31 dec 2014
Australia joined the United States in voting against a resolution calling for "a just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution" within the next year for Israel and Palestine, and affirming Palestinian national sovereignty. The resolution received eight 'yes' votes and two 'no' votes - leaving it just one vote short of the nine votes necessary to pass the 15-member UN Security Council.
Even if the resolution had managed the pass the Security Council, the U.S. had vowed to use its veto power to stop the resolution from moving forward. But with Australia and the U.S. voting against the measure, and five states abstaining from the vote, the measure did not pass and therefore no veto was necessary.
The resolution was brought to the Security Council by a coalition of 22 Arab states, all of whom supported and approved the measure. Jordan, which borders the Occupied West Bank on the east, pushed for Tuesday's vote on the resolution at the UN Security Council meeting in New York.
Palestine has no voting representative in the United Nations, only a non-voting observer. But a number of UN Agencies have, in recent years, recognized the sovereignty of Palestine. The U.S., which has veto power in the UN Security Council, and Israel, which militarily occupies all of Palestine, do not recognize Palestinian sovereignty, and have repeatedly attempted to force the Palestinians to accept the permanent occupation of their land by the Israeli military.
The resolution proposed at the UN Security Council on Tuesday called for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territories within two years, a peace agreement with just terms for lasting peace to be established within one year, and called for a just resolution on all outstanding issues - including the status of Jerusalem, control of water resources, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the return of Palestinian refugees.
Nigeria, which had been expected to vote 'yes' on the resolution, decided to abstain at the last moment - probably under pressure from the U.S. This abstention led to the measure's failure at the Security Council.
The United States had strongly criticized the resolution, with one US State Department spokesperson saying that the resolution "sets arbitrary deadlines for reaching a peace agreement and for Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank, and those are more likely to curtail useful negotiations than to bring them to a successful conclusion."
Palestinian delegates and negotiators, however, have argued that the time has long since passed for a United Nations resolution with a clear timeline for Israeli withdrawal. They point out that with each day that passes, Israel takes over more and more Palestinian territory in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and moves more and more of its civilian population into this unceded territory taken by force from the indigenous population by an occupying army in direct violation of international law.
They have vowed to continue the effort to bring an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and called on UN member states to be part of the solution.
Even if the resolution had managed the pass the Security Council, the U.S. had vowed to use its veto power to stop the resolution from moving forward. But with Australia and the U.S. voting against the measure, and five states abstaining from the vote, the measure did not pass and therefore no veto was necessary.
The resolution was brought to the Security Council by a coalition of 22 Arab states, all of whom supported and approved the measure. Jordan, which borders the Occupied West Bank on the east, pushed for Tuesday's vote on the resolution at the UN Security Council meeting in New York.
Palestine has no voting representative in the United Nations, only a non-voting observer. But a number of UN Agencies have, in recent years, recognized the sovereignty of Palestine. The U.S., which has veto power in the UN Security Council, and Israel, which militarily occupies all of Palestine, do not recognize Palestinian sovereignty, and have repeatedly attempted to force the Palestinians to accept the permanent occupation of their land by the Israeli military.
The resolution proposed at the UN Security Council on Tuesday called for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territories within two years, a peace agreement with just terms for lasting peace to be established within one year, and called for a just resolution on all outstanding issues - including the status of Jerusalem, control of water resources, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the return of Palestinian refugees.
Nigeria, which had been expected to vote 'yes' on the resolution, decided to abstain at the last moment - probably under pressure from the U.S. This abstention led to the measure's failure at the Security Council.
The United States had strongly criticized the resolution, with one US State Department spokesperson saying that the resolution "sets arbitrary deadlines for reaching a peace agreement and for Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank, and those are more likely to curtail useful negotiations than to bring them to a successful conclusion."
Palestinian delegates and negotiators, however, have argued that the time has long since passed for a United Nations resolution with a clear timeline for Israeli withdrawal. They point out that with each day that passes, Israel takes over more and more Palestinian territory in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and moves more and more of its civilian population into this unceded territory taken by force from the indigenous population by an occupying army in direct violation of international law.
They have vowed to continue the effort to bring an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and called on UN member states to be part of the solution.
23 dec 2014
Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahhar dubbed Abbas’s push for a UN resolution to end the Israeli occupation within a specific timeframe an attempt to “cover up a political failure in the peace process.”
Zahhar told the PIC Monday that Abbas’s endeavors are a waste of time and signs that the peace negotiations have reached a deadlock.
According to Zahhar, the pursuits lately adopted by Abbas testify to the latter’s vain attempt to legitimize the validity of his agenda.
“However reality proves that the peace process has seen mere breakdown all the way through the last 20 years,” he said.
“Unfortunately Abbas is acting like a child who thinks that by placing his/her doll in another place it will change for the better,” he added.
A draft resolution to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine by 2017 has been recently put forth by The Arab Group in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority.
The resolution, reportedly amended and modified upon more than one occasion, has stirred controversy among Palestinian national factions, who said the move does not live up to Palestinians’ aspirations and rights.
Media sources reported the PA’s potential agreement, under pressure from the U.S. administration, on delaying the vote on the Jordan-lodged bid with the UN Security Council to end the occupation until after Israel’s elections.
Zahhar told the PIC Monday that Abbas’s endeavors are a waste of time and signs that the peace negotiations have reached a deadlock.
According to Zahhar, the pursuits lately adopted by Abbas testify to the latter’s vain attempt to legitimize the validity of his agenda.
“However reality proves that the peace process has seen mere breakdown all the way through the last 20 years,” he said.
“Unfortunately Abbas is acting like a child who thinks that by placing his/her doll in another place it will change for the better,” he added.
A draft resolution to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine by 2017 has been recently put forth by The Arab Group in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority.
The resolution, reportedly amended and modified upon more than one occasion, has stirred controversy among Palestinian national factions, who said the move does not live up to Palestinians’ aspirations and rights.
Media sources reported the PA’s potential agreement, under pressure from the U.S. administration, on delaying the vote on the Jordan-lodged bid with the UN Security Council to end the occupation until after Israel’s elections.
5 nov 2014
Ezzet al-Resheq, member of the political bureau of Hamas, has said that the Palestinian Authority should give up the illusion of any possible success for negotiations with Israel.
Resheq said in a statement posted on his Facebook page at dawn Wednesday that the negotiations did not liberate an inch of occupied Palestinian land.
Negotiations never brought peace and security for the Palestinian people or their holy sites, he added.
Resheq also asked the PA to loosen its security grip over the Palestinian people in the West Bank and allow escalation of anti-occupation protests.
He said in another statement that the PA should end its security coordination with the Israeli occupation and allow protest rallies in support of the Aqsa Mosque.
He said that bragging about the ability to block a new intifada is “shameful”.
http://english.palinfo
Resheq said in a statement posted on his Facebook page at dawn Wednesday that the negotiations did not liberate an inch of occupied Palestinian land.
Negotiations never brought peace and security for the Palestinian people or their holy sites, he added.
Resheq also asked the PA to loosen its security grip over the Palestinian people in the West Bank and allow escalation of anti-occupation protests.
He said in another statement that the PA should end its security coordination with the Israeli occupation and allow protest rallies in support of the Aqsa Mosque.
He said that bragging about the ability to block a new intifada is “shameful”.
http://english.palinfo
4 nov 2014
Over 100 former high-ranking Israeli army members, police officers and spy chiefs have called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue peace with the Palestinians, media reported Monday.
"We, the undersigned, reserve IDF (army) commanders and retired police officers, who have fought in Israel's military campaigns, know first-hand of the heavy and painful price exacted by wars," 105 signatories said in a joint letter addressed to Netanyahu.
Excerpts of the letter were published by Ynet news website.
It called on Netanyahu to embark on a "courageous initiative" and make peace with Palestine and other Arab states.
"We fought bravely for the country in the hope that our children would live here in peace, but we got a sharp reality check, and here we are again sending our children out onto the battlefield," it said.
"This is not a question of left or right. What we have here is an alternative option for resolving the conflict that is not based solely on bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians, which have failed time and again.
"We expect a show of courageous initiative and leadership from you. Lead -- and we will stand behind you," said the letter.
The website said the letter was the brainchild of major general Amnon Reshef, a former armored corps commander.
Ynet said that Reshef was "sick and tired of a reality of rounds of fighting every few years instead of a genuine effort to adopt the Saudi initiative."
It was referring to the Arab Peace Initiative drawn up in 2002 by oil kingpin Saudi Arabia, which called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for a normalization of ties with Arab countries.
Former president Shimon Peres made a similar appeal last week, saying: "It's a shame that the only peace initiative was an Arab initiative. Where is the Israeli peace initiative?"
US-brokered peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since April.
"We, the undersigned, reserve IDF (army) commanders and retired police officers, who have fought in Israel's military campaigns, know first-hand of the heavy and painful price exacted by wars," 105 signatories said in a joint letter addressed to Netanyahu.
Excerpts of the letter were published by Ynet news website.
It called on Netanyahu to embark on a "courageous initiative" and make peace with Palestine and other Arab states.
"We fought bravely for the country in the hope that our children would live here in peace, but we got a sharp reality check, and here we are again sending our children out onto the battlefield," it said.
"This is not a question of left or right. What we have here is an alternative option for resolving the conflict that is not based solely on bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians, which have failed time and again.
"We expect a show of courageous initiative and leadership from you. Lead -- and we will stand behind you," said the letter.
The website said the letter was the brainchild of major general Amnon Reshef, a former armored corps commander.
Ynet said that Reshef was "sick and tired of a reality of rounds of fighting every few years instead of a genuine effort to adopt the Saudi initiative."
It was referring to the Arab Peace Initiative drawn up in 2002 by oil kingpin Saudi Arabia, which called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for a normalization of ties with Arab countries.
Former president Shimon Peres made a similar appeal last week, saying: "It's a shame that the only peace initiative was an Arab initiative. Where is the Israeli peace initiative?"
US-brokered peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since April.
28 oct 2014
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that no peace agreement would be achieved unless through mutual negotiations without precondition, keynoting that lasting peace will only be possible via the formula of a demilitarized Palestine and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
At the opening of the winter Knesset session, on Monday, Mr. Netanyahu said that "the borders of a Palestinian state cannot be drawn without assurance that it will not be a terrorist state", asking "What is the point of drawing a border if we don’t know what country we will get on the other side?".
Al Ray reports that, in his speech, Netanyahu made clear that Israel does not differentiate between the Fateh and Hamas parties, since the Palestinian Authority was not able to maintain control over Gaza and was defeated in just few days, by Hamas.
He also defended what he claimed to be the right of Israel to claim Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
"Israel has the same right to build in Jerusalem as other nations do in their own capital cities, and there is a wide consensus in Israel to continue building throughout the city, as every government has done since Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war," he said.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz described the PM's speech as a rerun of a compilation of excerpts of past shows: "It was a rereading of his despairing speech to the UN General Assembly, translated into Hebrew."
See also: Netanyahu Seeks to Codify 'Jewish Statehood' Into Law
In March of 2006, Hamas released its official legislative program, which clearly indicated that Hamas was willing to refer the issue of Israeli recognition to a national referendum. Under the heading "Recognition of Israel", it stated: "The question of recognizing Israel is not the jurisdiction of one faction, nor the government, but a decision for the Palestinian people."
The same year, following the Gaza election, the leader of Hamas sent a letter addressed to former US President George W. Bush, in which he declared that Hamas would accept a state on the 1967 borders, including a truce.
The Bush administration failed to reply.
In July of this year, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal stressed, in an interview with Charlie Rose, that the group was ready to "coexist with the Jews" but would not tolerate "occupiers."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who mediated the long-awaited negotiations from their onset, last year, approved a drafted framework agreement which included Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state.
However, towards the end of the crisis-ridden peace talks, Kerry did point out that the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist in 1988, but for them to officially recognize Israel as a "Jewish" state would be tantamount to negotiations.
At the opening of the winter Knesset session, on Monday, Mr. Netanyahu said that "the borders of a Palestinian state cannot be drawn without assurance that it will not be a terrorist state", asking "What is the point of drawing a border if we don’t know what country we will get on the other side?".
Al Ray reports that, in his speech, Netanyahu made clear that Israel does not differentiate between the Fateh and Hamas parties, since the Palestinian Authority was not able to maintain control over Gaza and was defeated in just few days, by Hamas.
He also defended what he claimed to be the right of Israel to claim Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
"Israel has the same right to build in Jerusalem as other nations do in their own capital cities, and there is a wide consensus in Israel to continue building throughout the city, as every government has done since Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war," he said.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz described the PM's speech as a rerun of a compilation of excerpts of past shows: "It was a rereading of his despairing speech to the UN General Assembly, translated into Hebrew."
See also: Netanyahu Seeks to Codify 'Jewish Statehood' Into Law
In March of 2006, Hamas released its official legislative program, which clearly indicated that Hamas was willing to refer the issue of Israeli recognition to a national referendum. Under the heading "Recognition of Israel", it stated: "The question of recognizing Israel is not the jurisdiction of one faction, nor the government, but a decision for the Palestinian people."
The same year, following the Gaza election, the leader of Hamas sent a letter addressed to former US President George W. Bush, in which he declared that Hamas would accept a state on the 1967 borders, including a truce.
The Bush administration failed to reply.
In July of this year, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal stressed, in an interview with Charlie Rose, that the group was ready to "coexist with the Jews" but would not tolerate "occupiers."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who mediated the long-awaited negotiations from their onset, last year, approved a drafted framework agreement which included Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state.
However, towards the end of the crisis-ridden peace talks, Kerry did point out that the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist in 1988, but for them to officially recognize Israel as a "Jewish" state would be tantamount to negotiations.