22 nov 2018
The Israeli-Palestinian peace plan being prepared by US President Donald Trump is “a waste of time,” extremist Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said, on Wednesday.
Speaking before hundreds of ambassadors and attachés, at the Jerusalem Post Diplomats’ Conference, in Jerusalem, Shaked added that the differences between Israelis and Palestinians are too great.
“I want peace like everyone else,” she said, “but, I do not believe an agreement can be reached. I would tell Trump: ‘Do not waste your time.'”
Days of Palestine further reports that Shaked also spoke about the demand made by her party, the Jewish Home, to appoint party leader Naftali Bennett as defence minister – an ultimatum that threatens the stability of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“The prime minister needs a strong defense minister at his side,” she said. “Unfortunately, he thought otherwise. We are a strong country, and Hamas is just a terror organization. But, in recent years, we’ve lost our deterrence.”
On Gaza, Shaked predicted the cease-fire will only last a few months, and then, “there will be no choice but to fight Hamas with all means.”
Earlier at the conference, Strategic Affair minister Gilad Erdan said that Israel is “closer than ever” to controlling parts, or all, of Gaza.
Erdan said that “moving from defense to offense against Hamas means targeted assassinations of leaders of Hamas’ military wing.”
This, Erdan said, “means being ready to take control of the Gaza Strip and hold it until we dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, Today we are closer than ever – since the devastating disengagement plan – to having to control parts of the Strip, or all of it.”
Speaking before hundreds of ambassadors and attachés, at the Jerusalem Post Diplomats’ Conference, in Jerusalem, Shaked added that the differences between Israelis and Palestinians are too great.
“I want peace like everyone else,” she said, “but, I do not believe an agreement can be reached. I would tell Trump: ‘Do not waste your time.'”
Days of Palestine further reports that Shaked also spoke about the demand made by her party, the Jewish Home, to appoint party leader Naftali Bennett as defence minister – an ultimatum that threatens the stability of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“The prime minister needs a strong defense minister at his side,” she said. “Unfortunately, he thought otherwise. We are a strong country, and Hamas is just a terror organization. But, in recent years, we’ve lost our deterrence.”
On Gaza, Shaked predicted the cease-fire will only last a few months, and then, “there will be no choice but to fight Hamas with all means.”
Earlier at the conference, Strategic Affair minister Gilad Erdan said that Israel is “closer than ever” to controlling parts, or all, of Gaza.
Erdan said that “moving from defense to offense against Hamas means targeted assassinations of leaders of Hamas’ military wing.”
This, Erdan said, “means being ready to take control of the Gaza Strip and hold it until we dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, Today we are closer than ever – since the devastating disengagement plan – to having to control parts of the Strip, or all of it.”
20 nov 2018
Kuwait has warned the United Nations Security Council of Israel's attempts to change the historical and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, condemning the Israeli incursion into the besieged Gaza Strip.
This came in a statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations, Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi, during the meeting on the Palestinian issue held on Monday at the United Nations permanent headquarters in New York.
"The way the council deals with the Palestinian issue and the Middle East peace process has contributed to the loss of confidence in the ability of the international community to provide solutions," he said.
He stressed the need to promote multilateralism and boost UN efforts to prevent a third world war.
The Kuwaiti ambassador warned against the Israeli violations in East Jerusalem and the underway attempts to change the historical and legal situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to divide spatially and temporarily.
The Kuwaiti envoy added that the lack of action by the UN Security Council has given room to simmering Israeli violations of international law.
Al-Otaibi pointed out that his country and the Bolivians demanded that a meeting be convened in response to the the serious escalation sparked by an Israeli military incursion into the blockaded Gaza Strip.
He said Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza has been escalating since March, with at least 228 people killed, including 41 children.
Al-Otaibi added that the eleven-year long siege on Gaza has led to a serious breakdown in the economic and security conditions in the enclave, where half of the population lives below the poverty line and earns no more than $ 1.25 per day.
This came in a statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations, Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi, during the meeting on the Palestinian issue held on Monday at the United Nations permanent headquarters in New York.
"The way the council deals with the Palestinian issue and the Middle East peace process has contributed to the loss of confidence in the ability of the international community to provide solutions," he said.
He stressed the need to promote multilateralism and boost UN efforts to prevent a third world war.
The Kuwaiti ambassador warned against the Israeli violations in East Jerusalem and the underway attempts to change the historical and legal situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to divide spatially and temporarily.
The Kuwaiti envoy added that the lack of action by the UN Security Council has given room to simmering Israeli violations of international law.
Al-Otaibi pointed out that his country and the Bolivians demanded that a meeting be convened in response to the the serious escalation sparked by an Israeli military incursion into the blockaded Gaza Strip.
He said Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza has been escalating since March, with at least 228 people killed, including 41 children.
Al-Otaibi added that the eleven-year long siege on Gaza has led to a serious breakdown in the economic and security conditions in the enclave, where half of the population lives below the poverty line and earns no more than $ 1.25 per day.
14 nov 2018
The U.S. Department of State announced on Tuesday rewards of up to $5 million each for information or identification leading to the capture of the following figures: Hamas leader Saleh al-Aruri, and Hezbollah leaders Khalil Yusif Mahmoud Harb and Haytham ‘Ali Tabataba’i.
Aruri is a prominent Hamas leader and an outspoken anti-occupation figure. He is currently living in Lebanon.
“Our country is not immune. In 2011, the Qods Force allegedly was involved in a plan to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States at a restaurant in Georgetown,” Nathan Sales, ambassador-at-large and coordinator for counterterrorism told the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Tuesday.
Sales said serious measures have been taken to chase down Hamas leaders, among them the group’s chief Ismail Haneyya over “terror charges”, in reference to their anti-occupation activism.
Seven other Palestinian leaders figure on the US terror blacklist: Mohamed al-Dheif (the commander of the Qassam resistance brigades); Ziad al-Nakhala (Secretary of the Islamic Jihad); Yehya al-Sinwar (Hamas chief in Gaza); Fathi Hamad (senior Hamas leader); Ahmad al-Ghandour (a leader at the Qassam Brigades); Ramadan Shallah (former Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad); and Rawhi Mushtaha (political bureau member of Hamas).
The State Department on Tuesday also officially designated Nasrallah’s son, Jawad, along with the al-Mujahidin Brigades, as terrorists, subjecting them to the toughest sanctions.
As of 1997, both Hamas and Hezbollah are U.S.-designated terrorist entities.
Aruri is a prominent Hamas leader and an outspoken anti-occupation figure. He is currently living in Lebanon.
“Our country is not immune. In 2011, the Qods Force allegedly was involved in a plan to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States at a restaurant in Georgetown,” Nathan Sales, ambassador-at-large and coordinator for counterterrorism told the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Tuesday.
Sales said serious measures have been taken to chase down Hamas leaders, among them the group’s chief Ismail Haneyya over “terror charges”, in reference to their anti-occupation activism.
Seven other Palestinian leaders figure on the US terror blacklist: Mohamed al-Dheif (the commander of the Qassam resistance brigades); Ziad al-Nakhala (Secretary of the Islamic Jihad); Yehya al-Sinwar (Hamas chief in Gaza); Fathi Hamad (senior Hamas leader); Ahmad al-Ghandour (a leader at the Qassam Brigades); Ramadan Shallah (former Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad); and Rawhi Mushtaha (political bureau member of Hamas).
The State Department on Tuesday also officially designated Nasrallah’s son, Jawad, along with the al-Mujahidin Brigades, as terrorists, subjecting them to the toughest sanctions.
As of 1997, both Hamas and Hezbollah are U.S.-designated terrorist entities.
11 nov 2018
US White House Envoy Jason Greenblatt said, in a closed meeting, that the US administration will soon be presenting President Trump’s peace plan in the Middle East that “neither side will like.”
According to Israel’s Channel 10, the meeting was held in London, and organized by the UK Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers, in which Greenblatt said that the plan would be a permanent deal instead of temporary agreements, adding that “there will be a need to compromise.”
The US envoy stressed that the goal of the American peace plan, or “deal of the century”, is to reach a permanent agreement between Israel and Palestine, instead of temporary agreements.
PNN further reports that, two weeks ago, an official from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that France will submit a peace plan if the US doesn’t submit its own, after midterm elections.
According to Israel’s Channel 10, the meeting was held in London, and organized by the UK Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers, in which Greenblatt said that the plan would be a permanent deal instead of temporary agreements, adding that “there will be a need to compromise.”
The US envoy stressed that the goal of the American peace plan, or “deal of the century”, is to reach a permanent agreement between Israel and Palestine, instead of temporary agreements.
PNN further reports that, two weeks ago, an official from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that France will submit a peace plan if the US doesn’t submit its own, after midterm elections.
6 nov 2018
Jason Greenblatt, the US Special Representative for International Negotiations, met on Sunday evening with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Honored to meet with prime minister Netanyahu this evening. Discussed important topics including the situation in Gaza and regional developments,” tweeted Greenblatt after the meeting.
Greenblatt also prayed at the Western Wall in occupied Jerusalem with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Last week it was announced that Greenblatt would travel to Israel this week to meet with senior Israeli officials and lay the groundwork for the Trump administration’s rollout of the framework for a Middle East final status agreement, dubbed the “Deal of the Century”.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has rejected US attempts to restart peace talks with Israel and has been boycotting the US ever since Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December.
“Honored to meet with prime minister Netanyahu this evening. Discussed important topics including the situation in Gaza and regional developments,” tweeted Greenblatt after the meeting.
Greenblatt also prayed at the Western Wall in occupied Jerusalem with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Last week it was announced that Greenblatt would travel to Israel this week to meet with senior Israeli officials and lay the groundwork for the Trump administration’s rollout of the framework for a Middle East final status agreement, dubbed the “Deal of the Century”.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has rejected US attempts to restart peace talks with Israel and has been boycotting the US ever since Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December.
31 oct 2018
The Secretary of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, stated that U.S. President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are ongoing with their politics to destroy the two-state solution, and replace it with their own facts on the ground, in violation of International Law.
His statement came during meetings with Deputy Diplomatic Counselor at the French Presidency Aurélien Lechevallier, in addition to the French Consul-General in Jerusalem Pierre Cochard, and the Swiss Representative in Palestine.
Erekat stated that all the international efforts to achieve peace, and get the political process started, will not be effective in resolving the situation, and added that peace cannot be achieved by the ongoing theft of Palestinian lands, and denying basic rights of the Palestinian people.
He thanked France and Switzerland for their positions, rejecting Trump’s hostile stances and policies against the Palestinian refugees and the UNRWA, and the closure of the Palestinian Representative office in DC.
Erekat also thanked them for their countries’ positions in support of the two-state solution.
The official also called on Switzerland, as the country that hosted the Geneva Accords of 1948, to save the Fourth Geneva convention of 1949, especially the call for protecting the civilians in time of war.
As for the internal Palestinian issues, especially reconciliation talks, Erekat said that all parties must fully implement the Cairo Agreement of October 2, 2017, which was sponsored by Egypt.
Commenting on Netanyahu’s statements regarding full normalization with the Arab countries before reaching a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians, and the withdrawal from the occupied territory, including Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, Erekat said that “Netanyahu is just hallucinating.”
His statement came during meetings with Deputy Diplomatic Counselor at the French Presidency Aurélien Lechevallier, in addition to the French Consul-General in Jerusalem Pierre Cochard, and the Swiss Representative in Palestine.
Erekat stated that all the international efforts to achieve peace, and get the political process started, will not be effective in resolving the situation, and added that peace cannot be achieved by the ongoing theft of Palestinian lands, and denying basic rights of the Palestinian people.
He thanked France and Switzerland for their positions, rejecting Trump’s hostile stances and policies against the Palestinian refugees and the UNRWA, and the closure of the Palestinian Representative office in DC.
Erekat also thanked them for their countries’ positions in support of the two-state solution.
The official also called on Switzerland, as the country that hosted the Geneva Accords of 1948, to save the Fourth Geneva convention of 1949, especially the call for protecting the civilians in time of war.
As for the internal Palestinian issues, especially reconciliation talks, Erekat said that all parties must fully implement the Cairo Agreement of October 2, 2017, which was sponsored by Egypt.
Commenting on Netanyahu’s statements regarding full normalization with the Arab countries before reaching a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians, and the withdrawal from the occupied territory, including Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, Erekat said that “Netanyahu is just hallucinating.”
30 oct 2018
The Palestinian Central Council (PCC), which met in Ramallah over two days, decided on Monday to end all commitments in the agreements the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has signed with Israel, suspend recognition of Israel until it recognizes the State of Palestine, end security coordination and end the Paris Economic Protocols.
“In view of Israel’s continued denial of the signed agreements, the PCC, in confirmation of its previous decision and considering that the transitional phase no longer exists, decides to end the commitments of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority towards its agreements with the occupying Power, suspend recognition of the State of Israel until its recognition of the State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, end security coordination in all its forms, and disengage economically from Israel on the grounds that the transitional phase, including the Paris Economic Protocols no longer exist,” it said in its final communiqué.
The PCC also gave the power to President Mahmoud Abbas, who chaired the PCC meetings, and the PLO’s executive committee to implement these decisions.
The PCC also expressed support for President Abbas’ opposition to the US administration’s so-called deal of the Century, accusing the US of siding with the Israeli occupation and of being “part of the problem and not part of the solution.”
It also held Hamas responsible for failing to implement the agreements it had signed with Fateh over the years.
It said calm with Israel is the responsibility of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and not the duty of the factions.
It also stressed, according to WAFA, “our right to resistance by all means as per international law.”
“In view of Israel’s continued denial of the signed agreements, the PCC, in confirmation of its previous decision and considering that the transitional phase no longer exists, decides to end the commitments of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority towards its agreements with the occupying Power, suspend recognition of the State of Israel until its recognition of the State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, end security coordination in all its forms, and disengage economically from Israel on the grounds that the transitional phase, including the Paris Economic Protocols no longer exist,” it said in its final communiqué.
The PCC also gave the power to President Mahmoud Abbas, who chaired the PCC meetings, and the PLO’s executive committee to implement these decisions.
The PCC also expressed support for President Abbas’ opposition to the US administration’s so-called deal of the Century, accusing the US of siding with the Israeli occupation and of being “part of the problem and not part of the solution.”
It also held Hamas responsible for failing to implement the agreements it had signed with Fateh over the years.
It said calm with Israel is the responsibility of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and not the duty of the factions.
It also stressed, according to WAFA, “our right to resistance by all means as per international law.”
25 oct 2018
In response to statements by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the official spokesperson of the Palestinian President, Nabil Abu Rodeina, said that there can be no peace or security without establishing an independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Abu Rodeina stated that Israel, and its Prime Minister, are just avoiding any sort of commitment to real and comprehensive peace, and are constantly violating numerous United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
He was responding to statements by Netanyahu in which he said that the security responsibility in the western part of the Jordan River will always be under full Israeli control.
Netanyahu also said that there will be no Palestinian State but instead “a little more than a self-rule government, and less than a state,” while maintaining full control on border terminals in the West Bank.
Abu Rodeina said that the Israeli government is determined to destroy and devastate any chance for real peace, and is instead looking for vague excuses and statements.
He added that the Israeli policies, and the seriously-escalating military violence against the unarmed Palestinian people, the illegal confiscation of their lands, and denying them their basic, internationally guaranteed rights, and the ongoing construction and expansion of illegal colonies, will only lead more tension that could inflame the entire region.
Abu Rodeina stated that Israel, and its Prime Minister, are just avoiding any sort of commitment to real and comprehensive peace, and are constantly violating numerous United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
He was responding to statements by Netanyahu in which he said that the security responsibility in the western part of the Jordan River will always be under full Israeli control.
Netanyahu also said that there will be no Palestinian State but instead “a little more than a self-rule government, and less than a state,” while maintaining full control on border terminals in the West Bank.
Abu Rodeina said that the Israeli government is determined to destroy and devastate any chance for real peace, and is instead looking for vague excuses and statements.
He added that the Israeli policies, and the seriously-escalating military violence against the unarmed Palestinian people, the illegal confiscation of their lands, and denying them their basic, internationally guaranteed rights, and the ongoing construction and expansion of illegal colonies, will only lead more tension that could inflame the entire region.
11 oct 2018
The Palestinian Representative Office at the United States in Washington D.C. has officially shut down, Wednesday, after the deadline by the Trump Administration for closing it went into effect at 4:30 PM.
Dozens of Palestinians and peace activists stood in front of the Palestinian Mission’s office in protest of the U.S. decision, and several speakers condemned the escalating hostilities by President Donald Trump and his Administration against the basic and historic human rights of the Palestinian people, and its support to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, and it’s denial of internationally-guaranteed Palestinian Rights.
In a previous statement, Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the sign that indicates that the building in the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the US will be removed, but the Palestinian flag will remain because the building is a private property.
“The owners of the building can keep any flag up, as long as they want to, unless the U.S. government makes it its mission to remove the flag,” he said, “Our team at the Palestinian Mission has been frequently asked to remove the flag, but we kept it because it is a private building.”
He concluded by wondering whether “the next battle waged by the United States against the basic Palestinian rights will now be about the Palestinian flag!”
Dozens of Palestinians and peace activists stood in front of the Palestinian Mission’s office in protest of the U.S. decision, and several speakers condemned the escalating hostilities by President Donald Trump and his Administration against the basic and historic human rights of the Palestinian people, and its support to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, and it’s denial of internationally-guaranteed Palestinian Rights.
In a previous statement, Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the sign that indicates that the building in the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the US will be removed, but the Palestinian flag will remain because the building is a private property.
“The owners of the building can keep any flag up, as long as they want to, unless the U.S. government makes it its mission to remove the flag,” he said, “Our team at the Palestinian Mission has been frequently asked to remove the flag, but we kept it because it is a private building.”
He concluded by wondering whether “the next battle waged by the United States against the basic Palestinian rights will now be about the Palestinian flag!”
10 oct 2018
The US President Donald Trump’s peace plan will strongly reflect Washington's commitment to Israel's security, the US Midlle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt has said.
In an interview published Monday by the English-language Times of Israel news site, presidential special envoy Jason Greenblatt said the plan would "be heavily focused on Israeli security needs".
"But we also want to be fair to the Palestinians. We have tried hard to find a good balance," he claimed. "Each side will find things in this plan that they don't like."
The peace plan, Greenblatt said, "will include a resolution to all of the core issues, including the refugee issue".
He said that it would not propose a Palestinian-Jordanian confederation as a possible solution to the conflict.
"We're not looking at a confederation model," Greenblatt said in Monday's interview.
US President Donald Trump said in September that he would unveil a new peace plan within months.
In an interview published Monday by the English-language Times of Israel news site, presidential special envoy Jason Greenblatt said the plan would "be heavily focused on Israeli security needs".
"But we also want to be fair to the Palestinians. We have tried hard to find a good balance," he claimed. "Each side will find things in this plan that they don't like."
The peace plan, Greenblatt said, "will include a resolution to all of the core issues, including the refugee issue".
He said that it would not propose a Palestinian-Jordanian confederation as a possible solution to the conflict.
"We're not looking at a confederation model," Greenblatt said in Monday's interview.
US President Donald Trump said in September that he would unveil a new peace plan within months.
