Tag Archive for Peace Process

| May 30, 2014
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John Kerry: Israel’s response to Fatah-Hamas unity deal ‘appropriate’

 

US Sec. of State says Israel’s wait-&-see approach to formation of Palestinian reconciliation gov’t is “appropriate.”

By JTA
 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel’s wait-and-see approach to Fatah-Hamas unity talks was “appropriate.”

John Kerry

John Kerry – Photo: REUTERS

He made the remarks in an interview Thursday night on PBS, adding that he was “disappointed that the [peace] process, what is in place, that that didn’t produce the next step.”

Asked about the negotiations on unity between Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, Kerry said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu “and Israel are waiting to see what happens with the Hamas reconciliation, with the announcement of a new government, with the question of what that new government may or may not choose to do. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| May 7, 2014
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US Officials: Via Violence or Unilateral Maneuvering, Palestine Will Be a State

American representatives come dangerous close to condoning Palestinian intransigence & violence by playing the blame game & ignoring core issues

By Ryan Jones

 

 

American negotiators connected to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s failed peace initiative warned in an interview with Israeli media last week that the Palestinians will eventually have their state, either through violence or unilateral maneuvering.

John Kerry, meets with Mahmoud Abbas - Photo: Thaer Ghanaim/AFP

John Kerry meets with Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Thaer Ghanaim/AFP

Many Israelis were outraged, saying the remarks came dangerously close to condoning both Palestinian terrorism and the Palestinian leadership’s rejection of Israel’s peace demands.

The negotiators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told leading Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea of Yediot Ahronot that, in their assessment, primary blame for the failure of the peace talks falls to Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| April 22, 2014
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Abbas: Borders outline, Jewish homes freeze & release prisoners or talks ended

 

‘If Israel believes in the 2-state solution, then let’s talk borders,’ PA head says in 1st public comments regarding possibility of extending peace talks.

By Elior Levy

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the first time spoke about the Palestinian demands for extending peace talks: A three months freeze in settlement construction during which time talks would focus on delineating the border of the future Palestinian state.

“If Israel believes in the two state solution… let us define the borders – where Israel will be and where Palestine will be,” he said in a special press conference to Israel journalists covering peace talks Tuesday. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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Abbas agrees to extend peace talks by 9 months for map, freeze & prisoners

 

State Dept. says US special envoy Martin Indyk is en route to Israel to continue work on extending talks as Abbas hints to Israeli MKs he is willing to extend talks on condition they focus on core issues.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his willingness to extended talks by an additional nine months, on the condition that talks held during this time focus on core issues – namely final border arrangements.

Abbas with Labor MK Yehiel (Hilik) Bar (Photo: AFP)

Abbas with Labor MK Yehiel (Hilik) Bar – Photo: AFP

The position was insinuated by Abbas and PA officials during a Wednesday meeting Abbas held with leftwing Israeli MKs from the Labor party and Meretz, and came as US Special Envoy Martin Indyk was en route to the region in a bid to reach an agreement to extend negotiations beyond their end-of-April deadline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 13, 2014
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Liberman: 3rd time Palestinians derail impending agreement at last minute

 

Foreign Minister Liberman points out Palestinian request to join 15 int’l treaties to Arafat’s sneaking out at Camp David in 2002 (during Ehud Barak’s term) and Abbas not signing deal at Annapolis Conference in 2008 (during Ehud Olmert’s term).

By HERB KEINON
 

 

The Palestinians are repeating a pattern they have demonstrated in the past of getting cold feet at the last minute before an agreement is about to be signed, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told foreign ambassadors on Sunday.

Avigdor Lieberman.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman – Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

“What happened last week, is that we were very close to accomplish the package deal with the Palestinians,” Liberman said, referring to the deal on the table — that included the US release of Jonathan Pollard — that was designed to keep the negotiations going past the April 29 deadline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 11, 2014
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Talks continuing as Israel hits Abbas’ PA with punitive economic sanctions

 

U.S. State Department official reports gaps narrowing between Israel & Palestinian Authority, but reports of agreement are premature.

By HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 

 

Israeli and Palestinian officials did not reach an agreement on Thursday during their fourth session in a week to find a way out of the current impasse in the talks, but sources familiar with their discussions said they did agree to continue meeting in the days ahead.

Netanyahu and Abbas - Photo: REUTERS

Netanyahu and Abbas Photo: REUTERS

The sources’ comments came amid reports coming from Cairo – where Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Arab League officials – that there was a breakthrough in the talks that would enable a continuation of the talks past the April 29 deadline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 9, 2014
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Abbas worried Israel will freeze tax revenues to PA in retaliation to unilateral moves

 

PA official says Abbas will ask the Arab League for financial support in the event of Israeli economic sanctions.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Tuesday that PA President Mahmoud Abbas will appeal at an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Wednesday for political and economic support in the event of Israeli punitive measures.

Abbas

Abbas at Arab League summit – Photo: REUTERS

Malki’s comments came after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this week issued a stern warning to the Palestinians about their application to join 15 international treaties and conventions and any future steps the PA might take outside the negotiating process to shore up legal standing as a state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 4, 2014
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Lapid: Abbas’ incessant unreasonable demands guarantee cessation of talks

Finance Minister & Yesh Atid party leader Lapid, still supports diplomatic solution but says Abbas is working against himself by making new set of demands. There’s doubt that PA leader Abbas really wants an agreement.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

There is great doubt that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is interested in reaching a peace agreement with Israel, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said on Friday morning.

Finanace Minister Yair Lapid

Finance Minister Yair Lapid in the Knesset – Photo: Reuters

Lapid implied that his party, Yesh Atid, was disappointed by a list of demands published on Thursday by the PA for continuing talks past the end of April. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 3, 2014
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Israel’s FM Liberman says Palestinian move to UN was big mistake

 

Israeli Foreign Minister defends Sec. of St. Kerry, praises his tireless attempts at bringing about an agreement with the Palestinians.

By GIL HOFFMAN

 

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman continued his recent efforts to play the role of the “responsible adult” in Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians on Wednesday when he advised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to continue negotiations rather than turn to the UN.

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman.

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman. – Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Speaking to a hall packed with Yisrael Beytenu activists in Jerusalem, Liberman said Israel should not run after the Palestinians if they do not want to negotiate.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 2, 2014
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Contrary to Kerry’s statement, PA has submitted official bid to join 15 int’l conventions

 

Palestinians say because Israel won’t free more prisoners, Palestine has formally requested to become signatory to treaties on apartheid & the laws of war.

By

 

The Palestinian Authority officially asked Wednesday that the state of Palestine become a signatory to 15 international conventions.

Abbas addresses the UN

PA President Mahmoud Abbas addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, November 29, 2012.- Photo: Reuters

The request was made by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki, who met with Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, and Swiss and Dutch envoys to the Palestinian Authority.

Maliki told the diplomats that the Palestinian request came in response to Israel’s failure to release the fourth batch of prisoners it said it would free if peace talks progressed.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 28, 2014
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Canadian FM Baird: Jewish refugees need be considered into Mideast peace accord

 

Foreign Minister Baird stresses recognition of all the refugee populations, and that the 800,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries ‘does not diminish or compete with the situation of Palestinian refugees.’

By Ynetnews

 

Recognition of Jewish refugees from Arab states should be part of the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said Wednesday.

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (R) greets his Canadian counterpart John Baird before their dinner in Jerusalem, Jan. 19, 2013. - Photo: REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (R) greets his Canadian counterpart John Baird before their dinner in Jerusalem, Jan. 19, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

On Wednesday, the Canadian House of Commons accepted a report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, that recommended the Canadian government officially recognize the experience of Jewish refugees from Arab states. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 28, 2014
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Israel will not release 4th group of 26 Palestinian security prisoners Saturday

 

By law, the names of the murderers chosen for release must be made public 48 hours prior, not including Shabbat, in order to allow time for appeals to the High Court of Justice.

Israel’s Prime Minister heads committee that decides which prisoners will be released.

By HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 

 

Israel will not release a fourth batch of 26 Palestinian security prisoners Saturday night as stipulated under the framework deal that led to the renewal of negotiations last July.

Gaza woman walks past posters of Palestinian prisoners

Gaza woman walks past posters of Palestinian prisoners – Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

The five-minister committee chaired by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that is empowered to choose which convicted terrorists will be released would need to have met on Wednesday to make a Saturday-night release possible. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 26, 2014
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Women have been absent in the pursuit of Mideast peace, conclusions?

 

As the diplomatic process fails to bare fruit, one cannot wonder whether the fact that only one woman at the negotiation table has something to do with it. Activist says, ‘More women need to be among the decisions makers.’

By Alexandra Lukash

 

Except for a handful of women, the majority of people leading diplomatic efforts to reach peace since the time of the Oslo Accords have been men. However, a string of unofficial grassroots projects led by women are intended to change that, with Arab and Jewish women meeting on a regular basis in the hopes of feminizing the process. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 23, 2014
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Abbas: Israel’s refusal to free imprisoned terrorists would be breach of deal

After Palestinian leader Abbas returned from Washington, having refused all compromises, now warns of action if Israel does not release 4th & final batch of Palestinian prisoners

By i24News/AFP

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned Saturday of action if Israel failed to release the fourth and final batch of prisoners as agreed under a US-backed deal.

Palestinians president Mahmud Abbas waves to his supporters following his trip to Washington DC, on March 20, 2014, in the West Bank city of Ramallah ( Abbas Momani (AFP) )

Palestinians president Mahmud Abbas waves to his supporters following his trip to Washington DC, on March 20, 2014, in the West Bank city of Ramallah – Photo: Abbas Momani /AFP

“We are awaiting the release of the fourth batch of prisoners, as agreed upon with the Israelis through the United States,” he told members of the central committee of his Fatah movement. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 23, 2014
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Abbas: Nothing less than a fully sovereign state with east Jerusalem as its capital

 

Speaking at emergency Fatah Central Committee meeting in Ramallah, Abbas briefs officials on his refusals to compromise on all issues at meetings in the US.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

The Palestinians won’t accept anything less than a fully sovereign state with east Jerusalem as its capital, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday.

Le président de l'Autorité palestinienne Mahmoud Abbas (g) et Barack Obama à la Maison Blanche, le 17 mars 2014 ( Saul Loeb (AFP) )

Abbas was speaking during an emergency meeting of the Fatah Central Committee in Ramallah.

The Palestinians won’t make any concessions on their rights “regardless of the pressure and threats,” he said.

A Fatah official quoted Abbas as complaining that the US administration was exerting heavy pressure on him to make concessions to Israel in order to boost the peace talks. Continue Reading »

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