U.S. pledges 'more commitment' to Mideast peace process
Egypt lauds Israeli peace efforts; Abbas: Israel must freeze settlements; Netanyahu: Change is in the air.
By News Agencies Tags: Egypt Middle East peace Israel news PalestiniansThe United States pledged Monday to be "even more committed this year" to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, warning that any further delay would only hurt the interests of all parties involved.
"We know that the Palestinians deserve a state to fulfill their aspirations. The Israelis deserve security to live peacefully side by side with their Palestinian neighbors," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
"The Arab nations have made a very positive contribution in the peace initiative of the Arab League and others. So we're going to be even more committed this year, and we're starting this new year with that level of commitment and we're going to follow through and hopefully we can see this as a positive year in this long process," she said.
The State Department said earlier Monday that it was making efforts to ensure a quick resumption of talks, adding that it was '"consulting closely with our European and regional allies."
Our goal remains the resumption of negotiations as soon as possible," said a state department official. "We believe that further delay is not in the interests of Palestinians, of Israelis, or of the U.S. We recognize of course that there are problems and difficulties. But waiting will only make things worse."
U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to return to the region sometime next week, according to an Israeli official in Washington.
Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani on Monday said he believed a unity government between rival Palestinian movements Hamas and Fatah would greatly aid the peace process, and pledged his own commitment to seeing the conflict resolved with the help of U.S. mediation.
"The most important thing is how we can make a unity government between the Palestinians so they can concentrate how to deal with the peace process," said Al-Thani.
"Also, the Israeli and the Palestinian have to know that the solution to solve this problem is by a dialogue," he said. "It is very important that there is no games in this dialogue because we know Jerusalem is a very important part, we know the settlements [are] a problem, we know the water, we know peace ? land-for-peace... [these are] the main elements [upon] which the international arena and all the countries."
"So I hope that both sides realize that they have to work together," Al-Thani added. "All of us, we are ready to help. All of us rely on the United States.. in this process."
Netanyahu: Change is in the air
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday added weight to recent speculation that peace talks could soon resume between Israel and the Palestinians, telling lawmakers from his Likud party that he sensed "a change in the air."
"In recent weeks I have felt that there is a certain change in the air, and I hope that this will mature, allowing the start of the diplomatic process," Netanyahu told the Likud Knesset faction.
"Israel is ready for a peace process with the Palestinian Authority, without preconditions," he said, adding that he has urged the Palestinians to enter such negotiations since he formed his government in April.
"We are serious in our intentions to reach a peace agreement," he said, but cautioned that "diplomatic plans said to be in my name that have appeared in the media have no truth to them."
Egypt lauds Israeli peace efforts, but urges caution
Meanwhile, Egypt said Monday that it believes Israel is serious about advancing the peace process, but warned that progress must be cautious so as to avoid compromising Palestinian demands.
"Our position is that the [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's] ideas are taking the Israeli position forward," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters, following a meeting between President Hosni Mubarak and his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas.
"This is a protracted process and needs patience, clarity and prudence so that the Palestinians do not find themselves in a difficult position," he added.
Abbas and Mubarak met in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. Their talks came in the wake of Netanyahu's visit to Cairo last week, where he presented some ideas for jump-starting the diplomatic process.
Following his meeting with Mubarak, Abbas reiterated his demand that Israel halt all settlement construction before he would agree to renew peace negotiations.
"We have said and are still saying that at the time when settlement construction is stopped and the international legitimacy is recognized, we will be ready to resume the negotiations," Abbas said.
The Palestinian president said Monday the Palestinian Authority's stance on renewal of talks had not changed, and that he and Mubarak had agreed to keep insisting on a complete settlement freeze.
"Our stance is known from the past and our stance remains the same - and in agreement with our brothers in Egypt - which is that we have no objections to negotiations or meetings in principle and we do not set conditions," Abbas said.
Mohammed Dahlan, a top official in Abbas' Fatah party, said there was a base for some optimism in the future of the peace process.
"We value the Egyptian efforts and hope these efforts will be concluded in a plan or package," he said.
There have been signs that progress was being made towards renewing the negotiations.
An aide to Abbas said last week the region would "see important political activity in the next two weeks". Israel's ambassador to Washington Michael Oren has said Mubarak has a key role to play in resuming talks.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit and Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman are due to visit Washington on Friday.
Abbas said Monday he did not know what had happened in talks between Mubarak and Netanyahu in Cairo last week, and added he did not wish to comment on that meeting until after Aboul Gheit and Suleiman returned from Washington.
He also said said Netanyahu's proposal for an Egyptian-hosted summit would be discussed during the Egyptian team's visit to the U.S.
"I don't want to judge ideas that look foggy now. They will be judged after the Egyptian delegation returns from Washington ... and things get clearer then," he said.
As first reported last week in Haaretz, Netanyahu has agreed to conduct negotiations on all core issues of the conflict with the Palestinians.
The Israeli premier is ready to discuss the future of Jerusalem as well as the borders of a future Palestinian state. Netanyahu is also willing to allot two years for both sides to reach a deal establishing a Palestinian state along the June 1967 lines.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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Presuming you wish for Israel to keep the Palestinian territory it occupied during the 1967 war, it is understandable you wish Obama would continue to waste time and US tax payers money. Israel was attacked by Arab armed forces in 1967, not by Palestinians. But it is irrelevant who attacked whom. UN resolutions are clear in demanding the withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces from the territories occupied in the war. By not doing so, Israel is in violation of UN resolutions 242, 452, 465 and others. For building on the territory and annexing Jerusalem it is in violation of articles of the 4th Geneva Convention.The Gaza blockade is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Convention, a war crime, and the security wall has been declared illegal by the ICJ. Chances for peace would be much improved if the US cut off all aid to Israel until it conforms to the international laws in which it is in violation. As a loyal American, I'm sure you would agree to save US tax payers money in that way.
Presuming you wish for Israel to keep the Palestinian territory it occupied during the 1967 war, it is understandable you wish Obama would continue to waste time and US tax payers money. Israel was attacked by Arab armed forces in 1967, not by Palestinians. But it is irrelevant who attacked whom. UN resolutions are clear in demanding the withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces from the territories occupied in the war. By not doing so, Israel is in violation of UN resolutions 242, 452, 465 and others. For building on the territory and annexing Jerusalem it is in violation of articles of the 4th Geneva Convention.The Gaza blockade is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Convention, a war crime, and the security wall has been declared illegal by the ICJ. Chances for peace would be much improved if the US cut off all aid to Israel until it conforms to the international laws in which it is in violation. As a loyal American, I'm sure you would agree to save US tax payers money in that way.
..and state the requirements and mandates of international law... It seems to me those are fundamental aspect of this conflict and the Whitehouse should not water them down or Whitewash them away as they will lose credibility in the end as a result...Dutch
I don't know. I think they would have settled with what they got in 1948 and been happy to have gotten it even though they obviously would have liked more of their original homeland.
regardless of whether the arabs had attacked. they were just as vehemently opposed to the boundaries of the partition, and they were set to do exactly what they did. the imminence of an arab attack just gave them a convenient excuse for doing it. and whether the arabs would have attacked in 1967, we'll never know; because israel struck first.
i don't agree with the u.s. policy regarding cuba... but there's certainly NO comparison when it comes to any international pressure... and the circumstances? not even close.
The title you chose pretty much sums up your post. If the countries that have lost land to Israel had not attacked Israel (starting at day 1 in 1948) they would not have lost anything. Two things that you did get right is your first sentence about the peace effort and the last sentence about Obama.
Everyone knows that this "peace effort" will end like all the rest. Until illegal settlements are disbanded, the occupation is ended, Israel admits it has nuclear weapons, Israel writes and passes a constitution, Israel gives back the Golan and all other lands it took in conquests, AND the US cuts off all aid, nothing will be done. Obama is wasting his and our time and tax monies.
A big something is always right around the corner, Shalit's release, a breakthrough in negotiations. Oh, look, another corner....
Very positive statements. Abbas needs to be strong in demanding a contiguous Palestine that can be governed viably. Palestinians must have a sense of justice. The IDF must not be a threat to the autonomous functioning of Palestine.
Peace process? What peace process? We've all been hearing the same rhetoric for decades and NOTHING CHANGES. Has any one else noticed that, or is it just me? One could be excused for wondering if there are powerful parties working in the background to keep the staus quo, but thinking like that only leads down the slippery slope to the conspiracy theorists camp. I have grave concerns about the ability of christian politicians, with their misconstrued theology of Jerusalem and all things Judaic, having a significant role in a dispute between two religious cultures that both identify ascendancy from Abraham, and are disputing over territory identified only by a book, the same book that describes Abraham and his two sons. Ironically, it is this same book that many christian politicians cling to, like some magic touchstone, when taking their oath of office. If this book is in some way the source of the problem, then surely it is also, in some way, the source of the solution, non?
There is an absolute change in the air, it started with the formation of a government in Lebanon,the visit of Hariri, the Shalit forthcoming solution (No returning back), the visit of Prez. Suleiman to Washington, the visit of Netanyahu to Cairo and the forthcoming visit of Mitchel to the M.E. Prez Obama is fully determined and obsessed with finding a solution to the M.E. problems.His healthcare imminent success shows that when he puts his mind into something, failure is not an option. Finding a solution to the Palestinian/Israeli neverending problems will come to fruition. Wait and see.
the Palestinians might uphold their obligations. "Has the Palestinian charter been amended?" There is no 'Palestinian Charter' A 'Palestinian' charter gets written AFTER a Palestinian state is formed. See Israel for an example of how the deal works. "Have Palestinian terrorists been disarmed?" Has Israel stopped giving them cause to resort to terrorism? "Have the Palestinians been arresting, trying, and convicting terrorists?" Israel elected it's terrorists to lead the state, don't you know how it works yet? "Are the Palestinians in breach of the Geneva Conventions by kidnapping and ransoming an Israeli soldier?" Israel has done the same, to THOUSANDS of CIVILIANS, part of the reason the Palestinians have turned to terrorism.
!. Has Israel stopped stealing land? 2. Have the lawless settlers been brought under control?? 3. Have the IDF war criminals been arrested? 4.Are the Israelis in breach of international law by moving settlers into occupied territory and applying collective punishment to the citizens of Gaza? 5.when will we see Israel fulfill its obligations as a law-abiding member of the international community?
There is no Peace Process. The Israeli government does not want peace. It has already told Obama to go jump in a lake, which he did. Netanyahu exploits the perpetual "state of war" to grab ever more Palestinian land and water, destroy homes, wantonly kill Palestinians, and keep residents of Gaza totally controlled in a Warsaw-type ghetto. So, why would he want peace?
To All Nit-Wits ! Can any of those Nitwits who clamour for a freeze explain: 1)Why can't Germany get back the Sudetenlands ? 2)Would you agree to see your own daughters & wives getting a freeze !?
some doofus wrote, "Are the settlements legal? Are the settlements moral? Has Israel stopped settlement construction? Does Israel really want peace when the US (with "jewish lobby owned" congress) unconditionally supports this rogue nation? And last but not least here is a question with a "yes" answer: Is Israel looking more and more like the Jewish Republic of Israel?" Unfortunately, the PLO started doing all its crimes before Israel *had* ANY settlements. Go figure.
being "on ruins of an arab village Sheikh Munis". So you're a settler Leftie Esther.Stop your illegal construction in TA if you want peace Don't hide behind others.
it stay a process. Meantime back at the Ranch , illegal that is, we continue the true reason why the peace process always works in Israel,s favour. Somehow I dont think too many folks are fooled anymore. In any event Israel is simply backing it self into a no win situation. Either a two State solution---not lookong likely---or a Bi National State. I support the only option left---and that is the latter. Keep up the good work Netanyahu and co.
"This is a protracted process and needs patience, clarity and prudence so that the Palestinians do not find themselves in a difficult position," - Ahmed Aboul Gheit All Egypt has to do is open its Gaza border to suffering Palestinians and there will be a couple million Palestinians less in a "difficult position". You know, just like Israel opened its border to a million Jews kicked from the Arab world. Ever think on that, those so blind they can't even see that Egypt also has a Gaza border?
If Obama's cred if hanging in the balance to the point where even you think he will soon be a lame duck, what right does he have now in dictating to Israel how and when they need to complete their security negotiations.
"...change-in-the-air" is an illusion. as long as settlments..." remain. Esther
Israel has a thousand ways to talk peace while, at the same time, sabotaging peace. Bibi is not as good at this as some simply because he is a right winger. All Israeli leaders are insincere when they talk peace, but, for some reason, it is especially unconvincing, even offensive when Israels right wingers play at peace.
In that context, the US and EU should be pushing for peace sooner rather than later. Only if Israel sees the benefits and rewards in it. I doubt it.
on a side note:how about those war crimes?!?!? The report adds: ?While the fire directed at Iyad al-Samouni could have been intended to incapacitate rather than to kill, by threatening his family members and friends with lethal fire, the Israeli armed forces ensured that he did not receive lifesaving medical help. They deliberately let him bleed to death.? According to the report, the fundamental principles applicable to these incidents, which are cornerstones of both treaty-based and customary international humanitarian law, are that ?the parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants? and that ?the civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack.? My grandfATHER FOUGHT THE NAZI'S...guess your next.
I am certain Netanyahu is quite aware that all he has to do is stall for another 9 months and the republicans will be back in control of congress. Which will end the threat of peace.
an entire internnational community is behind Cuba on that.. What's good for the goose is good for the gander .. How does it sound ,international community dictating US even in trifles ,like Cuba relations ?.
If you will check your history, you will see the following. 1) over the past 40 years, the PA has always insisted upon and received concessions from Israel just to go to the negotiating table. 2) The PA has not made a single concession. 3) Under the Oslo accords, Israel has NO obligations until the PA fulfills its phase obligations. The PA has not even begun to fulfill any of these obligations. 4) As usual, The PA is insisting on getting a concession from Israel, a settlement freeze, in order for it to come to the negotiating table. 5) Negotiations are where concessions and compromises are used to reach an agreement.
-eli concessions instead ,concessions determining results of the "negotiations" beforehand.
If you're going to begin negotiations, then just do it. No more photo ops and empty articles. Just roll up your sleeves and get to it.
... remain as they are, encroaching even further onto lands that they have stolen from the Pals, our neighbors...
and the Quartet? Stop settlement activity, Stop stealing Palestinian land Stop evicting Palestinians from their homes, Protect Palestinian civilians from the Settlers and Hilltop Youth, etc., etc., etc.
and what is wrong with that? Jewish is not a religion, but rather an ethnicity. No different than the French Republic, Italian Republic, the Russian Federation, or any other republic... but is different and far more acceptable than any Islamic Republic, because those are based solely on religion. And that's OK with you? Give me a break .
If I were Abbas, I would have closed a deal with Olmert. The terms were relatively generous, and Olmert showed a sincere dedication to reaching a mutually agreeable, and pragmatic compromise. The way it stands, it has taken the entire international community getting genuinely pissed just to get Netanyahu to budge, but precisely because of the enormous global oversight, I believe any deal hammered out this time will be hard fought, but lasting.
Are the settlements legal? Are the settlements moral? Has Israel stopped settlement construction? Does Israel really want peace when the US (with "jewish lobby owned" congress) unconditionally supports this rogue nation? And last but not least here is a question with a "yes" answer: Is Israel looking more and more like the Jewish Republic of Israel?
By the time Israel agrees to freeze building settlements it will have built thousands of them. What a stupid prerequisite from Abou Mazen.
THE FAILED ?TERRORIST? ATTEMPT on Christmas day 2009 by Omar Farouk Abdul Mutallab on Northwest Airlines from Amsterdam to Detroit was a singular victory for the Zionist/Military Complex which rules the White House and Capitol Hill. Working in close connection with the Pentagon and the CIA - the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and its intelligence branch, the Mossad, have set their sights on a new Middle East target, the nation of Yemen which borders oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Yemen is of particular interest to the Zionist/Military Complex as both China, a trading partner with Yemen, and Russia, now exporting weapons to Yemen, are gaining greater influence in the area. (Obama with Nobel Peace Prize in hand, bombed and killed 120 civilians in Yemen on December 16, 2009.) View Entire Story Here, Here & Here.
...What's so bad about freezing settlement and "natural growth" going into negotiations? It's the right and honorable thing to do. It's also a sign that the talks will be serious from the Israeli side. If Israel doesn't want peace it should say so!
Has the Palestinian charter been amended? Have Palestinian terrorists been disarmed? Have the Palestinians been arresting, trying, and convicting terrorists? Are the Palestinians in breach of the Geneva Conventions by kidnapping and ransoming an Israeli soldier? When will we see the Palestinians fulfill their obligations?
you are the universe away from sane.
you dont? what kind of strange gods do you believe in?
economy will recover ;)