U.S. warns Israel, Palestinians: Refrain from harming peace talks
Senior American official says U.S. views Israeli construction in West Bank settlements as illegitimate.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel US George Mitchell Middle East peace Barack ObamaThe Obama administration expects Israel to refrain from making any move that could potentially damage peace talks with the Palestinians once they begin, United States Middle East envoy George Mitchell has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mitchell conveyed the same message to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
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U.S. envoy George Mitchell meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 23, 2010 in Jerusalem. |
| Photo by: AP |
In recent days, Abbas has made clear that if Israel renews building in West Bank settlements, after a 10-month freeze on settlement construction on September 27, the Palestinian Authority will abandon the direct peace talks.
A senior American official well versed in the latest contacts between the U.S. and Israeli administrations refused to say whether Mitchell's message explicitly mentioned the future of settlement building. The official said that the U.S. position on the settlements is already known and has not changed. He clarified by saying that the U.S. views Israeli settlement building as illegitimate.
The official added that the U.S. had made clear to both sides that once the negotiations begin, both sides are expected to make serious efforts to move the talks forward and to avoid taking steps that could potentially harm them. The U.S. will make every effort to ensure that the talks don't end once they have begun, the official said.
Direct peace negotiations are expected to begin on September 2 in Washington, but several things, including a schedule and daily agenda for the visit, have yet to be determined. Another important detail yet to be addressed is the format the negotiations will take once the Washington summit is over.
The agenda and schedule for the visit will be finalized this week, the senior American official said. He confirmed that there will be direct talks between to the two parties and that all issues will be on the negotiating table. But he made clear that the two sides must decide how to direct the negotiations and choose the order of the topics to be discussed. The official expects that the Palestinians will want to discuss settlement building while Israel will want to address other issues.
The official believes that the U.S. government, and Mitchell in particular, plan on being extremely active participants in the talks. U.S. President Barack Obama has invested a lot of time on this issue, the official said while stressing how important the talks were for Obama. He added that the president has put his credibility on the line by inviting everyone to the White House and is more invested in this issue than the previous U.S. government was.
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If someone wants to build an extra bedroom on their home it will torpedo all the talks? As if life can be put on hold indefinitely for fear of Abbas getting a little indigestion. This is a recipe for failure. Too bad Obama can't speak with one voice. He is doing no one any favors.
The time when israel is in the driver seat is over, America from now on should and will take the lead towards peace. Israelis should know that President Obama will not be pushed around and failure is not in his vocabulary. Time has come to move forard towards peace with no returning back. Good Job President Obama.
The time when israel is in the driver seat is over, America from now on should and will take the lead towards peace. Israelis should know that President Obama will not be pushed around and failure is not in his vocabulary. Time has come to move forard towards peace with no returning back. Good Job President Obama.
The time when israel is in the driver seat is over, America from now on should and will take the lead towards peace. Israelis should know that President Obama will not be pushed around and failure is not in his vocabulary. Time has come to move forard towards peace with no returning back. Good Job President Obama.
Mr Netanyahu will surely find a way to wiggle out of a final settlement deal. I just hope President Obama, Mrs Clinton and George Mitchell hold his feet to the fire. No ifs or buts. !!!
i have this weird feeling that this time around we might get some positive results.i think both sides are tired of all the fuss cause there is no choice but to except one another..we need to tackle issues like the environment,water,preparing for natural disasters, so much can be achieved for the people that will bring the whole world to visit the holysites and all the economical benefits that come w it...we dont need no more wars , im a big chicken bellieve me i love peace and quiet , im sorry...
The official said that the U.S. position on the settlements is already known and has not changed. He clarified by saying that the U.S. views Israeli settlement building as illegitimate.
This is turning to be a protocol for each US government since Clintons Era to gather all parties for a week or two , take some pictures while the guys are in discussions or group walking down the road, and finally with a picture of Abbas & Netanyahu shaking hands while US president standing in the middle....then go back empty handed ....So Tired of This.
What will Israel get peace or pieces? No one has the right to tell Israel where they can build in their own country. We have historical,biblical and forceful tright to this land. The U.S. has only forceful right st o their territoty. This forceful riight can also be applied to China,Russia,France,Germany etc.
What will Israel get peace or pieces? No one has the right to tell Israel where they can build in their own country. We have historical,biblical and forceful tright to this land. The U.S. has only forceful right st o their territoty. This forceful riight can also be applied to China,Russia,France,Germany etc.
...do anything to mess up the peace talks like suicidebombing, terror attacking, demanding the impossible..........oh no! that's the Palesinians who do these things when negotiating.
Or else what? Obama has already tried to get tough with Israel once with small effect. If Obama is going to go down that road, he should be ready to back up his words. If he does not do this, it is not only himself he cheapens, it is his nation and its people. Americans have tolerated decades of silence from American presidents on Israeli oppression against the Palestinian people, but having Israel spit in Americas face followed by America backing down are another story. Don't go there again Obama, unless you have found some spine.
Was it the same person who said Rauf is backing up from Cordoba House?
Apu from The Simpsons: "If you do not stop handling the merchandise...I will be forced to ask you nicely again." Warnings without consequences are meaningless. Every spoiled child knows that
FAKE PRESSURE: America says that they will be unhappy if Israel commences settlement expansion during the peace talks. REAL PRESSURE: America says that they will immediately suspend all aid and support to Israel if Israel commences settlement expansion during peace talks. Israel is used to fake pressure from America. It is not an effective tool to motivate Israel. Real pressure has never been used. That's why America has been so ineffective as a peacemaker.
something come out of the mouth that is fruitful ... toooooooooo little toooooooooo late
I find that setting preconditions and making unreasonable demands ultimately hurts peace talks
Again America shaking her finger at Israel !?
"If you harm the peace talks you won't see another dollar from the USA; consider your annual $8 billion allowance ended..."
Israel, do not be decieved or seduced by Obama, you do not need America, the God of Abrahan, Isaac and Jacob is with you and He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps
talk between victom and aggressor?? talk between ocupied & occupier?? talk between unarmed and armed to teeth?? results????? wel known
Indeed, who is the occupier? The same people that seek to murder citizens in a country that they seek to deligitimize. Of course Israel is armed to the teeth. She has to be!
...about time the americans started behaving fairly and not let israel continue to get away with murder.... or maybe the yanks have finally understood how dearly their blank cheque to israel was costing them.... better late than never.
...some manner of deal is finally reached--it will only be successful--if it REALLY ticks off a lot of folks--on BOTH SIDES.
To do something out of spite. The clowns in this hapless government like the moldovan pitbull and the well dressed Morroccan DPM will throw a wrnech in the works. Just wait and see. They don't like to be told what to do. They are used to doing the opposite, where they dictate the terms and everyone else trumbles. Same thing here. There will be something like: "There will be no new construction in the illegal outposts but natural growth for schools, synagogues, yeshivot, infrastructure, well that we can't stop. And we will continue to build up our capital in all neighbourhoods of Jerusaem as is our divine right." Let's see how Mitchell handles this latest subtrafuge.
Let the anti-Israel Obama suffer in the midterms and then disappear in 2012 as a failed one-term loser president, just like his hero Jimmy Carter.
What? And have the future 'World Supreme Potentate' leave office with nothing to show in the way of Oslo Accord-type armtwisting?
What? And have the future 'World Supreme Potentate" leave office with nothing to show in the way of Oslo Accords type arm-twisting?
When President Obama starts a project, he will complete it successfully. Palestinian State will be established within one year and that is for sure.
Obama will fail miserably at the November elections and suddenly realise he is a lame duck and the first thing to be scaled back will be his 'dream' of peace in the region. The first and most cynical thing he will do to regain support will be to drop this folly to secure NY etc....
Ask 65% of Americans and they will tell you they disagree with Obama about building a mosque near ground zero,most Americans disagree with Obamas health plans,ask 10%of the unemployed Amewricans andd and they will tell you they disagree with the three trillion failed economic stimulus of this reckless president . Obama had to fire his chief of staff of the armed forces that said Obamas policies in North Korea,Iran,Iraq,Afganistan,and pro Arab attitue and anti Israel stance were wrong . Americans will ensure Obama is a one time President ,Israel beware of this President and his envoy .
If Israel or The Palestinians have a problem with any issue then they will have to continue under protest. If either side carries out activities that harm the peace talks then that side should be penalised. EG Israel keeps building illegal settlements then penalise them by reducing the numbers of Settlements they can hold on to. Same applies to Palestinians except the reverse--Israel gets to keep more Settlements. Somehow I cannot see Israel agreeing to that---gee I wonder why---is it far too fair and balanced.
I hope the bloggers who post that we should mind our own business remember that peace in the ME IS our business,and that at some point we may decide Israel's behavior against our interests is a reason to stop giving you our money and political cover.
The Obama administration has landed at Fantasy Island.
..is a very apt diplomat, but he surely knows the Israeli agenda. There is a sensitive balancing act that Mr. Obama is trying to keep: If it were up to him, there would have been a Palestine by now, and ardent Israel supporters know it... which is why they hate him so much.
Palestine already existed and has existed before the Zionist Jews arrived. The little they have left is being occupied and taken over by settlers. SO, why do you guys keep lying ? Are you looking for a fight ?
Why is it OK for a Palestinian state to be Jew free? Isn't that apartheid and racist? Or do these slanderous words only apply to Jews.
ummm, are you suggesting that jewish settlers in the west bank would be willing to be governed by a Palestinian State?