Fayyad: Netanyahu must explain his definition of 'Palestinian state'
Palestinian Prime Minister has expressed doubt about whether Israel is ready to offer the Palestinians a state on terms they could accept.
By Reuters and Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel news Middle East peace Salam Fayyad Benjamin NetanyahuPalestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday forecast a "moment of reckoning" in the coming weeks when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is forced to explain what kind of state he has in mind for the Palestinians.
The Palestinians are set to resume direct negotiations with Israel in Washington on Thursday. They will be the first direct talks in 20 months and are the result of painstaking U.S. diplomacy aimed at reviving the peace process.
 |
Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad speaking to the media in Ramallah, August 30, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
Fayyad has expressed doubt about whether Netanyahu is ready to offer the Palestinians a state on terms they could accept.
Last year, Fayyad said Netanyahu appeared to have a "Mickey Mouse" state in mind for the Palestinians on lands occupied by Israel.
"What kind of state does Mr. Netanyahu have in mind when he says 'Palestinian state'?" Fayyad said in a press briefing on Monday.
"I think this is a most fundamental question and I believe, without wishing to really prejudge what will happen in the next few days, the next few weeks, we are approaching that moment of reckoning," Fayyad said.
"Some questions really need to be answered," said Fayyad, unveiling the steps his administration plans to take over the next 12 months to complete a two-year plan aimed at building the institutions of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinians are seeking a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Their credibility damaged by the failure of past talks, the Palestinians had sought a sense of the shape and size of the Palestinian state Netanyahu has in mind before agreeing to more negotiations.
They did not get their wish, which Netanyahu said amounted to preconditions. U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell said the parties would determine the terms of reference of the talks when they meet.
"There is not really a whole lot of time to waste," Fayyad said, warning of "adverse facts" created on the ground that will make the two-state solution "more and more difficult to implement".
Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land is one of the factors the Palestinians warn will render statehood impossible.
The Palestinians have threatened to pull out of the face-to-face negotiations unless Israel extends a moratorium on new housing in West Bank settlements past its expiration date of Sept. 26.
Meanwhile, a recent poll published by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion revealed 31.7 % of the Palestinian public favors the re-launching of direct negotiations, while 31.1 % are in favor of continuing the indirect talks and 31.1 % want the negotiations to be frozen.
The poll, prepared by Dr. Nabil Kukali, also shows that a majority (79.4 %) of Palestinians believe the visits from U.S. envoy, George Mitchell, will not lead to any progress in the peace process, and that two-thirds of Palestinians do not believe that U.S. President Barack Obama is capable of establishing a Palestinian state.
More than half of the Palestinians prefer a two-state solution, rather than a bi-national state.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
I'd also like Fayyad and Abass to clarify what their definitions are of Israel, after a peace agreement. They have already rejected the notion of a Jewish State. While they are it it, they could define what they mean by occupation.
IS the issue of sovereignty. Netanyahu talks of something with less sovereignty than New York City or any US State or even any US Indian tribe. There is no reason to have doubt what Netanyahu intends. Nothing he has proposed has the meaning of two states, not even his phrasing.
Is a matter of Palestinian national self definition, and the following aspirations , which only to a limited and superficial extent are explained by the current Israeli Palestinian conflict and its resolution. Sylvia Sztern-SempreLovingM.G.
i ask all people who speak us peace please look a several maps and see how israel has placed settlements throughout the state of palestine making it impossible to have a continued state.
your information is incorrect and your maps are off, there are no israeli settlements in Jordan. re the creation of another pal state within Israeli borders, 98% of the west bank had been promised to be judenrein, yet the arabs rejected it.
Why the Pals demand a judenrein nation. UNR181 suggested two states with equal rights granted to both Jews and Arabs. The Arabs wanted nothing of that, declared war, attacked and ethnically cleansed all Jews from the lands illegally occupied. Now the PA demands the ethnic cleansing be formalized and repeated. Where's the PA legislature in repealing the death penalty law for selling land to Jews? Where are the laws saying Jews will be citizens with equal rights? Where's the open invitation to the Jews living in territories the PA wants to stay and be integrated into the economy and life of the new nation? If Arabs didn't hate Jews, that would have happened. If Arabs believed in equality, there would be peace.
this is a fact - you must modernize, ghandize your movement, break the Israeli war machine through international acts of peace and non-violence, educate, internationalize and boycott, like South Africa, this too shall pass.
Erakat, Fayyad, Abbas, all you guys, how about this , start the negotiations with the Israeli's first before you start the negotiations with all the news outlets so as to not throw a stick in the spokes before these darn talks begin. Are these guys for real ?
If they wanted a state they would've had it (not to mention they could have in 1948 when Israel accepted the UN resolution of the partition of Jewish land).
I dont know why anyone bothers with this grotesque charade--except maybe to show Israel for what it is---to those who must heve been sleeping through all the other charades. drop the two state solution and demand your rights as citizens of the state that claims you are part of it. QED.
Please stop this side negotiation. It's quite useless... and you don't look good in it either.
Fayyad would be better off negotiating with the press because Netanyahu will always do something to destroy any chance for peace.
Fayyad thinks the Israeli on the street might have some better clue as to what Netanyahu means than what his pronouncements have been to either the US or the press. Netanyahu has not talked in terms that make sense in the general overall scheme of statehood.
They are 100% right. Only Jews and Palestinians together can do that.
USA can do it within 6 month if they will stop supporting Israel on any forum. Stop giving them ammunition. Stop giving them Taxpayers money. No charity deduction for Israeli institutes. But Who will do it?
If the Palestinians want an agreement with Israel then they will have to take responsibility for it. And the USA and EU could also pressure the PA, and more than Israel. But that`s pointless, because a lasting solution can only be found by Jews and Palestinians, making a compromise, but of free will.
In the same way Fayyad talks about a day of reckoning when Netanyahu gives his definition of a Palestinian State, so too is it a day of reckoning for the Palestinians when they must state openly and publicly that they accept that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people and in so doing, they must renounce their Right of Return. Fayad wants public declarations but must know that it's a two way street. He can't just have it his way.
It's time someone smoked Bibi out about what he has in mind. Aluf Benn reported in an article last October that Netanyahu agrees with the position paper published by Dore Gold's right wing institute that Isrrael must not give up Area "C". Since Area "C" constitutes 60% of the West Bank, surrounding and wrapping around the Palestinian enclaves, then it is clear that what he has in mind is what Colin Powell called "a phony state that's diced into a thousand different pieces. So if it becomes clear that this is what he has in mind, then it's time to stop wasting time in fruitless negotiations and for the world to recognize a Palestinian state within the 67 borders and start punishing Israel with boycotts and disinvestment.
A real shame, isn't it? They rejected the Clinton parameters while Israel accepted them. They were offered a state with E. Jerusalem, contiguity, and passage between the West Bank and Gaza... For a total of roughly 98% of the territories and the Palestinians tossed it out the window. Anti-Israelis blame Israel and come up with this "diced," idiocy. Anti-Israelis are morons.
you talk about there being "a phony state" thats only appropriate due to the pals being a phony people. to date all offers of another pal state were rejected by these pal arabs. 98% of the west bank, arab areas of jerusalem, agreements on water and other natural resources, a way to connect gaza to the west bank, agreements and accomidations re the arabs living in other countries, all rejected. Israel wants a promise of any deal being an official end to the conflict, that the arabs recognoze that israel is a jewish country, and the arabs couldn't even agree to that.
If it isn't the '67 BORDERS, then why continue waisting time? Go for the One State Solution. Call it Pisrael. A state for ALL it's citizens. Jews and Arabs each having equal rights, living together, one man one vote, freedom of travel with no restrictions, equal water rights, equal employment and wages. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.....for ALL. Like the United States of America. God Bless All Parties. My best to President Obama and his quest for Peace and Justice. Salaam/Shalom
There was never a Palestinians state so I would like to see in black and white what they consider their state. As I see it if Israel doesn't meet their desires they will resist with violence as before so what is the point of Israel suggesting anything?
the Palestinians have accepted is along the 67 lines with some adjustments.
Once again... the Pals will only accept EVERYTHING that they want and otherwise they will blame Israel. What they want is all of Israel. Even if Israel gave them everything including EJlem, Hamas wont accept it anyway. The Pals wont negotiate, they wont compromise on anything. If they were willing to do so they would have had a state already.
The Palestinians took a giant step in 1993 by announcing to the entire world that that recognize the right of Israel to exist on 80% of the disputed land. What did they get in return? 4X increase in the settlers in the West Bank. Do you see who really wants EVERYTHING? or do you refuse to do so?
Talk, talk, talk. Palestinians talk too much. Take more but do not give; that is Palestinians motto.
What have the Palestinian people ever taken from Israel? What do you want the Palestinians to give? Israel has taken everything from them. Israel is the one that needs to do the giving back, not the Palestinians. Israel is the occupier not the occupied.
Take a look at the so-called "peace deals" Israel offered. Complete and total Israeli control over Palestine's waters, airspace, infrastructure, roadblocks remain, NO Palestinian military, NO RoR, a sham of a police force, and the illegal settlements will largely remain intact. I'd refuse to take those "deals," as well.
forget about Jerusalem. Yerushalayim is the capital of the state of Israel and it's a JEWISH city. you arabs lost a war that you started. Israel RECONQUERED jerusalem. what would happened if arabs won the war? no more Israel. You arabs attacked Israel and You lost. Israel is doing much more you can expect giving you the west bank (with some modifications) and Gaza. WHAT HAVE YOU ARABS TO OFFER? you arabs ATTACKed ISRAEL AND LOST the war. you are not in position of asking something from Israel yerushalayim will never be part again of an arab state. don't you remember what arabs of jordania did between 1958-1967? no more destroyed sinagogues, no more roads with jewish tombstones, no more expulsion of jewish people it's time to Israel to give the "palestinians" their state, but NO JERUSALEM. and forget about "refugees". if "palestinians" want compensation, the same to the jewish refugees from arabs lands. if not, no any shekkel for them. The palestinian state is west bank (with some modifications) and gaza. NO MORE
Do you have any idea what the Pals are going through? Most of their land has been stolen from them, courtesy of the terrorist squatters. The IDF rarely, if ever, protects them. Roadblocks and checkpoints all over the place, very poor roads, while Jews get to use choice roads, and don't have to go through the crap the Pals do. The Pals very rarely get to hear their cases in front of a judge, and when they do, the judge oftentimes rules in favor of Israel. They face an illegal blockade, all because Israel screamed for a democratic election, but didn't like who got elected. Also, the Arabs in Israel proper have far fewer rights than Jewish Israelis. Their loyalty is always questioned, making the Arabs even more suspicious of Israel then we already were, they can't marry Jewish citizens, or else they'll be ostracized, they get ridiculed and denounced whenever they elect Arab leaders (God forbid they should elect someone who can actually understand and help them out; them dirty A-Rabs should know their place!) and Israel wonders why the Arabs constantly condemns them for their racist ways.
There will not be a Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders. Like it or lump it... although I hope you choose the latter of the two.
If Israel continues the way it is now, someday there will not be an Israeli state pre-1967 or 1948.
That is clear israel wants: no army, borders control, economic dependance...
It's clear as day in Likud's charter. They refuse the Palestinian right to self-determination, and want Israel to make 95% of the decisions of the faux "Palestinian State," which would in reality be nothing more than a nation under foreign rule, and with FAR fewer rights.
Netanyahu is a Likude and his party's charter states not to give back an inch of the land they occupied . The Quartet and especially the United states have to impose the Palestinian State borders and recognise it as soon as possible.
"There is not really a whole lot of time to waste," Fayyad said, yet for 2 years the pal arabs put a complete stop on these talks.
you want to give us our own state or share yours democratically? soon time will be up and you wont have a choice
He is the only one who can transform the Palestinian people into a strong modern state, in contrast with middle age Islamic type Hamas. We should not confound modernization with peace. For him modernization is only a tool against Israel. We should respect him but be careful.