29 mar 2014
On the occasion of the Land Day, Palestinian researchers and politicians emphasized that the continuation of the futile negotiations had caused an unprecedented increase in the pace of Israeli land grab and has formed a cover for settlement expansion in the West Bank.
On 30th March of each year, the Palestinians commemorate the Land Day, the events of which date back to March 1976 when the Israeli authorities announced its plan to expropriate thousands of dunums of Arab-owned lands located within the boundaries of regions with an absolute majority of Palestinian population, especially in the Galilee.
The Arab masses in the 1948 territories gathered to protest the Israeli government plans and decided to go on a general strike and to stage marches, defying the Israeli authorities for the first time after the occupation of Palestine in 1948.
The Israeli authorities' response was severe. Military troops backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers raided the Palestinian villages and reoccupied them, after killing six Palestinians, wounding dozens, and arresting hundreds of others. In the subsequent years those events have become marked in the Palestinian memory as Land Day.
Legislative Council member Mustafa Barghouti says the ongoing negotiations have formed a direct cover for the recent significant escalation of settlement activities and land confiscation in the West Bank.
He told PIC's correspondent: "Netanyahu's government has been taking advantage of the current negotiations to construct settlements. It has also launched an unprecedented campaign that aims to change the reality, taking advantage of the political situation offered by the Palestinian side that agreed to return to the negotiations without guarantees."
Barghouti stressed that the continuation of the negotiations represents "a sin that should be stopped", noting that the settlement activities have increased by 130% since the start of the negotiations.
For his part, Professor of Political Science Dr. Abdel Sattar Qassem opined that the PA leadership has never been concerned with the protection of the land vis-à-vis the settlement activity, and thus it served the occupation and helped it to seize more land through the futile negotiations.
He also condemned the security coordination between the Authority security apparatuses and the occupation forces and added that the practices of the PA security services against the resistance contributed in providing protection for the Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The Palestinian MP Ibrahim Dahbour stressed that the resistance protects the land from settlement construction.
He pointed out that the Oslo agreement has contributed to the division of the Palestinian land into areas A, B, and C and therefore enabled Israel to impose its control over two-thirds of the area of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The MP said that the ongoing negotiations resulted in more land grab and therefore should be stopped.
On 30th March of each year, the Palestinians commemorate the Land Day, the events of which date back to March 1976 when the Israeli authorities announced its plan to expropriate thousands of dunums of Arab-owned lands located within the boundaries of regions with an absolute majority of Palestinian population, especially in the Galilee.
The Arab masses in the 1948 territories gathered to protest the Israeli government plans and decided to go on a general strike and to stage marches, defying the Israeli authorities for the first time after the occupation of Palestine in 1948.
The Israeli authorities' response was severe. Military troops backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers raided the Palestinian villages and reoccupied them, after killing six Palestinians, wounding dozens, and arresting hundreds of others. In the subsequent years those events have become marked in the Palestinian memory as Land Day.
Legislative Council member Mustafa Barghouti says the ongoing negotiations have formed a direct cover for the recent significant escalation of settlement activities and land confiscation in the West Bank.
He told PIC's correspondent: "Netanyahu's government has been taking advantage of the current negotiations to construct settlements. It has also launched an unprecedented campaign that aims to change the reality, taking advantage of the political situation offered by the Palestinian side that agreed to return to the negotiations without guarantees."
Barghouti stressed that the continuation of the negotiations represents "a sin that should be stopped", noting that the settlement activities have increased by 130% since the start of the negotiations.
For his part, Professor of Political Science Dr. Abdel Sattar Qassem opined that the PA leadership has never been concerned with the protection of the land vis-à-vis the settlement activity, and thus it served the occupation and helped it to seize more land through the futile negotiations.
He also condemned the security coordination between the Authority security apparatuses and the occupation forces and added that the practices of the PA security services against the resistance contributed in providing protection for the Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The Palestinian MP Ibrahim Dahbour stressed that the resistance protects the land from settlement construction.
He pointed out that the Oslo agreement has contributed to the division of the Palestinian land into areas A, B, and C and therefore enabled Israel to impose its control over two-thirds of the area of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The MP said that the ongoing negotiations resulted in more land grab and therefore should be stopped.
A member of the PLO's Executive committee said in a statement Saturday that "stagnant" negotiations with Israel have been "too costly for the Palestinian people," pointing at a long list of Israeli "aggressions" since the talks began.
"The 'peace process' has cost us the lives of many Palestinian civilians, an unprecedented theft of land and resources, and the increase in settlement activities, among other measures of ethnic cleansing and apartheid carried out by the Israeli government," Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement.
"These include the political, economic, social, and cultural siege of Jerusalem and its periphery by means of forced displacement, home demolitions, checkpoints, apartheid walls, and settlements," Ashrawi said.
She called these policies by the Israeli government "collective punishment" against the Palestinian people, and said that the policies violate "fundamental rights and freedoms, ... institutionalize racism and incite hatred."
Sixty Palestinians have been killed and at least 941 injured in "extrajudicial operations" by Israeli forces since talks began, the statement said.
Israel has also conducted at least 3,767 military raids in Gaza and the West Bank, and arrested more than 3,061 Palestinians.
"It is high time that Israel pays the price for its war crimes against the Palestinian people, and adheres to international and humanitarian law," Ashrawi said.
"We call on the international community to act quickly to end the prolonged occupation of Palestine before Israel succeeds in plunging the entire region into a permanent spiral of violence and destruction," she concluded.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
"The 'peace process' has cost us the lives of many Palestinian civilians, an unprecedented theft of land and resources, and the increase in settlement activities, among other measures of ethnic cleansing and apartheid carried out by the Israeli government," Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement.
"These include the political, economic, social, and cultural siege of Jerusalem and its periphery by means of forced displacement, home demolitions, checkpoints, apartheid walls, and settlements," Ashrawi said.
She called these policies by the Israeli government "collective punishment" against the Palestinian people, and said that the policies violate "fundamental rights and freedoms, ... institutionalize racism and incite hatred."
Sixty Palestinians have been killed and at least 941 injured in "extrajudicial operations" by Israeli forces since talks began, the statement said.
Israel has also conducted at least 3,767 military raids in Gaza and the West Bank, and arrested more than 3,061 Palestinians.
"It is high time that Israel pays the price for its war crimes against the Palestinian people, and adheres to international and humanitarian law," Ashrawi said.
"We call on the international community to act quickly to end the prolonged occupation of Palestine before Israel succeeds in plunging the entire region into a permanent spiral of violence and destruction," she concluded.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
A senior Palestinian official said a release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners would not go ahead on Saturday as envisaged but he hoped there would only be short delay.
"Today the prisoners will not be released ... maybe in the coming days," Issa Qaraqe, the minister of prisoners' affairs, told AFP.
"We have told the families of the prisoners that they will not be released today," he added."
"There are efforts to solve the crisis and I believe that in 24 hours everything will be clearer."
Under the deal that relaunched peace talks last July, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinians held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords in exchange for the Palestinians not pressing their statehood claims at the United Nations.
So far, Israel has freed 78 prisoners in three batches but ministers had warned they would block the final release, which had been anticipated for Saturday, if the Palestinians refused to extend the talks beyond their April 29 deadline.
There has been no official Israeli update on the last batch of prisoners, which the Palestinians want to include Palestinian citizens of Israel, a demand hotly opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners and by hardliners within his own Likud party.
The cabinet convenes on Sunday morning for its weekly meeting.
Palestinian official Jibril Rajub, a member of Fatah's central committee, told AFP Friday that "the Israeli government has informed us through the American mediator that it will not abide with its commitment to release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 29."
The peace talks have been teetering on the brink of collapse, with Washington fighting an uphill battle to get the two sides to agree to a framework for continued negotiations until the end of the year.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Abbas in Amman on Wednesday in a bid to salvage the talks, with US special envoy Martin Indyk meeting the Palestinian leader in Ramallah a day later.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday denied reports that negotiations had already collapsed.
"Any reports that suggest the talks are off are inaccurate," she told journalists covering a visit to Saudi Arabia by Kerry and President Barack Obama.
"Ambassador Indyk and the negotiating team remain closely engaged with both parties on the ground and will continue to work over the coming days to help them bridge the gaps and determine the path forward."
Israeli media say Netanyahu could give a green light to the prisoner release if the US frees Jonathan Pollard, who was arrested in Washington in 1985 and condemned to life imprisonment for spying on the United States for Israel.
Israel is not commenting on such reports, with Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev saying only that in general the spy's fate is "often raised at high-level meetings between Israelis and Americans."
On Wednesday, Psaki said "there are currently no plans to release Jonathan Pollard."
"Today the prisoners will not be released ... maybe in the coming days," Issa Qaraqe, the minister of prisoners' affairs, told AFP.
"We have told the families of the prisoners that they will not be released today," he added."
"There are efforts to solve the crisis and I believe that in 24 hours everything will be clearer."
Under the deal that relaunched peace talks last July, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinians held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords in exchange for the Palestinians not pressing their statehood claims at the United Nations.
So far, Israel has freed 78 prisoners in three batches but ministers had warned they would block the final release, which had been anticipated for Saturday, if the Palestinians refused to extend the talks beyond their April 29 deadline.
There has been no official Israeli update on the last batch of prisoners, which the Palestinians want to include Palestinian citizens of Israel, a demand hotly opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners and by hardliners within his own Likud party.
The cabinet convenes on Sunday morning for its weekly meeting.
Palestinian official Jibril Rajub, a member of Fatah's central committee, told AFP Friday that "the Israeli government has informed us through the American mediator that it will not abide with its commitment to release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 29."
The peace talks have been teetering on the brink of collapse, with Washington fighting an uphill battle to get the two sides to agree to a framework for continued negotiations until the end of the year.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Abbas in Amman on Wednesday in a bid to salvage the talks, with US special envoy Martin Indyk meeting the Palestinian leader in Ramallah a day later.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday denied reports that negotiations had already collapsed.
"Any reports that suggest the talks are off are inaccurate," she told journalists covering a visit to Saudi Arabia by Kerry and President Barack Obama.
"Ambassador Indyk and the negotiating team remain closely engaged with both parties on the ground and will continue to work over the coming days to help them bridge the gaps and determine the path forward."
Israeli media say Netanyahu could give a green light to the prisoner release if the US frees Jonathan Pollard, who was arrested in Washington in 1985 and condemned to life imprisonment for spying on the United States for Israel.
Israel is not commenting on such reports, with Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev saying only that in general the spy's fate is "often raised at high-level meetings between Israelis and Americans."
On Wednesday, Psaki said "there are currently no plans to release Jonathan Pollard."
The Shoafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
28 mar 2014
In a letter sent to EU Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, 29 members of the European Parliament have called upon the European External Action Service (EEAS) to take action to discourage European businesses from trading with illegal Israeli settlements.
"There are several examples of the many ways in which European businesses contribute to the existence and expansion of the settlements,” said the letter. "Through their activities, they make direct and on-going contributions to Israeli violations of international law and to human rights abuses associated with the settlements."
WAFA reports that the letter shared insight on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were endorsed by the EU, which "make it clear that governments have an obligation to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory do not contribute to human rights abuses in their overseas operations."
"In cases where businesses are operating in conflict areas, the Guiding Principles urge governments to provide “adequate assistance to business enterprises to assess and address the heightened risks of abuses."
The 29 members concluded their letter calling upon the European firms to recall their economic relations with the Israeli settlements. "We urge the EEAS to publish guidance discouraging European firms from maintaining economic relations with the settlements."
To be noted, private European businesses play a major role in funding, facilitating and supporting Israeli violations of international law and illegal Israeli settlements by providing products and services that facilitate the existence of illegal settlements, importing and selling goods produced by companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements and through investing in settlement companies and projects.
"The EU should use its presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to educate European businesses about the problems and risks associated with such relations and to encourage Member States to take similar action."
"There are several examples of the many ways in which European businesses contribute to the existence and expansion of the settlements,” said the letter. "Through their activities, they make direct and on-going contributions to Israeli violations of international law and to human rights abuses associated with the settlements."
WAFA reports that the letter shared insight on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were endorsed by the EU, which "make it clear that governments have an obligation to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory do not contribute to human rights abuses in their overseas operations."
"In cases where businesses are operating in conflict areas, the Guiding Principles urge governments to provide “adequate assistance to business enterprises to assess and address the heightened risks of abuses."
The 29 members concluded their letter calling upon the European firms to recall their economic relations with the Israeli settlements. "We urge the EEAS to publish guidance discouraging European firms from maintaining economic relations with the settlements."
To be noted, private European businesses play a major role in funding, facilitating and supporting Israeli violations of international law and illegal Israeli settlements by providing products and services that facilitate the existence of illegal settlements, importing and selling goods produced by companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements and through investing in settlement companies and projects.
"The EU should use its presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to educate European businesses about the problems and risks associated with such relations and to encourage Member States to take similar action."
Hundreds of Jordanians protested against peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians on Friday, witnesses said.
Around 500 people gathered in Amman holding signs reading "Zionist occupation is a threat to us" and "The dignity of Jordan is the dignity of Palestine."
US Secretary of State was also singled out for criticism, with protesters calling for a halt to his peace initiative.
Demonstrators were prevented from marching to the Hashemite square by security forces, and had to hold a sit-in near the grand Husseini mosque.
Around 500 people gathered in Amman holding signs reading "Zionist occupation is a threat to us" and "The dignity of Jordan is the dignity of Palestine."
US Secretary of State was also singled out for criticism, with protesters calling for a halt to his peace initiative.
Demonstrators were prevented from marching to the Hashemite square by security forces, and had to hold a sit-in near the grand Husseini mosque.
The Israeli government on Friday informed the Palestinian Authority it will not free the final batch of prisoners scheduled to be released on Saturday, senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub stated. Rajoub told AFP: "The Israeli government has informed us through the American mediator that it will not abide with its commitment to release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 29".
He called the Israeli move a "slap in the face of the US administration and its efforts," and said the Palestinians would resume their international diplomatic offensive.
Under the deal which re-launched the talks in July, Israel said it would release 104 Palestinians held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords. Israel has so far freed 78 prisoners in three batches but cabinet members said they will not release the final batch which includes 26 captives.
He called the Israeli move a "slap in the face of the US administration and its efforts," and said the Palestinians would resume their international diplomatic offensive.
Under the deal which re-launched the talks in July, Israel said it would release 104 Palestinians held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords. Israel has so far freed 78 prisoners in three batches but cabinet members said they will not release the final batch which includes 26 captives.
27 mar 2014
Palestinian prisoners have said they will protest if Israel does not release the fourth group of veteran prisoners, the Palestinian Authority minister of prisoners' affairs said on Thursday.
Issa Qaraqe said in a statement that a group of prisoners had confirmed their support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his persistence on releasing the fourth group of veteran prisoners. The statement insisted that the release was crucial for any future progress in the peace talks and serves as a test of Israel's reliability in the peace process.
"Israel has been playing an ugly game of blackmail ... using Palestinian prisoners as a pressure tool to obtain political gains, which we completely reject," Qaraqe said.
He added that if Israel does not release all prisoners included in the agreed list and on time, the Palestinian Authority would have no choice but to officially to join international organizations, conventions and treaties, particularly the Geneva Convention in protest.
Qaraqe said that he holds Israel responsible for the consequences of not releasing the prisoners on time, warning of the "anger" in the Palestinian street.
Israel has released three groups of veteran prisoners as part of a trust-building measure in ongoing peace talks, and are due to release a fourth group in April.
However, Israeli officials have hinted that release of the fourth group might be conditional on Abbas agreeing to extend talks, which he has so far refused to do because of a lack of progress.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the talks began.
Issa Qaraqe said in a statement that a group of prisoners had confirmed their support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his persistence on releasing the fourth group of veteran prisoners. The statement insisted that the release was crucial for any future progress in the peace talks and serves as a test of Israel's reliability in the peace process.
"Israel has been playing an ugly game of blackmail ... using Palestinian prisoners as a pressure tool to obtain political gains, which we completely reject," Qaraqe said.
He added that if Israel does not release all prisoners included in the agreed list and on time, the Palestinian Authority would have no choice but to officially to join international organizations, conventions and treaties, particularly the Geneva Convention in protest.
Qaraqe said that he holds Israel responsible for the consequences of not releasing the prisoners on time, warning of the "anger" in the Palestinian street.
Israel has released three groups of veteran prisoners as part of a trust-building measure in ongoing peace talks, and are due to release a fourth group in April.
However, Israeli officials have hinted that release of the fourth group might be conditional on Abbas agreeing to extend talks, which he has so far refused to do because of a lack of progress.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the talks began.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and President Mahmoud Abbas held "constructive" talks on the Middle East peace process, a US official said Thursday, as crunch decisions loom in the coming days.
After earlier talks with King Abdullah II in Amman, Kerry and his team met for more than four hours over dinner in the Jordanian capital with the Palestinian leader, a senior State Department official said.
Describing it as "a constructive conversation," the official added that "the secretary plans to remain engaged with both President Abbas and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu over the coming days".
Israel is due to release a fourth and final tranche of prisoners over the weekend, a move which will prove key in deciding whether the talks, resumed in July after a three-year gap, unravel or not.
Under the deal relaunching the peace negotiations, Israel said it would release 104 Arabs held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords in exchange for the Palestinians not pressing their statehood claims via the UN.
Israel has so far freed 78 prisoners but there are growing fears Netanyahu's cabinet may block the final releases, particularly of Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinian Jerusalemites.
In Jerusalem, about 50 relatives of the victims of attacks demonstrated Wednesday near Netanyahu's residence against widening the prisoner releases.
"Justice and values come before politics. We can't reach peace by ignoring the blood of the victims," said Meir Indor, a spokesperson for the families.
Palestinian minister of prisoners affairs Issa Qaraqe told Voice of Palestine radio that "Israel is trying to worm its way out of releasing the prisoners. They will be held responsible for any repercussions of this."
He insisted Israel free all the prisoners.
League rejects 'Jewish state'
The Palestinians also won key backing Wednesday from the Arab League for their refusal to bow to Netanyahu's demand to recognize Israel as "the nation state of the Jewish people."
"We express our total rejection of the call to consider Israel as a Jewish state," an Arab League declaration said at the end of a two-day summit in Kuwait.
But the Israeli side hit back that Abbas's stand on the issue "could torpedo the peace process."
The Palestinian leader had "boasted that he refuses to even discuss recognizing the Jewish state, once again parading rejectionism as virtue," a senior Israeli official said.
Kerry, who coaxed the two sides back to the negotiations last July after a three-year freeze, is aiming to reach a framework to guide the talks going forward as an April 29 deadline for a deal looms.
But Abbas told him he would not discuss the framework accord until after the prisoner releases have taken place, a Palestinian source said.
Israel also wants the Palestinians to agree to extend the talks beyond April 29, warning a failure to do so would scupper the final prisoner release.
"We don't need a new series of accords so that Israel can bury them under an avalanche of conditions, reservations or interpretations before going back on their commitments," Abbas told the Arab League.
The prisoner issue is not the only issue jeopardizing the peace talks.
Israeli army radio said Wednesday the US had offered to release Jonathan Pollard, who was arrested in 1985 and condemned to life imprisonment for spying on the United States for Israel, in return for Palestinian prisoners being freed.
But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki shot down the report, saying: "There are currently no plans to release Jonathan Pollard."
Kerry was flying back to Rome early Thursday to join up again with Obama for a meeting with Pope Francis.
The two Americans will then visit Saudi Arabia on Friday, when the peace process is likely to be one of the issues topping the agenda in talks with Saudi King Abdullah.
After earlier talks with King Abdullah II in Amman, Kerry and his team met for more than four hours over dinner in the Jordanian capital with the Palestinian leader, a senior State Department official said.
Describing it as "a constructive conversation," the official added that "the secretary plans to remain engaged with both President Abbas and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu over the coming days".
Israel is due to release a fourth and final tranche of prisoners over the weekend, a move which will prove key in deciding whether the talks, resumed in July after a three-year gap, unravel or not.
Under the deal relaunching the peace negotiations, Israel said it would release 104 Arabs held since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords in exchange for the Palestinians not pressing their statehood claims via the UN.
Israel has so far freed 78 prisoners but there are growing fears Netanyahu's cabinet may block the final releases, particularly of Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinian Jerusalemites.
In Jerusalem, about 50 relatives of the victims of attacks demonstrated Wednesday near Netanyahu's residence against widening the prisoner releases.
"Justice and values come before politics. We can't reach peace by ignoring the blood of the victims," said Meir Indor, a spokesperson for the families.
Palestinian minister of prisoners affairs Issa Qaraqe told Voice of Palestine radio that "Israel is trying to worm its way out of releasing the prisoners. They will be held responsible for any repercussions of this."
He insisted Israel free all the prisoners.
League rejects 'Jewish state'
The Palestinians also won key backing Wednesday from the Arab League for their refusal to bow to Netanyahu's demand to recognize Israel as "the nation state of the Jewish people."
"We express our total rejection of the call to consider Israel as a Jewish state," an Arab League declaration said at the end of a two-day summit in Kuwait.
But the Israeli side hit back that Abbas's stand on the issue "could torpedo the peace process."
The Palestinian leader had "boasted that he refuses to even discuss recognizing the Jewish state, once again parading rejectionism as virtue," a senior Israeli official said.
Kerry, who coaxed the two sides back to the negotiations last July after a three-year freeze, is aiming to reach a framework to guide the talks going forward as an April 29 deadline for a deal looms.
But Abbas told him he would not discuss the framework accord until after the prisoner releases have taken place, a Palestinian source said.
Israel also wants the Palestinians to agree to extend the talks beyond April 29, warning a failure to do so would scupper the final prisoner release.
"We don't need a new series of accords so that Israel can bury them under an avalanche of conditions, reservations or interpretations before going back on their commitments," Abbas told the Arab League.
The prisoner issue is not the only issue jeopardizing the peace talks.
Israeli army radio said Wednesday the US had offered to release Jonathan Pollard, who was arrested in 1985 and condemned to life imprisonment for spying on the United States for Israel, in return for Palestinian prisoners being freed.
But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki shot down the report, saying: "There are currently no plans to release Jonathan Pollard."
Kerry was flying back to Rome early Thursday to join up again with Obama for a meeting with Pope Francis.
The two Americans will then visit Saudi Arabia on Friday, when the peace process is likely to be one of the issues topping the agenda in talks with Saudi King Abdullah.
The Israeli Radio has reported that the United States has offered the release of Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard, in return for releasing the fourth batch of veteran Palestinian detainees, and extending direct peace talks with the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, mentioned Pollard’s case during his latest visit to the Unites States, and Israeli sources said Netanyahu asked the US to release the spy.
He said that, in return, Israel would go ahead and implement what it already vowed to do, and release the fourth and final phase of veteran Palestinian detainees, imprisoned since before the first Oslo Peace Agreement.
Israeli sources said US Secretary of State, John Kerry, intends to present the issue to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister.
The United States said Abbas-Kerry talks aim at trying to bridge the gaps in the positions of Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, and that Kerry will be holding talks with Netanyahu, either over the phone or through video conference.
The United States is trying to extend direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks despite stalemate, while several senior Israeli officials sent a message to Arab Foreign Ministers convening in Kuwait, asking them to focus on the Arab Peace Initiative as the base for peace talks.
Israel also asked the summiteers to take into consideration the “regional situation” and its effects on Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Jonathan Pollard, born to a Jewish family on August 7, 1954 in Galveston, Texas, worked as a civilian intelligence analyst; he was apprehended on charges of spying for Israel, and received a life sentence in 1987.
He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995, but despite granting him citizenship while he was in prison, Israel did not acknowledge buying classified information from Pollard.
Several Israeli officials, and pro-Israel lobbies, in addition to former and current Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been trying to secure Pollard’s release.
On Tuesday, January 4, 2011, Netanyahu sent a letter to Obama asking him to release Pollard; the White House rejected the request.
On December, 11, 2011, Netanyahu stated that “Israel has the moral obligation to secure his release”, adding that “Pollard never spied on the United States”.
In late December of last year, the Israeli National News Agency said more than 106 Members of Knesset “including Arab MK and left wing MK’s” held a special session at the Knesset, and signed a petition calling on US President Barack Obama to reconsider his decision not to release Pollard.
So far, 78 of 104 Palestinian veteran prisoners have been freed in three groups, with the final 26 to be released on March 29. However, recent statements by Israeli officials have cast doubt on whether the prisoners would be released on time, if at all.
On Tuesday, at dawn, December 31, 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of releasing all detained Palestinians held by Israeli since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, back in mid-August, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, mentioned Pollard’s case during his latest visit to the Unites States, and Israeli sources said Netanyahu asked the US to release the spy.
He said that, in return, Israel would go ahead and implement what it already vowed to do, and release the fourth and final phase of veteran Palestinian detainees, imprisoned since before the first Oslo Peace Agreement.
Israeli sources said US Secretary of State, John Kerry, intends to present the issue to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister.
The United States said Abbas-Kerry talks aim at trying to bridge the gaps in the positions of Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, and that Kerry will be holding talks with Netanyahu, either over the phone or through video conference.
The United States is trying to extend direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks despite stalemate, while several senior Israeli officials sent a message to Arab Foreign Ministers convening in Kuwait, asking them to focus on the Arab Peace Initiative as the base for peace talks.
Israel also asked the summiteers to take into consideration the “regional situation” and its effects on Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Jonathan Pollard, born to a Jewish family on August 7, 1954 in Galveston, Texas, worked as a civilian intelligence analyst; he was apprehended on charges of spying for Israel, and received a life sentence in 1987.
He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995, but despite granting him citizenship while he was in prison, Israel did not acknowledge buying classified information from Pollard.
Several Israeli officials, and pro-Israel lobbies, in addition to former and current Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been trying to secure Pollard’s release.
On Tuesday, January 4, 2011, Netanyahu sent a letter to Obama asking him to release Pollard; the White House rejected the request.
On December, 11, 2011, Netanyahu stated that “Israel has the moral obligation to secure his release”, adding that “Pollard never spied on the United States”.
In late December of last year, the Israeli National News Agency said more than 106 Members of Knesset “including Arab MK and left wing MK’s” held a special session at the Knesset, and signed a petition calling on US President Barack Obama to reconsider his decision not to release Pollard.
So far, 78 of 104 Palestinian veteran prisoners have been freed in three groups, with the final 26 to be released on March 29. However, recent statements by Israeli officials have cast doubt on whether the prisoners would be released on time, if at all.
On Tuesday, at dawn, December 31, 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of releasing all detained Palestinians held by Israeli since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, back in mid-August, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Israel's Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday that Israel will reconsider the fourth and final release of Palestinian prisoners.
Bennett said that the release of the 104 prisoners detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 on four stages, was a gesture for resuming peace talks, which has become uncertain to take place at the end of March because peace negotiations are at a standstill.
Bennett added that the Palestinians' demand to release the prisoners without recognizing Israel as a Jewish state will not lead to a peace agreement.
He said in an interview with Israel Radio, that the majority of the Israeli government officials suggested scrapping the release of the Palestinian prisoners.
Zahava Gal-On, leader of the left-wing Meretz party, said that Israel cannot violate its commitment to release the Palestinian prisoners.
She added that if the US is willing to save the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, it must release Jonathan Pollard, who is convicted by the US of spying for Israel.
Bennett said that the release of the 104 prisoners detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 on four stages, was a gesture for resuming peace talks, which has become uncertain to take place at the end of March because peace negotiations are at a standstill.
Bennett added that the Palestinians' demand to release the prisoners without recognizing Israel as a Jewish state will not lead to a peace agreement.
He said in an interview with Israel Radio, that the majority of the Israeli government officials suggested scrapping the release of the Palestinian prisoners.
Zahava Gal-On, leader of the left-wing Meretz party, said that Israel cannot violate its commitment to release the Palestinian prisoners.
She added that if the US is willing to save the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, it must release Jonathan Pollard, who is convicted by the US of spying for Israel.