17 oct 2013
Maariv newspaper said the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have already entered a dead end following the disagreements between the two sides concerning the border issue.
The paper pointed out that "Israel has proposed renting the Jordan Valley area for decades but the Palestinian Authority refused that." It quoted Palestinian sources as saying that Israel insists on imposing its control over the eastern border with Jordan.
Maariv said: "member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement Hanan Ashrawi confirmed the news in a statement to the newspaper."
Palestinian Authority has resumed direct negotiations with Israel under American auspices, since last August, without preconditions from both sides.
The paper pointed out that "Israel has proposed renting the Jordan Valley area for decades but the Palestinian Authority refused that." It quoted Palestinian sources as saying that Israel insists on imposing its control over the eastern border with Jordan.
Maariv said: "member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement Hanan Ashrawi confirmed the news in a statement to the newspaper."
Palestinian Authority has resumed direct negotiations with Israel under American auspices, since last August, without preconditions from both sides.
Leader of the Jewish Home Party, Israeli Economy and Trade Minister, Naftali Bennett, threatened that his party would withdraw from the government coalition with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of the Likud Party, should Israel “grant any concession to the Palestinians in peace talks”.
Israeli daily Maariv said that Bennett, who leads one of the largest coalition parties, said that granting concessions to the Palestinians would pose what he called “a serious threat to Israel”, and that his party “will not allow that to happen”.
Bennett also stated that his party will not only withdraw from the government, but will lead “a political battle at the Knesset to stop any agreement and any concession provided by the government, starting with foiling the Poll Law that the Knesset intends to vote on”.
He told Party leaders in the north of the country that his party would not stand idle “while the government concedes to the Palestinians”.
Yet, he added, “Without peace, the Jews cannot fulfill their dream of a Jewish and a Zionist state”, but added that achieving peace must be based on Israeli standards, and should first serve Israel and its security interests.
He also claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Authority, are trying to strip Israel of its international legitimacy, by filing applications at the United Nations, and its affiliated organizations.
Bennett further said that peace for Israel is based on boosting both Israeli and Palestinian economies, without making any political concessions.
He believes that peace can be reached by granting a better economy to the “self-rule area of the Palestinian Authority without giving the Palestinians more land”, and without establishing an independent Palestinian State.
Israeli daily Maariv said that Bennett, who leads one of the largest coalition parties, said that granting concessions to the Palestinians would pose what he called “a serious threat to Israel”, and that his party “will not allow that to happen”.
Bennett also stated that his party will not only withdraw from the government, but will lead “a political battle at the Knesset to stop any agreement and any concession provided by the government, starting with foiling the Poll Law that the Knesset intends to vote on”.
He told Party leaders in the north of the country that his party would not stand idle “while the government concedes to the Palestinians”.
Yet, he added, “Without peace, the Jews cannot fulfill their dream of a Jewish and a Zionist state”, but added that achieving peace must be based on Israeli standards, and should first serve Israel and its security interests.
He also claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Authority, are trying to strip Israel of its international legitimacy, by filing applications at the United Nations, and its affiliated organizations.
Bennett further said that peace for Israel is based on boosting both Israeli and Palestinian economies, without making any political concessions.
He believes that peace can be reached by granting a better economy to the “self-rule area of the Palestinian Authority without giving the Palestinians more land”, and without establishing an independent Palestinian State.
Israeli Peace Now movement issued a report on Israeli settlement construction and expansion activities, and revealed that settlement construction increased by %70 in the period between January and June 2013.
Peace Now said that its data is based on survey of aerial photos, and count of all units that “started/ended to be built in each settlement.”
It said that there is a %70 increase in construction starts when compared to the same time-frame of last year, and added that constructions started for building 1708 units from January to June.
Peace Now added that 180 of these constructions are in fact located in illegal settlement outposts, comparing to 995 units in the same period of 2012.
It further stated that the construction of 1794 units have been completed, and 2840 units are still under construction.
The Movement said that %61 of the construction starts (1040 units) were in isolated illegal settlement east of the border that was proposed by the Geneva Initiative, adding that %44 of the construction starts were east of the planned rout of the Annexation Wall, and only %32 (542 units) were built on the western side of the Wall.
It also said that constructions also started for 180 public buildings, such as synagogues, schools and kindergartens, in addition to 1708 apartments, 74 industrial and agricultural buildings.
Peace Now said that all of these tenders and plans mean that when Israel declared a temporary freeze of settlement activities, until July 2013, it did not implement a general freeze or moratorium on settlement constructions, but only part of the constructions in the settlements.
PDF Map Of construction Starts – Peace Now
Examples of building sites as stated by Peace Now;
Ariel – 51 housing units
Bracha – 88 housing units
Givat Ze’ev – 106 housing units (in the haredi neighborhood)
Modi’in Illit – 108 housing units
Nili – 100 housing units
Neriah – 42 housing units
Eli – 30 housing units
Alei Zahav – 35 housing units
Etz Efraim - 51 housing units
Tekoa – 39 housing units
Beit Arieh – 38 housing units
Peace Now said that its data is based on survey of aerial photos, and count of all units that “started/ended to be built in each settlement.”
It said that there is a %70 increase in construction starts when compared to the same time-frame of last year, and added that constructions started for building 1708 units from January to June.
Peace Now added that 180 of these constructions are in fact located in illegal settlement outposts, comparing to 995 units in the same period of 2012.
It further stated that the construction of 1794 units have been completed, and 2840 units are still under construction.
The Movement said that %61 of the construction starts (1040 units) were in isolated illegal settlement east of the border that was proposed by the Geneva Initiative, adding that %44 of the construction starts were east of the planned rout of the Annexation Wall, and only %32 (542 units) were built on the western side of the Wall.
It also said that constructions also started for 180 public buildings, such as synagogues, schools and kindergartens, in addition to 1708 apartments, 74 industrial and agricultural buildings.
Peace Now said that all of these tenders and plans mean that when Israel declared a temporary freeze of settlement activities, until July 2013, it did not implement a general freeze or moratorium on settlement constructions, but only part of the constructions in the settlements.
PDF Map Of construction Starts – Peace Now
Examples of building sites as stated by Peace Now;
Ariel – 51 housing units
Bracha – 88 housing units
Givat Ze’ev – 106 housing units (in the haredi neighborhood)
Modi’in Illit – 108 housing units
Nili – 100 housing units
Neriah – 42 housing units
Eli – 30 housing units
Alei Zahav – 35 housing units
Etz Efraim - 51 housing units
Tekoa – 39 housing units
Beit Arieh – 38 housing units
15 oct 2013
Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett, who heads the right-wing Jewish Home party, on Monday called the creation of a Palestinian state a delusional act. "The creation of Palestinian state within the State of Israel is a delusional act because it supports replacing coexistence with autonomy," he said according to Israel Radio.
Bennett said that while his party would not stop Justice Minister Tzipi Livni from negotiating with the Palestinian Authority, when the Knesset opens its winter session Monday, it would pass the bill requiring a referendum on any peace deal that would relinquish "sovereign Israeli territory."
Bennett also said that his party insists that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state in order to prevent the possibility of Israeli Arabs demanding another state in Israeli territory.
Bennett said that while his party would not stop Justice Minister Tzipi Livni from negotiating with the Palestinian Authority, when the Knesset opens its winter session Monday, it would pass the bill requiring a referendum on any peace deal that would relinquish "sovereign Israeli territory."
Bennett also said that his party insists that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state in order to prevent the possibility of Israeli Arabs demanding another state in Israeli territory.
14 oct 2013
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas headed for Europe on Monday on a mission to increase international pressure on Israel to halt settlement construction.
According to Maariv newspaper, Abbas' trip will take him to Germany, Italy and Belgium, where he will meet with heads of state and push for them to increase pressure on Israel to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank.
Sources in the PA told Maariv that Abbas set up the European trip in response to the Israeli calls to cut off the US-brokered peace talks and rethink the prisoner releases.
The newspaper added that Abu Mazen "Abbas" and the Palestinian leadership hear the opinions in Israel that are talking about the possibility of freezing the talks because of recent events, and they are already preparing an alternative plan — appealing to the United Nations institutes with the goal of winning international recognition for Palestinian state."
The newspaper also added that Abbas was going to Europe to ask for financial aid amid a fiscal crisis in the PA.
Abbas will also stresses during his trip that he is determined to continue talks with Israel; although he will tell the European leaders there has been no significant progress so far.
According to Maariv newspaper, Abbas' trip will take him to Germany, Italy and Belgium, where he will meet with heads of state and push for them to increase pressure on Israel to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank.
Sources in the PA told Maariv that Abbas set up the European trip in response to the Israeli calls to cut off the US-brokered peace talks and rethink the prisoner releases.
The newspaper added that Abu Mazen "Abbas" and the Palestinian leadership hear the opinions in Israel that are talking about the possibility of freezing the talks because of recent events, and they are already preparing an alternative plan — appealing to the United Nations institutes with the goal of winning international recognition for Palestinian state."
The newspaper also added that Abbas was going to Europe to ask for financial aid amid a fiscal crisis in the PA.
Abbas will also stresses during his trip that he is determined to continue talks with Israel; although he will tell the European leaders there has been no significant progress so far.
Abbas has no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement.
By Ramzy Baroud
Since the Hamas election victory in January 2006 — and particularly after the Hamas-Fatah clashes and split between Gaza and the West Bank in the summer of 2007 — Gaza has undergone a disturbing human experiment, whose toll is unprecedented in the history of the impoverished Strip.
The plotters involve the usual suspects, each with a clear set of objectives behind the isolation and targeting of Gaza. The US and Israel have worked tirelessly to divide Palestinians and derail any chances of a unified government, let alone a cohesive national project. This helped Israel achieve two objectives: Blaming Palestinians for a lack of leadership (as in ‘we don’t have a peace partner’) for the collapse of the so-called peace process and creating distractions as it continued with the construction of its Apartheid Wall and colonies throughout the Occupied Territories.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has assumed the role of the local collaborator and has done its outmost to undermine Hamas at every turn. The US has ensured that no unity agreement is signed between Hamas and the PNA’s ruling Fatah party and if any such agreement is ever reached, it will never be honored. Israel moved into Gaza from time to time to test the resolve of Palestinian resistance, to ‘teach Gaza a lesson’ and to ensure that Hamas’ reign comes at a heavy price. PNA President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah was spoiled with much ‘aid’ and perks. Its officials are well paid, even when the rest of the Palestinians are not paid at all. According to VisualizingImpact.org, Palestinian politicians are the second highest paid in the world after Kenya, as a multiple of gross domestic product per capita.
Abbas, his officials and PNA security bosses have no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement, especially if the other option will be to let go of their riches and embrace a national liberation project, the cost of which could be too high for pampered men to bear.
Isolated, lacking political savvy and out of options, Hamas made some costly mistakes, especially following the Arab upheaval that promised change, but threw the entire region into a high-stakes political gamble. Hamas became even more isolated, especially after the July military coup against Egypt’s first elected president. Mohammad Mursi, despite immense pressure, was much kinder to Palestinians in Gaza than his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, who was an important player in the Gaza experiment. His regime worked diligently to ensure that the siege on Gaza was complete and that an Islamic movement at his country’s doorsteps had no chance of proving politically viable.
The Mubarak regime played its role according to the script and greatly benefited too. For his tenacious efforts to contain ‘radical Islamists’ in Gaza, Mubarak was spared the sham democracy crusade launched by former US president George W. Bush. The US was and remains completely oblivious to numerous human rights violations carried out by Egypt’s security apparatus, the curtailing of freedoms and the brazen denial of basic rights of Egyptian citizens. US Congress seemed much more forgiving of Egypt’s abuses, compared to rights abuses carried out by other regimes — thanks in part to Egypt’s six-year-long crackdown on Gaza. Out of the four crossings that connect Gaza to the world, Israel is sealing three, while Egypt is choking the fourth and in the last two months, it has destroyed all tunnels that Gazans had dug to smuggle food and other urgent supplies. It is believed that some of these tunnels are also a source of arms that Palestinians in Gaza use in their war with Israel. As Gaza dies slowly, the waiting game continues. All parties — Israel, US, Egypt and the PNA and their regional allies are coordinating their efforts to ensure Hamas’ demise and PNA’s return to power.
In an article titled ‘Gaza: Crushed between Israel and Egypt’, Jonathan Cook wrote of a ‘cynical game’ that is on in full swing. The game expects the Egyptian military to destroy all tunnels and to close the Rafah border crossing for Israel to turn a blind eye to “Egypt pouring troops, as well as tanks and helicopters, into Sinai in violation of the 1979 peace treaty,” so that Gaza can become dependent on Israel’s ‘good favor’ once more. All of this is to “bolster the image of Abbas” and to present the PNA as a sane option as opposed to Hamas’ caustic policies.
Meanwhile, in the name of “national security”, Egypt seems to be planning something sinister as well. Apart from cutting Gaza off, its navy is attacking and imprisoning Gaza fisherman and its generals are constantly accusing Gaza of playing a role in the security unrest in Sinai. One of Egypt’s most prominent military leaders, General Ahmad Wasfi, warned “Gaza jihadists” in Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper, saying he would “cut off the head of anyone who tries to threaten Egypt’s security”. This comes shortly after Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Nabeel Fahmy, threatened war on the Gaza Strip. More recently, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post cited a senior Egyptian source commenting to West Bank-based Ma’an news agency that “the Egyptian army has planned military attacks on specific targets in the Gaza Strip in the event that the security situation in the northern Sinai peninsula deteriorates”. According to the source, “Egyptian reconnaissance planes had photographed the potential targets”.
It is payback time as far as the plotters are concerned. Israel’s failed, albeit very violent wars on Gaza, fell short of eradicating Hamas or rooting out the Strip’s resistance groups. The US’s carrot-and-stick policies also failed as did most of US policies in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq, if not even before. As for Abbas, his credibility is at an all-time low and the only reason he remains in charge is because Israel sees some benefits in his continued presence. But since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government in Egypt, efforts have been renewed with earnest — this time involving all parties.
For months, there has been growing talk of a new “popular” movement in Gaza to topple Hamas. The movement is modeled after Egypt’s protests of June 29, which emboldened the military coup by Egypt’s strongman General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi. Hamas claims that several cells affiliated to Egyptian intelligence have been apprehended in Gaza. Protests are also planned for next month. “Hamas’ political rival, Fatah … is reported to be behind the new protest movement,” wrote Cook.
True, Hamas is now politically at its weakest, thereby creating an opportunity for its many enemies to make their move. But this is not just about Hamas. The ultimate aim is to remold Gaza, the heart of Palestinian resistance, and to turn the strip into an extension of its western-styled Ramallah under Abbas with its handsomely paid officials. If this goal is achieved, it will come at a very high price that will be exacted not just from Gaza, but from all Palestinians.
By Ramzy Baroud
Since the Hamas election victory in January 2006 — and particularly after the Hamas-Fatah clashes and split between Gaza and the West Bank in the summer of 2007 — Gaza has undergone a disturbing human experiment, whose toll is unprecedented in the history of the impoverished Strip.
The plotters involve the usual suspects, each with a clear set of objectives behind the isolation and targeting of Gaza. The US and Israel have worked tirelessly to divide Palestinians and derail any chances of a unified government, let alone a cohesive national project. This helped Israel achieve two objectives: Blaming Palestinians for a lack of leadership (as in ‘we don’t have a peace partner’) for the collapse of the so-called peace process and creating distractions as it continued with the construction of its Apartheid Wall and colonies throughout the Occupied Territories.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has assumed the role of the local collaborator and has done its outmost to undermine Hamas at every turn. The US has ensured that no unity agreement is signed between Hamas and the PNA’s ruling Fatah party and if any such agreement is ever reached, it will never be honored. Israel moved into Gaza from time to time to test the resolve of Palestinian resistance, to ‘teach Gaza a lesson’ and to ensure that Hamas’ reign comes at a heavy price. PNA President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah was spoiled with much ‘aid’ and perks. Its officials are well paid, even when the rest of the Palestinians are not paid at all. According to VisualizingImpact.org, Palestinian politicians are the second highest paid in the world after Kenya, as a multiple of gross domestic product per capita.
Abbas, his officials and PNA security bosses have no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement, especially if the other option will be to let go of their riches and embrace a national liberation project, the cost of which could be too high for pampered men to bear.
Isolated, lacking political savvy and out of options, Hamas made some costly mistakes, especially following the Arab upheaval that promised change, but threw the entire region into a high-stakes political gamble. Hamas became even more isolated, especially after the July military coup against Egypt’s first elected president. Mohammad Mursi, despite immense pressure, was much kinder to Palestinians in Gaza than his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, who was an important player in the Gaza experiment. His regime worked diligently to ensure that the siege on Gaza was complete and that an Islamic movement at his country’s doorsteps had no chance of proving politically viable.
The Mubarak regime played its role according to the script and greatly benefited too. For his tenacious efforts to contain ‘radical Islamists’ in Gaza, Mubarak was spared the sham democracy crusade launched by former US president George W. Bush. The US was and remains completely oblivious to numerous human rights violations carried out by Egypt’s security apparatus, the curtailing of freedoms and the brazen denial of basic rights of Egyptian citizens. US Congress seemed much more forgiving of Egypt’s abuses, compared to rights abuses carried out by other regimes — thanks in part to Egypt’s six-year-long crackdown on Gaza. Out of the four crossings that connect Gaza to the world, Israel is sealing three, while Egypt is choking the fourth and in the last two months, it has destroyed all tunnels that Gazans had dug to smuggle food and other urgent supplies. It is believed that some of these tunnels are also a source of arms that Palestinians in Gaza use in their war with Israel. As Gaza dies slowly, the waiting game continues. All parties — Israel, US, Egypt and the PNA and their regional allies are coordinating their efforts to ensure Hamas’ demise and PNA’s return to power.
In an article titled ‘Gaza: Crushed between Israel and Egypt’, Jonathan Cook wrote of a ‘cynical game’ that is on in full swing. The game expects the Egyptian military to destroy all tunnels and to close the Rafah border crossing for Israel to turn a blind eye to “Egypt pouring troops, as well as tanks and helicopters, into Sinai in violation of the 1979 peace treaty,” so that Gaza can become dependent on Israel’s ‘good favor’ once more. All of this is to “bolster the image of Abbas” and to present the PNA as a sane option as opposed to Hamas’ caustic policies.
Meanwhile, in the name of “national security”, Egypt seems to be planning something sinister as well. Apart from cutting Gaza off, its navy is attacking and imprisoning Gaza fisherman and its generals are constantly accusing Gaza of playing a role in the security unrest in Sinai. One of Egypt’s most prominent military leaders, General Ahmad Wasfi, warned “Gaza jihadists” in Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper, saying he would “cut off the head of anyone who tries to threaten Egypt’s security”. This comes shortly after Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Nabeel Fahmy, threatened war on the Gaza Strip. More recently, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post cited a senior Egyptian source commenting to West Bank-based Ma’an news agency that “the Egyptian army has planned military attacks on specific targets in the Gaza Strip in the event that the security situation in the northern Sinai peninsula deteriorates”. According to the source, “Egyptian reconnaissance planes had photographed the potential targets”.
It is payback time as far as the plotters are concerned. Israel’s failed, albeit very violent wars on Gaza, fell short of eradicating Hamas or rooting out the Strip’s resistance groups. The US’s carrot-and-stick policies also failed as did most of US policies in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq, if not even before. As for Abbas, his credibility is at an all-time low and the only reason he remains in charge is because Israel sees some benefits in his continued presence. But since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government in Egypt, efforts have been renewed with earnest — this time involving all parties.
For months, there has been growing talk of a new “popular” movement in Gaza to topple Hamas. The movement is modeled after Egypt’s protests of June 29, which emboldened the military coup by Egypt’s strongman General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi. Hamas claims that several cells affiliated to Egyptian intelligence have been apprehended in Gaza. Protests are also planned for next month. “Hamas’ political rival, Fatah … is reported to be behind the new protest movement,” wrote Cook.
True, Hamas is now politically at its weakest, thereby creating an opportunity for its many enemies to make their move. But this is not just about Hamas. The ultimate aim is to remold Gaza, the heart of Palestinian resistance, and to turn the strip into an extension of its western-styled Ramallah under Abbas with its handsomely paid officials. If this goal is achieved, it will come at a very high price that will be exacted not just from Gaza, but from all Palestinians.
13 oct 2013
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat Al-Resheq said that the Palestinian authority's negotiations with the Israeli occupation regime would not culminate with success because it works outside the Palestinian national consensus. "Nine months of negotiations will end either with abortion or an illegitimate birth rejected by our people, and this is an investable fate of any project created outside the national consensus," Resheq stated in remarks on his facebook page on Sunday.
The Hamas official also deplored the PA for its persistence in its security cooperation with the Israeli occupation regime despite the continued Judaization of Jerusalem and the declared plan to seize part of the Aqsa Mosque for the building of a synagogue.
"The dreams of the Zionist extremists are a Jewish synagogue swallowing fifth of the holy Aqsa Mosque and the dreams of the PA and its negotiators are further consolidation of the security coordination (with Israel), the detention of resistance fighters and the prevention of a third intifada," he said.
The Hamas official also deplored the PA for its persistence in its security cooperation with the Israeli occupation regime despite the continued Judaization of Jerusalem and the declared plan to seize part of the Aqsa Mosque for the building of a synagogue.
"The dreams of the Zionist extremists are a Jewish synagogue swallowing fifth of the holy Aqsa Mosque and the dreams of the PA and its negotiators are further consolidation of the security coordination (with Israel), the detention of resistance fighters and the prevention of a third intifada," he said.
12 oct 2013
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Israeli sources have reported that bids for the construction of 793 new settlement units will be announced soon, as part of a plan to build 1500 new units in a number of Jewish settlements in the Jerusalem district, and around it.
The sources said that, three months ago, Israel approved the marketing of lands for the new constructions, and that the bids will be concluded this coming Monday. The bids are for the construction of 400 units in the Gilo settlement, 210 in Abu Ghneim (referred to as Har Homa), 183 in Pisgat Zeev, 149 in Efrat, 92 in Ma’ale Adumim, and 36 in Beitar Illit. |
Israeli weekly, Yerushaleim, stated that, until last August, Israel used what it called “Calm Freeze” of settlement activities and refrained from approving 2500 units in occupied Jerusalem, despite the fact that construction plans are ready.
It said that the claimed freeze is meant to push direct peace talks with the Palestinians, but after the talks were resumed, Israel gradually approved hundreds of units in occupied Jerusalem.
Those bids include 1500 new units in Ramat Shlomo settlement; one of the companies participating in the bid specializes in constructions meant for religious Jews.
The company is currently trying to buy lands in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) in order to market apartments with what was described as very competitive prices.
The construction and expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is one of the main obstacles to direct political talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel’s settlements, built of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and International Law.
Settlements and the Annexation Wall in occupied Palestine are devastating the Palestinian economy, causing villagers to lose their lands, and isolating them from what is left of their lands, and are turning the occupied territories into isolated cantons.
It said that the claimed freeze is meant to push direct peace talks with the Palestinians, but after the talks were resumed, Israel gradually approved hundreds of units in occupied Jerusalem.
Those bids include 1500 new units in Ramat Shlomo settlement; one of the companies participating in the bid specializes in constructions meant for religious Jews.
The company is currently trying to buy lands in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) in order to market apartments with what was described as very competitive prices.
The construction and expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is one of the main obstacles to direct political talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel’s settlements, built of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and International Law.
Settlements and the Annexation Wall in occupied Palestine are devastating the Palestinian economy, causing villagers to lose their lands, and isolating them from what is left of their lands, and are turning the occupied territories into isolated cantons.
11 oct 2013
President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview Thursday that he will not "compromise on the 1967 borders as the borders for the Palestinian state."
He also said that "there is no peace without Jerusalem as the capital for the state of Palestine."
The remarks were made during an interview broadcast on Palestine Satellite channel as well as al-Falastiniya Satellite Channel, as reported by the official Wafa news agency on Friday.
Abbas stressed that the direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis are based on the principle of maintaining the 1967 borders. He added, however, that there remains the possibility of exchanging limited amounts of lands from across either sides of the border.
Abbas said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as well as his insistence on recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, indicates Netanyahu's hostility toward negotiations with the Palestinians.
Abbas' statements follow months of direct negotiations between the PLO and Israel in order to end the 45-year-long Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories and resolve other outstanding issues in the ongoing conflict.
Abbas also denounced the repeated raids on the al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli settlers and said that the situation had become "extremely dangerous." He said that the settlers enter al-Aqsa daily and assault Palestinian and worshipers, while Israeli forces do nothing to stop them but instead provide protection to the settlers. These attacks could potentially destroy all international efforts made to achieve peace in the region, he added.
Abbas mentioned that the Palestinian leadership had warned Israeli and American sides about this, and that the Palestinian leadership is considering taking the issue to the UN Security Council.
Abbas mentioned that the Palestinian Authority had agreed to postpone any attempt to join international organizations for nine months, and in return, Israel had said it would release the 104 Palestinian prisoners taken before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.
He added that the issue of joining international organizations is not, however, linked to the currently ongoing negotiations.
The agreement to release pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners is being implemented by Israel in a staged process, with 26 Palestinian prisoners released each three months. According to the agreement, if Israel fails to abide by its responsibilities, then Palestine will be free to apply to membership in various international organizations. The negotiation process will continue for nine months as agreed upon with the approval the US Secretary of State John Kerry.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law. The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
He also said that "there is no peace without Jerusalem as the capital for the state of Palestine."
The remarks were made during an interview broadcast on Palestine Satellite channel as well as al-Falastiniya Satellite Channel, as reported by the official Wafa news agency on Friday.
Abbas stressed that the direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis are based on the principle of maintaining the 1967 borders. He added, however, that there remains the possibility of exchanging limited amounts of lands from across either sides of the border.
Abbas said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as well as his insistence on recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, indicates Netanyahu's hostility toward negotiations with the Palestinians.
Abbas' statements follow months of direct negotiations between the PLO and Israel in order to end the 45-year-long Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories and resolve other outstanding issues in the ongoing conflict.
Abbas also denounced the repeated raids on the al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli settlers and said that the situation had become "extremely dangerous." He said that the settlers enter al-Aqsa daily and assault Palestinian and worshipers, while Israeli forces do nothing to stop them but instead provide protection to the settlers. These attacks could potentially destroy all international efforts made to achieve peace in the region, he added.
Abbas mentioned that the Palestinian leadership had warned Israeli and American sides about this, and that the Palestinian leadership is considering taking the issue to the UN Security Council.
Abbas mentioned that the Palestinian Authority had agreed to postpone any attempt to join international organizations for nine months, and in return, Israel had said it would release the 104 Palestinian prisoners taken before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.
He added that the issue of joining international organizations is not, however, linked to the currently ongoing negotiations.
The agreement to release pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners is being implemented by Israel in a staged process, with 26 Palestinian prisoners released each three months. According to the agreement, if Israel fails to abide by its responsibilities, then Palestine will be free to apply to membership in various international organizations. The negotiation process will continue for nine months as agreed upon with the approval the US Secretary of State John Kerry.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law. The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
10 oct 2013
Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid
Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday that the Israel-Palestine peace talks have "failed" because Israelis and the Palestinians want two different things. "The Palestinians want peace and justice; Israelis want peace and security," he told Bloomberg TV. Contradicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lapid added that there is no need for the Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
"My father did not come to Haifa from a Budapest Jewish ghetto in order to get recognition from Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas]," he said. "The State of Israel is a place where Jews are able to define themselves, after 2,000 years in exile. We are now independent and make our own rules." Lapid noted that Netanyahu is familiar with his position on the matter.
Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday that the Israel-Palestine peace talks have "failed" because Israelis and the Palestinians want two different things. "The Palestinians want peace and justice; Israelis want peace and security," he told Bloomberg TV. Contradicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lapid added that there is no need for the Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
"My father did not come to Haifa from a Budapest Jewish ghetto in order to get recognition from Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas]," he said. "The State of Israel is a place where Jews are able to define themselves, after 2,000 years in exile. We are now independent and make our own rules." Lapid noted that Netanyahu is familiar with his position on the matter.
Heated arguments erupted between Palestinian and Israeli delegations in meetings during the 129th summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, speaker of Fatah-affiliated lawmakers official Azzam al-Ahmad said Wednesday.
Al-Ahmad told a local Palestinian radio station Wednesday that the Israeli delegation exploded with anger when the Palestinian and the Moroccan delegations suggested including the issues of Jerusalem and settlement activities on a meeting agenda.
He added that the speaker of the Israeli delegation started to shout and interrupted speakers in a way that angered international and European delegations.
He said that President Mahmoud Abbas “agreed to resume peace negotiations while settlement activities were ongoing,” added al-Ahmad. The Israeli delegation eventually withdrew from the meeting.
Al-Ahmad said he responded to the Israeli official's claims by highlighting that the Palestinian Authority “informed the Inter-Parliamentary Union that the Palestinian side agreed to resume negotiations only after receiving an official message from the United States confirming that all aspects of settlement activities are illegal.”
Al-Ahmad added that heated arguments broke out as well during meetings of the Middle East Committee of the IPU between the Israeli and the Venezuelan delegations, which ended with withdrawal of the Israeli delegation.
Al-Ahmad told a local Palestinian radio station Wednesday that the Israeli delegation exploded with anger when the Palestinian and the Moroccan delegations suggested including the issues of Jerusalem and settlement activities on a meeting agenda.
He added that the speaker of the Israeli delegation started to shout and interrupted speakers in a way that angered international and European delegations.
He said that President Mahmoud Abbas “agreed to resume peace negotiations while settlement activities were ongoing,” added al-Ahmad. The Israeli delegation eventually withdrew from the meeting.
Al-Ahmad said he responded to the Israeli official's claims by highlighting that the Palestinian Authority “informed the Inter-Parliamentary Union that the Palestinian side agreed to resume negotiations only after receiving an official message from the United States confirming that all aspects of settlement activities are illegal.”
Al-Ahmad added that heated arguments broke out as well during meetings of the Middle East Committee of the IPU between the Israeli and the Venezuelan delegations, which ended with withdrawal of the Israeli delegation.
9 oct 2013
According to a report published by the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Institute, the 9 months allocated for negotiations between Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Authority under the U.S. auspices to achieve a peace agreement has a slight possibility of success. Researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies Udi Dekel believes that only the idea of an interim settlement with the Palestinians is the most applicable "because the differences in core subjects between Israelis and Palestinians have widened."
He suggests examining the possibility of an interim settlement "because we must decide to change reality on stages. We are interested in strategic planning, because the basis is to keep Israel as a Jewish state, and achieve the two-state solution. We are trying for 20 years to reach a settlement, but we did not succeed."
Dekel stresses that there will not be evacuation of the settlements, and that the Jordan Valley will be under the Israeli control. "We will not open the borders, and we will prevent entry of means of combat", he also says.
For his part, the General Oded Tira considers that the political and security data do not support reaching an agreement with Abbas and his team.
He says "Mahmoud Abbas is not interested in agreement. In case a deal is reached the Israeli army will withdraw from the West Bank, which means that Abbas will lose power, either through the constitutional elections, or by the military force of Hamas."
He adds that Israel is also not interested in agreement, because it knows that Abbas and Fatah do not represent the Palestinians even in the West Bank.
Tira points out that "an agreement will be considered as an Israeli folly, and will actually lead to the control of Hamas in the West Bank, which would turn the Tel Aviv and the coast to areas of confrontations like the cities near Gaza."
For their part, Israeli security sources report that if Abbas decides to respect the agreement with the occupation he will be inviting his overthrow in a short time, but if he decides not to respect the deal, under pressure from Hamas and the Palestinian community, that will result in the re-occupation of the West Bank and may lead to his resignation.
For his part, Likud MK Ofir Akunis considers that Netanyahu will face a very strong opposition from the right wing, in case of progress in the negotiations with the Palestinians.
He reiterated that "Israel cannot withdraw from the borders of 1967, because this means waiving the Latrun area and parts of the Jordan Valley, and dismantling the settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Har Homa and Ramot. Therefore, I do not agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state, yet I'm ready to talk about a long-term agreement that gives the Palestinians autonomy, and ability to manage their own affairs."
For his part, the racist Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset, stressed on his persistent opposition to the idea of any settlement.
He added he does not believe in the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians, and called on the international community "to stop interfering in our conflict with the Palestinians", he said.
He suggests examining the possibility of an interim settlement "because we must decide to change reality on stages. We are interested in strategic planning, because the basis is to keep Israel as a Jewish state, and achieve the two-state solution. We are trying for 20 years to reach a settlement, but we did not succeed."
Dekel stresses that there will not be evacuation of the settlements, and that the Jordan Valley will be under the Israeli control. "We will not open the borders, and we will prevent entry of means of combat", he also says.
For his part, the General Oded Tira considers that the political and security data do not support reaching an agreement with Abbas and his team.
He says "Mahmoud Abbas is not interested in agreement. In case a deal is reached the Israeli army will withdraw from the West Bank, which means that Abbas will lose power, either through the constitutional elections, or by the military force of Hamas."
He adds that Israel is also not interested in agreement, because it knows that Abbas and Fatah do not represent the Palestinians even in the West Bank.
Tira points out that "an agreement will be considered as an Israeli folly, and will actually lead to the control of Hamas in the West Bank, which would turn the Tel Aviv and the coast to areas of confrontations like the cities near Gaza."
For their part, Israeli security sources report that if Abbas decides to respect the agreement with the occupation he will be inviting his overthrow in a short time, but if he decides not to respect the deal, under pressure from Hamas and the Palestinian community, that will result in the re-occupation of the West Bank and may lead to his resignation.
For his part, Likud MK Ofir Akunis considers that Netanyahu will face a very strong opposition from the right wing, in case of progress in the negotiations with the Palestinians.
He reiterated that "Israel cannot withdraw from the borders of 1967, because this means waiving the Latrun area and parts of the Jordan Valley, and dismantling the settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Har Homa and Ramot. Therefore, I do not agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state, yet I'm ready to talk about a long-term agreement that gives the Palestinians autonomy, and ability to manage their own affairs."
For his part, the racist Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset, stressed on his persistent opposition to the idea of any settlement.
He added he does not believe in the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians, and called on the international community "to stop interfering in our conflict with the Palestinians", he said.
(Israel) rejected a request by the Palestinian and American governments that the planned release of a second group of Palestinian prisoners be moved up by two and a half weeks, according to Haaretz newspaper. Israel agreed in July to a four-stage release of 104 Palestinian prisoners in the Israel jails detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.
The first group of prisoners was released in August, just after talks between the two sides restarted.
The second group of some 25 prisoners was slated to be released on October 29, but the Palestinian Authority asked Israel to release the prisoners in time for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha next week.
Netanyahu has faced pressure from hawkish ministers to delay or cancel the prisoner release in the wake of a series of incidents in the West Bank in recent weeks, including the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the attack that wounded a nine-year-old girl in the settlement of Psagot last Saturday.
Netanyahu has rejected the request and planned to release the prisoners on schedule.
The first group of prisoners was released in August, just after talks between the two sides restarted.
The second group of some 25 prisoners was slated to be released on October 29, but the Palestinian Authority asked Israel to release the prisoners in time for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha next week.
Netanyahu has faced pressure from hawkish ministers to delay or cancel the prisoner release in the wake of a series of incidents in the West Bank in recent weeks, including the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the attack that wounded a nine-year-old girl in the settlement of Psagot last Saturday.
Netanyahu has rejected the request and planned to release the prisoners on schedule.
The Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality approved the construction of 68 new settlement housing units in Jerusalem.
Yediot Ahranot (Ynet) reported that the Jerusalem local planning and construction committee approved the construction of 68 housing units in the Pisgat Zeev settlement in east Jerusalem.
The project was approved in a 4-1 vote, Ynet added. One of the "Meretz" party's representatives has strongly opposed the construction decision and described it as "provocative".
Yediot Ahranot (Ynet) reported that the Jerusalem local planning and construction committee approved the construction of 68 housing units in the Pisgat Zeev settlement in east Jerusalem.
The project was approved in a 4-1 vote, Ynet added. One of the "Meretz" party's representatives has strongly opposed the construction decision and described it as "provocative".
8 oct 2013
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met on Monday in Jerusalem for the ninth time since peace talks were renewed at the end of July.
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni represented Israel, together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy, Isaac Molho. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian official Mohammad Shtayyeh represented the other side.
The sides recently agreed to meet more frequently - twice a week - as well as to increase U.S. involvement in the talks, as demanded by the Palestinians.
American envoy Martin Indyk participated in the last meeting between the sides on Wednesday, but missed out on Monday's session.
A senior Palestinian official told Reuters that the talks were intensifying, with the negotiating teams agreeing to meet for up to eight hours a day and to see one another more regularly than at the start of their latest diplomatic drive.
"As the Americans requested, we are upping the tempo of the discussions," the official said, adding that Washington would evaluate the situation in the next two months and see how to narrow the inevitable differences. "So far we have achieved nothing," he said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Monday morning with Israeli members of the Knesset caucus for the resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict at the Mukata compound in Ramallah.
At the meeting, Abbas mentioned the recent attacks on Israelis in the West Bank settlement of Psagot and in Hebron, as well as the killing of four Palestinians in Qalandia, adding that he opposes bloodshed and hopes this position is clear to all Israelis. Abbas also said that there is daily security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and that, as it is fully functioning, he does not understand recent Israeli army raids into Palestinian cities and refugee camps, which might harm future coordination.
Abbas said only U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was authorized to speak about the peace talks, but stressed that the negotiations deal with all core issues, including borders, Jerusalem, refugees and the future relationship between the two states. Abbas added he believed the nine-month framework would suffice to reach a deal, as most of the issues were already discussed in the past.
Abbas criticized further construction in the settlements, saying that Palestinians believe all settlements are illegal. He warned that Israeli extremists might cause provocations in the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, adding that such provocations might severely damage negotiations. Still, the Palestinian leader preferred to ignore Netanyahu's hardline speech at Bar Ilan University on Sunday, saying that the meeting with the MKs was not where negotiations were being held.
Labor MKs Hilik Bar and Isaac Herzog said that, together with other MKs of the caucus, they represent a huge public who believes in a deal with the Palestinians based on the principle of the two-state solution. They added that most Israelis would support such a deal.
This article was originally published at Haaretz
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni represented Israel, together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy, Isaac Molho. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian official Mohammad Shtayyeh represented the other side.
The sides recently agreed to meet more frequently - twice a week - as well as to increase U.S. involvement in the talks, as demanded by the Palestinians.
American envoy Martin Indyk participated in the last meeting between the sides on Wednesday, but missed out on Monday's session.
A senior Palestinian official told Reuters that the talks were intensifying, with the negotiating teams agreeing to meet for up to eight hours a day and to see one another more regularly than at the start of their latest diplomatic drive.
"As the Americans requested, we are upping the tempo of the discussions," the official said, adding that Washington would evaluate the situation in the next two months and see how to narrow the inevitable differences. "So far we have achieved nothing," he said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Monday morning with Israeli members of the Knesset caucus for the resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict at the Mukata compound in Ramallah.
At the meeting, Abbas mentioned the recent attacks on Israelis in the West Bank settlement of Psagot and in Hebron, as well as the killing of four Palestinians in Qalandia, adding that he opposes bloodshed and hopes this position is clear to all Israelis. Abbas also said that there is daily security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and that, as it is fully functioning, he does not understand recent Israeli army raids into Palestinian cities and refugee camps, which might harm future coordination.
Abbas said only U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was authorized to speak about the peace talks, but stressed that the negotiations deal with all core issues, including borders, Jerusalem, refugees and the future relationship between the two states. Abbas added he believed the nine-month framework would suffice to reach a deal, as most of the issues were already discussed in the past.
Abbas criticized further construction in the settlements, saying that Palestinians believe all settlements are illegal. He warned that Israeli extremists might cause provocations in the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, adding that such provocations might severely damage negotiations. Still, the Palestinian leader preferred to ignore Netanyahu's hardline speech at Bar Ilan University on Sunday, saying that the meeting with the MKs was not where negotiations were being held.
Labor MKs Hilik Bar and Isaac Herzog said that, together with other MKs of the caucus, they represent a huge public who believes in a deal with the Palestinians based on the principle of the two-state solution. They added that most Israelis would support such a deal.
This article was originally published at Haaretz
