5 mar 2020
Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo reiterated today their rejection of the American-Israeli "deal of the century" as it does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people and contradicts with the peace process references based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
At the end of the 153rd session of the Arab League Council at the level of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, the ministers affirmed that they would not deal with this "unfair deal" or cooperate with the US administration in implementing it in any way.
They also rejected attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause through humanitarian and economic solutions without a just political settlement, refusing any political or financial pressure exerted on the Palestinian people and their leadership with the aim of imposing unjust solutions to the Palestinian cause.
The Arab foreign ministers emphasized adherence to peace as a strategic option, and resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including 242, 338 and 1515, and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
They also warned of the intentions and policies of the Israeli occupation government to take advantage of the illegal cover provided by the unilateral US decisions, with the aim of forcibly annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, condemning any Israeli-American action in that direction.
The ministers called on the United Nations, the Security Council and the General Assembly, to shoulder their responsibilities to curb this illegal act, and to hold the Israeli and US governments responsible for the dangerous consequences of that approach, which effectively eliminates the chances for peace.
The top Arab diplomats stressed the need to support the peace achievement plan that President Mahmoud Abbas put forward in the Security Council on 11/2/2020, urging for joint work with international actors, including the Quartet, to establish an international multilateral mechanism to sponsor the peace process, including a call for an international conference.
The ministers as well affirmed their rejection and condemnation of any unilateral decisions that violate the legal status of Jerusalem, including the decision of the United States to recognize the city as the capital of Israel and the transfer of its embassy to the holy city.
The ministers also affirmed the condemnation of the Israeli colonial settlement policy, requesting the UN Security Council to implement its Resolution No. 2334 of 2016, which emphasized that Israeli settlements constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and an obstacle to peace.
They condemned the decision of the United States which considered the Israeli colonial settlement in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 not contrary to international law, considering this decision as an explicit violation of the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions.
The Arab foreign ministers also called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to allow the Palestinian Authority to hold general elections in occupied East Jerusalem.
At the end of the 153rd session of the Arab League Council at the level of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, the ministers affirmed that they would not deal with this "unfair deal" or cooperate with the US administration in implementing it in any way.
They also rejected attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause through humanitarian and economic solutions without a just political settlement, refusing any political or financial pressure exerted on the Palestinian people and their leadership with the aim of imposing unjust solutions to the Palestinian cause.
The Arab foreign ministers emphasized adherence to peace as a strategic option, and resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including 242, 338 and 1515, and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
They also warned of the intentions and policies of the Israeli occupation government to take advantage of the illegal cover provided by the unilateral US decisions, with the aim of forcibly annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, condemning any Israeli-American action in that direction.
The ministers called on the United Nations, the Security Council and the General Assembly, to shoulder their responsibilities to curb this illegal act, and to hold the Israeli and US governments responsible for the dangerous consequences of that approach, which effectively eliminates the chances for peace.
The top Arab diplomats stressed the need to support the peace achievement plan that President Mahmoud Abbas put forward in the Security Council on 11/2/2020, urging for joint work with international actors, including the Quartet, to establish an international multilateral mechanism to sponsor the peace process, including a call for an international conference.
The ministers as well affirmed their rejection and condemnation of any unilateral decisions that violate the legal status of Jerusalem, including the decision of the United States to recognize the city as the capital of Israel and the transfer of its embassy to the holy city.
The ministers also affirmed the condemnation of the Israeli colonial settlement policy, requesting the UN Security Council to implement its Resolution No. 2334 of 2016, which emphasized that Israeli settlements constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and an obstacle to peace.
They condemned the decision of the United States which considered the Israeli colonial settlement in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 not contrary to international law, considering this decision as an explicit violation of the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions.
The Arab foreign ministers also called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to allow the Palestinian Authority to hold general elections in occupied East Jerusalem.
3 mar 2020
Likud leader repeats pledge to annex West Bank settlements and Jordan Valley, boasts of his relations with world leaders, saying that 'peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time'; party faithful call for AG Mandelblit who indicted PM on corruption charges to 'go home'
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in the Israel's elections on Monday night, despite exit polls pointing to his right-wing bloc being below the 61-MK target he needs to form a government.
"What joy we have tonight," he told supporters in Tel Aviv. "It's a night of huge victory."
The Likud leader also said that there would be more party Knesset members, as "we have significantly increased the Likud list."
His supporters at the party's headquarters chanted "Mandelblit go home," a reference to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who has charged Netanyahu with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in a trial set to begin on March 17.
The prime minister also boasted of his relations with world leaders, saying that, "peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time - and not much."
Israel has a peace agreement with Jordan and Egypt and low-key or unofficial ties with primarily Gulf states in the Arab world. Netanyahu has made developing relations with the Arab world a central feature in his election campaign, claiming to be the only one who can achieve this goal.
To a rapturous reception from supporters at the Likud campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu also reiterated his promise to annex the West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Israel went to the polls for the third time in less than a year on Monday, after two earlier rounds of voting left both the right-wing and center-left blocs unable to muster the 61 Knesset members needed to form a government.
As the exit polls released as the ballot closed at 10pm showed Likud on 36 or 37 seats in the 120-strong Knesset, Netanyahu tweeted out a simple "thank you" with a heart emoji.
Netanyahu's right-wing bloc was uniformly predicted to take 59 seats, while the center-left bloc headed by Blue & White leader Benny Gantz was tipped to take just 55 seats.
Just moments after the exit polls were released, Netanyahu called the heads of the parties in his right-wing bloc and pledged to immediately start work on forming a government.
"This is clearly an achievement from Netanyahu's standpoint but by no means is it a clear, decisive outcome that enables him to form a stable, functioning government," said Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute. "The country is heading toward constitutional uncertainty."
Netanyahu's defense minister and Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett called the night a victory for the right and reiterated his commitment to the bloc.
"The right has won, we will make sure that the path of the right also wins," wrote Bennett on Twitter.
"As we promised, we will recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. We are committed to the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu to establish a government that will continue to keep Israeli citizens safe, continue to provide support to IDF soldiers, protect the Land of Israel and the values of the right."
Yamina co-leader Ayelet Shaked also took to Twitter to celebrate the right-wing bloc's result.
"The religious-Zionist movement enlisted, with its thousands of activists, young and old, to this campaign with great determination. The Israeli democracy is strong and vibrant and the people have decided – a right-wing government with Netanyahu at the helm."
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also of Yamina, celebrated the results and called them a "great achievement."
"This is a great evening for the State of Israel. I thank the thousands of sons and daughters of religious Zionism who took responsibility for the State of Israel and the right-wing bloc, flocked to the polls in droves and brought about a great achievement," Smotrich said.
"This great spirit will be translated, with the help of God, into a national government that is good for Israel. Keep going forward with full force!"
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in the Israel's elections on Monday night, despite exit polls pointing to his right-wing bloc being below the 61-MK target he needs to form a government.
"What joy we have tonight," he told supporters in Tel Aviv. "It's a night of huge victory."
The Likud leader also said that there would be more party Knesset members, as "we have significantly increased the Likud list."
His supporters at the party's headquarters chanted "Mandelblit go home," a reference to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who has charged Netanyahu with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in a trial set to begin on March 17.
The prime minister also boasted of his relations with world leaders, saying that, "peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time - and not much."
Israel has a peace agreement with Jordan and Egypt and low-key or unofficial ties with primarily Gulf states in the Arab world. Netanyahu has made developing relations with the Arab world a central feature in his election campaign, claiming to be the only one who can achieve this goal.
To a rapturous reception from supporters at the Likud campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu also reiterated his promise to annex the West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Israel went to the polls for the third time in less than a year on Monday, after two earlier rounds of voting left both the right-wing and center-left blocs unable to muster the 61 Knesset members needed to form a government.
As the exit polls released as the ballot closed at 10pm showed Likud on 36 or 37 seats in the 120-strong Knesset, Netanyahu tweeted out a simple "thank you" with a heart emoji.
Netanyahu's right-wing bloc was uniformly predicted to take 59 seats, while the center-left bloc headed by Blue & White leader Benny Gantz was tipped to take just 55 seats.
Just moments after the exit polls were released, Netanyahu called the heads of the parties in his right-wing bloc and pledged to immediately start work on forming a government.
"This is clearly an achievement from Netanyahu's standpoint but by no means is it a clear, decisive outcome that enables him to form a stable, functioning government," said Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute. "The country is heading toward constitutional uncertainty."
Netanyahu's defense minister and Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett called the night a victory for the right and reiterated his commitment to the bloc.
"The right has won, we will make sure that the path of the right also wins," wrote Bennett on Twitter.
"As we promised, we will recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. We are committed to the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu to establish a government that will continue to keep Israeli citizens safe, continue to provide support to IDF soldiers, protect the Land of Israel and the values of the right."
Yamina co-leader Ayelet Shaked also took to Twitter to celebrate the right-wing bloc's result.
"The religious-Zionist movement enlisted, with its thousands of activists, young and old, to this campaign with great determination. The Israeli democracy is strong and vibrant and the people have decided – a right-wing government with Netanyahu at the helm."
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also of Yamina, celebrated the results and called them a "great achievement."
"This is a great evening for the State of Israel. I thank the thousands of sons and daughters of religious Zionism who took responsibility for the State of Israel and the right-wing bloc, flocked to the polls in droves and brought about a great achievement," Smotrich said.
"This great spirit will be translated, with the help of God, into a national government that is good for Israel. Keep going forward with full force!"
29 feb 2020
Responding to what he described as “distortions and lies” by US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, about Palestine’s capital, Jerusalem, Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), stressed that East Jerusalem, with its old city and holy places, is the capital of Palestine.
“The conspiracy of the century specified that Abu Dis and Kufr Aqab can be named as Palestine’s capital,” Erekat said in reference to the American so-called deal of the century and the two East Jerusalem neighborhoods that fall beyond Israel’s apartheid barrier, which Friedman said in a press interview will be the capital of the future state of Palestine when he said the capital will be “in Jerusalem”, but not Jerusalem.
The US recognized in December 2018 all of Jerusalem, with its occupied East, as capital of Israel in defiance of international law and United Nations resolutions that consider Israel’s occupation as illegal and later moved the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“East Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, is the old city of Jerusalem, Haram Al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, all quarters, the seven gates, Musrara, Salah Aldin St.; 6 square kilometers occupied since1967.
This is Jerusalem the Capital of the State of Palestine,” he said in reference to the total area of East Jerusalem inside and outside the old city.
“Lies and distortions of one of the authors of the conspiracy of the century are doomed to failure. There is no meaning to Palestine to become a State without its full sovereignty on the Haram Al-Sharif, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Walls, the narrow streets, the gate to heaven; Jerusalem of the ascendance to heaven, and resurrection,” added the PLO official who led the Palestinian negotiations with Israel for over a decade.
Meanwhile, a Fatah official denied allegation by Friedman of back channel talks with the Palestinians, saying that the Palestinian position is clear in rejecting the American plan.
“The deal of the century is rejected from A to Z,” said Usama Qawasmi, member of Fatah Revolutionary Council and the movement’s spokesman. “There is nothing good in it and it cannot serve as a base for talks or to launch a credible political process.”
He said in a statement that that plan would only consolidate an apartheid system and any talk about a Palestinian state is nothing but a deception.
“There are no contacts with the American administration,” he said in response to Friedman’s allegation of back channel talks.
“The Palestinian position is clear and firm: What we want is an international multilateral sponsorship, with the International Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States) playing a major role, and the UN being the reference and the launch pad for dialogue.”
The Palestinian government has also denied in a statement by its spokesman any back channel talks with Washington.
“The conspiracy of the century specified that Abu Dis and Kufr Aqab can be named as Palestine’s capital,” Erekat said in reference to the American so-called deal of the century and the two East Jerusalem neighborhoods that fall beyond Israel’s apartheid barrier, which Friedman said in a press interview will be the capital of the future state of Palestine when he said the capital will be “in Jerusalem”, but not Jerusalem.
The US recognized in December 2018 all of Jerusalem, with its occupied East, as capital of Israel in defiance of international law and United Nations resolutions that consider Israel’s occupation as illegal and later moved the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“East Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, is the old city of Jerusalem, Haram Al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, all quarters, the seven gates, Musrara, Salah Aldin St.; 6 square kilometers occupied since1967.
This is Jerusalem the Capital of the State of Palestine,” he said in reference to the total area of East Jerusalem inside and outside the old city.
“Lies and distortions of one of the authors of the conspiracy of the century are doomed to failure. There is no meaning to Palestine to become a State without its full sovereignty on the Haram Al-Sharif, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Walls, the narrow streets, the gate to heaven; Jerusalem of the ascendance to heaven, and resurrection,” added the PLO official who led the Palestinian negotiations with Israel for over a decade.
Meanwhile, a Fatah official denied allegation by Friedman of back channel talks with the Palestinians, saying that the Palestinian position is clear in rejecting the American plan.
“The deal of the century is rejected from A to Z,” said Usama Qawasmi, member of Fatah Revolutionary Council and the movement’s spokesman. “There is nothing good in it and it cannot serve as a base for talks or to launch a credible political process.”
He said in a statement that that plan would only consolidate an apartheid system and any talk about a Palestinian state is nothing but a deception.
“There are no contacts with the American administration,” he said in response to Friedman’s allegation of back channel talks.
“The Palestinian position is clear and firm: What we want is an international multilateral sponsorship, with the International Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States) playing a major role, and the UN being the reference and the launch pad for dialogue.”
The Palestinian government has also denied in a statement by its spokesman any back channel talks with Washington.
27 feb 2020
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, today expressed concern over Israeli settlement announcements, saying E1 plan, if implemented, would sever the West Bank in half.“
I am very concerned about Israel’s recent announcements regarding the advancement of settlement construction in Giv’at Hamatos and Har Homa, as well as the worrying plans for 3,500 units in the controversial E1 area of the occupied West Bank," Mladenov in a statement.
"If the E1 plan were to be implemented, it would sever the connection between northern and southern West Bank, significantly undermining the chances for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution," he said, reiterating, "All settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace."
The UN official urged the Israeli authorities "to refrain from such unilateral actions that fuel instability and further erode the prospects for resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”
I am very concerned about Israel’s recent announcements regarding the advancement of settlement construction in Giv’at Hamatos and Har Homa, as well as the worrying plans for 3,500 units in the controversial E1 area of the occupied West Bank," Mladenov in a statement.
"If the E1 plan were to be implemented, it would sever the connection between northern and southern West Bank, significantly undermining the chances for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution," he said, reiterating, "All settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace."
The UN official urged the Israeli authorities "to refrain from such unilateral actions that fuel instability and further erode the prospects for resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”
