Barak to Mitchell: Time to move peace process forward
Mitchell hopeful Israel-PA peace talks can resume soon; Lieberman: No chance for Mideast peace soon.
By Barak Ravid Haaretz Staff, Agencies Tags: Barack Obama Israel news Middle East peace Avigdor LiebermanDefense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday told the visiting U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, that the time had come to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
"The time has come to move forward to start the process and pass all of the obstacles, because this will help everyone," Barak said at the start of the meeting, according to a statement he released. "No obstacle is impassable."
A former senator and key player in brokering the Northern Ireland peace deal, Mitchell returned to Israel on Wednesday for further talks with both sides aimed at kick-starting negotiations.
Barak added: "We need to begin real negotiations on an accord between us and the Palestinians while protesting the security interests of Israel, which will enable the realization of the solution of two states for two people."
The defense minister also said Israel was a "partner" in U.S. President Barack Obama's peace initiative for a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East, and wished to work toward a two-state solution as soon as possible.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Thursday that restarting negotiations is an urgent matter. The time has come for both sides o agree to just cut right through all of this and get back to peace talks, he aid.
Mitchell hopeful Israel-PA peace talks can resume soon
Earlier Thursday, Mitchell told President Shimon Peres on Thursday that he is hopeful that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians can be restarted soon, and that Obama is committed to bringing peace to the region.
"We're going to continue with our efforts to achieve an early relaunch of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians," Mitchell told reporters before a private meeting with Peres in Jerusalem.
He added this was an "essential step" toward achieving comprehensive peace in the region.
A senior U.S. official told Israeli reporters that Mitchell's visit was not likely to conclude with an announcement of a renewal of talks, and that further meetings would be necessary. Israeli sources, however, told Haaretz that an announcement on renewing negotiations was "within reach."
On Friday, Mitchell will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and over the weekend he will travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The U.S. official said Obama had instructed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mitchell to report to him by mid-October on progress.
"We do not foresee a breakthrough on this visit, but we have a sense of urgency and we are determined to make progress," the official said. "The president is impatient with the current situation and expects the sides to move forward."
Lieberman: Years before peace deal
Mitchell's optimism was not reflected by Israel's foreign minister, however, who said Thursday that there was no chance of ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for many years, and that efforts to reach a final peace deal have failed since the first accord in 1993.
Speaking to Israel Radio, Lieberman said he believes it is unrealistic to think a long-term agreement on ending the conflict can be reached at this time and that whoever thinks an agreement can be reached soon just doesn't understand the situation.
He said both sides should instead strive for interim agreements that would create stability and leave the tough issues between the them "to a much later stage."
"I will tell [Mitchell] clearly, there are many conflicts in the world that haven't reached a comprehensive solution and people learned to live with it," Lieberman told the radio.
"But together with this, people made the most dramatic decision. To give up using force. To give up terror. And to stop inciting against one another," he said.
"What is possible to reach is a long-term intermediate agreement ... that leaves the tough issues for a much later stage," Lieberman said, referring to contentious issues such as the future status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and borders.
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George Mitchell. |
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This story is by: Barak Ravid Haaretz Staff, Agencies
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Why is Liebeman even in national politics.. This anti-peace talk will not help Israel in the long run... Lieberman's attitude easily promotes anti-semitism in people around the world... It's always a good time to talk and work for Peace...
Barak should be focusing on defending Israel from Iran's nuke threat. Mitchell should be dealing with Lieberman.
It is the same folly over and over again. Barak says one thing, Liberman the other. Israel obfuscates, delays, lies, and all the while takes more land. The US taxpayers continue to pay for all of it. AIPAC continues to lobby the US for a foreign power which is now our enemy. Israel continues to spy on the US. Israel continues to deny it has nuclear weapons, now even on 5 German made SUBS, roaming about. It is time that the US woke up, quits trying to "make peace" with someone who has never intended to make peace except on its own terms, cuts Israel loose, and declares Israel to no longer to be a friend.
a defensive war?
The longer to get to a peace deal, the more land taken from the Palestinians. Creating facts on the ground. I see no issue on agreeing the borders today (possibly based on the original 1948 or 1967 borders. probably not the 1948 borders although this was the one that was meant to be until the continual taking of land started.) It may take some time with a UN based force in Palestine to help the Palestinians build a civil society with the rule of law that will allow Israel to be secure and safe within their border. In addition, it will allow the Palestinian population to be free of harassment and unnecessary violence from an ill-disciplined occupier. (just see the recent video of a raid in Bilin where the IDF was obviously out of control and completely off base. Cast Lead also comes to mind) Israel has to understand. The world is watching and does understand what is going on. No amount of spin and misinformation will stop that.
while we would like to believe that peace is around the corner Lieberman is correct...........although no one wants to hear it....it will take a generation to wipe out the hate the Palestinians have inculcated in their people ......I note most of the responses here blame the Israeli occupation and settlement building for the stalemate........NO! this is DISPUTED territory won in a defensive war...check your history...................!
There will never be peace until the Palestinians and the Arabs come to terms with the State of Israel existing in the Middle East. The rest is hogwash.
If I were a Palestinian, I would demand to remain a citizen of Israel. Why would any Palestinian want to live in an independent Palestine ruled by the thugs of the likes of Haniyeh and Abbas? Just observe the sorry state of Arabs around you, who would want to live in such states? If they join hand-in-hand with all Israelis and become part of the progressive nation of Israel, the Palesitnians would become the most productive and prosperous of all Arabs. I would go as far as to suggest creating a perimiter of Arab Israelis around all land borders to defend the only democratic and progressive nation in the Middle East. The day the Palestinians get their wish of an independent state is a day they will live to regret the rest of their lives. Wake up and realize none of the loud mouths Arabs are there to help you when you need them. They are nothing but cheerleaders for your misery and death. Salaaam.
Pessimism and doubt have the remarkable ability to restrain people of that which they are truly capable of achieving. Barak seems to realize this, to a degree at least, while Lieberman is only holding back the process with this kind of sentiment.
Let me get this straight--you stop attacking us, we continue to take your land and we will all live happily ever after. Who is the dreamer?
Leiberman and Natanyahu can even make peace with their owm puppet collaborating gov in the OPT
All, The Anti-Israel crowd is on this one. The freeze negotiation has gone as far as it can and Mitchell gained a lot. A freeze for 9 months. No previously approved buildings outside of the settlement blocs. A mass evacuation of the 23 outposts. There will not be a freeze in the Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Including EJ in the freeze undermines Israel's negotiating position and Netanyahu is too smart for that. Unfortunately, Abbas has gotten himself into a corner as far as a total freeze is concerned. Mitchell needs a face saving way to give Abbas a claim of a win to restart negotiations. The first phase of the negotiations will be the borders outside of Jerusalem. The major settlement blocs go to Israel in exchange for Israeli land. The exchange is about 50-75 square miles out of 1600 square miles. The second issue is a finger of Israeli land reaching to Ariel. Is it practical? Is it defensible - or should Israel evacuate Ariel?
"Peace for Lieberman means that the Palestinians stop resisting the illegal occupation, and Israel continues its land grab and ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem. Despicable." War is a game. One winner, one loser. Both sides today want to win. That means they want the other side to lose. Peace is not a game. A true peace means that BOTH sides win. there is no loser. When Lieberman starts talking about doing something to benefie both peoples instead of perpetuating the status quo (which hurts both peoples), he will begin to make sense. The same goes for Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Fatah, Iran, the USA, etc, and their outspoken advocates. Until that time comes, the game goes on and on with no end in sight. Until attitudes change on both sides, there will be no peace ... no peace ... no peace........
... America's Abbas.
But if he expects serious negotiation to resume he is more foolish than he looks.
Lieberman's "no chance for peace in our time"?
You hit the nail on the head with your comment. Couldn't have said it better myself.
It's all very simple really - if Israel refuses to stop settlement construction, then Israeli facts-on-the-ground created since 1967 will not be considered during future peace talks. In this manner, Israeli stalling tactics and continued construction will gain them nothing.
Both Abbas and Lieberman should be reminded why they were put in their respective positions.
Lieberman wants to delay the final resolution for as long as possible because he wants to appropriate as much land as he can.
Well well well- thanks Lieberman for confirming what we all knew. You don't want a real, lasting peace, never have. You want to let the occupation continue, as 'facts on the ground' change. Comprehensive peace at this point would mean Israel wouldn't get to keep all of E. Jerusalem or the settlements. Peace for Lieberman means that the Palestinians stop resisting the illegal occupation, and Israel continues its land grab and ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem. Despicable. This man and like minded Israelis are the real obstacle to peace.
So when the israeli oppressores start to act like decent and honourable people then it'll be better for all
This hasn't been solved yet because there hasn't been people on EITHER side with the will and power to solve it. Lieberman's solution is to give up and let things fester. One thing that is known is that festering wounds don't just get better. They get worse and will, for Israelis and Palestinians. Lieberman will maybe be out of office by then, but somebody has to be responsible. If he's not willing to try, get somebody who will.
Ah, he means land expropriation, settlement building, and violence directed at Palestinians by the IDF and the settlers. Oh, and malnutrition and denial of medical care in Gaza. Stability indeed.