Fayyad to Barak: Israel must show that it is rolling back occupation
Palestinian prime minister made rare joint appearance with Israeli defense minister at Herzliya Conference.
By Sara Miller and Avi Issacharoff Tags: Ehud Barak Salam Fayyad Israel newsPalestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Defense Minister Ehud Barak made a rare joint appearance at the Herzliya Conference on Tuesday.
Fayyad, the widely respected leader who is credited with the economic turnaround in the West Bank, said ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only path to security for Israel.
"The roughness of this neighborhood can be reduced if not eliminated if [Israeli] occupation comes to an end," Fayyad said. "I do not believe that there can be permanent peace unless the concept of Palestinian statehood is accepted."
Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have stalled since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assumed power last year.
While Netanyahu says his government is prepared to resume talks without preconditions, the Palestinians are insistent that Israel cease all construction in settlements that lie beyond the 1967 armistice lines.
"We are now at state of impasse," Fayyad said. "Everyone knows that. It would appear as though progress had been impeded because there is no formal political process."
"What is required is negotiations based on settled principles," the Palestinian prime minister said.
Fayyad said Israel must demonstrate its seriousness about a two-state solution. "We need to begin to see things that suggest to our people that indeed the occupation is on its way to being rolled back," he said.
The Palestinian leader pointed to his government's institutional build-up as proof that it is cognizant of the burdens inherent in managing the state-in-the-making.
"We Palestinians have resolved to shoulder responsibility of getting ready for statehood," Fayyad said.
The prime minister said West Bank stability was contingent upon an increased security presence in more Palestinian towns.
"In the context of the occupation being rolled back, us Palestinians need to have formal security presence on population centers outside of Area A," Fayyad said, referring to West Bank territories that are under exclusive security and administrative Palestinian control.
Fayyad said one shortcoming of the Oslo Accords was that it failed to recognize the principle of eventual Palestinian statehood.
"The road map is one document that makes a great deal of sense [because] it takes as a given the emergence of a Palestinian state and an end of Israeli occupation," the prime minister said.
Fayyad said the terms of the road map call for a complete freeze of construction in Israeli settlements, an issue that threatens to prejudice the results of a final-status agreement.
"If settlements continue, the political question is how confident can we be that once relaunched, the political process will be able to deliver on permanent status issues," he said.
Barak said on Tuesday that "if the Palestinians living in the West Bank could, in the future, vote in the Israeli elections, Israel will become a bi-national country."
"But if they are not allowed to vote," he added, "we will become an apartheid country."
Barak stated at the Herzliya conference, speaking alongside Palestinian Prime Minster Salam Fayyad, that "the alternatives force us to uphold a border where on one side is a Jewish majority, and on the other side a Palestinian state"
The defense minister praised the Palestinian Prime Minister for his work, and said that he lead towards practical political thought in the Palestinian Authority.
"We are witness to the fact that the security situation in the West Bank is in good shape, which hasn?t been true for many years, and even the Jewish leaders admit to it," Barak said.
Commenting on the stagnant negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians Barak said "the negotiations will take time, perhaps a year of two, and a final status agreement could take three years, but it is time to enter negotiations and stop playing games."
Barak added that "we have accepted the road map and a two state solution."
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If there were to be a peace agreement and Israel were to withdraw from the West Bank, remove the security wall, cedes E. Jerusalem, and permit the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state in the occupied territories, and then impose a genocidal blockade on the new Palestinian state as it did in Gaza, it will be Gaza all over again. If that happens the Palestinians will attack Israel, as would any sane rational people.
There is not, and never has been, any concept by the Palestinians, the US, the UN, the Arab League nor anybody else for Palestinians to have any form of sovereignty over any Israeli territory. But when an independent Palestinian state is eventually established, that Palestinian state will have sovereignty over all the Palestinian territory Israel now illegally occupies. Regarding E. Jerusalem, Israel is a state lacking any legal basis for sovereignty in Jerusalem. UNSC resolution 181, under which Israel declared statehood, declared Jerusalem to be an international city, "corpus separatum," managed under UN auspices. In 1980 the Knesset passed the "Basic Law" which declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The "Basic Law" is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions 476 & 478 and thus a violation of Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention, and therefore a war crime. UNSC resolution 478 declared the Knesset "Basic Law" null and void.
The Bible is not the universal truth. Look it only speaks to one party
Fayyad and Barak: Two Talking Heads Fayyad is a financial master, he should be working for Goldman Sacks; among the Palestinians he has a Zero authority and is used as a Window Dressing. Barak is a military man with an extremely light head, an Israeli version of Joe Biden. He is impatient, he isn't a diplomat; he finds a solution to any problem in five minutes. He repeats the leftist's nonsense about demographic danger, Palestinians asking for the Israeli citizenship, second class citizens, etc. He was in charge of Israel's infamous cowardly escape from Lebanon with Hezbollah legitimately claiming victory. His stupidity had provoked Hezbollah to attack Israel in 2006. Barak witnessed Israel's retreat from Gaza with everyone predicting the flourishing Of Gaza's agriculture and industry. We saw the result in January of 2009. The truth is that the Palestinians and all Arabs don't want to negotiate, don't want peace, not ready for peace, not ready to accept even 100% of all territories.
the responsibilities of international legitimacy. Israel's legal borders were set in 1948. She won't accept the generous offer of her captives to accept the 1967 borders as her sovereign limit. She insists on controlling all borders of any Palestinian state, ie Israel demands control of all of Palestine. And who knows what else she wants. So why do we trade with Israel? She should be brought to heal until she accepts her responsibilities. We just can't allow her unruly behaviour to undermine our societies. A friend needs to tell a friend.
Jews to steal property and evict people of another religion from their homes and properties? I can't believe that Jews truly believe this. If I am wrong, then all great things that have been accomplished by people of the Jewish faith have no value.
If Barack accepts the Roadmap, then why doesn't he accept the bit that says Israel will stop ALL construction in the West Bank?
D: "Occupation?" There is an army of occupation lording over this territory. That makes this an occupation. D: "I do not think so. " Then you aren't thinking straight. D: "This land, and I mean all the land belongs to Jewish people" The West Bank isn't under the belligerent occupation of "the Jewish people"; it is under the belligerent occupation of "the IDF". D: "and is called Israel" Israel is a STATE. The Jewish people is an ETHNICITY. They are not one and the same thing. D: "Refer to BIBLE." The state of Israel owes its existence to a) Resolution 181 b) A unilateral declaration of independence. It does not owe its existence to a religous tract. D: "As for arabic people they have plenty of choices to join multitudes of same landguage and culture countries." They can also choose to stay where they are and to demand their human rights. ALL ethnicities have that right, not just the one called "the Jews".
Its called the Arab occupation of Israel.
There is no state of "Palestine". So how can there be a "Palestinian" Prime Minister? We may as well speak of an Oz, Atlantis or Neverland Prime Minister. Just as "Palestine" and the "Palestinian Prime Minister" is fictitious, so is the "occupation". Judea and Samaria have belonged to the Jewish people for more than 3,500 years. We "occupy" only our own land.
on making peace with the Palastinians. The failure was not his fault, and his attempt was credible, but what should embarass Barak today is how confidently he went into those negotiations without noticing that Arafat had no deal to make. What makes Barak think that Palastinains will now accept what they rejected in 2000? Perhaps there's reason to believe that the "right of return" (code for demographically destoying pre-'67 Israel) is no longer an pre-requisite for Palastinians. If so, what is that based on?
The palestinian arabs have done zero to promote peace with Israel and the Jewish people. Abbas and the rest of his lowlifes need to stop double talking hate to jews and israel and accept israel and start governing their people as tho they are leaders and not crooks with guns. For the billions of aid the palestinians have NOTHING to show for it. That is a crime of their leadership. And Hamas will leadership will only prolong the palestinian misery
'Barak stated at the Herzliya conference, speaking alongside Palestinian Prime Minster Salam Fayyad, that "the alternatives force us to uphold a border where on one side is a Jewish majority, and on the other side a Palestinian state" ' This is code for annexing about half the West Bank. In essence, as many Palestinians as possible are to be herded into as small an area as possible -- so as to ensure a Jewish majority in the remaining territory. The 'Palestinian state' Barak has in mind will bear an uncanny resemblance to an Indian Reservation -- except that Israel won't be responsible for feeding the residents, nor will they be allowed to leave. Maybe 'Pale' would be a more accurate term. Except that it will much, much smaller. What's a word for a really small Pale with a wall around it? Help me out here...
Israel is a strong prosperous nation. The Jewish people have a nation of their own to call home. Isn't that the goal of your Zionism. Now let Palestinians keep the 22 percent of the "British Mandate" of Palestine and we might just have a chance of peace. Maybe its not that simple, but we need to at least make an attempt. But frankly your words scare are heartbreaking.
Dan, your words emphasize why Palestinians are against settlements and why so many questions the tactics of Israel. Israel does not consist of the West Bank, in any shape or form. Your Bible is not a article of law, or even history. Please refrain from using it as justification for ethnic cleansing. Lets works towards peace, Israel has a strong
he'll find applauding flock in Israel and EU ,no doubt.
"Barak said on Tuesday that "if the Palestinians living in the West Bank could, in the future, vote in the Israeli elections, Israel will become a bi-national country." "But if they are not allowed to vote," he added, "we will become an apartheid country." - Ehud Barak quoted This actually is where Israel is headed if there is no separate Palestinian state that is sovereign and independent. Those who think Palestinians should move are delusional. Five million are not going to do so. Fayyad is neither Fatah nor Hamas. And Yes, the occupation is real. What the boundaries of BCE Israel were or might have been defy 3000 years of history. Just as modern people (men) aren't allowed hundreds of wives and concubines simultaneously, times change. Get over it.
" Refer to BIBLE." You mean the book written by Jews for Jews?
"As for arabic people they have plenty of choices to join multitudes of same language and culture countries." In a way this is sad. The Jews never fully left Israel. Somehow the romans, arabs and turks accepted that people could be Christian or Jewish. Once Jews together with Muslims fought in Jerusalem ( a multi cultural city) against the crusaders. The people you call "Arabs" most likely in large numbers descended from the original population in Israel/Palestine or whatever you call it. Now the people of all people that should know what harm racial theories and religious fundamentalism can do must create a most intolerant state. Try for once envisage a peaceful democratic secular state where everybody is equal for the law and free to have any religion. Is it really so bad?
of the continuous shelling from Gaza. Security was tantamount to the country. If there was quiet then a dove would have been elected...not the hawk.
Even the fact that any Jew, after what happened to Jews, would even raise a possibility of Jews becoming an apartheid nation is offensive and embarassing. Our grandfathers would roll in their graves listening to Israeli politicians.
Dan, give me a break. It is 21st century. Who cares about the Bible? Is that a legal document? Is that a title or something? What is it???
mr. fayyad is a humble and responsible leader. he is totally honest in what he is saying. but if he is rejected it is only because of weaknesses on the part of the israeli side. these weaknesses reveal sometimes greed, sometimes selfishness, sometimes a lack of trust, sometimes an illusion unfulfilled of a bible land all belonging to the israelis. we live now in the year ad 2010
You are being a gentleman. However, there is only one thing that Israelis respect. If you want peace and security, the time for being decent is past.
You may want to enroll in "Middle East 101" for beginners in a local Sacremento educational center. It will help you understand something about the area. Another option would be to try Google too.
It's not a difficult concept to understand.
# 5 Dan, It's not what you think that matters at all. Not in the least bit. Get hold of an Encyclopedia,& you'll see that Israel under King David's Reign & more so under King Solomon's Reign,the Bibilical Land of Israel was a few times bigger than what is today. The territory stretched beyond the jordan river & up north much further than what Israel is today.
Why is a Defense Minister-Barak- the one who meets with a Prime Minister-Fayyad? Is this also when the Israeli government representative meets with his equivalent from another sovereign nation? Or what is the status of the Palestinian Authority? It appears not be independent of Israel.
If we accept your view then one should really kick out all the americans from america and then give back to native americans (including you). This old story does not apply in this new era. The Jewish people were never ever forced to leave this area in history. Then left themselves and went to Europe and the Holocaust was not done by these poor palestians. Stop saying none sense!
It is comforting to see that there are still some performances like the Herzliya Conference or the European Forum Alpbach where responsible persons can give their opinion about peace and living together. If only those who are really in power (Barak is not) could see how easy it would be to achieve peace by breaking the stupid habits.
Dan You said "As for arabic people they have plenty of choices to join multitudes of same landguage and culture countries." I take it that from this statement, you are suggesting ethnic cleansing of Arabs from a "Greater" Israel. If not, you are suggesting that a bi-natinal state will occur in a greater Israel. I know that you do not mean the latter so will assume the former. If this is so and agreeable to you, then you would probably support the forced ethnic cleansing of Jews from other countries around the world such as the USA, UK and even from where I live, New Zealand. This last statement is obviously totally unacceptable. Just as your suggestion that Arabs should leave a "greater Israel." The options are two states or a single bi-national state. I wish Israel would decide which one it wants and work towards it. Israel says 2 states but act as if you want one state with land appropriations. In reality, the choice is Israels. Please make a decision. . . .
That is a tiny price to pay for peace, isn't it?
when all one wants to do is clap him in irons and hustle him off to the Hague for trial and disposition. Fayyad--how could you toch the hand of this criminal and murderer.
I do not think so. This land, and I mean all the land belongs to Jewish people and is called Israel. Refer to BIBLE. As for arabic people they have plenty of choices to join multitudes of same landguage and culture countries.
Abbas and Fayyad represent the Palestinian elite that has control over the $1.5 billion in U.S. and European charity that constitutes the backbone of the West Bank economy. Abbas' son controls the West Bank cell phone monopoly. They speak for a thin stratum of priviledged Palestinians that are increasingly seen as Kapos. Abbas should disband the PA (and Drayton's army), and say the truth: the two-state solution is dead and it is now a struggle against apartheid.
Is unmost to put the things done rationaly and more pression on Hamas to be civilized.
"Israel must show that it is rolling back occupation " Didn't work so well in Gaza, did it? Maybe the Palestinians must show something for a change.
..stop building settlements.. It's not a difficult concept...