Barak, Clinton may join Mideast summit at UN
Spokesman: PM never said he'd freeze settlement building; Barak: PA likely to miss 'huge opportunity.'
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Ehud Barak Barack Obama Israel news PalestiniansDefense Minister Ehud Barak and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will apparently participate in a tripartite meeting on Middle East peace in New York on Tuesday.
U.S. President Barack Obama will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, for a meeting all sides have declared would unlikely bring about an immediate resumption of peace negotiations.
The U.S. State Department said Monday that the Obama administration was prepared to engage at the "highest levels" to bring about a lasting regional peace in the Middle East.
While the U.S. has downplayed any "grand expectations" for the upcoming trilateral summit, the State Department has characterized any steps toward achieving such a goal as "helpful and valuable."
"This is exactly what they plan to do tomorrow in New York," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly. "I think it's - as the White House said over the weekend, it's also an indication of the president's own deep commitment to finding a way forward to this comprehensive peace, and it shows that he is personally engaged in the effort.
"It really shows that we are ready to engage at the highest levels of our government to try and bring about something that we?ve all wanted, that all sides have wanted, for decades, and that?s a lasting regional peace," added the spokesman. "But I'm not going to tell you what necessarily we expect to achieve out of this."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Monday that Obama was looking to "continue to build on progress" in regional talks. "We have no grand expectations out of one meeting," said Gibbs.
The meeting has been seen in Israel as a success for Netanyahu, who has refused to agree to a demand from the U.S. and the Palestinians for a total halt to West Bank settlement construction.
The Palestinians say the meeting will not constitute negotiations, since Abbas has refused to hold peace talks with Netanyahu until Israel freezes settlement construction.
Netanyahu's spokesman said Monday that the prime minister would defend the expansion of West Bank settlements when he meets Obama and Abbas together.
"You have never heard the prime minister say he would freeze settlement building. The opposite is true," Nir Hefetz told Army Radio when asked about the tripartite summit, which will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
"There are some politicians... who see halting building or ceding national territory or harming the settlements in Judea and Samaria as an asset, something that can help Israel," Hefetz said. "Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot be counted among those people."
Using Israel's term for the West Bank, he added: "He sees the settlements in Judea and Samaria as a Zionist enterprise and the settlers in Judea and Samaria as his - our - brothers."
Echoing Palestinian officials who have said the meeting during the UN General Assembly does not mean a return to a negotiating process that was suspended in December, Netanyahu ally Benny Begin said on Monday: "The summit will not mark a start to negotiations."
The cabinet minister expressed frustration with pressure from the new White House administration on its key Middle East ally to meet a 2003 commitment to stop expanding settlements:
"The United States and European nations have let the Palestinians think they will be served whatever they want along with a side order of Israel's head on a cheap McDonald's platter," he told Army Radio. "But this is not going to happen."
Barak: Palestinians likely to miss 'huge opportunity' for statehood
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in comments published Monday that the Palestinians were likely to miss a "huge opportunity" for statehood due to their intransigence.
"I fear the Palestinians are going to miss a huge opportunity," The New York Times quoted Barak as saying by telephone, in an article published one day before the meeting in New York.
"There is a president who says determinedly, 'I am going to put my political capital into making sure there is an independent Palestinian state and solve all the core issues in two years.' If we bear in mind Israel's security needs and the demand that a final agreement means an end to the conflict, this is an opportunity that must not be missed," Barak was further quoted as telling the paper.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Bureau as well as the Obama administration have stressed that the summit is unlikely to result in a resumption of peace negotiations between the sides, because of differences over settlement construction and the framework of the peace process.
Late Sunday, Barak left for Washington, where he will meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and National Security Adviser, General James Jones.
Barak, who is also a deputy prime minister, said in the interview that he would focus in Washington on maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge, on Iran and on the Palestinians, the New York Times said.
The minister also reportedly said that concern about Iran remains a top priority and that Israel wants the diplomatic efforts being pursued by the Americans to be limited, well defined and followed by tough sanctions. He reiterated that he removes no option from the table, a reference to the possibility of a military assault on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to the paper.
Barak added that a central challenge for the United States now was how to handle the nuclear weapons of North Korea, the paper reported, because that would greatly influence Iran.
"North Korea is developing long-range missiles in the backyard of China and Russia and nothing happens to them," he was quoted as saying. ?When the Iranian leadership asks themselves, 'Should we be worried or just go through the ritual of defying and cheating?' the answer depends on what happens to North Korea. A coherent move toward blocking nuclear proliferation should start with North Korea. It would have very positive ramifications for blocking Iran."
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I say give them no quarter.Be it Obarmy or whoever. Need some help? We Jews/Israelis are Behind you a 100 % AM YISRAEL CHAI!
Obama will not cast veto for the cast lead guys
The idea of these two joining the summit simply reinforces the fundamental injustice of the whole awful business of Israel/Palestine. As I have noted on a previous occasion two murderers discussing how to dispose of the body. The US has no moral right to mediate this mess.
or wait until we throw you out
r: "No Palestinian state is more trouble for them and the Israelis: endless conflict, violence, intifada, damaged industry and tourism, sanctions, loss of freedom and hope." Except..... the Palestinians can't accept "a state" that is "a state" in name only. Whatever proposal they accept *must* create a viable and independent state, and the major problem is that the Israeli "red line" falls way, way, way short of that. So Israel's "generous offers" simply can not be accepted, no matter how much "more trouble" that rejection brings. Israel needs a fundamental change in its mindset before this conflict can end, and there is no sign of that happening any time soon.
BHO already sacrificed The Czech Republic and Poland to satiate the demands of Iran and Russia. BHO already sacrificed the Democratic Movement in Iran to assuage Ahmadinejad. BHO already sacrificed Darfur to the genocidal Islamists to calm the UN and the Saudis. BHO sacrificed the constitution of the Democratic State of Honduras to ingratiate himself with the Socialist Fascists of Latin America and the followers of Pelosi and Clinton, BHO is obviously ready to sacrifice Israel so as to appease not only the Saudis, but the Pakistanis and the US left as well.
Indeed, why meet at all. The only reason to meet now is to formally present Israel with severe sanctions. I am tired of its lies, obfuscations and delays. And I am especially tired of sending my tax dollars to further its aims. AIPAC should move its organization to Israel and openly operate there as an arm of the Israeli government like the subversive organization it is.
"There are some politicians... who see halting building or ceding national territory or harming the settlements in Judea and Samaria as an asset, something that can help Israel," Hefetz said. "Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot be counted among those people." Yeah, Netanyahu is going to tell Obama that to his face. Suuuuuuuuuuure he is. "He sees the settlements in Judea and Samaria as a Zionist enterprise and the settlers in Judea and Samaria as his - our - brothers." And Netanyahu is about as likely to say that to Obama as I am. There. Is. Zero. Change. Of. Bibi. Expressing. Such. Things. To. Obamaa. Goodness no! Obama would be appalled, and instantly conclude that he is dealing with a nutter.....
NOT!
Netanyahu, Leave no stone unturned ! Give no quarter ! Bash the hell out of Ahmadienjad. Make him look like a worm. Do you need any help!
Israel's FM meanwhile visiting Tajikistan. Or was it Ecuador?
How the Jewish State was Destroyed by Corruption and Zealotry is the provisional English title of that book. Only no need to wait until 2050. It was written a couple of thousand years ago and just needs a bit of editing.
How huge can the opportunity the Palestinians are said to be missing be Mr. Barak? If settlements are to continue to be allowed to expand, where will they be expanding, do you think? And isn't minuscule and shrinking all the time a better way to describe the opportunity the Palestinians are missing? Mr. Barak, you are a Labor minister. Erstwhile Labor supporters will think they are being taken for fools unless you clearly explain to them where you think Israel's borders will be. If settlements are allowed to continue to expand, could you ask Netanyahu whether he is planning to let them do so into "biblical Eretz Yisrael" once he's expanded Palestine off the map? If he is, you should know about it. It means going back into Lebanon and staying there. It means chipping bits off Syria and Egypt too. Maybe even Iraq. A busy schedule for a Minister of Defence.
How the jewish state was destroyed by the settler movement?
Israel is on a new track--its the Netanyahu roadmap toward isolation and potential Sanctions
(End)
Israel was victorious over the philistines waaaaaay before any silly "sanctions or boycotts". She'll give her enemies liver's to the dogs. Or, better yet, turn them to dust.
I'll bet on Israel every time.
A "Mexican Standoff". Middle East style. Israel wins again!
Obama must not meet Netanyahu at all. This actions sends a clear message to Israel's Netanyahu. Moreover sanctions against Israel have to start as early as possible including stopping of all types of American taxpayer aids.
Wont be long until the "Land of Israel" will be majority Arab--then what?
Israel has signed the Road Map Plan and Netanyahu cannot ignor the Plan and defends settlements growth. It looks he is against peace in the Middle East.
I hope PM will do more than that and go on the offensive big time -giving nothing ! What have we got for pulling out of Gaza ? Nothing except a terrorist enclave and rockets and another "hostile front "
sam reminds us of the definition of "cutting off your nose to spite your face". Meanwhile, Israelis are living pretty well with an "unrecognized" state, how's that working for the Palestinians?
... are crying out for Jewish settlement within sovreign Israel... ... while the setllers are intent on coveting the land of our neighbors the Pals...
The Pals were obliged under the Road Map to stop terrorism. They've done this. But Netanyahu wants to continue the Israeli land grab. The land grab is less dramatic than firing qassams, but the effects are rather similar. Daily life is made a misery for local Pal civilians with roadblocks etc. Land is made uninhabitable and unusuable for Pal civilians. And as a result of the continued occupation, there's been a steady stream of Pal civilians getting injured or dying. More than the qassams ever killed among the Jewish community. Obama wouldn't meet Abbas if he inisted on the right of Pals to carry out terror attacks. Why does Obama meet Netanyahu now?
....the Palestinians simply won't "beg" anymore for their own state. Either Israel moves into the right (or rather left) direction, or the Palestinians will take whatever they feel is theirs. I still wanna see how the Israeli army is going to crush a peaceful "Orange Revolution" in Ramallah in 2011..... ....and I wanna see an Obama administration supporting such an Israeli crackdown.
You stall, stall, stall and than blame the other side for lack of progress. Does Barak think we are all idiots?
Strange how Barak can talk about the Palestinians missing an opportunity when he himself has recently approved of additional building in the West Bank. It appears that Barak has not yet come to terms with the fact that additional settlement in the West Bank is a major infringement upon Palestinian statehood. As long as building in the West Bank continues in any shape or form, any Israeli participation in the summit conference is nothing more than a photo op, and it will accomplish nothing more than that.
These are NOT peace negotiations, they are about statehood.
Oh please! We've heard that one time too many. Can't you be more creative in your arguments?
If Israel doesn't allow Palestinian state eventually Palestinians will have the majority in Israel and get a one man one vote right. Who looses? In reality Israel needs Palestinian state more than Palestinians do. To stay as a Jewish state Israel without forming a Palestinian state has basically only the option of a mass deportation or a mass killing. Both are impossible solutions.
Israeli and Western negotiating tactics are based on the supposition that the Palestinians will accept a Jewish state. The difference among them is the extent of the appeasement. It doesn't matter. Statehood is not an "opportunity" for the Palestinians if they have to accept a Jewish Israel.They will let us know if it ever is.
I believe that the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank should be given precedence and counter-distinction in any possible reconfiguration of the Israeli-Arab conflict, not only because it is pro-West, pro-Peace, pro-2-State-Solution, but also because the majority of Palestinians live in the West Bank, where the leadership of Abbas has resulted in relative stability. Furthermore, Gaza has been given its chance at Peace through settlement eradication in 2005, to no positive effect, due to the ideology of Hamas. It would be better to give weight to settlement abatement in the West Bank for utilitarian, majoritarian, ideological and reasonable grounds. To reward Fatah is much more logical than to continue engaging with Hamas in a ceaseless ideological war. Battles with Hamas should be left for the Military, and negotiation with Fatah should be left to the Diplomats.
The Israeli proposed Palestinian state will not fulfill Palestinian people inspirations it will be defenseless, it will exclude Jerusalem & big chunk of land, has no control over her sea or skies , and most of all the issue of 4 millions refugees will be ignored.
I don't think it's the palestinians who are missing an opportunity, even though, that's Israel's pet-phrase! I think it's Israel who favors ongoing facts on the ground above anything else including peace
First Abbas made a precondition: settlement freeze. Now Barak says if Abbas doesn't play he will miss out on establishing his state. Seems like tit for tat, and neither of them really wants to yield anything, but huff and bluff. No Palestinian state is more trouble for them and the Israelis: endless conflict, violence, intifada, damaged industry and tourism, sanctions, loss of freedom and hope. So you two guys, you either want to play a civil game, or both stomp off the court saying I'm not playing. childish. everyone loses.
I believe that Netanayhu should, with the compelling words of Ehud Barak, strive for a reconfiguration of the current conflict, in order to meet the 2 year proposed time-line for Palestinian statehood. It should be achieved by rewarding Al-Fatah, for its modernist, pro-West, pro-Peace, pro-2-State-Solution tendencies, insofar as abating settlement construction in the West Bank, and returning these lands to the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas should be rewarded for the relative stability he has brought to the West Bank, and it should not be an either-or policy on the Israeli part in relation to the cessation of tensions between Gaza and the West Bank in relation to Israel. It is Hamas in Gaza, where the final settlement, Gush-Katif, was evacuated in 2005, that should be contained militarily until such time as either a Peace Deal is signed or a new more moderate faction is formed to the same effect. The current policy of either-or only perpetuates conflict.
Pre-emptively shifting the blame of the failure of Isreal giving the Palestinians their fully legitimate state, Barak is trying to prepare the ground of a similar senario to that which took place in Camp David in 2000. Sorry Barak, if you keep offering a "retarded deformed" state whithout sovernty and its East jerusalem "The head" to the Palestinians, you will always receive the same answer until the Palestinians give up on the idea and demand their Basic Rights under the Israeli rule, which means demographic strain on Israel and a binational state. With a Palestinian majority in few years, and here it becomes that Israel has missed the "huge opportunity".
Most Palestinians think they were fooled by Israel at Camp David. Ill prepared, our "leadership" almost sold us down the river. Israel must understand that the Palestinian people will now accept nothing less than full independance in all aspects. A state with borders controlled by Israel, and Israeli settlers planted in the midst of it, will never ever work. So missed opportunities for Israeli domination will welcomed, thanks all the same, Mr Barak!
Barak's got a nerve. Israel's trying to screw up peace again, by continuing its land grab and Barak's wittering about the Pals. Even while Cast Lead, for which he was responsible, is cast as a morally dubious adventure that led to serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.