Netanyahu open to discussing core issues in peace talks
PM tells Mitchell he is willing to discuss J'lem, borders and security arrangements in proximity talks.
By Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Jerusalem Middle East peace Israel newsPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. special envoy George Mitchell yesterday that he is willing to discuss the core issues of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, namely Jerusalem, borders and security arrangements, as part of the proximity talks with the Palestinian Authority. The prime minister told Mitchell that as part of the indirect talks he would be open to a "frank exchange of views," regarding the core issues.
Senior officials in the Obama administration expressed satisfaction with the results of Mitchell's visit to Israel, which ended yesterday.
"We are very encouraged following the visit regarding the likelihood of progress in the peace process," the officials said.
The U.S. envoy will return to the region next week for more meetings with PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu. Mitchell met with Netanyahu for a breakfast meeting, after which the prime minister told his cabinet that "Israel wants to immediately begin the peace process. The United States wants to begin the peace process immediately. I can only hope that the Palestinians will also begin the peace process immediately. We will know in the coming days if the process will begin. I hope that it does."
Until Mitchell returns to the region, his deputy, David Hale, will continue holding talks between the two sides.
Officials in Jerusalem are hoping that the visit of the Palestinian leader to Washington in a week, after the May 1 Arab League summit, will lead to a resumption of proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
A source close to Netanyahu noted yesterday that the Palestinians want the renewed approval of the Arab League before agreeing to hold talks with Israel. On the basis of the information available, such approval is very likely to be given, the source said.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was invited by U.S. President Barack Obama to visit Washington next month, according to the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, Saeb Erekat.
Erekat said that the invitation was relayed by Mitchell on Friday in Ramallah.
Palestinian sources said that Mitchell is still expected to deliver clarification regarding the position of the Israeli side on the negotiations, and only after these will the PA seek the support of the Arab League on restarting the proximity talks.
Nonetheless, the dominant view in the PA is that the Palestinians will seek the resumption of the proximity talks within two weeks so that they will avoid being seen as not wishing to pursue peace - especially after Obama also failed at gaining a freeze on construction in East Jerusalem.
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U.S. envoy George Mitchell and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Photo by: (Moshe Milner) |
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looking down on us and solving issues that you are unable to understand or identify with us.
Giving into demands for the West Bank- all of Jerusalem- and the territory reclaimed in 1967 will not bring peace. Sixty two years of on and off negotiations with the Palestinians has not brought peace-
Israel and the US can talk forever, but until the Palestinians join in it's a waste of time. Abbas expects Obama to deliver Tel Aviv and Haifa, so he can wait, and picnic in city squares named after terrorists.
My family lost too many relatives in the Holocaust to believe in any deity that will protect jews. Jewish life is cheap. End of story. IMHO
To Labhras from Ireland: The Arabs will never accept that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people. If they did, I will eat sand and be delighted to do so. There is nothing in Jehudah's post to infer that he would also not be delighted by such a recognition by the Arabs. IMHO
prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes and we are too blind to see it.But it will happen any way.Israel will be protected by God.
It would be a start, but the other "well armed" States would have to be part of the process. The Moderate/Oil States would have to back it, and they would have to commit large amounts of funds to build a Palestinian State. Maybe the UN should monitor it for a while to make sure that all of the agreements are observed? Without these things, it will not work. What the Palestinians think about a one state solution is irrelevant.
last survey indicated that 35% of Palestinians have dropped support for a Two State solution. That figure will grow exponentially as Israeli intransigence continues and Palestinians become aware of the demographic bunker buster they have in their arsenal. So long--it aint been good to know ya. Never again will have come full circle.
"There is only one core issue: The categorical refusal of the...Muslim-Arab world, local and regional, to accept Israel`s right to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people."JBI What if the Palestinian people accepted Israel as the nation state for the Jews. What then would be the objection/requirement or roadblock to peace. Come on Jehudah Ben Israel---let us in on your secret.
Bibi will talk about anything you like for as long as you like, as long as it doesn't mean curbing the settlements and freeing the Palestinian people.
if netanyahu doesn't get serious, and i suspect he won't, these talks will remain as usually talks about talks. and as time goes by more and more settlements will be built. and the poor palestinians continuing to be left out and blamed for the lack of progress.
I have faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Talking is good. He's not going to jeopardize Israel's very existence, and neither is President Obama, the U.S. or our allies.
Muslim-Arab world, local and regional, to accept Israel's right to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. This refusal was behind the war a coalition of Muslim-Arab states initiated in 1948 whose goal was to wipe Israel off the face of earth, a day after it came into being. This refusal was behind the war a coalition of Muslim-Arab states initiated in 1967 whose goal was to "accomplish" that which the Muslim-Arab world had not been able to achieve 19 years earlier. This refusal was behind the war a coalition of Muslim-Arab states initiated in 1973 and once again failed to achieve the elimination of the nation-state of the Jewish people. And presently a coalition of Muslim-Arab forces, i.e. Iran-Hizballah-IslamicJihad-Hamas-Syria, is becoming ready to once again attempt to wipe Israel off the face of earth and with it all nearly six million "Zionists" who live in it. This time the intent is to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons...!!!
Core issues eh? Jerusalem borders and security arrangements. All smoke and mirrors? An embossed delay technique? Really don't think it matters. Obama has a timetable in mind and spurless hindrances do not bode well for those responsible. Should this be the case surely unilateral action is the last thing Netanyahu wants.
is useless
has been allways dead
Dear Mr. Mitchell: You are either naive or you dont grasp the fact that you are dealing with a PM that will try almost anything to delay or kill the peace process. No proximity talks are needed. !!! You have a road map and Mr. Netanyahu should abide by it. He must be pressured that there is no way to run away from the enevitable. Your boss, Clinton, should be putting the "correct" amount of pressure on the PM. ibis
roadmap? hellooooo?