Palestinians, Israelis debate peace U.N. By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer APR 26,07
UNITED NATIONS - Palestinians called on Israel Wednesday to seize the opportunity to negotiate peace without preconditions, but Israel refused and accused the Palestinian government of waging a terror campaign. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. observer, told the U.N. Security Council that the formation of a Palestinian government of national unity and the relaunch of the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at an Arab summit in 2002 offered a chance to move forward and revive the peace
process.This historic opportunity ... should not be lost like so many before it, he said. On the Palestinian side, we are willing and ready, and President (Mahmoud) Abbas, with support and a mandate from all Palestinian political groups, is prepared to negotiate unconditionally final status issues.If there is a partner for peace on the Israeli side to negotiate with us without conditions, we are ready, Mansour said.
But Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman made clear that as long as Hamas remains part of the Palestinian government and refuses to agree to all three conditions set by the international community recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence, and a honoring previous agreements his government will not negotiate.Hamas has shown it will not stop its campaign of terror until its unholy ambitions of destroying Israel are fulfilled, Gillerman said. Nothing no initiatives, summits or declarations can take the place of an end to Palestinian terror.If there are any skeptics, he said, the Hamas-led government showed its true colors on Tuesday when Hamas, by its own account, fired more than 28 homemade rockets and 61 mortars into Israel and declared an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire in effect since November null and void.Gillerman said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would continue to meet with Abbas, whose Fatah party recognizes Israel, but we will fight Hamas as if there were no Abbas.
He also warned the Palestinians and others in the region not to regard Israel's restraint as a sign of acquiescene. U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff told the council there is a growing consensus supporting the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, and an urgent desire to achieve it. Palestinians must know that their state will be viable. Israelis must know that a future state of Palestine will not be a threat. While we are not yet at final status negotiations, these important issues can and should be discussed now, Wolff said.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
POPE WANTS MIDEAST PEACE REVIVED
Pope, Abbas hail moves to revive Mideast peace process
2007/4/25 - VATICAN CITY, AFP
Pope Benedict XVI and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday hailed moves to revive the Middle East peace process, a Vatican statement said. The two, in a cordial meeting, in particular appreciated the commitment, thanks also to the help of the international community, to the relaunching of the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians, the statement said.
The pope and Abbas also discussed the internal Palestinian situation, referring to, among other subjects, the difficulties faced by Catholics and to the value of their contribution to that society, the statement said. The audience lasted just 12 minutes and took place in English without interpreters, Vatican pool reporters said. The Palestinian leader, who arrived in Rome late Monday, has met Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and was to meet Tuesday evening with Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Abbas also met Tuesday with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, who said afterward: All that goes towards unity and towards peace ... is very positive.
He added: There are so many initiatives, by Arab countries as well as the Quartet, and especially the periodical meetings begun between the president of the Israeli government and (Abbas) that are positive steps. Let's hope they bear the desired fruits.The Middle East Quartet comprises the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States. The Palestinian leader began a European tour on April 17 to appeal for a resumption of aid from the European Union, suspended after Hamas militants came to power in March 2006.
Abbas has met before with Benedict, in December 2005, when he invited the pontiff to visit Jerusalem, giving him a symbolic Palestinian passport.
Ban seeks Syrian role in Mideast peace
Calls for constructive role in Lebanon
By Betsy Pisik - The Washington Times APR 25,07
DOHA, Qatar -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Damascus today to ask Syrian leaders to play a constructive role in the Middle East peace process and to press for the acceptance of an international tribunal to pursue the killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Mr. Ban said that despite the brevity of the seven-hour visit, he hopes to win assurances that Syrian President Bashar Assad will use his power for good.I [want to] be assured of his strong commitment to work for peace and security in the region and to do whatever Syria can constructively to bring peace and stability in Lebanon, Mr. Ban told The Washington Times.He said he would also seek Syrian cooperation with Security Council resolutions designed to disarm Hezbollah, end Syria's influence in Lebanon and establish a tribunal of international character to try suspects accused of political assassinations in Beirut.
Mr. Ban, who traveled to the region on Sunday to attend a democracy-building conference in Qatar, plans to talk with Mr. Assad and other senior Syrian leaders.It will be his second visit within a month to Syria, which he hopes will use its considerable influence in the region to stabilize Lebanon, slow Iran's headlong pursuit of a nuclear program and calm Hamas' deteriorating relationship with Israel.
Hamas, the leading partner in the Palestinian unity government, declared on Sunday that it would resume hostilities against Israel after an official hiatus.I was dismayed to hear Hamas will resume fighting against the Israelis. Mr. Ban said during the interview in his suite at the Qatar Four Seasons Hotel. I urge both sides to refrain from taking measures against the other.There is a great deal of expectation from the international community of the Palestinian unity government, he added, lamenting the deaths of nine Palestinians in weekend fighting with Israeli forces.
Nonetheless, Mr. Ban said, Hamas should reform their policy so that the international community, including myself and the United Nations, can have trust and faith in them. I know there are different expectations, interpretations, of how they will reform their policies, Mr. Ban said, but I have been repeatedly urging ... the international community to encourage this fragile peace process in the Middle East.
U.S. sanctions tightened
The secretary-general's visit comes just hours after the State Department announced new sanctions against 14 foreign government agencies, people and corporations thought to be aiding terrorism in the region.The move, which is largely symbolic because of already existing sanctions and restrictions, is aimed at curtailing support for Syrian and Iranian missile technology and weapons of mass destruction capabilities.The sanctions prohibit the awarding of U.S. assistance, government contracts or export licenses to the entities, and may be reviewed at any time over the next two years.Mr. Ban who has repeatedly counseled all parties to resolve their differences though diplomacy and politics rather than economic or military means said he hopes Mr. Assad will make a credible commitment to working with the international community.
He also wants to discuss the smuggling of arms into Lebanon, which is a violation of Security Council regulations. The Syrians and Lebanese insist this is not happening, but Israel has offered what it describes as proof.Damascus has objected to the international tribunal on the Hariri assassination, saying that Syria is not responsible for the killing of the former prime minister and two dozen others, but is committed to finding and prosecuting anyone who was involved.Syria is a key financial backer of the Lebanese political and paramilitary group Hezbollah, which is protesting the tribunal from inside Lebanon.Chief U.N. legal adviser Nicolas Michel was just in Lebanon to discuss the tribunal and try to find a way for the deeply divided Lebanese government to support it.Mr. Ban said he spoke to Mr. Michel on Sunday morning and found him still not optimistic. A U.N. investigation has repeatedly implicated high-ranking Syrian officials in the February 2005 bombing of Mr. Hariri's motorcade.Mr. Ban acknowledged that Security Council resolutions calling for Hezbollah to disarm and for Syria to work with the tribunal have not been well received in Syria, but he said that should not matter.This is not a matter of what one wishes to or not, he said. The Security Council resolution is a binding one, and each and every member state has an obligation to fully implement it.
ME Peace Vital: Pakistan Denies Move to Recognize Israel
By Maria A Khan Pakistan Times Diplomatic Correspondent APR 25,07
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to play a role in the Middle East and willing to hold out any assurance if it could lead to peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue, said the Foreign Office spokesperson on Monday.The issue was raised at a weekly press briefing after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected on Sunday President Pervez Musharraf’s mediation offer. Pakistan has made recognition of Tel Aviv conditional to creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
Asked how Pakistan could step in to help resolve this lingering issue, given the fact that it does not recognise Israel, the spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam said, It was at the request of Muslim leaders that President Pervez Musharraf met the heads of Islamic states which finally led to a meeting in Islamabad of seven foreign ministers from the OIC. President Musharraf's initiative came at a time when the situation in the Middle East was fast deterioting all around.
There has been positive development as a result of the Musharraf initiative. There has been reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, the Iranian president visited Saudi Arabia and in an unprecedented manner President Musharraf was invited to the Arab League summit.When asked specifically about the parameters of this likely role that Pakistan wishes to play, the spokesperson evaded a direct reply, saying, We will talk about the parameters when we come to it.
Trilateral Meeting
A trilateral meeting between President Pervez Musharraf, President Hamid Karzai and the Turkish prime minister will take place in Turkey on April 29-30. Asked how this trilateral meeting would succeed in improving relations between Islamabad and Kabul when an earlier trilateral meeting spearheaded by President George Bush failed to deliver, the spokesperson said, There is a situation inside Afghanistan and lack of understanding of Pakistan's policies (towards Kabul). It is always useful to maintain a dialogue. This meeting will be another opportunity to take forward this dialogue.
Responding to a query, the spokesperson prayed for the safe recovery of the missing BBC reporter in Palestine and said journalists try to do their work in difficult circumstances. At times this means reporting from conflict zones. In this regard their safety must be ensured she added. Asked about the government's decision to once again gag the electronic media, the spokesperson said the government wanted the best of relations with the media and interact regularly with them.But this particular case is one that the Foreign Office does not deal with and the Ministry of Information and Pemra should be approached, she said while responding to a query about a ban on Aaj TV.
The spokesperson said Pakistan has stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity very consistently but said that its neighbour faced massive internal problems, including from drugs, warlords and a lack of national reconciliation efforts.
She reiterated that the presence of some three million Afghan refugees was creating problems for Pakistan because there are reports that the refugees are providing
shelter to Taliban and others. She said, Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.About the Middle East situation, the spokesperson said Pakistan's eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region. She rejected speculation that Pakistan's initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel.
Details
Pakistan is willing to play a role to resolve the Palestinian issue as the deteriorating situation in the Middle East has a direct impact on the region and Pakistan, the Foreign Office said Monday. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters at a weekly briefing that Pakistan would play its part provided there were assurances that this will help find a just solution to the Palestinian problem.
Responding to a question on Israel’s reaction to President Pervez Musharraf’s comments, Ms Tasnim Aslam said a number of leaders from the Muslim world had asked the President to play a mediatory role. The President in an interview to the al-Arabia television had said he was willing to play a role if both the parties accepted him as a mediator. In an unprecedented move Pakistan along with two other non-Arab countries had also participated in the Arab League Summit at Riyadh, which was aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the MidEast situation, the spokesperson said.
She said Pakistan had also hosted a meeting of seven foreign ministers from Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries in Islamabad to discuss the Middle East crisis. Ms Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan’s eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region.
Ms Aslam rejected speculation that Pakistan’s initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel. About the forthcoming meeting in Ankara between President Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai meeting this month, the Foreign Office spokesperson said it would be another opportunity to clear misunderstandings between the two countries on several issues. There has been a lack of understanding on Pakistan’s policies and views on the part of Afghanistan...and it’s always useful to have dialogue.She said the issues that needed to be addressed between the two countries included process of reconciliation, absence of reconstruction efforts, problems of drugs, warlords and other criminal elements. The spokesperson said Pakistan stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity and wanted to have good relations with its neighbour. Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.Email: Marketing@PakistanTimes.net
2007/4/25 - VATICAN CITY, AFP
Pope Benedict XVI and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday hailed moves to revive the Middle East peace process, a Vatican statement said. The two, in a cordial meeting, in particular appreciated the commitment, thanks also to the help of the international community, to the relaunching of the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians, the statement said.
The pope and Abbas also discussed the internal Palestinian situation, referring to, among other subjects, the difficulties faced by Catholics and to the value of their contribution to that society, the statement said. The audience lasted just 12 minutes and took place in English without interpreters, Vatican pool reporters said. The Palestinian leader, who arrived in Rome late Monday, has met Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and was to meet Tuesday evening with Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Abbas also met Tuesday with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, who said afterward: All that goes towards unity and towards peace ... is very positive.
He added: There are so many initiatives, by Arab countries as well as the Quartet, and especially the periodical meetings begun between the president of the Israeli government and (Abbas) that are positive steps. Let's hope they bear the desired fruits.The Middle East Quartet comprises the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States. The Palestinian leader began a European tour on April 17 to appeal for a resumption of aid from the European Union, suspended after Hamas militants came to power in March 2006.
Abbas has met before with Benedict, in December 2005, when he invited the pontiff to visit Jerusalem, giving him a symbolic Palestinian passport.
Ban seeks Syrian role in Mideast peace
Calls for constructive role in Lebanon
By Betsy Pisik - The Washington Times APR 25,07
DOHA, Qatar -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Damascus today to ask Syrian leaders to play a constructive role in the Middle East peace process and to press for the acceptance of an international tribunal to pursue the killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Mr. Ban said that despite the brevity of the seven-hour visit, he hopes to win assurances that Syrian President Bashar Assad will use his power for good.I [want to] be assured of his strong commitment to work for peace and security in the region and to do whatever Syria can constructively to bring peace and stability in Lebanon, Mr. Ban told The Washington Times.He said he would also seek Syrian cooperation with Security Council resolutions designed to disarm Hezbollah, end Syria's influence in Lebanon and establish a tribunal of international character to try suspects accused of political assassinations in Beirut.
Mr. Ban, who traveled to the region on Sunday to attend a democracy-building conference in Qatar, plans to talk with Mr. Assad and other senior Syrian leaders.It will be his second visit within a month to Syria, which he hopes will use its considerable influence in the region to stabilize Lebanon, slow Iran's headlong pursuit of a nuclear program and calm Hamas' deteriorating relationship with Israel.
Hamas, the leading partner in the Palestinian unity government, declared on Sunday that it would resume hostilities against Israel after an official hiatus.I was dismayed to hear Hamas will resume fighting against the Israelis. Mr. Ban said during the interview in his suite at the Qatar Four Seasons Hotel. I urge both sides to refrain from taking measures against the other.There is a great deal of expectation from the international community of the Palestinian unity government, he added, lamenting the deaths of nine Palestinians in weekend fighting with Israeli forces.
Nonetheless, Mr. Ban said, Hamas should reform their policy so that the international community, including myself and the United Nations, can have trust and faith in them. I know there are different expectations, interpretations, of how they will reform their policies, Mr. Ban said, but I have been repeatedly urging ... the international community to encourage this fragile peace process in the Middle East.
U.S. sanctions tightened
The secretary-general's visit comes just hours after the State Department announced new sanctions against 14 foreign government agencies, people and corporations thought to be aiding terrorism in the region.The move, which is largely symbolic because of already existing sanctions and restrictions, is aimed at curtailing support for Syrian and Iranian missile technology and weapons of mass destruction capabilities.The sanctions prohibit the awarding of U.S. assistance, government contracts or export licenses to the entities, and may be reviewed at any time over the next two years.Mr. Ban who has repeatedly counseled all parties to resolve their differences though diplomacy and politics rather than economic or military means said he hopes Mr. Assad will make a credible commitment to working with the international community.
He also wants to discuss the smuggling of arms into Lebanon, which is a violation of Security Council regulations. The Syrians and Lebanese insist this is not happening, but Israel has offered what it describes as proof.Damascus has objected to the international tribunal on the Hariri assassination, saying that Syria is not responsible for the killing of the former prime minister and two dozen others, but is committed to finding and prosecuting anyone who was involved.Syria is a key financial backer of the Lebanese political and paramilitary group Hezbollah, which is protesting the tribunal from inside Lebanon.Chief U.N. legal adviser Nicolas Michel was just in Lebanon to discuss the tribunal and try to find a way for the deeply divided Lebanese government to support it.Mr. Ban said he spoke to Mr. Michel on Sunday morning and found him still not optimistic. A U.N. investigation has repeatedly implicated high-ranking Syrian officials in the February 2005 bombing of Mr. Hariri's motorcade.Mr. Ban acknowledged that Security Council resolutions calling for Hezbollah to disarm and for Syria to work with the tribunal have not been well received in Syria, but he said that should not matter.This is not a matter of what one wishes to or not, he said. The Security Council resolution is a binding one, and each and every member state has an obligation to fully implement it.
ME Peace Vital: Pakistan Denies Move to Recognize Israel
By Maria A Khan Pakistan Times Diplomatic Correspondent APR 25,07
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to play a role in the Middle East and willing to hold out any assurance if it could lead to peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue, said the Foreign Office spokesperson on Monday.The issue was raised at a weekly press briefing after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected on Sunday President Pervez Musharraf’s mediation offer. Pakistan has made recognition of Tel Aviv conditional to creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
Asked how Pakistan could step in to help resolve this lingering issue, given the fact that it does not recognise Israel, the spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam said, It was at the request of Muslim leaders that President Pervez Musharraf met the heads of Islamic states which finally led to a meeting in Islamabad of seven foreign ministers from the OIC. President Musharraf's initiative came at a time when the situation in the Middle East was fast deterioting all around.
There has been positive development as a result of the Musharraf initiative. There has been reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, the Iranian president visited Saudi Arabia and in an unprecedented manner President Musharraf was invited to the Arab League summit.When asked specifically about the parameters of this likely role that Pakistan wishes to play, the spokesperson evaded a direct reply, saying, We will talk about the parameters when we come to it.
Trilateral Meeting
A trilateral meeting between President Pervez Musharraf, President Hamid Karzai and the Turkish prime minister will take place in Turkey on April 29-30. Asked how this trilateral meeting would succeed in improving relations between Islamabad and Kabul when an earlier trilateral meeting spearheaded by President George Bush failed to deliver, the spokesperson said, There is a situation inside Afghanistan and lack of understanding of Pakistan's policies (towards Kabul). It is always useful to maintain a dialogue. This meeting will be another opportunity to take forward this dialogue.
Responding to a query, the spokesperson prayed for the safe recovery of the missing BBC reporter in Palestine and said journalists try to do their work in difficult circumstances. At times this means reporting from conflict zones. In this regard their safety must be ensured she added. Asked about the government's decision to once again gag the electronic media, the spokesperson said the government wanted the best of relations with the media and interact regularly with them.But this particular case is one that the Foreign Office does not deal with and the Ministry of Information and Pemra should be approached, she said while responding to a query about a ban on Aaj TV.
The spokesperson said Pakistan has stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity very consistently but said that its neighbour faced massive internal problems, including from drugs, warlords and a lack of national reconciliation efforts.
She reiterated that the presence of some three million Afghan refugees was creating problems for Pakistan because there are reports that the refugees are providing
shelter to Taliban and others. She said, Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.About the Middle East situation, the spokesperson said Pakistan's eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region. She rejected speculation that Pakistan's initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel.
Details
Pakistan is willing to play a role to resolve the Palestinian issue as the deteriorating situation in the Middle East has a direct impact on the region and Pakistan, the Foreign Office said Monday. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters at a weekly briefing that Pakistan would play its part provided there were assurances that this will help find a just solution to the Palestinian problem.
Responding to a question on Israel’s reaction to President Pervez Musharraf’s comments, Ms Tasnim Aslam said a number of leaders from the Muslim world had asked the President to play a mediatory role. The President in an interview to the al-Arabia television had said he was willing to play a role if both the parties accepted him as a mediator. In an unprecedented move Pakistan along with two other non-Arab countries had also participated in the Arab League Summit at Riyadh, which was aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the MidEast situation, the spokesperson said.
She said Pakistan had also hosted a meeting of seven foreign ministers from Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries in Islamabad to discuss the Middle East crisis. Ms Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan’s eagerness stemmed from the fact that the situation could have a direct impact on Pakistan and the region.
Ms Aslam rejected speculation that Pakistan’s initiative was a move towards recognition of Israel. About the forthcoming meeting in Ankara between President Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai meeting this month, the Foreign Office spokesperson said it would be another opportunity to clear misunderstandings between the two countries on several issues. There has been a lack of understanding on Pakistan’s policies and views on the part of Afghanistan...and it’s always useful to have dialogue.She said the issues that needed to be addressed between the two countries included process of reconciliation, absence of reconstruction efforts, problems of drugs, warlords and other criminal elements. The spokesperson said Pakistan stood by Afghanistan in all times of adversity and wanted to have good relations with its neighbour. Pakistan wants peace and security in Afghanistan which is important for both countries and also for the region.Email: Marketing@PakistanTimes.net
Saturday, April 21, 2007
PAKISTAN - NEGOTIATE MIDEAST PEACE
Musharraf says ready to mediate Middle East peace APR 21,07
DUBAI (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf expressed readiness to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians in remarks broadcast on Saturday. Like most fellow Muslim and Arab countries, U.S.-allied Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel, but senior officials from both countries have met on several occasions in recent years.If I was accepted as a neutral mediator by all sides, I would most certainly be able to play a big role, Musharraf told Al Arabiya television in remarks dubbed in Arabic.How would I deal with this issue? ... I would go to Israel and meet leaders there or maybe in a third country, said Musharraf, adding that he would wait to see if there was a chance of visiting Israel.
Israel and the Palestinians last held final-status negotiations six years ago but the United States is trying to press them to take steps towards reviving the peace process.Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said: We believe that moderate Muslim states like Pakistan can have an important role in promoting peace in the Middle East.
Earlier this month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed at Washington's behest to discuss confidence-building measures. Israel talks to Abbas, but shuns the Palestinian government led by Hamas. The Islamist group is also under a Western embargo to press it to recognize Israel and renounce violence.In March, Arab countries revived a 2002 plan offering Israel normal ties with all Arab states in return for full withdrawal from lands it occupied in the 1967 war, a Palestinian state and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.Israel, citing demographic and security concerns, opposes the return of Palestinian refugees to their former homes in what is now the Jewish state. It also wants to retain its largest settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf expressed readiness to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians in remarks broadcast on Saturday. Like most fellow Muslim and Arab countries, U.S.-allied Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel, but senior officials from both countries have met on several occasions in recent years.If I was accepted as a neutral mediator by all sides, I would most certainly be able to play a big role, Musharraf told Al Arabiya television in remarks dubbed in Arabic.How would I deal with this issue? ... I would go to Israel and meet leaders there or maybe in a third country, said Musharraf, adding that he would wait to see if there was a chance of visiting Israel.
Israel and the Palestinians last held final-status negotiations six years ago but the United States is trying to press them to take steps towards reviving the peace process.Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said: We believe that moderate Muslim states like Pakistan can have an important role in promoting peace in the Middle East.
Earlier this month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed at Washington's behest to discuss confidence-building measures. Israel talks to Abbas, but shuns the Palestinian government led by Hamas. The Islamist group is also under a Western embargo to press it to recognize Israel and renounce violence.In March, Arab countries revived a 2002 plan offering Israel normal ties with all Arab states in return for full withdrawal from lands it occupied in the 1967 war, a Palestinian state and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.Israel, citing demographic and security concerns, opposes the return of Palestinian refugees to their former homes in what is now the Jewish state. It also wants to retain its largest settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
ARAB PEACE PLANNERS
Arabs ask Egypt and Jordan to contact Israelis
By Alaa Shahine Reuters - Wednesday, April 19
CAIRO (Reuters) - Arab foreign ministers asked Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to contact Israelis and try to persuade them to accept an Arab peace plan offering normal relations in return for land and a Palestinian state.
Egypt and Jordan already have relations with Israel and the Israeli government had hoped that the Arabs would include other Arab governments in the Arab League working group set up to promote the plan with the Jewish state.But the Arab League named only Egypt and Jordan as the members of the group which will contact the Israelis. Another working group of eight Arab foreign ministers and the Arab League chief will make broader contacts elsewhere.
There is no free normalisation (of relations), Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told a news conference after a special ministerial meeting on the peace plan.Asked when contacts would start, he said: It could be tomorrow or within a week. It will be up to Egypt and Jordan.A spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would give the Arab delegation a hearing.We will be happy to listen to the Arab initiative ... We will not dictate to anybody what they need to say to us, and we will express our positions and will be happy to do so to the representatives, said spokeswoman Miri Eisin.The Arab peace plan, relaunched at an Arab summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh last month, offers Israel relations with all Arab states in return for land captured in the Middle East war of 1967 and a settlement for Palestinian refugees.
The Arab League said the mandate for Egypt and Jordan would be to start efforts to put the Arab peace initiative into effect (and) facilitate a start to direct negotiations.It is significant because the Arab League is sending two Arab countries to negotiate with Israel, an Israeli government source added. But this is a very long road and they made a very small step at the beginning of it.
NOT FOR NEGOTIATION
Moussa said the Arab working group could be expanded at a later stage if the Israeli government met a list of Arab demands, including lifting sanctions against the Palestinian government and an end to work on Jewish settlements and on the barrier it is building through the West Bank.But Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, asked if his country might join the expanded working group, said: No.Moussa said another unnamed Arab minister, asked if he would make contact with the Israelis, said: That'll be the day.Egypt and the Arab League have dismissed speculation that the working group will negotiate details of the peace plan with Israel, saying that is up to Arab governments which have territorial claims -- Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians.The Arab peace initiative dates back to an Arab summit in Beirut in 2002 but Israel had rejected the terms as too demanding and the United States showed
little interest in it.
The attitude of Israel and the United States has changed in public but analysts say it is not yet clear whether Israel is prepared to be more flexible on final status issues such as the borders of a Palestinian state and Palestinian refugees.The countries in the other working group are Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria.(Additional reporting by Jonathan Wright and Aziz el-Kaissouni)
By Alaa Shahine Reuters - Wednesday, April 19
CAIRO (Reuters) - Arab foreign ministers asked Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to contact Israelis and try to persuade them to accept an Arab peace plan offering normal relations in return for land and a Palestinian state.
Egypt and Jordan already have relations with Israel and the Israeli government had hoped that the Arabs would include other Arab governments in the Arab League working group set up to promote the plan with the Jewish state.But the Arab League named only Egypt and Jordan as the members of the group which will contact the Israelis. Another working group of eight Arab foreign ministers and the Arab League chief will make broader contacts elsewhere.
There is no free normalisation (of relations), Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told a news conference after a special ministerial meeting on the peace plan.Asked when contacts would start, he said: It could be tomorrow or within a week. It will be up to Egypt and Jordan.A spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would give the Arab delegation a hearing.We will be happy to listen to the Arab initiative ... We will not dictate to anybody what they need to say to us, and we will express our positions and will be happy to do so to the representatives, said spokeswoman Miri Eisin.The Arab peace plan, relaunched at an Arab summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh last month, offers Israel relations with all Arab states in return for land captured in the Middle East war of 1967 and a settlement for Palestinian refugees.
The Arab League said the mandate for Egypt and Jordan would be to start efforts to put the Arab peace initiative into effect (and) facilitate a start to direct negotiations.It is significant because the Arab League is sending two Arab countries to negotiate with Israel, an Israeli government source added. But this is a very long road and they made a very small step at the beginning of it.
NOT FOR NEGOTIATION
Moussa said the Arab working group could be expanded at a later stage if the Israeli government met a list of Arab demands, including lifting sanctions against the Palestinian government and an end to work on Jewish settlements and on the barrier it is building through the West Bank.But Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, asked if his country might join the expanded working group, said: No.Moussa said another unnamed Arab minister, asked if he would make contact with the Israelis, said: That'll be the day.Egypt and the Arab League have dismissed speculation that the working group will negotiate details of the peace plan with Israel, saying that is up to Arab governments which have territorial claims -- Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians.The Arab peace initiative dates back to an Arab summit in Beirut in 2002 but Israel had rejected the terms as too demanding and the United States showed
little interest in it.
The attitude of Israel and the United States has changed in public but analysts say it is not yet clear whether Israel is prepared to be more flexible on final status issues such as the borders of a Palestinian state and Palestinian refugees.The countries in the other working group are Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria.(Additional reporting by Jonathan Wright and Aziz el-Kaissouni)
Friday, April 13, 2007
ISRAEL SYRIA PEACE IN 6 MONTHS RIGHT
ISAIAH 17:1
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. AND SYRIA WILL MAKE PEACE IN 6 MONTHS GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Syria-Israel peace possible within six months: negotiator by Ron Bousso APR 13,07
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Syria and Israel could clinch a peace deal in six months, a Syrian-American businessman at the heart of secret unofficial peace talks said on Thursday after appearing before a top parliamentary panel. Peace can be reached in six months if both parties are willing, Ibrahim (Abe) Suleiman said. The negotiations are finished. There are only minor things that could be fixed in two or three meetings. Peace is possible now.Suleiman spoke to reporters after appearing before parliament's powerful foreign affairs and defence committee with Alon Liel, a former Israeli foreign ministry director general who headed the Israeli side in the unofficial talks.
Suleiman and Liel headed two years of the secret talks during which understandings were reached for a peace treaty between Syria and Israel.Suleiman, 60, was at the centre of the official peace talks between Israel and Syria which began following the Madrid peace summit, including the 1996 US-sponsored talks at Wye Plantation and later in 2000 in Shepherdstown.During those talks, Suleiman said on Thursday, the sides solved 80 percent of disagreements.He said that he and Liel succeeded in further narrowing the gap between the sides, and that their talks should be replaced by official negotiations.Our work is done, now it's up to officials in Israel and Syria to sit down and iron out their differences, the US businessman said. We gave them a peace map.Syria's President Bashar al-Assad wants peace with Israel. He wants to make peace and be known as the man of peace.
I believe him, but Bashar al-Assad alone cannot make peace, he needs a partner in Israel. I challenge the Israeli government to answer President Bashar's call for peace to sit down together and work things out.Suleiman nevertheless doubted the ability of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to make meaningful steps towards peace talks and withdraw from the Golan plateau.The obstacle is Ehud Olmert. He is definitely not strong enough to make peace. His popularity is very, very low, he said in an interview with Channel 10 TV.Olmert has repeatedly rejected peace overtures by the Syrian president in recent months, saying Damascus must first stop supporting militant groups in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.A spokesman for the Olmert's office, David Baker, said in reaction that Syria is not earnest in its desire for peace. It continues to harbour terrorist groups in Damascus while promoting terror against Israel in every possible way.
Israeli MP Danny Yatom, a former chief of the Mossad spy agency who was involved in peace talks between the two sides, also doubted Syria's intentions.You don't have to be an expert to see that the Syrians are not ready for serious peace talks, he told reporters after hearing Suleiman and Liel in the parliament committee.Reports of the secret talks first appeared in the Israeli press in January.At the time, the Israeli and Syrian governments denied any knowledge of the contacts, which were held in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006 in the presence of a European mediator. Peace talks between Israel and Syria collapsed in 2000, in part because of disputes over the return of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and unilaterally annexed in 1981.
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. AND SYRIA WILL MAKE PEACE IN 6 MONTHS GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Syria-Israel peace possible within six months: negotiator by Ron Bousso APR 13,07
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Syria and Israel could clinch a peace deal in six months, a Syrian-American businessman at the heart of secret unofficial peace talks said on Thursday after appearing before a top parliamentary panel. Peace can be reached in six months if both parties are willing, Ibrahim (Abe) Suleiman said. The negotiations are finished. There are only minor things that could be fixed in two or three meetings. Peace is possible now.Suleiman spoke to reporters after appearing before parliament's powerful foreign affairs and defence committee with Alon Liel, a former Israeli foreign ministry director general who headed the Israeli side in the unofficial talks.
Suleiman and Liel headed two years of the secret talks during which understandings were reached for a peace treaty between Syria and Israel.Suleiman, 60, was at the centre of the official peace talks between Israel and Syria which began following the Madrid peace summit, including the 1996 US-sponsored talks at Wye Plantation and later in 2000 in Shepherdstown.During those talks, Suleiman said on Thursday, the sides solved 80 percent of disagreements.He said that he and Liel succeeded in further narrowing the gap between the sides, and that their talks should be replaced by official negotiations.Our work is done, now it's up to officials in Israel and Syria to sit down and iron out their differences, the US businessman said. We gave them a peace map.Syria's President Bashar al-Assad wants peace with Israel. He wants to make peace and be known as the man of peace.
I believe him, but Bashar al-Assad alone cannot make peace, he needs a partner in Israel. I challenge the Israeli government to answer President Bashar's call for peace to sit down together and work things out.Suleiman nevertheless doubted the ability of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to make meaningful steps towards peace talks and withdraw from the Golan plateau.The obstacle is Ehud Olmert. He is definitely not strong enough to make peace. His popularity is very, very low, he said in an interview with Channel 10 TV.Olmert has repeatedly rejected peace overtures by the Syrian president in recent months, saying Damascus must first stop supporting militant groups in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.A spokesman for the Olmert's office, David Baker, said in reaction that Syria is not earnest in its desire for peace. It continues to harbour terrorist groups in Damascus while promoting terror against Israel in every possible way.
Israeli MP Danny Yatom, a former chief of the Mossad spy agency who was involved in peace talks between the two sides, also doubted Syria's intentions.You don't have to be an expert to see that the Syrians are not ready for serious peace talks, he told reporters after hearing Suleiman and Liel in the parliament committee.Reports of the secret talks first appeared in the Israeli press in January.At the time, the Israeli and Syrian governments denied any knowledge of the contacts, which were held in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006 in the presence of a European mediator. Peace talks between Israel and Syria collapsed in 2000, in part because of disputes over the return of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and unilaterally annexed in 1981.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
ISRAEL PAL LEADERS TO MEET
Israeli, Palestinian leaders to meet By STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writer APR 11,07
JERUSALEM - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet Sunday, an aide to the Israeli leader said, keeping their promise to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hold regular talks. The venue was to be finalized later Wednesday, Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin said. Saeb Erekat, an Abbas confidant, said the Palestinians invited Olmert to meet in the West Bank town of Jericho, but hadn't heard back.The two men last met March 11 but pledged during a subsequent Rice visit to hold talks every two weeks.
The Palestinians want to head straight to the core issues dividing the two sides, such as the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of disputed Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees' demands to return to land they fled or were driven from when Israel was established in 1948.Olmert's aides have said he would only talk to Abbas about security and humanitarian issues, and a general political horizon.
Divisive issues could be addressed once Palestinians halt their rocket fire into Israel from Gaza and release an Israeli soldier captured in June, they said.Hopes of progress toward releasing Cpl. Gilad Shalit diminished Tuesday when Olmert's office balked at a list of Palestinian prisoners the soldier's captors want freed in exchange.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti has said the list included Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five consecutive life terms in the murder of four Israelis and a Greek monk, and Ahmed Saadat, leader of small radical faction suspected in the 2001 assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister.In the past, Israel has hesitated to release Palestinians involved in killings, but has made exceptions. Public pressure has been building to make a deal for Shalit and two other soldiers captured three weeks later by Lebanese guerrillas in a cross-border raid that set off an inconclusive 34-day war last summer.After Abbas meets Olmert, he and Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr plan to leave on a 10-day trip to Europe on a campaign to lift aid sanctions that have crippled their government.
Abbas aides said they hope to persuade their hosts to ease the blockade imposed after Islamic Hamas militants swept to power in January 2006 elections, now that a new unity government has taken office with members of the more pragmatic Fatah party.Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad met European Union officials in Brussels on Wednesday and later told reporters that the new Palestinian government would need $1.33 billion in international aid this year.This is assistance we need to get back on our feet, Fayyad said after meeting with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.On Tuesday, the State Department said Congress had approved $59 million in U.S. aid to Palestinian security forces and the money was ready to be disbursed.
The package, reduced from $86 million over concerns that some money might go to radical groups, soon will be on its way to security forces controlled by Abbas, spokesman Sean McCormack said.Also Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Jewish settlers who moved into a disputed house in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron would be given notice to evacuate but would not be evicted until the legal appeals process is completed, which other officials said could take weeks.The Israelis moved into the house in an Arab neighborhood on March 19, saying they bought it from Palestinians. Peretz said the settlers had not requested Israeli government authorization to live there and would be ordered to leave.In my opinion there is no reason why the presence in the house should continue, therefore I intend to exercise my authority and have them removed, Peretz told Israel Radio.He did not give a time frame. The Yesha settlers' council said it would fight Peretz's decision
with all its might.Hebron is believed by Jews and Muslims to be the burial site of biblical patriarchs and is a frequent flashpoint. Israel controls the center, where about 500 settlers live in heavily guarded enclaves among about 160,000 Palestinians. The Palestinians control the rest of the city.
JERUSALEM - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet Sunday, an aide to the Israeli leader said, keeping their promise to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hold regular talks. The venue was to be finalized later Wednesday, Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin said. Saeb Erekat, an Abbas confidant, said the Palestinians invited Olmert to meet in the West Bank town of Jericho, but hadn't heard back.The two men last met March 11 but pledged during a subsequent Rice visit to hold talks every two weeks.
The Palestinians want to head straight to the core issues dividing the two sides, such as the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of disputed Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees' demands to return to land they fled or were driven from when Israel was established in 1948.Olmert's aides have said he would only talk to Abbas about security and humanitarian issues, and a general political horizon.
Divisive issues could be addressed once Palestinians halt their rocket fire into Israel from Gaza and release an Israeli soldier captured in June, they said.Hopes of progress toward releasing Cpl. Gilad Shalit diminished Tuesday when Olmert's office balked at a list of Palestinian prisoners the soldier's captors want freed in exchange.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti has said the list included Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five consecutive life terms in the murder of four Israelis and a Greek monk, and Ahmed Saadat, leader of small radical faction suspected in the 2001 assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister.In the past, Israel has hesitated to release Palestinians involved in killings, but has made exceptions. Public pressure has been building to make a deal for Shalit and two other soldiers captured three weeks later by Lebanese guerrillas in a cross-border raid that set off an inconclusive 34-day war last summer.After Abbas meets Olmert, he and Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr plan to leave on a 10-day trip to Europe on a campaign to lift aid sanctions that have crippled their government.
Abbas aides said they hope to persuade their hosts to ease the blockade imposed after Islamic Hamas militants swept to power in January 2006 elections, now that a new unity government has taken office with members of the more pragmatic Fatah party.Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad met European Union officials in Brussels on Wednesday and later told reporters that the new Palestinian government would need $1.33 billion in international aid this year.This is assistance we need to get back on our feet, Fayyad said after meeting with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.On Tuesday, the State Department said Congress had approved $59 million in U.S. aid to Palestinian security forces and the money was ready to be disbursed.
The package, reduced from $86 million over concerns that some money might go to radical groups, soon will be on its way to security forces controlled by Abbas, spokesman Sean McCormack said.Also Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Jewish settlers who moved into a disputed house in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron would be given notice to evacuate but would not be evicted until the legal appeals process is completed, which other officials said could take weeks.The Israelis moved into the house in an Arab neighborhood on March 19, saying they bought it from Palestinians. Peretz said the settlers had not requested Israeli government authorization to live there and would be ordered to leave.In my opinion there is no reason why the presence in the house should continue, therefore I intend to exercise my authority and have them removed, Peretz told Israel Radio.He did not give a time frame. The Yesha settlers' council said it would fight Peretz's decision
with all its might.Hebron is believed by Jews and Muslims to be the burial site of biblical patriarchs and is a frequent flashpoint. Israel controls the center, where about 500 settlers live in heavily guarded enclaves among about 160,000 Palestinians. The Palestinians control the rest of the city.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
LIEBERMAN - DIPLOMATIC - NEGOTIATION
April 05 2007; 02:04PM
My Truth: The Middle East is nobody's playground
Avigdor Lieberman (Jerusalem Post)
In light of the recent inundation of peace initiatives in the region - predominantly originating from external players (such as the Saudi Plan and speaker Pelosi’s initiative in Damascus) – I would like to voice my reservations and conditions for any diplomatic negotiation.
On the Palestinian front, two points:
Firstly, I reiterate my position which I have stated publicly in the media, and privately to top US administration officials several times over the last six months: You can’t impose a political solution in the region before you ensure two basic prerequisites: Security for Israelis and prosperity for Palestinians.
Citizens on both sides of the conflict are tired of new peace plans and initiatives they have been disappointed too many times over the last 14 years. Every individual Israeli or Palestinian - has to see his own personal benefit in any agreement before endorsing it.
Secondly, any solution must take into account the status of Israeli Arabs (or as they prefer to be called, Palestinians living in Israel). The risk of ignoring this sector of the population is that we might find ourselves in the future with a Palestinian nation-state on the one hand, and Israel a bi-national state with over 20% minorities who have a strong, national bond to the neighboring state on the other.
In that occurrence, I predict we will either see an irridenta-type move to unite the predominately Arab Galilee and Negev desert regions with the future Palestinian state, or alternatively, a demand for their autonomy. Do not be mistaken - I am in favor of a two-state solution; not one and a half states for the Palestinian people and half a state for the Jewish people.
On the Syrian front:
There is no point starting any negotiations with talk about territorial concessions. Since the Camp David accords in 1978, the State of Israel has relinquished territory three times its size (Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, substantial parts of Judea and Samaria to the PA in the Oslo accords, and the Gaza strip to the PA in the 2005 disengagement), yet we are no closer to peace today than we were back then. In fact, we might be further away. The basis for peace with Syria must be peace-for-peace. This might sound revolutionary, but it is really the only formula that will ensure real peace, not a one sided real estate deal. If we can reach such an agreement, I am confident we will be able to settle our territorial disputes in an innovative way such as the long term land lease that was part of the Israel-Jordan peace deal.
Lastly, the Middle East is nobody’s playground. You don’t get to be a part of the process unless you are willing to be an integral part of the solution. This is not an experiment in political science or international relations. For example, one of the issues deemed toughest to resolve the issue of the Palestinian refugees can be easily put to rest by minimal investment ending their transitory status in the surrounding countries.
My Truth: The Middle East is nobody's playground
Avigdor Lieberman (Jerusalem Post)
In light of the recent inundation of peace initiatives in the region - predominantly originating from external players (such as the Saudi Plan and speaker Pelosi’s initiative in Damascus) – I would like to voice my reservations and conditions for any diplomatic negotiation.
On the Palestinian front, two points:
Firstly, I reiterate my position which I have stated publicly in the media, and privately to top US administration officials several times over the last six months: You can’t impose a political solution in the region before you ensure two basic prerequisites: Security for Israelis and prosperity for Palestinians.
Citizens on both sides of the conflict are tired of new peace plans and initiatives they have been disappointed too many times over the last 14 years. Every individual Israeli or Palestinian - has to see his own personal benefit in any agreement before endorsing it.
Secondly, any solution must take into account the status of Israeli Arabs (or as they prefer to be called, Palestinians living in Israel). The risk of ignoring this sector of the population is that we might find ourselves in the future with a Palestinian nation-state on the one hand, and Israel a bi-national state with over 20% minorities who have a strong, national bond to the neighboring state on the other.
In that occurrence, I predict we will either see an irridenta-type move to unite the predominately Arab Galilee and Negev desert regions with the future Palestinian state, or alternatively, a demand for their autonomy. Do not be mistaken - I am in favor of a two-state solution; not one and a half states for the Palestinian people and half a state for the Jewish people.
On the Syrian front:
There is no point starting any negotiations with talk about territorial concessions. Since the Camp David accords in 1978, the State of Israel has relinquished territory three times its size (Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, substantial parts of Judea and Samaria to the PA in the Oslo accords, and the Gaza strip to the PA in the 2005 disengagement), yet we are no closer to peace today than we were back then. In fact, we might be further away. The basis for peace with Syria must be peace-for-peace. This might sound revolutionary, but it is really the only formula that will ensure real peace, not a one sided real estate deal. If we can reach such an agreement, I am confident we will be able to settle our territorial disputes in an innovative way such as the long term land lease that was part of the Israel-Jordan peace deal.
Lastly, the Middle East is nobody’s playground. You don’t get to be a part of the process unless you are willing to be an integral part of the solution. This is not an experiment in political science or international relations. For example, one of the issues deemed toughest to resolve the issue of the Palestinian refugees can be easily put to rest by minimal investment ending their transitory status in the surrounding countries.
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