11/09
      51.   Jordan & Egypt 00:00  |  The Teacher/Instruct 02/11/09
      52.   Jordan and Egypt should encourage Abbas to negotiate 00:21  |  Gina 02/11/09
      53.   #4 the big problem with your logic, joseph e. 01:47  |  eric 02/11/09
      54.   Jordan and Egypt should encourage Abbas to negotiate 01:54  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/09
      55.   While peace is on hold, we?re losing the demographics war 01:55  |  Rachel Rabin 02/11/09
      56.   Crocodile Tears 01:56  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/09
      57.   gina, go back to your cave 01:58  |  sabera 02/11/09
      58.   go to hell. we`re almost the majority in palestine today. 01:59  |  sabera 02/11/09
      59.   Pals dont want Peacetalk-they want US 2 kick Jews outa IL 4 them 02:09  |  Alan SA 02/11/09
      60.   Settlements are not illegal 02:11  |  Lawyer 02/11/09
      61.   LORD CARADON a key drafter of Res 242 02:14  |  BRITISH AMBASSADOR, 02/11/09
      62.   one more quote 02:19  |  Former President LBJ 02/11/09
      63.   Time To Reject Any Arab Country As Mediator/Helper 02:37  |  Brad 02/11/09
      64.   gina, go back to your cave 02:51  |  sabera 02/11/09
      65.   While peace is on hold, we?re losing the demographics war 02:51  |  Rachel Rabin 02/11/09
      66.   Jordan and Egypt 02:51  |  Brod 02/11/09
      67.   Israel learned the lesson of withdrawing from Gaza 03:51  |  Abuya 02/11/09
      68.   Abdulla did nothing to move the ARAB PLAN. 03:53  |  Yosi 02/11/09
      69.   Jordan and Egypt 04:00  |  US CITIZEN 02/11/09
      70.   #4 the big problem with your logic, joseph e. 07:43  |  eric 02/11/09
      71.   Settlements are THE core issue 10:24  |  r cummings 02/11/09
      72.   Former President LBJ - right and wrong 10:44  |  r cummings 02/11/09
      73.   "Israel`s intransigence" 16:46  |  jj 02/11/09
      74.   #10 2ND TRY STEPHEN 17:22  |  *BEN JABO 02/11/09
      75.   #20 r. cummings SETTLEMENTS AREN`T THE CORE 18:13  |  *BEN JABO 02/11/09
      76.   #21 r. cummings - Don`t be so selective 18:18  |  *BEN JABO 02/11/09
      77.   NEGOTIATE SHMEGOTIATE 18:25  |  *BEN JABO 02/11/09
      78.   Reality 23:25  |  Hugh 02/11/09
      79.   Ben JABO--Consistency? 23:40  |  Hugh 02/11/09
      80.   SDHD`s Planet 23:58  |  Hugh 02/11/09
      81.   Philippe--Compromise 00:08  |  Hugh 03/11/09
      82.   cave man politics 04:57  |  Capt Black 03/11/09
      83.   150 YEARS 08:58  |  The Teacher/Instruct 03/11/09
      84.   ben jabo 74 11:02  |  potobac 03/11/09
      85.   #84 Potobac - As I previously said 17:52  |  *BEN JABO 04/11/09
      86.   #79 Hugh - Toronto 17:54  |  *BEN JABO 04/11/09
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