Obama to Abbas: I will make every effort to ensure Palestinian statehood
U.S. President calls Abbas days after meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu to voice support for Palestinian leadership.
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Avi Issacharoff
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U.S. President Obama and PA President Abbas meeting in Washington in September 2009. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
U.S. President Barack Obama phoned Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to brief the Palestinian president on the American leader's recent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and voice his strong support for Abbas' leadership and commitment to peace.
Obama promised Abbas that he would exert every effort to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.
Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told the Palestinian news agency WAFA following the phone conversation that Abbas expressed his commitment to a serious peace process that would "end the occupation" and result in an independent Palestinian state.
During the conversation, Obama noted the positive momentum generated by recent improvements on the ground in Gaza and in the West Bank, the restraint shown by both Israel and the Palestinians over recent months, and progress in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks.
Obama also noted that his enovy to the Middle East George Mitchell would be traveling to the region soon, and will meet with Abbas to build on this momentum to advance the common goals of the Americans and the Palestinians.
On Tuesday, Obama and Netanyahu held what the U.S. president described as an "excellent" meeting at the White House. Both leaders came out of the meeting convinced that direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians were imminent.
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Everyone on the Hill is terrified of the Jewish vote, losing donations to select Senators and Comgressmen and the overweaning power of the Zionist lobby. Never has such a small tail wagged such a big dog. Obama can do his best, but there's Bibi hoping, praying and working for a Republican victory led by Christian Zionist extremists, while stalling on anything to do with making the concessions needed for peace. The USA is a busted flush in this matter. Once the mid-terms are over, time for the EU and UN to close with Obama, lend him a backbone and force change. It is never going to come from the Likudniks and Israeli far right, they are too immersed in and committed to their racist drive to the East. They have nothing to offer or trade in negotiations and Bibi could no more close a settlement bloc than he could talk for one minute without telling a lie.
single state is the single solution that can work long term
Both of the palestinians and israelis peoples have to work hard in order to achieve the peace to live peaceful and secure life with full cooperation, there is no choise for us ...just peace.
Mr Obama and Abbas, we will have our state with out both of your help. In fact, we will never have a state by any of you two. We have Hamas and the like who will soon regain our land for us Palestinians.
An excellent article. If I didn't have a good understanding of the situation I WOULD ALSO BE FOOLED. It feels good to believe such words and hopes. An end to the occupation and an actual independent state of Palestine sounds wonderful. BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE and will never happen. It is a fairy tale. It is a psychological and emotional trick, and the Israelis (Zionists) are excellent at this, as they have shown by their track record in the past. I actually have very much respect for Bibi and I think that he is playing it very well ( as usual ). It's really not Obama's fault because he is idealistic and very naive. Bibi will out negotiate, out maneuver , out smart, out play Obama. I love my President Obama, but he doesn't have a chance against Bibi. I wish this was not true, but it is. Israel will say and do anything to advance their ownership of Israel and genocide the Palestinians.
..... every time, during so many tens of years, they wanted more than what was offered, more than anything reasonable. Maybe they actually wanted all of Palestine back .... and throw us out.... whatever. It started from the 3 NO's, thru all rejections of peace by Arafat, to the present rejection by Abbas .... I am not even talking about Hamas .... So, what happened next? Well, In the times of Arafat, every rejection of what Israel offered was followed by terror. AND TERROR WAS FOLLOWED BY MORE SETTLEMENTS ! Again and again until there are now hundreds of thousands of settlers in the West Bank (except in Gaza which nobody wants) ..... So, and this is important, WHAT THE LEADERS OF THE TWO SIDES IN THE CONFLICT TALKED ABOUT, when they talked at all, HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER ON WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE FIELD ! What actually happened was like rain, after accumulation of clouds, ... that's all, unfortunately. And the cycle continues .....Rejection .... Settlements .... Occupation .... Terror ..... More occupation .... More terror .... Rockets ..... War .... Destruction .... Lots of dead ....More terror ..... More settlements ..... Flotillas .... Goldstones .....Misery ......Nuclear Bombs by Iran? And then? So, these are the results of Arafat, Meshal, Netanyahu, Lieberman, Religious, Erdogan, Ahmadinejad, Sharon, Likud, Hamas, Olmert, Hezbollah, etc.etc, etc, And Netanyahu takes advantage of this by bringing even more settlers there....Yet, I guess that now, with Obama in the picture too, there is one more chance for a Palestine State in the West Bank. In Gaza too if Hamas takes the peace on offer instead of its "resistance"....But do you see that happening? Neither do I.
Obama appears to be more naive than Jimmy Carter, if that's possible. The Palestinians do not just want their own state. They want the destruction of Israel. The US under Obama shows weakness to the world and drags Israel down with it.
Mr Obama, this is not really a difficult thing to do. Washington can get all five permanent members of the UN as well as the EU and the rest of the world to recognize a Palestinian State tomorrow, and its done. Sanctions on Israel will take care of the rest of the problems they refuse to acknowledge. Really, it is that simple. It is not as difficult as you and past administrations make it to be; all you need is a pair of balls to do it.
the American public will never allow this, to our shame I think. Sorry, I think it's the truth.
that will no longer rely on forgien support and have a economy and free trade and be able to send and recieve goods easily with it having a big brother watching it also will israel be able to fly drones over anytime it wants
gives us our own state or israel will be a majority pal state in twenty years and we will have the right to vote things in our favor or block your votes
If more of you were aware of this, people would have stopped asking for a separate Palestinian state, and they would accept Greater Israel as THE state, as it has existed 'de facto' per Israel's imposition over the last several decades. Palestinians in the territories have lived the reality of Greater Israel everyday since 1967. You know thats the case. Just because Israel has not declared the reality of the one-state, which everyone knows exists, it does not mean it does not exist. to declare the obvious, Israel opens itself to unequivocal apartheid sanctions. Demand the vote already! Palestinians, you are part and parcel of the Hebrew nation. You are those who remained behind, and were denied your heritage of faith. History took its course. But that does not change G-d's promised of the Land of Israel to the seed of Jacob. Jews are merely one group who are the seed of Israel. But you too are the seed of Jacob, you just now happen to be Muslims, Christians and Samaritans. You are special among Muslims and Christians, for you are not gentiles like all other Christians and Muslims, you are the seed of Jacob, and as such the inheritance is yours too. The bible does not promise the land of israel to jews specifically, it promises it to the the seed of israel.
no body wants the hear "effort " ...make every effort? Mr. President, I am sorry but you gatta be joking. The world is tired of this burden, you owe the people of this world who supported your promise of "hope and change" ...that included change in this 60 mess we call Palestine - Israeli conflict. You have to do better ...no way is this acceptable. Majeed
Abbas:We'll sacrifice victims until Jerusalem is ours. You see?I told you they don't want peace.They want all of Jerusalem, all of Palestine,return of refugees and more and more.How the former Abbas boss said it? "Since we cannot defeat Israel in war, we do this in stages. We take any and every territory that we can of Palestine, and establish a sovereignty there, and we use it as a springboard to take more. When the time comes, we can get the Arab nations to join us for the final blow against Israel." AND "I have no use for Jews; they are and remain Jews." Palestinians and peace? Never!Just look at their behavior in Jordan,Lebanon,Kuwait and now in Israel.
No, the Palestinians don't want all of Jerusalem, they just want East Jerusalem. And that's fair enough because E Jerusalem has never been internationally recognized as a part of Israel, it is a Palestinian territory. The Palestinians don't want all of historic Palestine; they just want the West Bank, or what's left of it. It is Israel that wants all of Jerusalem and all of the West Bank. The only Palestinian state acceptable to Israel is the one whose land, water resources, the Jordan River, borders and air space fully controlled by Israel. Contrariwise, I think it is Israel and peace that don't mix
Lies, lies and more lies from the President!
look, i like obama most of the time. but in his cozying up to bibi, how is he planning on making a state? let's look at the facts. bibi wants the freeze to end, so there will be even more settlement building in the west bank. soon jews will own most of the land (although they will not LIVE on most of the land). golan will eventually go back to syria. east jerusalem is completely rejected by israel as non-israeli territory; "it's their eternal captial". gaza is a mess. so where is this state going to be, obama? where are you going to put the millions of descendants of those pushed off of their lands 60 years ago? what will happen when their numbers exceed that of the jews? he is all talk and no action, as per usual.
It took Obama THREE days to tell Abbas what went on with the meeting with Netanyahu. This is not a good sign, the US is not taking Abbas' needs sufficiently seriously. The Palestinians will do better if they do not rely solely on the US but seek some support from the Europeans. For example, Mitchell should not be the mediator, but there should be another one representing the Quartet. At a minimum, Mitchell should be commissioned as a Quartet mediator and consult with the EU too.
will put my money on Obama. Abbas is no doubt very apprehensive as Netanyahu is as untrustworthy as they come. But Obama knows that. His behavior at the moment is aberrational due to the upcoming midterms. A reversion to normalcy will soon follow same.
Mitchell should not be the mediator, but there should be another one representing the Quartet
Very good effort so far by US president. Peace for all.
Obama is fooling himself, and Bibi too. The Pals won't give up until they got the Temple mount. All we can do is draw our line in the sand and say as one united people that if we give up Jerusalem we give up our birth-right. How then could we say with honest hearts each year, " ... next year in AL-Qud!"?
Maybe--I'm not too excited as yet but wouldn't it be wonderful if something came out of all the talk. Maybe a Palestine state is no longer the Impossible Dream.
Save the frowns for when you try to get Hamas to come on board without tipping over your PA State boat!
POOR ABBAS AND POOR OBAMA , NETANYAHU IS FOOLING BOTH OF THEM, THE ISRAELIS ARE JUST GOING TO KEEP PLAYING THE PROCRASTINATION GAME UNTIL THEY STEAL MORE LAND FROM THE PALS.
And what game are the Palestinians playing? The "reject a state every time one is offered to you," game?
Israel has never offered the Pals a viable state.
Like every Arab state. Is Chad "viable"? Is Somalia "viable"?
Except Israel HAS offered the Palestinians a viable state. Why do you think varying Arab leaders told Arafat to accept the Clinton parameters?
Chad is not an Arab state Jasper. I decided not to reply to people like you little Jasper.
The more moderate one in the West Bank exhibits some potential for peace one day and the next day is schizophrenic, resorting to spiritual and historical revisionism and expecting Israel to bear its vulnerable jugulars in complete trust. The other extreme face in Gaza does not speak with a forked tongue but rather in a solid, crooked one delivering a consistent militant monologue of no peace and no compromise. And to complicate matters even further, the moderate one with the potential for peace boldly and matter-of-factly proclaims that he would run to support militarily his extreme brother in any future conflict with Israel. Some Palestinians and their supporters wish they could turn back the clock to pre-six day war 1967, others to pre-war of independence 1948, and some even to post Muslim Arab conquest of ancient Israel CE 691, but Israel's appointed time for rebirth and rejuvenation has come, with the required tenacity to stay.
5 years..... opps, that promise was in 2000...
Abbas term has long since expired. There is no effective elected Palestinian government. The PM and other officials were appointed by Abbas. Abbas does not represent the Palestinian people. he certainly does not represent Hamas. Israel and America prefer to deal with Abbas. If there were going to be serious peace talks it woulf be a disaster. Fortunately, it is just more pretend on Israels part and therefore harmless.
I can't understand why all the "defenders of the palestinian people" are so dense. Of course, Bibi doesn't actually want direct talks with Abbas. Why should he?? Israel has nothing to gain from direct talks. Bibi goes on US television and lays his heart on the line about his love for peace and his willingness to talk to Abbas anywhere, anytime. It is that message that matters, and as long as Abbas is too afraid to call Bibi's bluff, Bibi wins, palestinians get to watch as more settlements are build, and Obama is trapped in a corner. The only battle of any importance for Bibi, Abbas, and Obama is the battle for the hearts and minds of the american people and Bibi just pulled ahead..
Israel has everything to gain from direct talks, your propaganda and reverse psychology does not work here. With direct talks israel can say whatever it wants and blame whomever it want for failed talks and can continue doing whatever it pleases. Talks through messengers such as the american one will show as previously with the german proxies who is stopping the success of a deal. If anything, just that palestinians want indirect talks show give you a hint that the weaker party sees opportunities to make itself heard and more fair picture spread about what is actually happening as it is no longer under israeli control and the israeli words must be backed up with action, not air and time as now.
Saying Bibi blabbed this on Fox and Friends or whereever does not cover the tab. Without peace there will be blood and pain. Achieving peace will take discourse. Not monologue to American press. One of my biggest problems with Israel is its fondness of saying "we tried that and it didn't work - no point considering that again". There is a barrier of distrust built by many, many hostile acts. This runs both ways. Breaking it will take a lot of magnanimity and perseverance, not try once and give up. As for nothing to gain, look at how the rest of the world views Israel today. This is not some crazy PR coupe by the Palestinians, this is a lot of "shoot first ask questions later", "pity us we're the victims", and "we're entitled to shed any amount of blood for our security" while neglecting to blame massive theft and aggression by some very nasty setttlers. Israel needs to own up to a lot of hypocrisy about being a most moral army or nation, while shedding a lot of innocent blood. Then it would have something reasonable to talk about.
"The Jordan Valley and the territories that dominate it shall be under Israeli sovereignty." - Likud Election Platform 2009 Only recently did Netanyahu repeat this fantasy. Right here the Palestinians lose some 15-20% of the West Bank while the Clinton parameters considered a 5-6% loss, of which about half should be returned in the form of Israeli territory. Netanyahu will be laughed out of the peace process with such a map. The laugh will be even louder because this thinking is so outdated. The Jordan Valley was viewed by Israel as protection against Iraqi tanks, but Saddam is dead, Iraq has no tanks, and the IAF can put an end to an Iraqi invasion force. The US freed Israel of the Saddam worry at immense cost, but Likud refuses to consider this as real.
Isn't it?
In my post I pointed out that Netanyahu is trying to protect against a threat that existed once upon a time but is no longer around. Comes SDHD, another peace rejectionist and reminds us that the Palestinians rejected the Clinton parameters. Now, that was Arafat. I suspect that you didn't pay attention to the fact that Arafat dies some 6 years ago. Today it is Abbas dealing with Israel. Try to catch up with the news, man. You will then discover that the quality of your comments is changing, from useless to something that perhaps may be worth reading.
Logios, you may have forgotten by now, but YOU are the one who mentioned the Clinton parameters. Now you mention Abbas as being the present and Arafat as being the past. Well, your PRESENT rejected Olmert's offer. Maybe if your head weren't up your butt, you'd quit jumping from goal post to goal post.
Logios, YOU are the one who brought up the Clinton parameters in the first place. All you do... day in and day out... is spew some falsified version of history. Now you want to focus on Abbas as, "Mr. Here and Now?" Well, he's the one who rejected Olmert's offer. I'm not the one rejecting peace offers, putz.
Abbas rejected Ulmart's proposals that were far better for palestinian interests than Clinton's. The problem is simple Nataniahu does not want a palestinean state but he will have to swallow it, if palestinians would make the right decisions. Since plaestinians cannot take right decisions, because of Hammas and basically because in their minds and hearts thay cannot accept and recognize as legitimate a jewish entity in the region....then there is not going to be palestinian state and this present status quo ....NO ANNEXATION AND NO WITHDRAWAL will be preserved.
He was offered 91 percent of the west bank, Israel controlling all Palestinian borders and airspace, Israel annexing the Jordan Valley making the west bank into three cantons, ISRAEL not allowing a Palestinian capital in Arab East Jerusalem, Israel not allowing a connection to Gaza from WB. Enough said, Israel dropped the ball at Camp David, not Arafat.
continued at Taba after Clinton left office, reportedly progressing until Barak called them off - after leaks of what he was offering Arafat? The excuse for calling them off was that the election that Sharon was of course going to win was imminent. Later Barak wrote an op-ed piece that I recall roughly, it said his offer to Arafat was just a way to show Arabs were liers, although it seemed to me to that it showed PMs are liers.
The real question is, "Could Abbas make Hamas recognize Israel?" If so, I believe that progress could be made.
The time has come for Palestinians to stop negotiating a two state solution and fight peacefully for an integration into the existing Israeli society with equal rights for all including the return of all refugees. Exactly like blacks in South Africa did. All properties stolen from Palestinians should also be returned to their owners with compensations. Israel thinks it can continue with what it is doing with American support for ever. This is far from reality. The world is changing and America's influence is diminishing day by day. Zionists should also remind themselves that their plan to establish a tiny State by means of force in an area with more than 400 million people who are very hostile to them will one day fall apart from within.
The Palestinians should accept a state of their own instead of holding out for taking over Israel. And they should settle for less than 100% of the territories, given that their state will be Jew-free.
Proof is in the pudding boys. Obama, Bibi, and even Abbas can talk until their blue in the face, but until there is ANY concrete actions, it's all just wasted breath. Peace talk, peace talk, peace talk, peace talk...decades of just mindless talking.