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Barak: Israel shouldn't appease U.S. president with one year left
By Mazal Mualem and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies
Tags: Barak, Ramon, Israel, PA

Defense Minister Ehud Barak this week warned against forsaking Israeli diplomatic principles to gain favor with the Bush administration.

In statements made to Haaretz, Barak warned against a "withdrawal from Israeli principles that have stood for 40 years, merely to gain favor in the eyes of an American president who is leaving office in a year."

Barak also leveled harsh criticism on recent efforts by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Vice Premier Haim Ramon to advance diplomatic progress with the Palestinian Authority, stating that even if PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad wanted to sign a peace agreement with Israel, they don't have the power to implement it.
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Barak's words paint a strong contrast to statements made by Olmert speechto a Kadima Party gathering Thursday night where the PM said Israel "has a partner" in Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

The defense minister attacked Ramon's recently published diplomatic plan that would set the future border of Israel on the 1967 lines and would transfer Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem to Palestinian control.

"Ramon is overreaching and he lacks supervision or self control," Barak stated.

Sources close to Ramon came to the vice premier's defense, saying that his proposal was much more modest than what Barak offered then PA head Yassir Arafat at Camp David in 2000, adding that Barak until recently expressed great pride at his willingness to unilaterally withdrawal from 90% of the West Bank at the peace summit proceeding the second Intifada.

In security and diplomacy discussions held in recent days to prepare for November's U.S.-sponsored peace summit in Washington, Barak stated that the joint declaration with the Palestinians that the two sides have been working on "must be sufficiently substantive, so that the Palestinians do not feel humiliated and exploited."

However, Barak also said that "it must be sufficiently general, so Israelis do not feel like they are suckers who have made substantive concessions on core issues without receiving anything in return."

The defense minister believes that Israel must avoid presenting opening views that will be considered binding during later stages of the negotiations. He is also opposed to including in the joint declaration a clause stating that the future border between Israel and the Palestinian state will be based on the 1967 lines. His proposal is to include less explicit wording that will reiterate United Nations Security Council Resolution 242.

Barak is also opposed to any mention of UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which the Palestinians use to interpret as international recognition to their demand for a right of return of refugees
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  1.   Oh Barak, are you jealous of Olmert and Ramon now 13:52  |  Tamir Palestine 21/09/07
  2.   Barak is right 13:57  |  Brod 21/09/07
  3.   I understand from Barak article is this: 14:05  |  Tamir Palestine 21/09/07
  4.   Stupid Comment from Barak 14:05  |  Ronnie Wolman 21/09/07
  5.   Once burned, twice shy... 14:14  |  sandra chitayat 21/09/07
  6.   Barak is out of control. Bravo! 14:23  |  Natallie Durson 21/09/07
  7.   Another stupid Israeli politician 14:27  |  Ben Gurion 21/09/07
  8.   Abbas is not Arafat 14:31  |  B 21/09/07
  9.   UNSC Resolution 242 of 1993 [P.17]says..... 14:39  |  Dagma 21/09/07
  10.   in theory he is right but you dont shout it out 14:42  |  zionist forever 21/09/07
  11.   "Thank you Sharon 14:56  |  zvi 21/09/07
  12.   Kick Bush in the Toosh 15:03  |  Chaim Gorenstein 21/09/07
  13.   To Ronnie Wolman # 1 - WISE Comment by Barak. 15:04  |  Dagma 21/09/07
  14.   Ronnie # 4 15:11  |  Brod 21/09/07
  15.   Open Mouth 15:11  |  Ron 21/09/07
  16.   Barak is right. NO CONCESSIONS. Neither now, not in future. 15:12  |  Vittorio 21/09/07
  17.   #8 15:16  |  Sebastian 21/09/07
  18.   natallie durson for all your attempts at pot shots 15:18  |  may chidiac 21/09/07
  19.   Ehud Barak is Israel`s Defense Minister 15:18  |  Johnny Weintraub 21/09/07
  20.   What a jerk! 15:20  |  Wiktor 21/09/07
  21.   To Tamir Palestine # 1 - Jealous of Olmert an d Ramon??? 15:22  |  Dolly 21/09/07
  22.   Waiting For Olmert 15:29  |  Tony Anthony 21/09/07
  23.   BARAQ CAPTUR BIBI`S PLATFORM TO OUST OLMERT.REMIND HIM CAMP DAVID 15:31  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 21/09/07
  24.   Ehud Barak`s Conservative Views 15:32  |  Alex Barak 21/09/07
  25.   Barak: Israel shouldn`t appease U.S. president 15:40  |  George Nader 21/09/07
  26.   UNSC Resolution 242 of 1993 {p.7} says... 15:42  |  Dagma 21/09/07
  27.   and he should know!! concession clinton 15:43  |  victor hardman 21/09/07
  28.   One sided contract 15:46  |  Realist 21/09/07
  29.   wrong doing 15:52  |  A. Rubinstein 21/09/07
  30.   !1 Tamir 16:03  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  31.   Ben Gurion 16:06  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  32.   The race is on! 16:08  |  Mark Lincoln 21/09/07
  33.   No Loyalty, No Appreciation 16:12  |  Mary 21/09/07
  34.   Greatest threat to Israel 16:36  |  Ben Gurion 21/09/07
  35.   BARAK: Better To Be Thought A Fool Than PROVE That You Are One! 16:37  |  Proud Pal Defender 21/09/07
  36.   Barak said it... 16:38  |  Hanoman 21/09/07
  37.   barak 16:46  |  DOV KORET 21/09/07
  38.   BEN JABO 16:46  |  Ben Gurion 21/09/07
  39.   Some Israeli cognitive and emotional disconnect 16:50  |  Reuben 21/09/07
  40.   So long, and thanks for all the fish...... 17:04  |  Clickfool 21/09/07
  41.   #13 May Chidiac 17:07  |  Labhras 21/09/07
  42.   Brotherly love and friendship... 17:10  |  Hanoman 21/09/07
  43.   #17 A. Rubinstein "wrong ding" 17:14  |  Axel 21/09/07
  44.   Israel takes US $, but won`t take peace 17:15  |  Hiro 21/09/07
  45.   Barak : Please don`t succeed where I failed 17:15  |  SD 21/09/07
  46.   Maybe Israel should keep quiet 17:16  |  Greg 21/09/07
  47.   We need a Barak, too. 17:17  |  Turk 21/09/07
  48.   Barak : Please put off peace until I am prime minister 17:19  |  SD 21/09/07
  49.   Nothing To Hamas! Just Help Condi! Bush Is Leaving! 17:30  |  Yosemite 21/09/07
  50.   Voice of Moshiach or Insanity? 17:35  |  Wiktor 21/09/07
  51.   HERE WE GO AGAIN...BARAK WANTS TO 17:36  |  Robert 21/09/07
  52.   Alex Barak and his two-way peace street. 17:49  |  BwanaVic 21/09/07
  53.   #46 - Gregg 17:50  |  MichaelF 21/09/07
  54.   #33 - Mary 17:58  |  MichaelF 21/09/07
  55.   Dear Greg: You got facts wrong 18:00  |  SeeTheLight 21/09/07
  56.   Should Not appease???? 18:02  |  Joe 21/09/07
  57.   rubinstien 29 18:07  |  ami 21/09/07
  58.   Again He`s an Obstacle to Peace 18:28  |  MB 21/09/07
  59.   To Proud Pal Defender # 35 - Nothing Lower 18:46  |  Dolly 21/09/07
  60.   Gregg: 18:49  |  Nick 21/09/07
  61.   MichaelF - what a jokester! 18:51  |  Wiktor 21/09/07
  62.   That Was the Plan in 1999 Too 18:51  |  Bernie 21/09/07
  63.   Appease US 18:56  |  Bill 21/09/07
  64.   To Proud Pal Defender # 35. - Peace 19:00  |  Dagma 21/09/07
  65.   Camp David Facts 19:01  |  Alex Barak 21/09/07
  66.   #33 EXACTLY! No Loyalty And No Appreciation. 19:25  |  Proud Pal Defender 21/09/07
  67.   go go go ,go barak go 19:40  |  baba lalou 21/09/07
  68.   #60 Alex Barak 20:06  |  Labhras 21/09/07
  69.   SeeThe Light 20:08  |  Greg 21/09/07
  70.   Right facts??? 20:12  |  Greg 21/09/07
  71.   To Bill, LA 20:17  |  Gerg 21/09/07
  72.   Olmert and Barak 20:30  |  6 21/09/07
  73.   #32 Lincoln 20:31  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  74.   Ben Gurion M`Zuyaf 20:33  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  75.   #35 Proud Pal 20:36  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  76.   #38 Ben Gurion (LOL) 20:38  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  77.   #33 Mary - Boston 20:42  |  * BEN JABO 21/09/07
  78.   Olmert and Barak 20:44  |  Otto Rand 21/09/07
  79.   Sincerity in this cabinet 20:48  |  Shalom 21/09/07
  80.   To Dagma #64 20:53  |  Otto Rand 21/09/07
  81.   Who is he to say that? 21:12  |  david 21/09/07
  82.   The US 21:31<