In first official talks since 2001, PA blasts Israel for J'lem construction
New UN envoy calls on both sides to honor road map; Tony Blair to MKs: Israel must proceed in talks despite doubts.
By Shahar Ilan Tags: Quartet Knesset Tony BlairThe first formal Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in seven years got off to a rocky start Wednesday, with the Palestinians lambasting Israel for a new construction project planned in disputed East Jerusalem, a Palestinian official said.
The Palestinians have said that newly announced Israeli plans to build more than 300 apartments in the Har Homa neighborhood threatened to undermine the talks. The Palestinians hope to establish the capital of an independent state in East Jerusalem.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said his delegation introduced the issue of Har Homa and expressed our outrage.
"If you want to restore the credibility of the peace process, the Israeli government must revoke this order," he added.
Wednesday's talks, which lasted for about 90 minutes, went ahead despite calls by some Palestinians for a boycott over the plans for Har Homa. Palestinian leaders decided to attend the talks but to focus on pressing Israel to freeze settlement building.
"We demanded a complete halt to the settlement building ... We have agreed to meet again, nothing else," Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo told Reuters after the meeting.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said there was no "quick fix" to the decades-old conflict and the process will require "ongoing efforts."
"They raised their concerns and we raised our concerns at the meeting," Mark Regev said.
Erekat said the Israelis raised concerns about security issues, including ongoing rocket attacks out of the Gaza Strip.
Erekat said there were no immediate plans to meet again. He said Israeli and Palestinian officials would both attend a conference in Paris next week where donors are expected to pledge aid to the Palestinians.
"After Paris, we will contact each other to see where we take it from there," he said.
The teams, headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia, had been scheduled to hold a high-profile launch of the talks at the ornate King David hotel, but decided to keep things low key and move things to an undisclosed location.
The meeting was expected to focus on technical issues, such as the priority list for the subjects to be covered in negotiations, and the task forces that will be established.
The Israeli team raised concerns regarding security problems in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Livni said the situation in the south was extremely grave, especially in view of Wednesday's Qassam attack.
She said Israel took a grim view of the involvement of members of the Palestinian defense forces in the attack in the West Bank about a week ago, in which an Israeli citizen was killed.
Both sides agreed at the end of the session to hold further talks at the gathering of the donor states in Paris next week.
UN envoy: Israel-PA must honor road map planThe incoming UN Mideast envoy called Wednesday for Israelis and Palestinians to honor the road map peace plan and criticized Israel's construction project planned in disputed East Jerusalem.
Robert Serry of the Netherlands, who officially takes up his post in January, met Abbas at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah. He told reporters that last month's Mideast conference in Annapolis, Maryland, had given new hope for peace, but work must be done to improve the lives of Palestinians even while the sides are trying to hammer out an agreement.
"It's very important for both parties to really stick to their commitments under the road map," Serry said.
The U.S.-backed plan requires Israel to halt all settlement construction and the Palestinians to halt attacks against Israel as a step toward creation of an independent Palestinian state at peace with Israel.
Serry quoted United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as saying that if Israel went ahead with its stated aim of building more than 300 new homes in Har Homa, it would be unhelpful and contrary to international law.
Tony Blair to MKs: Israel must proceed in talks despite doubtsThe Quartet's Mideast envoy Tony Blair told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Wednesday that he understands Israel's doubts regarding negotiations with the Palestinians, but urged the MKs present to proceed in talks.
Regarding the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, Blair said he understood that instead of peace, Israel got a "nightmare," which explains the reluctance to push through another unilateral withdrawal in the West Bank.
However, he maintained that the Palestinians are even more doubtful regarding chances for peace, and called on Israel to make sincere efforts, despite its doubts.
Blair rejected calls for funding first and foremost the Palestinian Authority's infrastructure and economy, saying that there must be simultaneous progress between the diplomatic and economic processes, which he said must be advanced in small steps.
Members of the committee were furious when Blair did not answer MK Limor Livnat's question regarding PA President Mahmoud Abbas' refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Rice to attend Quartet and donors meeting in ParisU.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will fly to Paris this weekend for a meeting of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators and a Palestinian donors' conference, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Rice will be in Paris on Sunday and Monday to attend an international conference on supporting Palestinian institution building and reform, steps that are regarded as vital if the Palestinians and Israelis are to make peace.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Rice would attend the Paris donors conference as well as a meeting of the Quartet, which includes Russia, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations.
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Mideast envoy Tony Blair with MK Tzahi Hanegbi at the Knesset Wed. (Tess Scheflan) |
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For every Kassam or attack into Israel, issue ten building permits forJews to build in East Jerusalem--
You are the only ones that are attempting genocide. Every attack that targets Jews is genocide. Whereas we target people for their actions.
The Har Homa project threatens the peace talks because it shows bad faith by Israel who promised to freeze construction only two weeks ago.
When was jerusalem the capital of any Arab entity???? Never. Prior to '67 was jerusalem a capital? Given the so-called holy nature of the city did Jordan care for it at all?? Did Jordan consider naming it as it's capital??? It's a good thing Tel Aviv wasn't Israel's capital or the Arabs would claim that too. oh yeahhh, they do claim it.
Mr. Murray: Since when does the world determine a country's capital city? Jerusalem has been Israel's capital for more than 3000 years. Your ancestors were probably battling it out like a bunch of animals when ours had already established great academies of learning. Jerusalem was a capital before Paris, or London, or any other modern capital. It shall remain Israel's capital - all of it!
First of all, forget about the "Hope to Establish East Jerusalem as their capital". It is their capital. After Britain wrongfully took seperated the land and game part of it for the creation of Israel. East Jerusalem belongs to the Palestinians, Israel wrongfully occupies it. It is amazing how those in Israel think that it belongs to them when it rightfully doesn't. It amazes me still how people in Israel think the world does not know or see when is going on. We all know that Israel is in the wrong, only those like the US support you and look how hated they are all around the world. I think the only country that is hated more then the US is Israel. No more talk, just give them what belongs to them!
Look at a world map easy to see Moroco to Afhganistan but try to find Israel need magnifying glass Arabs have so much Israel so little yet we suppose to give they suppose to recieve old story rich get richer poor get poorer all ALL A L L of Gaza West bank belongs to Israel according to the bible but alas America the world more less back the Arabs give Israel a lot less 6 billion against 6 million take more than a David stop world Goliath RIGHT ??? THANK YOU... M. S.
Building construction must stop in all arab controlled areas of gaza strip evacuated by Israel,and capitals of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria previously owned by jewish refugees.
Let Israel build the 300 appartments in East Jerusalem. And then give them to the Palestinians as a gift for their new capital.
Israel must abandon dreams of destroying the Palestinian peopel and arrogating more lebensraum at the Arab people's expense.
Israel has murdered more civilians, carried more acts of terror against civilian populations and created more racist laws than any terrorist group in the world. 850 Palestinian children murdred in the last few years and over 1000 civilians murdered during the last Lebanon war. Israel has no morals or ethics.
The Arabs of Western Eretz Yisrael have consistently demonstrated that they are incapable of surviving unaided or ruling themselves, especially at the national polity level. They have never exercised their inherent right of self determination and now they expect others to determine and create for them that Mickey Mouse "state" which will never be. They constantly kill and steal from each other and lie to themselves, each other and the rest of the world. They never miss any opportunity to make atrocious choices and mistakes and they are incapable of sustaining and providing for themselves; they depend on others for everything. How on earth will they ever make it?
with respect to mr blair, but to stay in the middle east for a few days, urging israel to give in to most of the demands of those merderers then go home to his cozy, safe mension, i don't know?.. but if he would move to sderot WITH HIS FAMILY for a couple of months, i would be more than willing to consider his good advices.
Har Homa belong to PA. The Palestinians will get it back.
When you say "blasts" you mean "complains about" in plain English. More importantly, neither your headline nor your article mentions the fact that Israel also "blasted" the PA at the meeting for the recent murder of an Israeli citizen by the PA police. It is no secret that your newspaper, like any newspaper, has an editorial line but when you are supposedly reporting the news you should report all of it and not just the half that suits your political agenda. That is the difference between a newspaper and a propaganda paper.
Lets all have a REALITY check here for once. HOW can there EVER be peace with a group of people (palies-islamo fasicsts, etc)who can NOT even shake hands with the people who are supposed to be their peace partners.(Annapolis talks). The palies whine and cry about what they want, what they demand from Israel,etc, etc,but NOWHERE in the equation do they ever do what they are supposed to do, MAKE PEACE with Israel! UNTIL they are capable of stopping all terror and threats against Israel, ISRAEL should just keep on building for the future of the Jewish people! Jordan IS the homeland of ARABS! NOT the land of ISRAEL which was given by the HAND of GOD to the Jewish people!
PA should drop negotiations and join HAMAS, the only way to peace.
I am patiently waiting for President George W. Bush to fulfill his campaign promise that he made in the year 2000, to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
It is NONE of the business of the PA to interfere in Israel's internal affairs.
Well, let's see: in the last 2 days before starting peace talks Israel announces new building in Har Homa and mounts the first large-scale incursion into Gaza for months, killing 8 Palestinians. Four possibilities occur: - pure coincidence; - real military and bureacratic necessity; - Israel's leaders are too stupid to understand that this might spoil the peace talks; - Israel wants to block the peace talks. Which of those do you think most likely?
The Anapolis hoopla ended the minute the meeting was adjourned, and Bush has already forgotten his own words. No one can blame Bush for his deliberate foot dragging. The blame should go to this PA clique that keeps getting fooled over and over by offers of a pie in the sky. Will they ever learn? And one final word about this British poodle. Is that all you can say after 6 months on the job? If you had to undergo performance evaluation you'll be fired in no time! But it is naive not to think that Blair was appointed EXACTLY for this purpose - more foot dragging!
Guess what, Jerusalem belongs to Israel. Palis better accept it now or just keep waiting to accept it. Security issues of Sderot are much more important. If Palis can't control themselves, probably should return to Arabia where they came from.
Ereckat can go to hell with his complaints. I would sooner make a limited truce arrangement withhamas after retaking philadelphis rather than deal with ineffectual fatah. All of hamas leadership should be removed.Israel may wish to set fire to all of gaza gas stations.
Haaretz should take note - East Jerusalem is not a 'disputed' territory. It is an illegally occupied territory which no-one in the world recognises Israeli sovereignty over. The construction of additional illegal settlements in East Jerusalem shows how little Israel cares about peace. Israel needs to shut up whining about security. Israel's own actions show how little Israel actually cares for peace or deserves security
The photo-op is over, Americans are convinced we are headed towards peace in the middle east. Back to business as usual for the Olmert gang. As for the PA, they had to be total fools if they expected different. Time for them to consider a new "unity" government with Hamas.
Why on earth is Rice letting the Pals and Israelis meet without her? She needs to be there every step of the way, at every meeting, banging heads together, or it will just descend into the same old squabbling mess again. Get the police out searching for Rice NOW. She's left the kids unsupervised and they're in danger of destroying the house again.
this weak braggard is only trying to divert attention from his helplessness, inabilities, and his fellows attrocities. The pals are stalling...they want Isreal to confront Harm-us cause they have no stomach for real action, and kick Harm-us out of Gaza...Abbas ( short for B.S) is a short term player--they'll kill him soon for even mentionng rapproachment... Isreal does not have a partner and never will...the arabs want everything the Jews built...much easier than doing it all themselves ..z
Israel should let Hamas to depose Abbas and smash Fatah, also in Judea and Samaria, on their way to abolish the PA and wipe it off the world map and consciousness. Then Israel should get rid of Hamas. This will open the way for the Kingdom of Jordan to take charge as the only viable nation state of all the Arabs of Greater Palestine. Having got rid of the PA and Hamas, Israel and Jordan should agree on the border between them in Judea and Samaria and maybe cede Gaza to Egypt that would sort it out quite smartly. Everybody, Jews and Arabs, should continue to live in peace where they are and nobody should move from their homes or land. Israelis who would thus become residents of the Kingdom of Jordan should be given rights and conditions like the Arabs in Israel.
The Arabs of the Land of Israel consistently demonstrate that they don't want, can't make and won't maintain real peace. They do want, however, to weaken Israel by gaining territory without 'giving' anything tangible. They ignore that "possession is nine tenths of the law" and that it's rather the Arabs who should come forward and spell out what they offer Israel in return for what they want. They also pretend not to get it that in this case "land for peace" is both immoral and unworkable. The Arabs had used the 'territories' to threaten, pester and attack Israel before we took these territories in self defence. They continue to plan, prepare and perpetrate genocide against Israel and pretend not to see that it would be suicide for Israel to concede anything in response to their threats and aggressive action. The Arabs must realize that the only way toward peace is that rather they themselves should offer, accept and be convincingly satisfied with 'painful' compromises.
Israel has fulfilled it's obligations. The PNA has never fulfilled one. Time to ante up.
Israel has been demanding the halt to hate education in the Pa schools. PA response? Nothing. Israel has been demanding Halt to Missiles shot at Sedorot and the negev. Response by the Palestinians? Nothing. Israel has been demanding a cessation of Homicide Bombers? IDF have been catching them. The PA says they have the eternal right to kill Jews till "occupation" ends. The Jews always and will continue to have the right to build in Jerusalem. Frasnkly, Israel should boycott the talks and tell the PA the charade is over, Put up or shut up!
Who are they talking to? An organization whose media incites genocide and whose policeman shoot civilians driving home from work. In the past they have declared the day after signing agreements that they will not honor them, e.g. Araft in Capetown saying that Oslo is a plot to destroy Israel, and the continous PA refusal to honor their signed commitment to extradite requested terrorists to Israel, etc. Of course, insisting that ISrael is not a Jewish State and that millions of Moslems must be allowed to move to ISrael is a clear statement of their intentions.
Betcha,the guv is looking for a knighthood. However in reality he has already made his first blunder..promising 500 million pounds of U.K.tax payers money to the P.A. Then he lays out specific conditions, which he knows cannot be complied...Good Governance!. The man is a fool, that corruption in the P.A. is a way of life, we all know that. These dudes and their wives spend their money faster than they receive donor contributions. See them in Amman.
Good luck. Shalom!