Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 09, 2009 Cheshvan 22, 5770 | | Israel Time: 14:19 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
PA President Abbas and U.S. envoy Mitchell meet in Amman.
 Reuters
Share |
Last update - 15:19 03/11/2009
Abbas tells Obama envoy he's adamant on settlement freeze
By News Agencies
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Mubarak 

The Palestinian Authority would not resume peace talks with Israel until all construction in the West Bank settlements stopped, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Monday in Amman.

"The president made it clear during the meeting that peace cannot be achieved with the continuation of the settlement activity," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters after the meeting.

"We do not put conditions for resuming negotiations, but we want the talks resumed on the basis of the provisions of the road map, which stipulates the cessation of all forms of settlement activity in the Palestinian territories," he said.
Advertisement
"Mitchell emphasized during today's meeting that there is no change in the U.S. attitude, which rejects the Israeli settlements," he added.

Although the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has also demanded a total construction halt, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Jerusalem on Saturday that this demand was not a prerequisite for renewing peace talks.

Clinton flew to Morocco on Monday for a meeting with Arab foreign ministers, seeking their help in convincing Abbas to return to the negotiating table even in the absence of a construction freeze.

Clinton will travel from Morocco to Egypt for a meeting on Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a State Department spokesman said on Monday.

Those talks are also likely to focus on the stalled peace process.

Earlier Monday, Clinton said Israel's offer to show restraint on settlements falls short of U.S. expectations. The secretary of state sought to counter Arab accusations she had been too soft on Israel.

Arab foreign ministers are likely to tell Clinton that they are disappointed she did not put more pressure to freeze settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank when she met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said earlier on Monday he feared Obama's drive to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks could be heading for failure over the settlement issue.

Obama has eased U.S. pressure on Israel over settlements, calling for restraint in construction where he had earlier pushed for a freeze. The change has angered Palestinians who say it killed any hope of reviving peace negotiations soon.

"The Israelis have responded to the call of the U.S., the Palestinians and the Arab world to stop settlement activity by expressing a willingness to restrain settlement activity," Clinton told reporters.

"This offer falls far short of what our preference would be but if it is acted upon it will be an unprecedented restriction on settlements and would have a significant and meaningful effect on restraining their growth."

Clinton also praised Abbas for "positive steps" he was taking toward talks, including improving security on the West Bank, and she said that Israel should reciprocate.

"When either party takes any step that looks like it moves us in the right direction, even if it is not what I would like or I would prefer, I am going to positively reinforce that," Clinton said.

Related articles:
  • Clinton: Israel's settlement offer falls short of U.S. wishes
  • Bradley Burston / Why do Israelis dislike Barack Obama?
  • Akiva Eldar / It's not peace, Madam Secretary
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    3,000 Jews - one GA
    American Jewry kicks off annual GA conference, but guest star Obama cancels.
    Talking to Hamas
    Islamists slam Mofaz's vision for negotiations and Palestinian state as 'Zionist vulgarity.'
      1.   What does the delay do for Abbas? 23:34  |  Dave Duncan 02/11/09
      2.   makes sense 23:34  |  michael 02/11/09
      3.   Great News ! Now we don`t have to pretend he`s for peace ! 23:44  |  Yisrael 02/11/09
      4.   Roadmap you say? then disban terror groups... 23:44  |  Avi 02/11/09
      5.   Mr Abba 00:00  |  C2 03/11/09
      6.   Abbas has no choice 00:06  |  Libertad 03/11/09
      7.   Sharon was right! 00:20  |  ben 03/11/09
      8.   What price does Israel pay to continue the settlements? 01:51  |  Nick 03/11/09
      9.   The record shows 02:15  |  Mark Lincoln 03/11/09
      10.   Abbas and the settlements 02:25  |  David Segal 03/11/09
      11.   settlements and 2 state solution not compatible 02:31  |  one 03/11/09
      12.   Road Map 02:37  |  Matthew Houston 03/11/09
      13.   Abbas has finally grown some big ones it took him a while though 02:39  |  lydia 03/11/09
      14.   Abbas is right, it`s not a new condition, it`s Road Map old... 02:46  |  BBSNews 03/11/09
      15.   Time to Take a Stand 03:13  |  Vladek 03/11/09
      16.   George Bush`s Darn Roadmap 05:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/11/09
      17.   Abbas shocker! 05:29  |  Barry Zornberg 03/11/09
      18.   Abbas will do anything not to negotiate 05:58  |  McQueen 03/11/09
      19.   Matthew Houston on some deranged planet 06:54  |  SDHD 03/11/09
      20.   BSNews, as out-of-touch as ever 06:56  |  SDHD 03/11/09
      21.   One... two, three strikes, you`re out 06:58  |  SDHD 03/11/09
      22.   At last he`s doing and saying what his people want. 07:45  |  Palestinian Brit 03/11/09
      23.   McQueen Er what have the Palestinians belonging to Irsael? 08:42  |  CJ 03/11/09
      24.   Flip flop Hillary-cum-Obama 08:43  |  Steve the Pals. 03/11/09
      25.   Lets be clear about withdrawl 08:48  |  lawyer 03/11/09
      26.   abbas has painted himself into a corner 08:50  |  peace monger 03/11/09
      27.   Flip flop Hillary-cum-Obama 08:58  |  Steve the Pals. 03/11/09
      28.   then be fair- a freeze on Arab building too. 09:32  |  JO 03/11/09
      29.   Let`s forget about the yes and no flip flop, and work for peace. 09:43  |  S 03/11/09
      30.   Abbas is adamant: let him be adamant 10:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/11/09
      31.   ALL settlements are a refusal of peace on Israel`s part 10:51  |  Ivar 03/11/09
      32.   Lawyer from Canada ---2nd try 10:53  |  j. from Calgary 03/11/09
      33.   Lawyer 25. The occupation is now completely illegal. 10:56  |  Michael 03/11/09
      34.   Good! I believe my settlement can sustain a freeze for the benef. 11:00  |  Meir Gush Etzion 03/11/09
      35.   Dismantle the West Bank apartheid regime, Obama. 11:05  |  Michael 03/11/09
      36.   Abbas is irrelevant 11:56  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 03/11/09
      37.   SDHD on some indoctrinated planet 14:29  |  NSM 03/11/09
      38.   #25, withdrawl and resolution 242 14:50  |  NSM 03/11/09
      39.   PA governs more than 95% of Arabs of Judea and Samaria. 14:58  |  17 03/11/09
      40.   Lawyer # 25 does 242 give Israel an entitlement to occupy or 15:10  |  ANY 03/11/09
      41.   Occupied by whom 16:45  |  Jackie 03/11/09
      42.   to Michael....Obama is a good man but has no power 16:54  |  Tony Silver 03/11/09
      43.   It`s easier than negotiating for a country of their own 17:29  |  Gina 03/11/09
      44.   Is the road map a binding agreement? 18:10  |  Bill 03/11/09
      45.   #44 Bill, the answer to yuor question is the US 18:30  |  NSM 03/11/09
      46.   # 44 Bill/Chicago re Road Map 18:35  |  17 03/11/09
      47.   NSM making obtuse statements 20:22  |  SDHD 03/11/09
      48.   NSM, out of touch 20:41  |  SDHD 03/11/09
      49.   A changed Abbas ? 21:06  |  David 03/11/09
      50.   How many times does it have to be said 21:44  |  allang 03/11/09
      51.   Barry Zornberg`s blog about Mahmoud Abbas 23:36  |  Noam Levy 03/11/09
      52.   Hillary is wrong. 01:12  |  Johnboy 04/11/09
      53.   Interior decoratorations. 09:08  |  Maureen Ann 04/11/09
      54.   #47 SDHD 14:04  |  NSM 04/11/09
      55.   #48 SDHD 14:17  |  NSM 04/11/09
      56.   #25 That is simply untrue, Lawyer 10:11  |  Johnboy 05/11/09
      57.   Barry Zornberg`s blog about Mahmoud Abbas 18:54  |  Mohammad Akbar Ayala 07/11/09
      58.   Barry Zornberg`s blog about Mahmoud Abbas 14:15  |  Mustafa Ahmajani 09/11/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    14:10 Iran welcomes nuclear talks, but ignores West's offers
    09:31 Jordan: World must stop Israel settlement building
    09:57 Does Obama delay in scheduling Netanyahu meet point to crisis?
    09:28 Palestinian sources: Abbas plans to quit before elections
    13:28 Study: Israeli employers prefer not to hire Arabs
    12:16 What Arafat's wife told him on his deathbed
    11:40 Tel Aviv students afraid to challenge leftist professors
    10:18 West Bank rabbi: Jews can kill Gentiles who threaten Israel
    09:32 TV ROUND-UP: Netanyahu to meet Obama, Mofaz envisions Hamas talks
    08:43 Israeli envoy tells U.S. Jews: Push for Iran sanctions
    02:50 Public housing? Not if your partner is Palestinian
    03:55 Authors of IDF ethics code demand Gaza war probe
    11:11 Scientist Vitaly Ginzburg, who helped make Soviet H-bomb, dies at 93
    10:33 Self-declared rabbi indicted for child abuse
    09:11 After 22 years, West Bank movie theater comes back to life
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | 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