16 mar 2014
Hamas movement said on Sunday that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas was not authorized by the Palestinian people to negotiate on their behalf. Dr. Salah Al-Bardawil, a Hamas leader in Gaza, told Quds Press that 90% of the Palestinian people did not authorize Abbas, who travelled to Washington to meet US president Barack Obama on Monday, to negotiate in their name.
He said that all PLO factions, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas along with a big portion of Fatah, which Abbas is leading, did not approve Abbas’s negotiations. Consequently, Abbas in Washington does not represent except himself and the accompanying delegation, he added.
Any agreement signed by Abbas that concedes any of the Palestinian rights, would not be accepted and would not succeed, Bardawil asserted.
The Hamas leader denied contacts between his movement and Abbas before or after Abbas’s visit to Washington.
He said that the Arab countries were preoccupied with internal affairs and were thus providing a “golden opportunity” for the Israelis and Americans to impose whatever they like on the Palestinian people, or so they think.
Bardawil said that the Palestinian resistance would not sanction any agreement surrendering any of the Palestinian rights.
He said that all PLO factions, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas along with a big portion of Fatah, which Abbas is leading, did not approve Abbas’s negotiations. Consequently, Abbas in Washington does not represent except himself and the accompanying delegation, he added.
Any agreement signed by Abbas that concedes any of the Palestinian rights, would not be accepted and would not succeed, Bardawil asserted.
The Hamas leader denied contacts between his movement and Abbas before or after Abbas’s visit to Washington.
He said that the Arab countries were preoccupied with internal affairs and were thus providing a “golden opportunity” for the Israelis and Americans to impose whatever they like on the Palestinian people, or so they think.
Bardawil said that the Palestinian resistance would not sanction any agreement surrendering any of the Palestinian rights.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement Sunday, strongly condemned statements made by the Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, in which he said President Mahmoud Abbas “is not a partner for signing a final agreement peace agreement” as well as reversed Israel’s commitment to release the pre-Oslo prisoners. “We committed to release prisoners held since before Oslo, and not the release of Arab-Israeli prisoners [Palestinians of the 1948 land],” said Ya’alon.
The ministry held the Israeli government accountable for its anti-peace positions, warning Israel of the implications of not releasing the fourth group of prisoners set for the end of March since it is an international obligation.
The ministry said the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, is knowledgeable that releasing the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners, who were arrested before signing Oslo Agreement in 1993, is “a red line which cannot be surpassed”.
It said in case Israel reverses the decision to release them, the government will have the right to seek membership of the competent international organizations and sign international agreements, in line with the UN General Assembly’s recognition of Palestine with an overwhelming majority votes in favor of Palestine.
He said that these statements, made by Ya’alon or other Israeli officials, are part of the ongoing internal dispute in the Israeli Likud party and that the ministry assures that the Palestinian side will not accept nor allow these disputes be at the expense of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights.
The ministry held the Israeli government accountable for its anti-peace positions, warning Israel of the implications of not releasing the fourth group of prisoners set for the end of March since it is an international obligation.
The ministry said the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, is knowledgeable that releasing the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners, who were arrested before signing Oslo Agreement in 1993, is “a red line which cannot be surpassed”.
It said in case Israel reverses the decision to release them, the government will have the right to seek membership of the competent international organizations and sign international agreements, in line with the UN General Assembly’s recognition of Palestine with an overwhelming majority votes in favor of Palestine.
He said that these statements, made by Ya’alon or other Israeli officials, are part of the ongoing internal dispute in the Israeli Likud party and that the ministry assures that the Palestinian side will not accept nor allow these disputes be at the expense of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights.
An Israeli minister on Sunday said Washington's top diplomat was "wrong" for pressuring Israel in peace talks, a day before Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas visits the White House.
His remarks came two days after US Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a "Jewish state."
"John Kerry is wrong because he is putting pressure on the wrong side," said Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, who is considered close to Netanyahu.
"Kerry should be asking Abu Mazen (Abbas) why he is stubbornly refusing to recognize Israel as the Jewish state," he told public radio.
The demand, which was only placed on the table several months ago by Netanyahu, has been consistently rejected by the Palestinians and is now threatening to derail the peace talks ahead of an April 29 deadline.
Kerry waded into the debate on Friday, saying he believed it was a "mistake" to raise the issue over and over again -- in what was taken as open criticism of Netanyahu.
"I think it's a mistake for some people to be raising it again and again as the critical decider of their attitude toward the possibility of a state and peace," Kerry told a congressional hearing.
He said such recognition was clear in UN resolutions and was also confirmed by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1988 and in 2004.
The Palestinians, who recognized Israel as a state in the early 1990s, have said that accepting its religious character would ignore its Arab minority and amount to giving up on the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Israel has not formally responded to Kerry's remarks.
Kerry is facing an uphill battle to get the two sides, which have reportedly failed to agree on anything, to clinch a framework proposal which would extend the talks beyond the April deadline until the end of the year.
On Saturday, another senior member of Netanyahu's cabinet poured cold water on Kerry's efforts by saying Abbas was not a partner for peace.
"He is not a partner for a final agreement that would include the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and that would end the conflict and all claims," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told private Channel 2 television.
"I'm sorry to come to this conclusion, but this (peace agreement) will not happen in my time," said Yaalon, one of several hardliners in Netanyahu's government.
Abbas will meet US President Barack Obama on Monday, and is likely to raise the issue of Israel's pledge to release another 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners, which is due to take place on March 29.
But Israeli officials have said that without any movement in the peace talks, the release is unlikely to happen, especially as the group is said to include a number of Arab Israeli prisoners.
"I've already voiced my opposition," Yaalon told Channel 2.
"We made a commitment about Palestinian prisoners from the pre-Oslo period. We did not make a commitment about Arab Israelis," he said, without saying whether the release would take place.
"Abu Mazen is obstinate. He isn't prepared to make concessions," he said. "I don't know what is going to emerge from this but we aren't prepared to be extorted."
His remarks came two days after US Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a "Jewish state."
"John Kerry is wrong because he is putting pressure on the wrong side," said Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, who is considered close to Netanyahu.
"Kerry should be asking Abu Mazen (Abbas) why he is stubbornly refusing to recognize Israel as the Jewish state," he told public radio.
The demand, which was only placed on the table several months ago by Netanyahu, has been consistently rejected by the Palestinians and is now threatening to derail the peace talks ahead of an April 29 deadline.
Kerry waded into the debate on Friday, saying he believed it was a "mistake" to raise the issue over and over again -- in what was taken as open criticism of Netanyahu.
"I think it's a mistake for some people to be raising it again and again as the critical decider of their attitude toward the possibility of a state and peace," Kerry told a congressional hearing.
He said such recognition was clear in UN resolutions and was also confirmed by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1988 and in 2004.
The Palestinians, who recognized Israel as a state in the early 1990s, have said that accepting its religious character would ignore its Arab minority and amount to giving up on the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Israel has not formally responded to Kerry's remarks.
Kerry is facing an uphill battle to get the two sides, which have reportedly failed to agree on anything, to clinch a framework proposal which would extend the talks beyond the April deadline until the end of the year.
On Saturday, another senior member of Netanyahu's cabinet poured cold water on Kerry's efforts by saying Abbas was not a partner for peace.
"He is not a partner for a final agreement that would include the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and that would end the conflict and all claims," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told private Channel 2 television.
"I'm sorry to come to this conclusion, but this (peace agreement) will not happen in my time," said Yaalon, one of several hardliners in Netanyahu's government.
Abbas will meet US President Barack Obama on Monday, and is likely to raise the issue of Israel's pledge to release another 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners, which is due to take place on March 29.
But Israeli officials have said that without any movement in the peace talks, the release is unlikely to happen, especially as the group is said to include a number of Arab Israeli prisoners.
"I've already voiced my opposition," Yaalon told Channel 2.
"We made a commitment about Palestinian prisoners from the pre-Oslo period. We did not make a commitment about Arab Israelis," he said, without saying whether the release would take place.
"Abu Mazen is obstinate. He isn't prepared to make concessions," he said. "I don't know what is going to emerge from this but we aren't prepared to be extorted."
Israeli occupation authorities intend to seize 100 dunoms of land in Hares village in Salfit governorate in favor of Revava settlement. Council of the village said that it obtained a master plan for the new settlement, published by Israeli newspapers, where the occupation intends to seize 100 dunoms.
The council called the citizens who have those lands to prepare the necessary papers that include inventory inheritance to submit objection over this decision. The lawyer who is specialized in settlement affairs will follow up this case.
Hares village and Salfit town are witnessing a massive settlement campaign where Ariel, the largest settlement in the occupied West Bank, is located.
The council called the citizens who have those lands to prepare the necessary papers that include inventory inheritance to submit objection over this decision. The lawyer who is specialized in settlement affairs will follow up this case.
Hares village and Salfit town are witnessing a massive settlement campaign where Ariel, the largest settlement in the occupied West Bank, is located.
President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday headed to the US in an official visit where he is scheduled to meet with the US President, Barack Obama, on Monday in Washington DC to discuss developments of the peace process.
Abbas is Presidential Spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, stated that Abbas will discuss with Obama all the issues related to achieving the two-state solution and bring about a just and balanced peace, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Abbas is Presidential Spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, stated that Abbas will discuss with Obama all the issues related to achieving the two-state solution and bring about a just and balanced peace, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Israeli minister of military affairs says a peace deal with the Palestinian Authority cannot be reached unless it recognizes Israel as a Jewish state.
Speaking on Israel’s Channel 2, Moshe Ya'alon also said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is not a partner for ending the conflict and peace will not happen in his generation.
Palestinian officials have already rejected Israel’s demand for recognition as a Jewish state.
They fear that the label would lead to more discrimination against Palestinian people.
This comes as the US-sponsored direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority approach a deadline next month.
The talks have already been stalled over Israel’s persistence in its illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Barack Obama, who urged him to take "tough decisions" and warned that Tel Aviv would face further international isolation should the talks fail.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it is a "mistake" for Israel to insist that Palestinians officially recognize it as a "Jewish state," adding that the recognition of the regime should not be a precondition for the talks.
On March 12, Abbas said no peace would prevail unless the demands of Palestinians are met under a future agreement with Tel Aviv.
He made the comments shortly after Netanyahu ruled out any deal with Palestinians unless they recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Israel's Yaalon says Abbas 'no partner' for peace deal
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Saturday Mahmud Abbas was "not a partner for a final peace deal" as the Palestinian leader prepared to meet US President Barack Obama.
Abbas "is a partner for receiving, not giving," Yaalon told Israel's Channel 2 television in an interview.
"He is not a partner for a final agreement that would include the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and that would end the conflict and all claims."
Abbas is due to meet Obama in Washington on Monday to discuss the stalled direct peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Palestinian and Israeli leaders have been locked in talks launched last July after a three-year hiatus, but the negotiations have faltered.
"He (Abbas) says it very clearly but no one seems to listen ... I'm sorry to come to this conclusion, but this (deal) will not happen in my time," said Yaalon who is considered to be one of the most rightwing ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
The Abbas-Obama talks are likely to focus on a US-proposed framework to guide final status negotiations, before the impending deadline for the current round of talks on April 29.
Last week Netanyahu meet Obama, who urged him to take "tough decisions" and warned that Israel would be exposed to further international isolation should the talks fail.
Yaalon also criticized Kerry in veiled terms on the issue of the release of Palestinian prisoners that Israel is engaged to do under the current talks.
"We are committed to the release of prisoners held since before the Oslo Accords, not the release of Israeli Arab prisoners," he said.
He was referring to the fourth and final phased release of long-serving prisoners scheduled for March 29 -- a commitment Israeli ministers have hinted may not be met.
"What happened happened in Kerry's mediation," Yaalon said.
"I don't want to go into details, it is between him and us. He knows we are not committed to the release of Israeli Arabs," he said.
Speaking on Israel’s Channel 2, Moshe Ya'alon also said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is not a partner for ending the conflict and peace will not happen in his generation.
Palestinian officials have already rejected Israel’s demand for recognition as a Jewish state.
They fear that the label would lead to more discrimination against Palestinian people.
This comes as the US-sponsored direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority approach a deadline next month.
The talks have already been stalled over Israel’s persistence in its illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Barack Obama, who urged him to take "tough decisions" and warned that Tel Aviv would face further international isolation should the talks fail.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it is a "mistake" for Israel to insist that Palestinians officially recognize it as a "Jewish state," adding that the recognition of the regime should not be a precondition for the talks.
On March 12, Abbas said no peace would prevail unless the demands of Palestinians are met under a future agreement with Tel Aviv.
He made the comments shortly after Netanyahu ruled out any deal with Palestinians unless they recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Israel's Yaalon says Abbas 'no partner' for peace deal
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Saturday Mahmud Abbas was "not a partner for a final peace deal" as the Palestinian leader prepared to meet US President Barack Obama.
Abbas "is a partner for receiving, not giving," Yaalon told Israel's Channel 2 television in an interview.
"He is not a partner for a final agreement that would include the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and that would end the conflict and all claims."
Abbas is due to meet Obama in Washington on Monday to discuss the stalled direct peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Palestinian and Israeli leaders have been locked in talks launched last July after a three-year hiatus, but the negotiations have faltered.
"He (Abbas) says it very clearly but no one seems to listen ... I'm sorry to come to this conclusion, but this (deal) will not happen in my time," said Yaalon who is considered to be one of the most rightwing ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.
The Abbas-Obama talks are likely to focus on a US-proposed framework to guide final status negotiations, before the impending deadline for the current round of talks on April 29.
Last week Netanyahu meet Obama, who urged him to take "tough decisions" and warned that Israel would be exposed to further international isolation should the talks fail.
Yaalon also criticized Kerry in veiled terms on the issue of the release of Palestinian prisoners that Israel is engaged to do under the current talks.
"We are committed to the release of prisoners held since before the Oslo Accords, not the release of Israeli Arab prisoners," he said.
He was referring to the fourth and final phased release of long-serving prisoners scheduled for March 29 -- a commitment Israeli ministers have hinted may not be met.
"What happened happened in Kerry's mediation," Yaalon said.
"I don't want to go into details, it is between him and us. He knows we are not committed to the release of Israeli Arabs," he said.
Public discussion on the Palestinian/Israeli crisis, which has diminished in recent years, received a powerful impetus with The National Summit to Reassess the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship, March 7 at the National Press Club, Washington, DC.
Sponsored by The Council for the National Interest, The Institute for Research Middle Eastern Policy, The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and If Americans Knew, the event featured a wide range of eloquent speakers -- former U.S. military, diplomatic, government and intelligence officials, present academics, political researchers and economic savants , and previous and current members of the U.S. Congress. Reaching a standing room crowd of more than 350 persons at times, the National Press Club attendees sat attentively at the landmark event:
The speakers did not disappoint; each was informative and spoke eloquently, with conviction, and credibly. The entire eight hours were captivating and the writer never became restless while watching the video.
One sour note: In a panel, “Has Israel lobby captured political parties & news media?’ Jeffrey Blankfort, outspoken radio commentator and well know antagonist of the "Jewish left," unnecessarily and unfairly berated Noah Chomsky, Phyllis Bennis, Amy Goodman and others, all of whom have been in the frontline in the battle for Palestinian rights, accusing them of not sufficiently contradicting AIPAC and Israel.
Although Blankfort may deserve praise for his efforts during several decades, using this forum to disparage those who are held in high regard by most on the podium and in the audience did not sit well.
His discourse went beyond the topic, was a private argument, felt tinged with conspiracy and seemed divisive. From my perspective, he received scant applause for his remarks.
C-Span helped spread the message by broadcasting the entire event live to a national audience and repeating the program on the succeeding day. Rather than influence readers with a subjective summary of the event, I prefer to recommend a viewing of the six panels of the conference on the C-Span website.
Panel 1.0 How does the Israel lobby influence Congress? Video
Paul Findley, Janet McMahon, Cynthia McKinney, and Delinda Hanley.
Panel 2.0 Does Israel and its lobby exercise too much influence on U.S. decisions to wage war in the Middle East? Video
Stephen Sniegoski, Karen Kwiatkowski, Gareth Porter, and Brigadier General (Ret) James David.
Panel 3.0 Does the "special relationship" transcend rule of law? Video
Grant Smith, Ernie Gallo, Mark Perry, and Spike Bowman.
Panel 4.0 How did the "special relationship" come to be? Video
Stephen Walt, Geoffrey Wawro, John Quigley, and Alison Weir.
Panel 5.0 Has Israel lobby captured political parties & news media? Video
Jeffrey Blankfort, Allan Brownfeld, Justin Raimondo, Scott McConnell, and Phil Weiss.
Panel 6.0: Is Israel Really a U.S. Ally? Video
Paul Pillar, Ray McGovern and Philip Giraldi.
The overwhelming success of the National Summit is measured by more than the quality of the speakers and audience reception - the planning, choice of location, structure of the debate, and technical arrangements contributed to a finely tuned production that proceeded smoothly and without a hiccup. All those associated with the performance deserve much praise.
That does not mean there were no problems to the event. It was not the fault of the arrangers, but the audience lacked younger generations, those between 20-50 years of age. Attracting mostly an older audience could have been due to one or more of several reasons:
(1) The conference hours did not allow working persons to attend.
(2) The Middle East crisis, as most foreign affairs, does not stir sufficient interest in an American public born after the Vietnam War.
(3) The Israeli propaganda machine has been successful in distracting those who did not grow up with complete knowledge of the crisis.
(4) Publicity for the event did not reach a wide audience. This is not unusual - the media never cooperates with publicizing this type of event.
The one-sided demographics create a doubt to the Summit's effectiveness. Did it relate mainly to those who already understood the situation and would only carry the truths to their graves? Will the knowledge and expressive words be translated into community and government action that re-addresses the Middle East crisis?
Lack of media coverage, before, during and after the conference was another derogatory factor. Did, except for C-Span, any major media - print, radio, television or online -- report on the event? Not apparent to this writer.
Containment of the National Summit to the C-Span and the National Press Club audience would be a travesty. Anyone who desires a just solution to the Middle East crisis would be wise to pass on to others the information derived from the conference - creating an international chain that links the world in common objectives, which inform their communities and governments of the ‘hidden history” and clarify positions that lead to resolving the crisis.
Another discussion on the Middle East crisis also deserves mention.
The Middle East Institute convened a group of recognized Middle East experts to discuss how the U.S. State Department can advance its peace initiative.
Daniel Levy, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Aaron David Miller, vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, presented well documented reviews of the crisis.
Speaking with candor, aplomb and acumen, all three orators proposed directions for John Kerry to follow.
Levy and Miller spoke with unusual passions, which highlighted their feelings of the seriousness of the situation.
Aaron Miller considered President Obama to be aware of what needs to be done but politically confined to a more compromising position.
Daniel Levy stressed the problem is occupation and illegal settlements. The continuous demand by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for Palestinian PM Abbas to recognizeIsrael as a Jewish state is counter-productive to Judaism and only a plot to block the peace process.
Shibley Telhami's well composed talk led to a logical conclusion - the contestants will be forced to accept a just two-state solution because any other result will be worse for each of them.
That was my succinct interpretations, which cannot do justice to the excellent and informative discussions.
Those interested in learning the most salient features of the Middle East crisis, which includes "behind the scene" revelations, can hit the link below for the complete audio and video of the event. (below)
Sponsored by The Council for the National Interest, The Institute for Research Middle Eastern Policy, The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and If Americans Knew, the event featured a wide range of eloquent speakers -- former U.S. military, diplomatic, government and intelligence officials, present academics, political researchers and economic savants , and previous and current members of the U.S. Congress. Reaching a standing room crowd of more than 350 persons at times, the National Press Club attendees sat attentively at the landmark event:
The speakers did not disappoint; each was informative and spoke eloquently, with conviction, and credibly. The entire eight hours were captivating and the writer never became restless while watching the video.
One sour note: In a panel, “Has Israel lobby captured political parties & news media?’ Jeffrey Blankfort, outspoken radio commentator and well know antagonist of the "Jewish left," unnecessarily and unfairly berated Noah Chomsky, Phyllis Bennis, Amy Goodman and others, all of whom have been in the frontline in the battle for Palestinian rights, accusing them of not sufficiently contradicting AIPAC and Israel.
Although Blankfort may deserve praise for his efforts during several decades, using this forum to disparage those who are held in high regard by most on the podium and in the audience did not sit well.
His discourse went beyond the topic, was a private argument, felt tinged with conspiracy and seemed divisive. From my perspective, he received scant applause for his remarks.
C-Span helped spread the message by broadcasting the entire event live to a national audience and repeating the program on the succeeding day. Rather than influence readers with a subjective summary of the event, I prefer to recommend a viewing of the six panels of the conference on the C-Span website.
Panel 1.0 How does the Israel lobby influence Congress? Video
Paul Findley, Janet McMahon, Cynthia McKinney, and Delinda Hanley.
Panel 2.0 Does Israel and its lobby exercise too much influence on U.S. decisions to wage war in the Middle East? Video
Stephen Sniegoski, Karen Kwiatkowski, Gareth Porter, and Brigadier General (Ret) James David.
Panel 3.0 Does the "special relationship" transcend rule of law? Video
Grant Smith, Ernie Gallo, Mark Perry, and Spike Bowman.
Panel 4.0 How did the "special relationship" come to be? Video
Stephen Walt, Geoffrey Wawro, John Quigley, and Alison Weir.
Panel 5.0 Has Israel lobby captured political parties & news media? Video
Jeffrey Blankfort, Allan Brownfeld, Justin Raimondo, Scott McConnell, and Phil Weiss.
Panel 6.0: Is Israel Really a U.S. Ally? Video
Paul Pillar, Ray McGovern and Philip Giraldi.
The overwhelming success of the National Summit is measured by more than the quality of the speakers and audience reception - the planning, choice of location, structure of the debate, and technical arrangements contributed to a finely tuned production that proceeded smoothly and without a hiccup. All those associated with the performance deserve much praise.
That does not mean there were no problems to the event. It was not the fault of the arrangers, but the audience lacked younger generations, those between 20-50 years of age. Attracting mostly an older audience could have been due to one or more of several reasons:
(1) The conference hours did not allow working persons to attend.
(2) The Middle East crisis, as most foreign affairs, does not stir sufficient interest in an American public born after the Vietnam War.
(3) The Israeli propaganda machine has been successful in distracting those who did not grow up with complete knowledge of the crisis.
(4) Publicity for the event did not reach a wide audience. This is not unusual - the media never cooperates with publicizing this type of event.
The one-sided demographics create a doubt to the Summit's effectiveness. Did it relate mainly to those who already understood the situation and would only carry the truths to their graves? Will the knowledge and expressive words be translated into community and government action that re-addresses the Middle East crisis?
Lack of media coverage, before, during and after the conference was another derogatory factor. Did, except for C-Span, any major media - print, radio, television or online -- report on the event? Not apparent to this writer.
Containment of the National Summit to the C-Span and the National Press Club audience would be a travesty. Anyone who desires a just solution to the Middle East crisis would be wise to pass on to others the information derived from the conference - creating an international chain that links the world in common objectives, which inform their communities and governments of the ‘hidden history” and clarify positions that lead to resolving the crisis.
Another discussion on the Middle East crisis also deserves mention.
The Middle East Institute convened a group of recognized Middle East experts to discuss how the U.S. State Department can advance its peace initiative.
Daniel Levy, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Aaron David Miller, vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, presented well documented reviews of the crisis.
Speaking with candor, aplomb and acumen, all three orators proposed directions for John Kerry to follow.
Levy and Miller spoke with unusual passions, which highlighted their feelings of the seriousness of the situation.
Aaron Miller considered President Obama to be aware of what needs to be done but politically confined to a more compromising position.
Daniel Levy stressed the problem is occupation and illegal settlements. The continuous demand by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for Palestinian PM Abbas to recognizeIsrael as a Jewish state is counter-productive to Judaism and only a plot to block the peace process.
Shibley Telhami's well composed talk led to a logical conclusion - the contestants will be forced to accept a just two-state solution because any other result will be worse for each of them.
That was my succinct interpretations, which cannot do justice to the excellent and informative discussions.
Those interested in learning the most salient features of the Middle East crisis, which includes "behind the scene" revelations, can hit the link below for the complete audio and video of the event. (below)
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Left out of all the talks is one important consideration. For the leaders of Israel, it is an all or nothing situation - they want a Jewish state, the Jordan valley, all the aquifers, the arable land and an impotent Palestine or they will fail to achieve their original vision, which to them, leaves them with nothing.
If they obtain all, then the Palestinians will have nothing. President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry should realize the trajectory of the crisis. By their failure to contain Israel, the American leaders will be partners in the destruction of the Palestinian people -- a horror that defies belief and an arrangement that no human being wants to consider and all human beings should seek to prevent. |
Dan Lieberman is editor of Alternative Insight, a commentary on foreign policy and politics. He is author of the book A Third Party Can Succeed in America and a Kindle: The Artistry of a Dog.
Dan can be reached at alternativeinsight@earthlink.net
Dan can be reached at alternativeinsight@earthlink.net
14 mar 2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that Israel's insistence on demanding the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state is "a mistake", Haaretz reported Friday.
Kerry's statements were uttered before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He said, ""I think it's a mistake for some people to be, you know, raising it again and again as the critical decider of their attitude towards the possibility of a state and peace."
Kerry added that the issue was resolved in 1947, referring to UN Resolution 181 that divided Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs.
According to Haaretz, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said last week that the U.S. considers Israel as a Jewish state, but doesn't require the Palestinians to do so.
American officials believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "exaggerated" in demanding a public declaration of Israel's Jewish character and in making it a condition for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
An American source close to the White House said on Thursday, that "If Netanyahu continued to put that the recognition of a Jewish state as a central issue, it will make it hard on Abbas to accept this demand."
Read also: Kerry: Mistrust Between Israel and Palestine Higher Than Ever
And: Abbas Refuses to Recognise Israel as a 'Jewish' State
Kerry's statements were uttered before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He said, ""I think it's a mistake for some people to be, you know, raising it again and again as the critical decider of their attitude towards the possibility of a state and peace."
Kerry added that the issue was resolved in 1947, referring to UN Resolution 181 that divided Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs.
According to Haaretz, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said last week that the U.S. considers Israel as a Jewish state, but doesn't require the Palestinians to do so.
American officials believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "exaggerated" in demanding a public declaration of Israel's Jewish character and in making it a condition for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
An American source close to the White House said on Thursday, that "If Netanyahu continued to put that the recognition of a Jewish state as a central issue, it will make it hard on Abbas to accept this demand."
Read also: Kerry: Mistrust Between Israel and Palestine Higher Than Ever
And: Abbas Refuses to Recognise Israel as a 'Jewish' State
On the press conference, following yesterdays meeting between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, the President stated that he had not received requests from either Israel or U.S.A. to extend the negotiations beyond the deadline in late April, Official Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reports.
If such a request were to be received, he continued, the PA would examine it and define its position towards it. Having in mind Israeli politician Jacob Perry's statement yesterday, about the possibility to block further prisoner transfers if the Palestinians did not extend negotiations, Abbas said: "We have agreed to negotiate for nine months in hope that we bring about a tangible achievement within this period. However, we have not discussed the issue of extending negotiations." He added that; "It was the US who proposed the framework deal. We stated that we won't judge this deal before examining it. We want this deal to be in line with relevant UN resolutions."
On the questions of the PA's official opinion on boycotting Israel he answered that; "We have not called for boycotting Israel. In fact, we are dealing with Israel. We call for boycotting products of [Israeli] settlements as they are illegal."
Regarding Palestinian the establishment of a Palestinian state Abbas said that; "We reiterated [to the British Prime Minister] that we will proceed with our efforts to reach a peaceful and political solution that brings about peace and stability in this region and put an end to the occupation that started back in 1967 to achieve the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital." Cameron supported this statement: "I believe that you are a peace partner and that making peace requires taking tough decisions. Britain will spare no effort in order to ensure the success of Palestinian Israeli negotiations. We would like to see a two-state solution, whereby a viable Palestinian state to be established on 1967 borders with land swaps live side by side Israel." Referring to the recent violence in Gaza and southern Israel he continued; "I know that you [Abbas] understand that the Palestinian state could not be established through violence but through negotiations."
Cameron added that Britain are willing to offer economic support for Palestinian enterprises to invest in Area C, thereby 'boosting' the economy.
If such a request were to be received, he continued, the PA would examine it and define its position towards it. Having in mind Israeli politician Jacob Perry's statement yesterday, about the possibility to block further prisoner transfers if the Palestinians did not extend negotiations, Abbas said: "We have agreed to negotiate for nine months in hope that we bring about a tangible achievement within this period. However, we have not discussed the issue of extending negotiations." He added that; "It was the US who proposed the framework deal. We stated that we won't judge this deal before examining it. We want this deal to be in line with relevant UN resolutions."
On the questions of the PA's official opinion on boycotting Israel he answered that; "We have not called for boycotting Israel. In fact, we are dealing with Israel. We call for boycotting products of [Israeli] settlements as they are illegal."
Regarding Palestinian the establishment of a Palestinian state Abbas said that; "We reiterated [to the British Prime Minister] that we will proceed with our efforts to reach a peaceful and political solution that brings about peace and stability in this region and put an end to the occupation that started back in 1967 to achieve the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital." Cameron supported this statement: "I believe that you are a peace partner and that making peace requires taking tough decisions. Britain will spare no effort in order to ensure the success of Palestinian Israeli negotiations. We would like to see a two-state solution, whereby a viable Palestinian state to be established on 1967 borders with land swaps live side by side Israel." Referring to the recent violence in Gaza and southern Israel he continued; "I know that you [Abbas] understand that the Palestinian state could not be established through violence but through negotiations."
Cameron added that Britain are willing to offer economic support for Palestinian enterprises to invest in Area C, thereby 'boosting' the economy.
PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said that Europe has a role to play in peacemaking and not just in nation-building.
Ahsrawi's statements came during her meeting with a visiting European Council on Foreign Relations delegation at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah.
She continued, "It has become a political imperative for Europe and the rest of the international community to bring international law into bear in ensuring the end of the Israeli military occupation and the safeguarding of Palestinian human rights."
Ashrawi stressed, "It is encouraging that European states have started to translate their political positions into actions, such as the EU anti-settlement guidelines."
"Israel must be held accountable and European states should apply their own laws when it comes their relations with Israel," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
During the meeting, both parties discussed the negotiations, Israel's continued violations of international law and human rights, Palestinian reconciliation efforts, European-Palestinian relations, and issues of mutual cooperation.
Ahsrawi's statements came during her meeting with a visiting European Council on Foreign Relations delegation at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah.
She continued, "It has become a political imperative for Europe and the rest of the international community to bring international law into bear in ensuring the end of the Israeli military occupation and the safeguarding of Palestinian human rights."
Ashrawi stressed, "It is encouraging that European states have started to translate their political positions into actions, such as the EU anti-settlement guidelines."
"Israel must be held accountable and European states should apply their own laws when it comes their relations with Israel," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
During the meeting, both parties discussed the negotiations, Israel's continued violations of international law and human rights, Palestinian reconciliation efforts, European-Palestinian relations, and issues of mutual cooperation.
13 mar 2014
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas meets with British Prime Minister David Cameron in the West Bank on March 13, 2014
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Thursday that the US had yet to present a framework for a Middle East peace deal, as a deadline ending nine months of negotiations loomed.
"Until now, we haven't received the framework agreement we were promised," Abbas said at news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Israel and the Palestinians have been locked in talks that US Secretary of State John Kerry fought hard to kick-start in July after a three-year hiatus, but the negotiations have faltered over key issues.
The negotiations are set to end on April 29, by which date Kerry hopes to have put a framework agreement in place so the two sides can extend their negotiations to work towards a final peace deal.
"When the framework is presented to us, we'll give our opinion on it," Abbas said.
"We have never discussed prolonging the negotiations at all, nor was it offered to us."
Cameron said there were "serious disagreements" and "mistrust" preventing a peace deal, echoing concerns voiced by Kerry on Wednesday.
"As for the question of mistrust between Palestinian leadership and Israeli leadership... what I've seen over the last few days is serious disagreements on vital issues that will have to be settled if there ever is to be... a peace deal," Cameron said.
"There's no outcome that's possible where every Israeli is satisfied, where every Palestinian is satisfied. There has to be compromise. And compromise is difficult -- compromise takes bravery."
Cameron said Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he met the day before, would "have to take difficult, unpalatable and sometimes unpopular decisions ... in order to achieve that peace."
Kerry acknowledged on Wednesday that the level of mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians was the highest he had ever seen.
He said there were "gaps ... some of them very significant", but stressed these should be seen within the context of the negotiations, saying: "I still believe it's possible, but difficult."
"Certain narrative issues are so powerful and so difficult that neither leader is going to definitively cede on them at an early stage of the negotiation," Kerry conceded.
After bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table, he has been focused on trying to hammer out a framework which is due to set out the goal of the talks plus guiding principles on each of the core issues.
Decades of negotiations have been bedeviled by some of the toughest disputes separating the two sides, such as the fate of Palestinian refugees kicked out of Israel when it was created in 1948 and the designation of Jerusalem claimed by both sides as a capital.
In recent months, Netanyahu has been insisting that Abbas recognize Israel as "a Jewish state" -- something the Palestinians refuse to do, believing that this would irrevocably torpedo chances for the return of refugees living in exile.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Thursday that the US had yet to present a framework for a Middle East peace deal, as a deadline ending nine months of negotiations loomed.
"Until now, we haven't received the framework agreement we were promised," Abbas said at news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Israel and the Palestinians have been locked in talks that US Secretary of State John Kerry fought hard to kick-start in July after a three-year hiatus, but the negotiations have faltered over key issues.
The negotiations are set to end on April 29, by which date Kerry hopes to have put a framework agreement in place so the two sides can extend their negotiations to work towards a final peace deal.
"When the framework is presented to us, we'll give our opinion on it," Abbas said.
"We have never discussed prolonging the negotiations at all, nor was it offered to us."
Cameron said there were "serious disagreements" and "mistrust" preventing a peace deal, echoing concerns voiced by Kerry on Wednesday.
"As for the question of mistrust between Palestinian leadership and Israeli leadership... what I've seen over the last few days is serious disagreements on vital issues that will have to be settled if there ever is to be... a peace deal," Cameron said.
"There's no outcome that's possible where every Israeli is satisfied, where every Palestinian is satisfied. There has to be compromise. And compromise is difficult -- compromise takes bravery."
Cameron said Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he met the day before, would "have to take difficult, unpalatable and sometimes unpopular decisions ... in order to achieve that peace."
Kerry acknowledged on Wednesday that the level of mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians was the highest he had ever seen.
He said there were "gaps ... some of them very significant", but stressed these should be seen within the context of the negotiations, saying: "I still believe it's possible, but difficult."
"Certain narrative issues are so powerful and so difficult that neither leader is going to definitively cede on them at an early stage of the negotiation," Kerry conceded.
After bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table, he has been focused on trying to hammer out a framework which is due to set out the goal of the talks plus guiding principles on each of the core issues.
Decades of negotiations have been bedeviled by some of the toughest disputes separating the two sides, such as the fate of Palestinian refugees kicked out of Israel when it was created in 1948 and the designation of Jerusalem claimed by both sides as a capital.
In recent months, Netanyahu has been insisting that Abbas recognize Israel as "a Jewish state" -- something the Palestinians refuse to do, believing that this would irrevocably torpedo chances for the return of refugees living in exile.
According to U.S. Secretary of state the level of mistrust between Israel and Palestine are at an all time high. Still, he insists on the possibility of reaching an understanding between the two sides, going into the last phase of the framework negations, leading up to the peace talks in the following months.
Admittedly, there are still some gaps between the sides, but in Kerry's understanding; "You have to see those gaps in the context of the negotiations." He further adds; "I do believe both parties are serious and want to find a way forward."
Because neither side believes in the others willingness to make serious concessions around the negotiation table, Kerry acknowledges the huge task it will be to bring them together; "I still believe it is possible... but difficult." Stressing the point that we are still a relatively long way from a final agreement he says that; "Certain narrative issues are so powerful and so difficult that neither leader is going to definitively cede on them at an early stage of the negotiation," calling them "big-ticket items."
Kerry's attempt to bring the two sides back to the negotiations has been halted by disagreements of the framework principles that is going to guide the talks towards a final deal and set some guiding principles about the most important issues, such as borders, right of return for Palestinian refugees, settlements and Jerusalem, which both sides claims as capital. Though these four points seems to be of outmost importance, the most discussed issues at the moment have been Netanyahu's insistence on Palestinian recognition as a Jewish state. This however is something that the PA, lead by President Abbas, unconditionally rejects.
Abbas will meet with President Obama in Washington on Monday for talks similar to the ones between the American President and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier this month. Kerry said of the two sides, that; "Each of them has helped to inch forward," and continues; "[...] in this particular challenge, inches are acceptable and pretty good and helpful. And we're going to keep moving the way we're moving."
Israeli minister Jacob Perry recently threatened to block prisoner releases if the PA refuses to extend the negotiations by another year. According to Haaretz he is quoted for saying that if the talks break down, both sides could be expected to take unilateral steps. On the Palestinian side it could be demanding recognition from the UN, while Israel could block further prisoner releases.
The deadline for the negotiations, which began in July, is set in late April.
Admittedly, there are still some gaps between the sides, but in Kerry's understanding; "You have to see those gaps in the context of the negotiations." He further adds; "I do believe both parties are serious and want to find a way forward."
Because neither side believes in the others willingness to make serious concessions around the negotiation table, Kerry acknowledges the huge task it will be to bring them together; "I still believe it is possible... but difficult." Stressing the point that we are still a relatively long way from a final agreement he says that; "Certain narrative issues are so powerful and so difficult that neither leader is going to definitively cede on them at an early stage of the negotiation," calling them "big-ticket items."
Kerry's attempt to bring the two sides back to the negotiations has been halted by disagreements of the framework principles that is going to guide the talks towards a final deal and set some guiding principles about the most important issues, such as borders, right of return for Palestinian refugees, settlements and Jerusalem, which both sides claims as capital. Though these four points seems to be of outmost importance, the most discussed issues at the moment have been Netanyahu's insistence on Palestinian recognition as a Jewish state. This however is something that the PA, lead by President Abbas, unconditionally rejects.
Abbas will meet with President Obama in Washington on Monday for talks similar to the ones between the American President and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier this month. Kerry said of the two sides, that; "Each of them has helped to inch forward," and continues; "[...] in this particular challenge, inches are acceptable and pretty good and helpful. And we're going to keep moving the way we're moving."
Israeli minister Jacob Perry recently threatened to block prisoner releases if the PA refuses to extend the negotiations by another year. According to Haaretz he is quoted for saying that if the talks break down, both sides could be expected to take unilateral steps. On the Palestinian side it could be demanding recognition from the UN, while Israel could block further prisoner releases.
The deadline for the negotiations, which began in July, is set in late April.
