U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas
Palestinian mission in Washington granted title of 'general delegation' and given permission to hang PLO flag at entrance.
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff Tags: Israel news PalestiniansThe U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority by granting its mission in Washington - which is actually a PLO mission - the same status it enjoys in most European countries: that of a PLO "general delegation."
This is still a lower status than an embassy and does not give them any diplomatic privileges or immunities - a status the PA mission does have in many African and Asian countries, as well as some European and South American states. But it is a major step above what the PA has had until now.
Prior to this decision, the PA mission in Washington was at a very low level from the point of view of protocol: It was not even allowed to fly the PLO flag at the entrance to its offices.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama |
| Photo by: Archive |
"This decision reflects our confidence that through direct negotiations, we can help achieve a two-state solution with an independent and viable Palestine living side by side with Israel," said White House spokesman Thomas Vietor. "We should begin preparing for that outcome now, as we continue to work with the Palestinian people on behalf of a better future."
The PA has been seeking an upgrade in diplomatic relations ever since U.S. President Barack Obama took office last year. But after 18 months without progress, it received a letter from the State Department on Tuesday announcing that the U.S. had agreed. The letter was sent to Maen Areikat, who heads the PLO mission in Washington.
The Americans began seriously considering the upgrade two weeks ago as one of several steps it intends to take in an effort to entice Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas into direct talks with Israel. A week ago, American officials contacted both the Israeli embassy in Washington and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to see whether Israel would object to the upgrade, a senior Israeli official said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that he had no objections.
A senior Palestinian official confirmed the upgrade, and stressed that this is more than a symbolic step. "This move will enable PLO officials and Palestinian diplomats to operate in Washington in an official and orderly manner," he said.
The U.S. has also promised that if the PA does agree to direct talks, the construction freeze in the settlements will continue, and "not one house will be built," Abbas said this week.
Abbas made this claim three days ago, in an address to his Fatah movement's Revolutionary Council. But since the media were barred from that meeting, it became known only Thursday, when the PA published it on its official website, Wafa.
In his speech to the council, Abbas said he has not yet received sufficiently clear answers from the Americans about other issues that he wants settled before the talks begin, and is therefore not yet willing to agree to them. While Obama sent him a message that contained very positive statements on the subject of borders, he said, they were "not positive enough."
Abbas said he would submit a definite response to Washington's request for direct Israeli-Palestinian talks on July 28, but his basic position is that direct talks will be possible only if sufficient progress is first made on the issues of borders and security during the indirect talks now being conducted with American mediation.
PA officials said this week that the PA has asked Israel for answers on several specific points relating to these issues, and will not agree to direct talks unless the replies are satisfactory. But so far, they said, Israel has not responded.
The PA's insistence on a complete settlement freeze stems from the fear that its image will suffer severely if it agrees to direct talks without one. It also fears that Israel is not really serious about the talks, and would therefore rather wait until September, when the 10-month freeze on settlement construction expires, to see whether Israel extends it.
If so, the PA might view that as a sign of good faith on Netanyahu's part. White House spokesman Thomas Vietor said, "This decision reflects our confidence that through direct negotiations, we can help achieve a two-state solution with an independent and viable Palestine living side by side with Israel. We should begin preparing for that outcome now, as we continue to work with the Palestinian people on behalf of a better future."
Israel's defense establishment, meanwhile, has advised the government to allow the Palestinian Authority to import 50 Russian-made armored vehicles - something Israel has been refusing to do for five years now.
Russia first proposed giving the vehicles, which are armored only against light weapons, to the PA security services more than five years ago, in an effort to strengthen the rule of PA President Mahmoud Abbas. In March 2008, toward the end of Ehud Olmert's term as prime minister, Israel finally informed the Russians that it would approve the deal - but only if the number was halved to 25 and the vehicles were altered so that it would be impossible to mount a machine gun on them.
The PA agreed to these restrictions, saying it needed the vehicles to maintain law and order and deter Hamas. But in practice, the deal never went through, because Jerusalem got cold feet after the decision provoked a storm of criticism from the right wing, which accused it of repeating the mistakes of the Oslo era - when weapons Israel gave the PA were later turned on Israeli soldiers and civilians.
In the meantime, the Russians sent 50 of the vehicles to Jordan, where PA security personnel were trained in their use as part of a wider American-led training program aimed at upgrading the PA's security capabilities. Recently, the PA again began asking that the vehicles be allowed in, raising the issue with both Israel and the United States.
Both the Israel Defense Forces' Central Command and the coordinator of government activities in the territories have recommended that the government accede to this request, in light of the impressive improvement in security cooperation between Israel and the PA. A security official told Haaretz that as long as the vehicles cannot mount machine guns, they pose no danger to Israeli forces.
But it seems likely that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will seek to link this gesture to the effort to persuade the PA to move from indirect to direct diplomatic negotiations.
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Natasha Mozgovaya
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If the Palestinian delegation wasn't allowed to fly the Palestinian flag before now, they would have been the only people in America who couldn't.
There are very rigid protocols around diplomacy. They were previously at an official level that did not include the Flag, amongst othe things
Why was this recognition not tied to the PA finally recognizing Israel? Has no one learned that these "confidence building" steps do nothing because the PA is moving toward statehood without conceding anything.
Because the PA already rcognised Israel in its 1967 (and not 1948) border on Sept. 29th, 1993 ! On the opposite, Israel did not recognize any land belonging to the Palestinians, but only the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian People, called PA !
They do recognize Israel. So do I. Just not as a Jewish state.
The PA does recognize Israel. When will Israel recognize the Palestinian right to exist? The PA has conceded lots. What has Israel conceded?
This is the history of the PLO--emotional, childish, and histrionic desplays when they dont get their way!!!
Rewarding the PA for corruption that led to the election of Hamas and for missing every opportunity to make peace. Not to forget still teaching incitement to violence and other anti Israeli Anti western propaganda. Nice one Obama
Symbolic gesture that means nothing. They get to hang a PA flag outside their office....whoopdy-doo.
What a deal? Knowing Abass, he will likely fall for it and happily succumb to American pressure in exchange for a piece of colored cloth hanging in front of his mission in Washington.
What PLO flag? It is the Palestinian flag!
No israel, No Palestine. One State Solution is the best for all. One Man, One Vote, Equality for all inhabitants. Equal Pay for Equal Work, Equal Water Rights. No Apartheid, No Segregation...A Very True Secular Democrac Let us call it: “State of Holy Land”.
they will actually have to SHARE for the first time in existance
"A week ago, American officials contacted both the Israeli embassy in Washington and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to see whether Israel would object to the upgrade, a senior Israeli official said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that he had no objections." Are these guys in Washington for real?
Washington mission in attempt to convince the PA leadership, President Abbas, to enter direct talks with the Government of Israel. What's next - special delivery of a Tunisian laffa sandwich from an Israeli eatery only 10 minutes away from Ramallah to convince President Abbas that the Likud-led government is willing to make the difficult territorial concessions? The suspense continues in the efforts to establish the peace agreement for the two states alongside one another. Oy!
Israel receives $6.0 billion annually from the USA. Palestine receives about $0.2 billion. It is also time for the USA to increase that allocation to Palestine and help build a viable, prosperous Palestinian economy.
obama conveniently forgets that there had been direct talks between israel and abbas before obama started his incompetent and detrimental meddling in the peace process.
Yeah, but they didn't amount to anything.
This is further evidence that Obama is incompetent. The P.A. has done nothing to try to implement a peace treaty with Israel; its media still broadcasts some of the most vicious and offensive anti-semitic material and it refuses to meet directly with Israel to discuss peace. And what does this neophyte Obama do? He upgrades their status in Washington as a reward for their recalcitrance.
I don’t understand US diplomacy when it ignores announcements by Abbas that make it impossible to have any kind of direct negotiations with Israel. The PA is being supported by the US against Israel; how can the US play both sides in a very troubled region of the world. Does the PA give intelligence to US on Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups out to destroy the US and Israel? Has Abbas renounced the PLO charter calling for the total destruction of Israel? What is taking place has taken place 2 times before. The negotiations will get to a certain level and then the PA will reject the offer and all hell will break lose with Muslim Intifada’s; or what we call it in Philadelphia; Muslims gone wild. It is becoming clear that Muslims play with the world wanting peace to advance their agenda which calls for the destruction of Israel; that has not changed sense 1948.
As part of his graduate studies, Obama is about to learn that Abbas will not move one inch toward direct talks, compromise, 2-State, or peace with Israel. It would not matter if he gave Abbas an office in the West Wing, and named him US Secretary of State. Obama is about to find the reason for the conflict, and that it is not Israel.
It sickens me a non-American that USA would have to ask Israel permission to make a "concession " to the Palestinians. Just how servile does this president wish to look in the eyes of the world?j
if we don't like what we hear we do what arafat did walk away and start terror again
Abbas is following in his mentors (arrafat) footsteps.. demand demand and even if they are met. to refuse to accept... he only wants a Final solution.
end the settlements in west bank and east jeruselem
Israel agreed seven years ago to 'freeze' construction. Construction has never stopped.
now the negociations are about peace and ending the occupation not statehood if the U.S want to resolve the conflict it better do it soon because the middle east is boiling and its going to spill into israel
come on guys do we look dumb to you
great! now that the palestinians have an upgraded delegation to washington the conflict is finally over. now israel and palestinians can finally live their lives now.
It will start to end when the US upgrades to the next level, statehood recognition. Next year, maybe.
Why US should offer the compensation to PA to persuade for direct talk. PA should get it from Israel.
Give the some humvees without armor, why do they need APC's for fighting a rag tag army called Hamas who hides behind civilain sheilds......
PLO (terrorist) flag flying. Does anyone recall what Jordan did to members of the PLO in the 70s? This is a terrorist flag representing terrorist and other assorted criminals. It is hardly a flag of peace.
There will be a Palestinian State and there will be a U.S. Embassy in Palestine. Get over your hatred and try living in the real world. The real terrorists are the ones denying food and medicine to three million people and deciding not to allow toys and certain foods into Gaza.
Well!!!! that ends one piece of Zionist revisionism. What,s next???. A Palestinian State. Me thinks so.
You forgot that there are almost eight million Palestinians all around the world. Most are well educated and very high class possitions. Wake-up and wise-up.
I think Labhras was being sarcastic.
So far they don't have a unified government, didn't exist until recently...why the Palestinians are never mentioned in UN Res. 242...because nobody recognized an independent Arab people call Palestinians. It's why you can't name the Pal president before Arafat, none existed. In the WB they flew the Jordanian flag and in Gaza they flew the Egyptian flag and if you went into the history books prior to the 1960's, there was no such thing as a Palestinian flag. Why do think that is? Because there was never was a country, doesn't that make sense. So now they are here and have to be "coaxed" into direct talks? Why? I thought they wanted a country? But without a unified Government and Hamas saying it will not honor any peace agreements I don't see how it's possible?
And Isreal... got the habit to get kick on the butt to throw out of the mouth.. neither they will swallow....
you knoledge of ME history is weak so stick to Geargia's history . please leave the ME alone
That doesn't mean there wasn't an aspiration among Jews to form a state. Denying the existence of the Pal people appears as contemptable to the rest of the world as the Hamas leadership trying to argue that Jews had no historical tie to the holy land. With respect to the Palestinian's divided government, have you considered Israel's active role, increasing in the last decade, in ensuring political and geo division of the Pal people with the specific aim of weakening their leadership? I would recommend a general spirit of reconciliation and acceptance of the other's narrative, as this will be essential if we are to have any hope for peace in the middle east.
Yet you can't show where I erred in my history. You can only say it's "weak" and I should stay out of ME matters. You prove my point, thanks.
The Pal people could have formed a State prior to '67, WHY didn't they. Their Jordanian brothers could have arranged it, why didn't they?? Why was attacking and destroying Israel more important in the 50's and 60's that crating a State?? Will you please answer that, nobody can.
According to Oslo accords and later agreements PA is not allowed to have foreign affairs. It is not in the nature of self-governing.
QUESTION FOR THE ONE GOD: WHY ME? AND: WHY SO MANY OTHERS, BUT NOT ALL? DON'T THEY DESERVE THE SAME? WHY [{(NOT)}]?! IT CANNOT BE LIKE THAT: NEVER!! JAMAIS! GOD: has [{A}] LOT 2 EXPLAIN IF HE EVER COMES as there are SO MANY who DEMAND EXPLANATION where WE KNOW GOD won't be able to EXPLAIN anything 2 anyone! So, that's why it has to be that My Mother is the one who is RIGHT ABOUT GOD: HE SHALL NEVER (AGAIN) COME 2 THE EARTH!
QUESTION POUR 1 DIEUX: ET POURQUOI MOI?
It is interesting to know if the President Obama knows that PLO is Palestinian Liberation Organization. Obama knows what the PLO wants to liberate or eliminate Israel as a state? When Washington will stop support PLO. pro former Soviet, organisation which has onky one idea to kill Jews and wipe out of Israel from ME? I wish to ask my President ( I am also an American) to stop any connections with PLO. PLO Flag in Washington- terrible sign for America!
Palestinians want to get rid of Israel, and Israel doesn't even acknowledge that Palestinians exist. I say a pox on both these houses. No US Aid for either, recognize both, stay out of it. But that won't happen.
Did you know that Israel have a relationship with the PLO
Thank you very much, you made my day.
Like South Africa allowed the Bantustans to issue passports.
I thing Greenland and Faroe Islands has they own pasport. These are self-governing areas under Denmark
How can you considers the natives settlers ? Do you know anything about SA ?
Idiotic of USA
Woo Abbas ......how romantic..........Obama did no one tell you he is past it he can no longer function.
It is not Palestine flagg, it is the So-called palestinians flagg
Please keep publicizing your ignorant statements so that the whole world know what we, the palestinians, have to deal with; this superiority complex/ego. Let the world also know that (some) Israelis are not ready for peace. This will only help the Palestinian standing in the world. So good job guys!!!!
If you are from Gaza, you are an Gazans. Gaza have their own gowerment.
Israel evacuated Gaza in '05 and were met with 8,000 unprovoked rockets. ARE YOU READY FOR PEACE ??? Please don't look at anybody else, just YOU. Are your thug-masters in Gaza ready for Peace, and to release Shalit, I don't think so. When you are ready, give us a call.
The US had to ask Israel before upgrading the diplomatic status of the Palestinian delegation in Washington. Is the US a sovereign state or just a puppet of Israel ?
The idea is bridge differences, not to inflame the parties. It is common to check with an opposing interest before making such a move. It is hardly a nefarious move. The conspiracy stuff is so tiresome and baseless. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
It was inevitable that some jerk would come up with this. Next, we'll get another chorus of Sharon's supposed "We control America", despite the fact that it has been definitively discredited as a hoax.
President, PM, ministers, security forces, upgrading the status and all this nonsense is the last thing Palestinians need. What we need is freedom and an end to the long ugly occupation which is known to every one every where. Israeli aggression and endless ambition needs to be stopped so we all live in peace and offer a better future to our children. Of course some will ask about the position of Hamas..well, why the west and israel approach it and try to get first hand answer. Remember, Oslo accord and negotiation with Israeli governments for over 17 years has provided negative precedent and proofed that Israel is buying more time to confiscate more land. When Isreal is serious about peace, it knows where to go and whom to talk to. Talking to an american puppet will never bring peace.
1. You are a Gazan 2. Gaza is occupied by Hamas. 3. Israel withdraw from Gaza in 2005
Kan, what aboit the other illegal occupied land? Gaza was given back is no favour done? Its like a thief returning stolen property and. Bieng so proud to return it.
Egypt did not want Gaza back, that’s a fact. What illegal occupied land? Israel has under international law right to stand in occupied land because it was gained in a self defense war until a peace treaty is sign. And PA has turned down every offer upon their own state.
Under international law Israel has no right to settle it's own colonizers on occupied land. It is also illegal under international law to remove the indigenous population from their land or homes.
Keep on deluding yourself that you have done no wrong/ can do no wrong! The symptoms of this sickness is so overwhelmingly Israeli and so overwhelmingly opposed by the rest of the world!
You're absolutely correct, is was LOST by their foolish leaders. They are deluded with their occupation. Why did the Arabs attack, why doesn't Egypt want anything to do with Gazans, even today. They don't want THEIR State, they want OUR State. No can do.
The Gaza 'settlers' were on titled land owned by Jews; legally bought and paid for in the 1920's.
When Jews were given Israel. They didn't steal it from those who inhabited it. They purchased the land & houses etc. That's not stealing. Of course they're going to move in. Why would you give away?
You are 100% right. Since the land was legally bought & paid for by the Jews. They have every right to inhabit it.
We didn't ask for or get permission to recognize Israel. We don't seek permission to up relations with Palestine. Statehood for Palestine is coming. The "armored" cars are just bullet resistant and carry no weapons. Abbas wants a reply to his "borders and security offer." None has been transmitted yet through Mitchell. You'd think Netanyahu would have some reply if he was serious about finding peace.