Abbas: Israel has not made any new offers for resuming peace process
Palestinian President says he will not resume negotiations unless Israel freezes settlement construction and accepts the pre-1967 borders.
By The Associated Press Tags: Mahmoud Abbas Palestinians Palestinian AuthorityIsrael has made no new proposals in meetings with Palestinians about the possibility of resuming formal peace talks, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday.
The sides met twice so far in Jordan, and two more meetings are set for Saturday and for Jan. 25, Abbas told members of his Fatah movement.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Photo by: AP |
Abbas has said he will not resume negotiations unless Israel freezes settlement construction and accepts the pre-1967 Mideast War frontier as the baseline for a future border. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in that war, and the Palestinians seek those territories for their state, but are ready for minor land swaps.
Israel has rejected both demands, arguing that everything must be discussed in negotiations. However, the Palestinians say settlement expansion pre-empts the outcome of negotiations and that after two decades of failed discussions, only a clear framework can lead to an agreement.
The Palestinians agreed to the low-level exploratory talks in the Jordanian capital of Amman in order not to be seen as the side torpedoing peace efforts. However, Abbas said nothing has been achieved so far.
"Until now, there is nothing new in the dialogue that is going on in Amman," Abbas told Fatah leaders, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. "We are not authorized to speak about what is going on in Amman, but our demands are known, and the Israelis didn't present something we can accept."
Abbas reiterated that despite U.S.¬and Israeli pressure, he has not abandoned his bid to seek U.N. membership for a state of Palestine, denounced by Israel as an attempt to bypass negotiations.
He also suggested that his Palestinian Authority will review its relationship with Israel if the deadlock continues, though he has said he would not dissolve the Palestinian Authority.
Earlier this week an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said disagreements emerged in the Amman talks but that his government remains committed to a year-end target for reaching a final peace deal. He said documents submitted by the Palestinians were "recycling" long-standing positions that Israel opposes.
The talks are taking place under the auspices of the international "Quartet" of Mideast peace mediators, the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.
In October, the Quartet asked the two sides to produce proposals on territory and security within three months. The Palestinians believe the deadline is Jan. 26. The Israeli official said Israel considers that three-month period to have begun last week, when the talks resumed.
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He said it all. Does not sound like one that is interested to come to an agreement.
All that Palestinian President Abbas is setting out as a condition for further discussions is that Israel end its on-going violations of international law. That is certainly not an unreasonable stipulation.
They want no success in negotiations, only to pretend
meanwhile, iran can keep building the bomb
There is an old saying. Once you pay danegeld yo unever get rid of the Dane. I guess that works for Israeli Jews as well. They think that all the land is theirs to take for free and that America should pay them for doing what they want to do anyway. What a life! Still, the Israeli Jews are not happy. There is lots to complain about. Do they see their sweet deals coming to an end?
Either the PLO comes to the negotiating table, or accept the annexation of all disputed land by Israel.
If Israel rejects both demands, arguing that everything must be discussed in negotiations, that "everything" must include the issue of Israel being a Jewish state.
67 borders....that's all I hear. Netanyahu needs to get the headlines saying something like "Israel refuses negotiations unless Palastinians agree to XYZ" - where XYZ is just as stupid as the 1967 borders agrument,,,,game theory says that Israel is purely in the hands of Palastians game....and we're losing. We need to get an XYZ argument in the headlines and push it......'67 border argument sounds better and better as time progressess, only because we hear it non stop....
they offered they will continue to build more houses in East Jerusalem, aren't you paying attention?
Really. Why does Israel want peace? They have much to lose and litle to gain. This is not Israel's style.
Israel has said no new proposals regarding peace talks at the recent meetings, but they consider the three month period to have begun two weeks ago when the 'talks resumed'. Either these are talks or they are not. Israel has slammed all the Palestinian negotiating points, but have they submitted proposals to be considered by the Palestinians? Don't keep saying negative things about what the other side is doing, let's hear some positive things you are going to do, Israel.
...we know you will not because you don't have any, you will steal as much as you can for as long as you can, until you are expelled, again.
We shall block any moves the Palestinians make at the UN and that is gonna make us the laughingstock of the world, so the Palestinians are going ahead, giggling all the way to the ICC. What to do? We hafta negotiate a settlement with the Palestinians and foist it on the Israelis. That’s what We are gonna do. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya’ll.
He will not restart negotiatios unless Israel agrees to all his PRECONDITIONS. Israel, stand firm. One discusses in negotiations all matters. When Israel froze construction for 9 monthe, Abbas did not come to the negotiating table.
Sarah has till may to pack
without negotiation. He is not serious. He simply wants to complain to UN that Israel won't negotiate. If he were not so fat he would be totally transparent. I think Israel should accept the preconditions for negotiating, sit down and negotiate and negotiate and negotiate. And then when it becomes clear to all that Abbas is screwing around tell him to do it to himself and stop farting.
The time is now - it's important that the move for Palestinian statehood preempts any Israeli attempt to utilize a 5 yr distraction with Iran
That is exactly what the Israelis are hoping and planning for. That the world will be thrown into turmoil doesn't interest the Israelis at all as long as they're getting what they want, and we all know what that is. Still ‘the best laid plans’ and all that.