U.S. criticizes PA bid to take settlement construction to UN
Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Bureau continue talks with members of the Security Council in an attempt to thwart the resolution.
By Barak Ravid and Shlomo ShamirThe United States responded with criticism to the Palestinian Authority's circulating a draft resolution to the members of the United Nations Security Council condemning Israeli construction in the settlements.
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Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad, Sept. 10, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
A senior US official told Haaretz: "Final status issues can only be resolved through negotiations between the parties, not by recourse to the UN Security Council. We, therefore, consistently oppose any attempt to take final status issues to the council as such efforts do not move us closer to our goal of two states living side by side in peace and security." The document, which the PA formulated together with Arab countries and a copy of which Haaretz has obtained, states that Israeli actions in constructing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and are the main obstacle to peace on the basis of a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Bureau yesterday continued talks with members of the Security Council, particularly the United States, France and Britain, in an attempt to thwart the resolution.
The Israeli mission to the United Nations and the Israeli Embassy in Washington held talks with senior State Department officials and with the American mission to the United Nations, to ascertain whether the United States intends to veto the resolution.
Since President Jimmy Carter's term in office in the 1980s, no U.S. administration has supported a Security Council resolution that stated that the settlements are illegal. The traditional U.S. position since Carter's days has been that the settlements are an obstacle to peace. The Americans have made clear to Israeli diplomats that they oppose the Palestinian circulation of the draft resolution to the members of the Security Council, but they did not state clearly that they would veto it.
In contrast to similar cases, the draft resolution distributed by the Palestinians this time is relatively moderate, avoiding extreme anti-Israeli language. The Americans may therefore find themselves isolated in the UN if they decide to veto the resolution, and they may find it difficult to do so.
Other members of the Security Council, particularly Russia, China, Britain and France, tend to support the Palestinian draft resolution. The Palestinians reportedly intend to call for a meeting of the Security Council to vote on the resolution only in January, after the holidays, when Bosnia and Herzegovina replace the United States as president of the council.
The draft, which was formulated on December 20, also stated that the Security Council condemns all actions by Israel to change the demographic component, character and status of the territories, which is says contravenes international law. The document also mentions that the 2003 road map calls on Israel to stop all construction in the settlements, including for purposes of natural growth, and to dismantle illegal outposts built after 2001.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell told the Maine Public Broadcasting Network that the administration in Washington will not cease its involvement in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians because American abandonment of the process could lead to an outbreak of violence. "I think that any president would not simply stand by and let a conflict erupt because it would not be in our interest," Mitchell said.
The envoy added: "One of the reasons we are involved there is because it is within the strategic interests and national interests of the United States that the conflict be resolved. I do think that we have to stay involved because our interest is at stake, and a principal point is that an eruption of violence or some other negative act could occur at any time with unforeseeable consequences."
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If the US refuses to support this resolution, which only calls a spade a spade and is fully consistent with American position (Obama already declared settlements "illegitimate"), then they will make clear the US is only a pawn in Israel's hands. Will Obama take yet another slap and see his little prestige left vanish?
Israel, under its own twisted logic, argues that they are legal and if that's the case then why is it that the Israelis are scrambelling at he UN to get the rsolution vetoed?
Get the US out of this conflict and allow an impartial body to act as mediator. The USA is not impartial.
More doubplespeak from the pro-Pal crowd. No wonder there is no peace.
There is nothing further the Palestinians can negotiate. Their 1967 focus has their State reduced to 22% of the pre 1947 space. Do you expect them to negotiate that away as well?
If you stop and think about it, the resolution is going to put the U.S. on the spot - and THAT'S what it's unhappy about. Because if this thing is worded like they say it is, it's not going to give the U.S. anything of substance to justify a veto - which means that if it doesn't either vote for it, or abstain, it's going to damage its image and credibility. Watch.
...which leaves me thinking, are we in the U.S under an occupation but we do not know it??? Or choose not to think about it???
thay all appear to belong to a flat earth society wher the sun goes around the earth. the arabs will cause all previous treaties and agreements to become null and void if they dont observe them and the mess and havoc they will cause will be catastrophic !!!!! all are bound by the un convention on treaties 1967/86 in vienna
....then the time has come for any reasonable, peace-loving human being on this planet, to let their American friends know, that he/she will refrain from buying U.S. products (at least where there is an alternative to them, that would definitely be hur- ting the U.S. economy enough), until the American people will "clean house" in Washington D.C. and start electing politicians with a very different political agenda. I would feel very sorry for the many decent U.S. (and Israeli) posters here on Haaretz Talkback, but then the "silent world majority" would indeed have to take the gloves off once and for all..... Enough is simply enough.
do you really think that the so-called world can boycott the united states? do you really think that the so-called world, mostly made up of dictatorships, can dictate who should be elected in the united states? by the way, i read that the swiss, charged with representing us interests in iran, went behind the back of the us and undermined us demarche whose goal was to isolate iran with intent to put an end to iran's nuclear program. i always thought that the swiss could not be trusted and i was right.
Wait and see
US reputaion is tarnished by the Israeli choke hold. The US Congress, the senate, and the white house is the real occupied teriitory. Our legislators disregard their code of ethics, their promise as to why they were elected and whom they were representing. Palestine may be be free from occupation because they are struggling. US will never be able to be free because they voluntarily surrendered tooccupation. I pity on the mentality of our legislators. They dont even think that the whole world is watching them and their actions.
The US is not only guilty of the same crimes but a coconspirator in israeli crimes. side line them both or disband the UN.
Just keeping moving this injustice by the land thieves in Israel in the right direct ion once and for all.... Dutch (In a way, the PA is saving Israel from itself by becomiong a penal colony that will be aband- oned by the world)
With all this going on, we must ask the question: Where is the Israeli initiative??? From an Israeli perspective the PA's move would be a total fiasco, I grant you that. But it does not seem to register to us that these fiascoes are born out of the absence of an Israeli initiative.
You Jews need to listen to the only one who can bring peace and he is one of you. JESUS. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
For years the US has turned a blind eye to illegal Israeli settlement building and actively blocked any condemnation by the UN or international community. This is why we have the problems we do today after 20+ years of illegal settlement activity. The US bias towards Israel is the reason there is no peace today.
Israel's top diplomat has become a Mafia "protection" agent, peddling "security" to a guillible world, peddling bald faced extortion under the label of "peace negotiations"! When will the US Congress wake up??? Infested with Freemasons and "Christian" Zionist toadies, knaves, traitors to the US Constitution, most of them. Verily and forsooth, is a Shakespeare needed to make the forked-tongue villainy and subterfuge plain and transparent? Bravo Brazil et al, you are on the right track, leading to the Saudi Plan, just to perfection, generous to a fault, the only just solution. The Palestinians have spoken truth
It won't be much longer until this proposed covenant with death is annulled and the shame of the nations revealed.
Sorry, can anyone explain how is settlements building a final status issue? This is not a resolution for recognition of a Palestinian state. I have been thinking what excuse the US could come up with for not supporting a resolution which, effectively, supports what the US seemed to have been so insistent upon for the past few months. I thought they would bring up "timing" as wrong...well this excuse is even more lame....
I have not heard anything from the US State Department - how come the US senior official's name is not mentioned ?!! the fact that his name is not mentioned raises eye brows - i wonder what is going on behind the scenes !!!
Forget about the US and its time for the Palestinians to get on with declaring their own state.
... and if you agree, nolens volens, that this is indeed the will of the majority of Americans, you want to fight them? Go ahead and make their (and my) day!
the united states was the only couuntry to vote against a resolution condemning the glorification of nazism and of the ss. 118 countries voted for, and 55 abstained.
that it felt the issue would be better addressed by more proactive efforts by governments to reach out to its minority populations, etc, etc. IN OTHER WORDS, the United States feels that to pass some stupid resolution condemning it - and then washing your hands of it and pressing on as usual ignoring it - that it would be better NOT to impose on freedom of speech, and maintaining social awareness of its negative aspects and what htey represent.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/gashc3997.doc.htm
there is an ascendency of nazism in parts of the world. the present us administration has no understanding of the history of nazism. there is a good reason for laws in europe which prohibit holocaust denial. nazism had led to a world war, the deaths of fifty million people and the systematic annihilation of six million jews, one and a half million of whom were children.
You seem to think that Obama is working against the will of the Americans? I doubt your assumption. However,he has two feet--one on the home front badly needed,the other ensconced in the ME particularely with Israel .I hear he may veto the wishes of what the PA is trying to do,which construes abandonment of the USA's dictum by trying to go through the UN which is neither acceptable,nor a wise decision going to the UN. Methinks like B.Burston you arestill an American at heart.Nothing wrong with that,but Israel 's security is at stake here.
Your presumtion on "freedom of speech" to S You have your interpretation,(SHE) has hers.Most of the time she is right too.
When the Americans veto such this moderate resolution, Mr Abbas should understand that he is a looser, and therefore, he must resign.
maybe america just is siding with the truth? Tough to admit for america haters and jew haters.... america sides with the israelis because on balance,they're usually more right than wrong and they're civilized and not trapped in a 12th century bubble. Settlements are a sideshow folks. Lets all be clear about what this is all about. say what you feel. If you believe in a hewish state, say so, and if you dont, say so. but lets all stop pretending.
First of all, the USA would never agree that the settlements are "the main obstacle to peace" as it is clear that terrorism is the main obstacle to peace. Second of all, when Sharon removed the settlements from Gaza, it was in exchange for a signed document from former President Bush and endorsed by Congress stating that the USA would never ask Israel to leave the main settlement blocs. It would be hypocritical for the USA to then sign off on a UNSC resolution saying the settlements are illegal.
people have a tendency to think that the signature of the united states cannot be disregarded. some of those people are even part of the present administration.
Most posters here understand there will be some compromise on settlement blocks; with a trade. The Palestinians also understand it all to well; that is why further building causes them such concern. The US can honour their past commitmenst and still strongly encourage a reasonably fair and probably now pragmatic peace. The Palestinians have given the US their version of a new border. Where is the Israeli version? We are all waiting.
There,my two cents worth for the real interpretation that most clear thinking people have constantly remind the objectionists here on every occasion.That it has to be drummed up into their skulls is A MUST
We already are and not only in UN ,...
I mean can you imagine the most important country in the world the USA being isolated? Never in your wildest dreams
There will be no peace,which is excactly what the Pals want,no Israel,one step at a time
Peter, Israel only wants peace in terms of Palestinians disappearing. The US and Israel have consistently connived to prevent any Palestinian state. Israel declared itself a state in 1947. No problem. Palestinians have the same 1947 right.
You write:There will be no peace, which is exactly what the Pals want, no Israel,on step at a time? Well Peter, is this news or what.However,it isn't going to happen in hopes that Netanyahu does not fall intio a TRAP remaining steadfast in his stance.
...there were no "Palestinians" before 1964.Besides,the Arabs who later called themselves "Palestinians" rejected this right that they had,in 1947,by joining the Arab states that attacked Israel.This is known since long but you chose to ignore it
Cessation of terror and incitement amongst others. Something UN avoid noticing.
Just "negotiate" with the thief.
UN Charter Chapt XI ....http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter11.shtml can anyone show me why it does not apply?
they signed away those rights with oslo to get back to israel its time to collect the plo terrorists and deport them back to tunisia ! THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS EXCEPT IN JORDAN THE ARAB PALESTINE !
Most of the Palestinians are self-governed so your point is irrelevent. The Charter also recognizes the League of Nations legal resolution that the Jews could re-establish their homeland on the British Mandate. The UN also recognizes the right to self defence. Anyway what prevented "rights" are you refering to?
Quite simple really... Read UNSC Res 1860.....
The British Mandate said NO THING about a Jewish State IN Palestine. It said a state called Palestine, wherein we could have had our homeland and specifically Palestinian citizenship and lived anywhere....The Jewish folk who actually lived in Palestine have a far longer history as Palestinian Jews than Jewish folk in any kingdom or state. Quite fitting that they'd have had equal share in ALL OF Palestine. An opportunity MISSED by those who demanded a separate state OR a Greater Israel, because when Israel, the Jewish homeland state was declared, it was by the boundaries of UNGA Res 181. It is "inadmissible to acquire territory by war" and illegal annexation is, well, illegal, like illegal settlements. Now Israel is a Sovereign State, with defined territories. No more, no less. None of the "territories occupied" or "territories acquired by war" are Sovereign to Israel. They have never been legally annexed. Now THAT, is one heck of a big missed opportunity, no wonder you're so P*SSED! http://wp.me/pDB7k-tM
When did I become occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem? More correct former occupied Jordanian land, unless Jordan is Palestine. WB was Jordanian until 1994, and Israel annexed East Jerusalem when it was Jordanian land.
I thought US would use the term regret but it did not with Palestenians. US will be forever Israel bias. They know by going to the UN Palestenians will get justice and their State. On the other hand US wants to resolve the conflict on US terms and condition which is in accord with Israeli demands. WikiLeakes may be of some help at this time. USA is the Obstacle to the Peace and Palestenian statehood.
Carter out end of 1980
Where do you get off re writing history. You just can not tell the truth can you, always lying. By the way ou ommitted the American King Crane Commission of 1919 where the general consensus was, the population of Palestine does not want you in Palestine.
What is amazing is not that a Palestinian state was not established between 1948-1967, but that since 1988 the Palestinians have agreed to accept a Palestinian state on only 22% of their homeland, yet apparently this is still too much for Israel.
the resolution of the conflict between israel and the palestinians can be achieved only through negotiations between the parties. the united nations cannot impose a settlement. the palestinians have to come to the table and conduct direct negotiations with israel.
Once their border is defined, then security and peace can be finalized
security and peace must be finalised at the same time as borders. israel cannot take any more risks with her security. it is not going to happen.
And THAT'S just the way it IS. Ask around, it's the rave of the town...
Israel and the US will never allow the unilateral creation of a Palestinian state for such a state would be an obstacle to Israel's march to the Jordan river and the creation of a Greater Israel. Hence it is the interest of the US and its good buddy Israel to continue this sham of a peace process as long as possible.
When Israel says bark, it barks. When Israel says sit it sits. When Israel says roll over it rolls over.
The US is a Chihuahua licking Israel's big toe.
Considering that there is no seperation even in so called moderate Indonesia,they will rather stick with people who don't want to impose sharia on others.
Poor Salman Rushdi who is still hiding same as other moderate Islamists like Waffa Sultan,Ayan Hirsi Ali, and many other allbeit theior male counter parts too. But dare not show their abnodes for fear of reprisals.
And the sky is yellow and the moon is square. Thanks for these enlightening comments, craven official who cannot put name to your pronouncements. Perhaps this U.S. administration will be the first honest enough to call a spade a spade, and not an olive branch in clever disquise.
All countries can, and do, take houses, buidings, land, etc whenever they wish to change/modify/add anything. It's called expropriation. As an example, China re-directed a river, and in doing so, villages were evacuated and people had to move to new areas, before the areas were flooded. No choice. Expropriation. Israel is entitled to expropriate as well. btw, don't fall for the false propoganda when the Palestinians call it 'Settlements'. It's expropriation.
you leftist and pal better get in their sick brain that we do not and we will not committed to do what they pushing for we will do oposite
I was born i n the U.S. 80 years ago> I am a Jew. Will someone explain, rationally, why the UN does not have role in the stalemate to negotiations blamed on continued expansion of settlements in occupied territory, the occupation of which the UN has already been denounced ? I oppose my country's stand.
How can those clowns possibly condemn a resolution that isn't taking an extreme position? If it's merely condemning the patently illegal settlements, then there's no reason for us to condemn the bid. In fact, we should support it, as Israel has shown absolutely NO signs of wanting to stop illegal land theft. Why should they? They know people like Mitchell will continue to protect Israel, no matter how many international laws Israel breaks. The Pals are left with little choice in the matter.
The USA's position is unbelievable. They have been objecting for Israel's settlements 43 years without lifting a finger to help. It is patently clear that Palestinians cannot depend on America to protect their interests. They are therefore entitled to take whatever action they deem necessary to have their rights protected. America ought to be ashamed to shown before the whole world to be either impotent in the face of mighty Israel or simply despicably deceitful.
Considering the American's oft repeated stance on the status of the settlements splendid isolation is not exactly a desirable position to find oneself in. We wouldn't want these countries lining up behind those in South America now would we.
How can that work when one of the parties bargains only in bad faith, if at all?
The US will vote "No" on the resolution then show it's displeasure with BIBI by selling him 35 fighter jets.
U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell's first love must be stand up comedy after all who would have thought that providing billions of dollars of weapons on an annual basis to the illegal occupier of Palestinian land was a recipe for avoiding violence. American Gun Culture at it's best.
Peace is a offer for end of occupation not a good will gesture
the palestinians want land for war.
And then I can pursue it by WAR.Easy solution no Arafat? Plus my bank account is already bulging at the seams in my Swiss bank accounts that will provide me(arafat) the wherwithal to accomplish the disappearance of Israel
Arafat never ever said that but it seems you like to fantasize like thousands of israelis want demonized him. In the meantime Arafat will be remembered for his courage and positions. Will any israeli leader be remembered like that ? the answer is simply no.
A predictable response by the Americans. Not surprising when the only contribution they've ever made to creating a viable Palestinian state is unconditional support for the illegal Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise, backed up by the immoral use of their security council veto..
And pa is not going for anymore stalling . We want west bank free and we want now
The problem with Americas mideast strategy is that American words and policy are not supported by American action. As a matter of fact, Americas action is quite the opposite of what their stated policy is. That's not only a credibility problem but it confuses American citizens as to what American policy actually is. It is no wonder that peace talks have always failed.
Whether they are with the oppressed or with the OPPRESSOR OCCUPIER
The US claims to view the illegal settlements in the same way as the rest of the world, illegal and an impediment to peace, but does absolutely nothing about them, other than giving American citizens tax breaks for helping to finance the land theft by Israel.
He showed repeatedly during his campaign what he was made of. Where did that man go? Why is the US singing the same tired old song straight from the AIPAC song book? I find my government's lack of moral resolve disgusting.
1. Do only as the US suggests and negotiate directly and only with Israel: "Please Sir, can we have our land back". 2. Try and gain international support, leading eventually to sanctions against Israel if they continue to flout international law. 3.Violence. The gaining of international support is a reasonable step, given the other two haven't worked.
Its time to internationalize the conflict
Before WWII the League of Nations was weakened and weakened. There, we have the US saying international law is all up to negotiations. If that's the case, then it's the law of the jungle. Why should people complain about terrorism if morality and international law are all up to negotiations and your subjective point of view? They are saying there is no justice, right or wrong, just what the stronger person says it is - their friend, Israel. It's a dangerous way of thinking.
Has the PA finally realized America's hypocrisy?
It seems that Isarel lost hand on the agenda ? We are very worried about Israel leadership and the managemnt of the whole issue of the settelments. With arabs only force and power talks... is it so difficult for Israeli leadership to unederstand this ?
Israel is an occupier at will, by definition from then entire world body (and the UN). Let Israel quit the occupation, adhere to the world and UN resolutions, then the entire issue will be muted. P.S. In 1948 the newly created state of Israel ran to then US and the League of Nations seeking recognition. What gives the Palestinians today any lesser right to do so than the Israelis back then?!!
For the sake of all of us, this criticism better be a double fake.
Christmas trees banned!
If Israel indicated an intention to reconcile by extending the temporary settlement construction freeze, then the US diplomatic point would be relevant. But, currently, Israel is the part that is not acting. The settlement construction freeze is a simple clarifying prerequisite. They should talk anyway, but so long as the settlement expansion continues, Israel's word and intent is subject to fundamental skepticism.
So how many more months will Israel has to continue with the freeze that is acceptable and not any further it was a given. So.I say to Israel: BUILD BABY BUILD for the pals do not want a state of their own,THEY WANT ALL OF ISRAEL.
Obviously reading what the Arabs say in Arabic is not a requirement for some UN members.
And Arabs are realy Palestinians?
He was a "Jewish" Palestinian
and South American recognising their one sided claims help them avoid making peace.
Even the chief counsel of the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in 1967 before a single settlement was built that moving Israeli civilians into the occupied territories would be illegal. He said it would contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel had signed.
Most people know that it is not the United States that is speaking, it is Israel. The net effect of heavy Israeli influence in American policy is the discrediting of America abroad.
The draft resolution should advance international recognition of a Palestinian State by clarifying the legal status of Israeli settlements and therefore enable clear dialogue re the respective rights and responsibilities of both Israel and the Palestinians. History has clearly demonstrated that continuing dialogue on the basis of mere expectation achieves nothing concrete - it simply allows more settlement expansion thereby hindering the peace process. It is time for a genuine peace process based on legal entitlements not pie in the sky.
Nowhere the US decadence is clearer than the mediation of Americans in the israelo-palestinian conflict. What the US does or says do not matter anylonger. Nobody give a s. What matter today is the influence of other countries like China, India, Brazil. The US is gone. Israel has abused so much of the US that I would dare to say that Israel is the origin of our decadence. I am ashamed to have my religion, judaism, being used by this entity called Israel. Despicable entity.
What is there left to negotiate. They want two arab states there is nothing left to negotiate.
What is there to negotiate.
Slipshod scholarship has mislocated the Jewish Temples, whose true location was to the South of the so-called “Temple Mount” (TM): (1) 6th century Byzantine Historian Procopius stated that Western "Wailing Wall" was not Herodian, but built by Justinian to broaden the foundation for his massive Hagia Sophia, soon destroyed by the Persians, and rebuilt to 1/2 scale by the first Caliph of Jerusalem as a mosque to entice Jerusalem`s Christians. (2) Agrippa`s testimony of a clear view of the Temple from the Hashmonean Palace locates a spot just to the South of the TM, which would have been too high to have permitted such a view. (3) Historical documentation from the first 6 centuries demonstrates that the Temple location was well known, and conforms to the location in (2), near the Gihon Spring temple water source. The rubble excavated from the basements of the Waqf on the TM proves the TM was built well after the 2nd century CE. http://www.biblemysteries.com/lectures/builtwailingwall.htm http://www.templemount.org/sagiv2/index.html http://www.templemount.org/sagiv2/drawing20.jpg The Temple Mount location was well known up to the 7th century, and conforms to Herod Agrippa`s sighting of it, south of the current "Temple Mount", reared by Emperor Justinian as a platform for his Hagia Sophia in Jerusalem. However, this site neglects the other evidence in my post, which completes the true historical picture. http://www.askelm.com/temple/t991001.htm (4) The Waqf basement excavations on the Temple Mount PROVE that both First and Second Temple debris were swept up from the broad environs of the Temple Mount area and used as FILL by the Temple Mount builder, who could ONLY HAVE BEEN JUSTINIAN, AND NOT HEROD, BECAUSE HEROD WOULD NOT HAVE PUT SECOND TEMPLE DEBRIS DEEP WITHIN HIS ALLEGED TEMPLE MOUNT. Also, these debris have contained Roman coins and artifacts clearly decades after the completion of the Second Temple. The fill of the Temple Mount clearly dates it after Herod the Great. (5) The Temple Mount was the location of the Roman fortress of Antonia, and the seat of the Roman government of Jerusalem and Judea. The Hashmonean architectural features which may be authentic would have served the prominent and politically central Antonia fortress, and not the Temple Mount. Robinson's and Warren's Arches in the Temple Mount could just as well have been Justinian's handiwork. http://www.biblediscoveries.com/content/view/22/38
it forbids the return of indigenous people of Israel. What do you think of those who were dislocated by wars? Are they not entitled to come home and live a peaceful life?
No of course not the UN has a one track mind it is to bash israel all the time. You have ban ki moon as its leader who has a one track mind and totally blind what is happening with the weapons smuggling with iran, syria, hamas and hezbollah and using countries like sudan to help with the process and getting weapons from countries like north korea as well.
Abbas has the blood of israeli olympic athletes on his hands.
They have no shame.
They have no control over the borders of gaza and stopping hamas getting weapons from iran or firing rockets. How can you have a peace process when fatah has zero control over gaza. When are they going to be called out on this and stop the charade. Making an agreement with fatah is worthless. Hamas, syria, hezbollah, iran are the powers not abbas.
How many decades have so-called negotiations gone one while one party takes everything it can grab? It's remarkable that anyone was ever deceived that the U.S. was a neutral party. That Humpty Dumpty has fallen off the wall and with acts such as this one the U.S. is desperately trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Or maybe it's good cop - bad cop. Israel is the bad cop throwing people out of their land, while the U.S. is the good cop putting a patina of legitimacy on the whole thing by pretending to honor "the process" that's now a ghost.
When is there going to be a push back against fatah's extremists.
This man is pure evil. He talks one way in english and then another way in arabic. He is absolutely worthless a weak leader with no power.
You have iran, syria, hezbollah helping hamas build infastructure and get long range rockets in gaza. No resolutions against hezbollah being caught by egypt smuggling weapons to hamas. Of course not because china or russia would veto it in a second. But the U.S won't question this double standard. They give in to the UN on the turkey investigation while there is no security council investigation of north korea which china blocked.
Half the population of the old city before 1948 were jews.
I don't think you understand, no matter how many palestinians riot against jewish synogagues in the jewish quarter in the old city, no matter how many papers your corrupt fatah produces stating that jews have no connection to the western wall you have no moral claim to areas that were ransacked by jordan. It wasn't a final border and even a UN resolution says it needs to be negotiated.
The 67 border was meant to be negotiated by the parties as a UN resolution states and was never meant to be final no matter how many times fatah says jews have no history to the western wall or palestinians riot against a synogague in the jewish quarter in the old city. If this resolution isn't vetoed then there should never be a discussion of the peace process again because the palestinians want everything. They want control over the jewish quarter in east jerusalem and the jewish synogagues there and the western wall. They want everything. What is there to negotiate. Before 1948 a majority of the people in east jerusalem were jews and abbas thinks whatever they do is illegal. If the U.S had any guts they would tell abbas in no uncertain terms that there needs to be a negotiated solution and you can't declare jewish neighborhoods that were there before 1948 and ransacked by jordan illegal.
I was wrong for two years. I thought Obama might stick up for the 'official' position of the USA concerning the status and behavior of Legal Occupying Authorities, or the settlement of occupied territory as defined by the 4th Geneva Convention. We know now for a fact that the USA had already sworn to Israel that it would allow 'natural' (what ever that means) growth of Settlements outside Israel (as at the same time the US pretended to accept those boundaries) without restriction as the right of Israel. The USA pretended for a decade or more to be in favor of peace when it was sworn to ensure peace would never happen. We know the wikilleaky truth about what we promised Israel and what we told Americans and the world. Successive US governments have told the world and Americans that it favored a two-state solution in the mideast. Those US governments then tacitly told Israel "do anything you want, we will pretend to urge peace." Until Netanyahu, no government of Israel has been so silly as to Uncle Sam "Eat Shit!" Nor before has any government of Israel been so insane as to brag up the fact that the war against peace had been won and the savior of Israel was Bibi. Uncle Sam will do what ever Israel asks and that is ONLY because of two constituencies and a general opinion. Not because Israel is so great, or AIPAC so powerful. No, Just Because. Uncle Sam will either bless Israel with it's veto (expected by all but the insane or inane) or it might walk out and not veto. The problems for Israel are diverse. Can Israel avoid forever peace with Palestine? If Israel populates all of the 'land God gave it", then what happens to the Arabs living there? When will the USA decide that what is more important to the USA trumps what is good for Israel? How long can Israel afford to be dependent upon a single power in the world? Let us not forget: What is wrong with Netanyahu. Answer the last question and you might be close to answering all of them. Yet those governments were sworn to let Israel all 'natural increase' that happened in settlements in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank according to US propaganda). Needless to say as long as Israel may expand settlements there is no reason for Israel to avoid peace. From the standpoint of the Israeli right the equation is simple. Peace = You Lose.
how many times do you want to pull the same stunt.
The USA is either on the side of justice or is a collaborator with Israel in its expansionist ambitions. History shows the latter, and even the Obama leadership capitulated to Netanyahu. Palestine needs justice. Other nations are rising to the challenge of helping Palestine become independent. The USA can assist Palestine or forever be know as the nation that talks human rights but does not act when needed.
why did abbas wait 10 month to tell us that he doesn't want to go b
Never heard of petro dollar influence in the US or UN have you?
In 1948 Ben Gurion took it the moment the British left. The USA and former USSR immediately recognized Israel. It was the Palestine Partition Plan then. Why has it taken 62 years for Palestine to be recognized? The UN is obliged by shear fairness to recognize Palestine as a state. The US is a hypocrite and worse a "log" jamming the eyes of justice by preventing peace if it stands in the way of a UN sanctioned recognition of the state of Palestine.
1. Because UN never proposed a Palestinian state. UN proposed an Arab state 2. Arabs turned down the offer of their own state, and went to war to prevent partition. 3. Israel declared independence whit the mandatory border (incl. WB and Gaza). 4. Arab Palestinian have only existed since June 1967, before they where only Arabs.
The day the Arabs recognizes Israel as a Jewish state and the unified Jerusalem as her capital, peace will be possible.
The day the Arabs recognizes Israel as a Jewish state and the unified Jerusalem as her capital, peace will be possible.
Even when they lost their war of annihilation THEY insisted on the ceasefire lines not being the recognised borders. The invading Arab armies ethnic cleansed the Jews out of the WB,Gaza and parts of Jerusalem. Ask yourself why they did not declare a state on all that.
by European Zionists who forcibly took it from the weak Palestinians. Hence, the Arab action then is justifiable. They were just correcting the injustice committed against the Pals. A good analogy is if the top rabbis are against renting of Jewish homes to Arabs, how much more if Jewish homes are illegally occupied by Arabs? The Arab wars against the European Zionists were normal reactions against an invading force.
How long can the Americans delude their populace into thinking that "we're not wrong, it's THE ENTIRE REST OF THE WORLD that's wrong"? I know that Israelis will believe it come hell or high water, but I think that at least (maybe?) a third of Americans are a bit smarter than that.
How many Americans remember when we were told the Soviets were about to STRIKE us at any moment? Were there many who noticed that the Imminent attack date always retreated at the same rate as the calendar? Most Americans were perfectly happy believing in Saddam's WMD and that he was just days away from"The Bomb!" Many more, including most of those who were happy to believe the Bush And Cheney Show. Is there ANY nation in the world which is not populated by people who wish for nothing more than to be deluded into believing something? Anything?
have you?
Sorry, what? Remind me how America was founded again? By resolving final status issues with the Natives and the Brits through direct negotiations, right?
Eli, thank you for the comment. The US MUST be reminded of its own high-principled establishment. AND be consistent with its 1947 immediate recognition of the state of israel by a UN resolution.
Did you ever hear about the Treaty of Paris? It was the direct 'final status' treaty signed by two powers which were both intelligent enough to make peace.
you should take your analogy to its final conclusion. the two parties negotiated and signed a treaty. there was no un nor other third parties.
But Cipora do you think Netanyahu is intelligent? Has he respected international law?
"Other members of the Security Council, particularly Russia, China, Britain and France, tend to support the Palestinian draft resolution." - Shlomo Shamir and Barak Ravid, And whom else matters? The Duchy of Sark? It is with amusement I watch the US and Israel, who sold the world on a peace process neither intended to work for decades scramble to salvage something from Netanyahu's great victory over Obama. Bibi, he plays power like a drum and leadership like a violin. Obama, too craven to be brazen like Bush. Together they blew the whole sham. And now the world is sick and tired of the scam.
the failure of Obama shows as who is the real super power !
The question to Mitchell reveals the level of frustration Americans increasingly have with BOTH sides.
By acquiescing to one side, the USA became powerless over either side.
USA should give way to Brazil and other countries to proceed with Peace in the Mid East. We have tried the USA and they admit they have failed.
why is it that your government was not able to force arafat to sign a peace treaty when prince bandar himself supported the agreement that ehud barak had offered?
Come on you would not know straight if you fell over it.
Obama - the White House - is in Hawaii and this was not part of the briefing at State. Mitchell is in Maine. One has to wonder who the "Senior US official" might have been. Does the quote really come from the PMO?
then they will be illegal
Under the 4th Geneva Convention, which Israel is a signatory, it is a violation of international law for the people of a nation occupying another to sized land and displace the indigenous population. I did not sign the 4th Geneva Convention, Israel did. I have not violated the 4th Geneva Convention, which Israel has. I have never committed the war crime of taking property away from powerless occupied civilians by military force. Israel has. Best not to raise the question of International or even natural low a. You talk brave a, who are you to hide behind a letter when you accuse others?
The Jews came back Time for the Arabs to negiate borders not evade them
for once I agree with you.
The translation from diplomat talk to real world is simple: The US has failed to achieve peace and will not allow anyone else to achieve peace. The import is obvious. Bawaak Obama will veto any attempt by the UN to revoke the Israeli Occupation and create a Palestinian State.
Why on earth would they do that? Final issues cannot be resolved through negotiations because negotiations, Mr. US official, are useless and they only aim to increase the time span of struggle and conflict! By going to the UN law will be enforced on the ground, isn't that what the US has "claimed" to be the mission in Iraq (in ironic sense), so why would they now contradict their "very principles" of freedom and justice? Isn't reaching solutions through international organizations a legal thing to do? So why criticizing!! The US has really become an old "annoying" lady that might need an immediate rest of this conflict!
Two states living side by side please Obama stop giving us this fake hope and step aside. Leave us alone.