Tag Archive for Peace Process

| January 23, 2014
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For 3rd time EU threatens Israel & Palestinians of repercussions of peace failure

 

Israel’s largest economic partner who’s also the Palestinians’ biggest donor says both parties to suffer if peace-talks fail.

EU representative: Israel will find itself increasingly isolated

By Reuters

 

Both sides of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks risk paying a high price in losing European Union trade and aid if negotiations collapse, the EU ambassador to Israel said on Wednesday.

 

EU Parliament in Brussels

Pedestrians walk toward EU Parliament in Brussels. – Photo: Reuters

For long seen as a “payer not a player” in the region, the European Union has started making clear that its role as Israel’s biggest trade partner and the Palestinians’ largest donor should not be taken for granted. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 20, 2014
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Finally: Obama admits little chance for Israeli-Palestinian peace deal

 

In an interview with The New Yorker magazine, U.S. President Barack Obama says his Middle East initiatives — Iran, Syria & Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, have less than 50% chance of reaching final treaties.

PA: We will never recognize a Jewish Israel.<— maybe that’s one reason?

By Eli Leon, Shlomo Cesana and Efrat Forsher

 

U.S. President Barack Obama thinks that the chances of the ongoing U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resulting in a final peace agreement are less than 50 percent, according to an interview he gave to The New Yorker magazine.

U.S. President Barack Obama – Photo: AFP

“Obama told me that in all three of his main initiatives in the region — with Iran, with Israel and the Palestinians, with Syria — the odds of completing final treaties are less than fifty-fifty,” wrote The New Yorker editor David Remnick.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 20, 2014
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Israel sends terrorists’ bodies to Palestinian Authority

The remains of 36 terrorists to be transferred to the PA following court order.

Israeli official says the move was purely procedural & denies the move is any ‘gesture’.

By i24news

 

 

Israel late Sunday began the gradual handover of the remains of 36 Palestinians buried on its turf to the Palestinian Authority in a move reportedly aimed at boosting the ongoing peace talks between the two sides.

Bodies of terrorists transferred to Palestinians ( AFP )

The deceased were militants laid to rest in “numbered graves” at a specially designated cemetery for enemy fatalities.

The transfer became possible after Israel’s High Court of Justice acquiesced to release the bodies following an appeal by Israeli human right groups and the Palestinian families of the late militants. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 15, 2014
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Palestinian Law: Abbas Lacks Authority to Make Peace Agreement

Mahmoud Abbas:
President of the State of Palestine
President of the Palestinian Authority
Chairman of the PLO
Leader of Fatah

Abbas’ 1st objective in the Palestinian’s order of priorities is to receive full sovereignty on the territory of 1967 – while leaving the conflict wide open.

By Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi

 

 

Mahmoud Abbas – “the president of the state of Palestine,” chairman of the Palestinian Authority, leader of the PLO, and head of Fatah – must recognize that he is not a serious partner for negotiating with Israel because he does not have the authority to make decisions for the Palestinian people. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| January 14, 2014
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Arab Leader: We get Jerusalem, or No Peace

 

Despite John Kerry’s efforts, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas again signals everyone just how unrealistic a true peace deal really is.

By Ryan Jones

 

The Palestinian leadership at the weekend again signaled how far we are from reaching a bilateral, final status peace agreement, the determined and ongoing efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry notwithstanding.

Palestinians: Give Us Jerusalem, or No Peace

Mahmoud Abbas (center) – Photo source: Israel Today

In a previous report, Israel Today pointed out how Israelis see control over Jerusalem as the next, and most significant stumbling block on the road to peace.

Polls over the past decade have consistently shown that an overwhelming majority of Israelis are opposed to surrendering to the Palestinians the eastern half of their ancient capital, including the Old City and its Temple Mount. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| January 9, 2014
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King Abdullah of Jordan agrees to coordinate with Abbas unified response to Kerry

 

Jordanian Foreign Minister: Establishment of an independent Palestinian state is on Jordan’s national interest.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah on Wednesday discussed US Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest proposals for achieving peace between the Palestinians and Israel.

Jordan’s King Abdullah (L) welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Royal Palace in Amman – REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Abbas said after meeting with the Jordanian monarch in Amman that the two sides agreed on a united response to Kerry’s ideas.

“Kerry is still presenting ideas and we are discussing them,” Abbas said. “He [Kerry] will come soon and we have ongoing meetings with his aides.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| January 8, 2014
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Liberman quips: Suddenly Herzl has become Israeli Arabs’ ‘national hero’

FM Liberman in reference to moving Israel’s border: There is no reason why Israeli Arabs (living on border with PA territory) “should not join their brethren under full Palestinian sovereignty and become citizens of the future Palestinian state that they want so badly.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman questioned the loyalty of some Israeli Arabs to the State of Israel on Wednesday in response to criticism over his recent statement about a possible future peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Avigdor Lieberman.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman – Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

Liberman said his party would only support a peace treaty if there were territory and population transfers of Israeli Arabs into a future Palestinian state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 7, 2014
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Israeli Arabs speak out: ‘We are Israeli citizens and demand to remain in Israel’

 

 

Arab residents of the Jewish State see Lieberman land swap plan as problematic, say most would fight, or move to stay in Israel: ‘The Arab population won’t agree to give up their citizenship’

By Israel Moskowitz

 

While Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was surprisingly bonding with the prospect of a peace deal with the Palestinians, his support for a land swap wasn’t met with the same enthusiasm by those who would likely be part of the transfer.

Lieberman at the Saban Conference (Photo: Shachar Azran)

Lieberman at the Saban Conference – Photo: Shachar Az

Lieberman said he supported the option of a land and population exchange with the Palestinians, clarifying that he envisioned the transfer of the predominantly Arab “Triangle” of communities and Wadi Ara, a main artery between central and northern Israel bordering the West Bank, in return for Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 6, 2014
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PA Official: Plan to eliminate Israel is basis on PA policy of ‘Stages’

 

Palestinian leader Abbas Zaki, close associate to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, says Palestine on the 1967 borders is only 1st stage in the PA’s program because “the inspiring idea cannot be achieved all at once. [Rather] in stages”

By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

 

AbuSenior Palestinian official Abbas Zaki posted on his Facebook page an interview he gave to Syrian TV in which he said the PA will only agree to a treaty with Israel if the Palestinian state is established on the 1967 lines. However, he stressed that ’67 lines would only be the beginning. After that, the Palestinians will continue with the stages plan: “Even the most extreme among us, Hamas, or the fighting forces, want a state within the ’67 borders. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| January 5, 2014
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FM Liberman: No agreement with Palestinians without land & population swaps

 

Israel’s Foreign Minister says, “Nobody will be expelled from their homes or dispossessed of his possessions.”

By HERB KEINON
 

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Sunday that the only agreement with the Palestinians he will support will be one where there is an exchange of populations, and not only territory.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Speaking at an annual meeting of Israel’s ambassadors abroad at the Foreign Ministry, Liberman said he was referring specifically to re-routing the border so that Wadi Ara and the Little Triangle will be a part of a future Palestinian state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 5, 2014
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Mahmoud Abbas had ‘tough talks’ with Kerry in Ramallah

 

 

U.S. Sec. of State Kerry tells reporters in Jerusalem that White House’s Mideast plan will be ‘fair & balanced’ and that the US is committed to equitable peace deal that improves security for all.

By AFP

Tough words were exchanged between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State John Kerry this weekend, as the two met to discuss the peace process, an Abbas aide said Sunday morning.

Kerry in Jerusalem Photo: Matti Stern, US embassy

Speaking to the Arab world media, Yasser Abed Rabbo said their conversation Friday in Ramallah “was very tough indeed”, in particular when it came to the American wish for the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| December 31, 2013
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Israeli official: Kerry ‘Deceived Israel’ on Terrorist Prison Release

PM Binyamin Netanyahu has clarified to the White House that no Israeli Arab terrorists will be released as any “gesture” to the Palestinian Authority.

By Elad Benari

A senior Israeli official said on Monday that United States Secretary of State John Kerry had “deceived” Israel with regards to the release of terrorists as a “gesture” to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The unnamed official, who spoke to Channel 2 News, said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has made it clear to Kerry that the next batch of 26 terrorists that Israel is to release will not include any Israeli Arabs, contrary to the PA’s demand.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| December 30, 2013
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As Peace-Talks Are Ongoing, PA Children’s TV Pushes Hating Jews for Poisoning Arafat

November TV broadcasts timed for Arafat’s death anniversary shows kids blaming Jews for murdering Arafat, expressing their hatred for Israel.

By Ari Yashar

 

Official Palestinian Authority (PA) TV recently broadcast interviews of children repeating the libel that Jews “poisoned” former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, as part of a children’s program called The Best Home.

PA kids hate Jews for 'poisoning' Arafat Screenshot

PA kids hate Jews for ‘poisoning’ Arafat – Photo: PMW Screenshot

Despite the conclusions of a Russian team of forensics experts determining that Arafat died of natural causes, echoing similar French findings in refuting the PA libel against Israel, the PA pledged last Thursday it would continue investigating Arafat’s death. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| December 30, 2013
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Ya’alon: EU’s threat to boycott (no peace) preferable to rockets on Ben-Gurion Airport

Defense Minister Ya’alon correctly states that “wide-eyed & naïve people in the West” err in pressuring Israel that “peace must happen immediately”, leaving Israel without security guarantees, considering the history & present acts of violence of the Palestinians.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Monday said that if compromises in peace negotiations would lead to “rockets from Nablus, Ramallah and Jenin on to Ben-Gurion Airport, then I would rather have a European boycott” on Israel.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon- Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry spokesman

Ya’alon also addressed Sunday’s rocket attack from Lebanon. Despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s assigning responsibility to Lebanon and Hezbollah, the defense minister implied that preliminary information indicated that the attack was perpetrated by Sunnis fighting Hezbollah in Syria who hoped to fool Israel into retaliating against Hezbollah. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| December 28, 2013
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Next group of Palestinian terrorists to be release on December 30

After threats from the EU & US, now the Palestinian Authority warns Israel not to announce new construction in response to prisoner release.

By Reuters and

 

 

Israel has informed the United States of plans to release the next group of Palestinian prisoners on Dec. 30 under a U.S.-brokered peace plan, the State Department said on Friday.

Protest against release of Palestinian prisoners - AFP

Israeli protesters hold placards as they demonstrate in the city of Tel Aviv on December 26, 2013 against the release of Palestinian prisoners. – Photo: AFP

“Although we had expected the release to occur on December 29, we have been informed that technical issues made it necessary to do the release a day later,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. Continue Reading »

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