Barak: Israel mustn't allow itself to be blamed if Annapolis fails - Haaretz

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Sat., November 24, 2007 Kislev 14, 5768

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		Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (AP)

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Last update - 23:23 21/11/2007

Barak: Israel mustn't allow itself to be blamed if Annapolis fails

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Annapolis, Israel

We mustn't allow ourselves to be blamed for the failure of the upcoming Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, because we didn't make enough concessions to the Palestinians, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday at the cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

The peace conference is scheduled for November 27 and is aimed at relaunching peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A confrontation broke out between Barak and Vice Premier Haim Ramon during the cabinet meeting, in which Barak said "even around this table there are those who are contributing to our being blamed for stubbornness."

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Ramon responded "if we had offered the Palestinians half of the things presented at Camp David, but with serious consideration and responsibility, we would be able to arrive at Annapolis with a document which would include an accord on core issues."

"Every time we fail to offer what was offered in Camp David, we appear stubborn," he added.

Ramon also criticized the representatives of the defense establishment who presented to the cabinet "scenarios and responses" for the day after the peace summit and the threats facing Israel at this time. "One can't say that if the status quo is maintained that would be bad and if there is a [peace] process it will also be bad. You can't hold the stick at both ends. The political echelon must make a decision, and in every decision there are risks, but also opportunities," he said.

The defense establishment representatives said that according to Israel Defense Forces intelligence, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' status among Palestinians is currently weak, and warned against a possible failure of the peace summit. The central message of the defense briefing the representatives gave to the cabinet ministers was that "after the summit, there won't be any positive developments, Abbas will not become stronger and therefore existing Hamas cells in Gaza will grow stronger and there will be a leaking of Hamas from the Strip into the West Bank."
Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip in June, overcoming Abbas' rival party Fatah. Since then, Hamas has been essentially isolated in the Gaza Strip, while Fatah retained power in the West Bank.

Several cabinet ministers criticized the defense establishment saying "you need to carry out policies, not dictate them. By what criteria do you conclude [Annapolis] will fail?"

Related articles:

Barak under increasing fire for coolness on Annapolis summit

Ramon: Delay tackling issues that we can't agree on with PA

Report: Ramon offers PA West Bank pullout, territory exchange

Rice: U.S. will try to close Israeli-Palestinian peace deal in the next year

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1.	Barak =FOOL, Israel will be blamed regardless; dangerous attitude	20:32	\|	Pavel	21/11/07

2.	So Why Go?	20:32	\|	Yoram	21/11/07

3.	Baraks Experience	20:36	\|	Bandar Michaels	21/11/07

4.	"IF" Annapolis Fails?	20:56	\|	MichaelF	21/11/07

5.	Is America dumping Israel?	21:04	\|	Wendy	21/11/07

6.	How Can Annapolis Fail	21:07	\|	Mark of Lewiston	21/11/07

7.	ENOUGH! ISRAEL DOESN`T HAVE TO SHOW WEAKNESS TO GET MORE PRESSURE	21:14	\|	VOICE))))))))	21/11/07

8.	concessions!	21:22	\|	ex-lebanese	21/11/07

9.	The blame game	21:29	\|	Brod	21/11/07

10.	Jusr Follow the Law	21:47	\|	Double Click	21/11/07

11.	#5 Ex-Lebanese" Who is the they that are the disease?"	21:48	\|	Max the Horoscope	21/11/07

12.	Blaming Israel	22:01	\|	George Jochnowitz	21/11/07

13.	#11	22:05	\|	jane	21/11/07

14.	So what stupid Barak, better alive and "blamed" than dead.	22:06	\|	Man deVoshkes	21/11/07

15.	Barak should commit suicide by himself,not forcing Israel to do	22:12	\|	Absolute Sweden	21/11/07

16.	Inecumenical visions	22:17	\|	Andreia	21/11/07

17.	Annapolis WILL fail and Israel WILL be blamed. DUH!	22:33	\|	Jon	21/11/07

18.	The Cause of Terrorism	22:36	\|	Tired of it all	21/11/07

19.	#Ex-lebanese. You have your name wrong.	22:45	\|	Maureen Ann	21/11/07

20.	DONT ANTICIPATE FAILURE	22:49	\|	Paul Freedman	21/11/07

21.	#5: wha happens?	22:50	\|	Paul Freedman	21/11/07

22.	Stop the paranoia ! Only a just solution would bring peace.	23:03	\|	charlie	21/11/07

23.	#8 ex-Lebanease .Where you at Sabra and Shatila?	23:06	\|	charlie	21/11/07

24.	#10 I agree	23:21	\|	Outsider	21/11/07

25.	ISRAEL: STAY `STUBBORN`!!	23:43	\|	Nechama	21/11/07

26.	Annapolis: A BIG MISTAKE! DON`T GO!!! PLEASE!	23:45	\|	Nechama	21/11/07

27.	Barak a prophet diligent to fulfill his own prophecies	00:11	\|	Ivar	22/11/07

28.	Sounds like Concessions	00:38	\|	Marty	22/11/07

29.	# 8 ex lebanes	00:59	\|	Stephen Mezei	22/11/07

30.	why is Barak saying anything?	01:57	\|	David Miller	22/11/07

31.	Weasel Words	02:02	\|	Mark Lincoln	22/11/07

32.	#19 Urine Ann	02:15	\|	* BEN JABO	22/11/07

33.	U.S. is concerned with Pistachio Nuts	02:16	\|	* BEN JABO	22/11/07

34.	#27 Ivar - put the blame where it really belongs	02:23	\|	* BEN JABO	22/11/07

35.	stupid and stupid	02:29	\|	Neil Golan	22/11/07

36.	# 18 Tired of it all @ Miami Beach / Florida	02:30	\|	Joseph E . post 1	22/11/07

37.	# 18 Tired of it all @ Miami Beach / Florida	02:31	\|	Joseph E . post 2	22/11/07

38.	#1 - So On the Money !	02:38	\|	Tod Zuckerman	22/11/07

39.	NO RECRIMINATIONS OR APOLOGIES NEEDED	03:13	\|	BK	22/11/07

40.	Failure or success will as in the past be turned against the	03:18	\|	Joseph E .	22/11/07

41.	The Same as Sarkosy reversed Chirac policies	03:47	\|	Joseph E .	22/11/07

42.	#13 Jane	04:36	\|	ex-lebanese	22/11/07

43.	#19 Maureen Ann	04:42	\|	Ex-Lebanese	22/11/07

44.	#29 Stephen Mezei	04:48	\|	ex-lebanese	22/11/07

45.	#29 Stephen Mezei	04:59	\|	Ex-Lebanese	22/11/07

46.	Ben Jabo - the Pistachio Bomb	05:10	\|	Mark Lincoln	22/11/07

47.	#11 Max the..	05:11	\|	Ex-Lebanese	22/11/07

48.	#46 Lincoln	06:26	\|	* BEN JABO	22/11/07

49.	# 27 Ivar, If WWIII breaks out Estonia will end up as a part of	07:31	\|	Max Zinger,P.Chimist	22/11/07

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