Tag Archive for Peace Process

| November 26, 2013
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Palestinian “Resignations” and their exploitation of the Peace Process

Erekat & other PLO officials who kept quitting (Mahmoud Abbas) were hoping that the Americans & Europeans would “freak out” at the thought of losing Palestinian “peace partners”, prompting them to exert pressure on Israel to make concessions.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

 

Since the signing of the Oslo Accords 20 years ago, PLO leaders and officials have threatened to resign each time they wanted something from the international community or Israel.

Saeb Erekat, the PLO’s chief negotiator, addresses the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, 2013. – Image source: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Saeb Erekat, the chief PLO negotiator, who is currently heading the PLO negotiating team with Israel, tendered his last “resignation” earlier this month in protest against “continued settlement construction.”

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| November 17, 2013
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Palestinian Chairman Abbas’ Newest Demand: Change Israeli Coalition Gov’t

Palestinian Authority advisor to Abbas insists that negotiations cannot continue unless Israel changes its current democratically elected coalition gov’t – and demands that it does.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Nimer Hamed, the political advisor to Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has expressed optimism in the success of peace talks – but only in the event that the PA and Israel can agree on matters related to security, including the crucial Jordan Valley region.

According to Reshet Bet, Hamed also claims that the PA cannot move forward with negotiations unless Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu changes the current coalition government.

Hamed added that the PA expects “concrete steps” from Israel following meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry – but the PA refuses to give any details about what those steps may entail. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 17, 2013
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Canadian gov’t panel calls to recognize Jewish refugees exiled from Muslim countries

 

Parliamentary committee says Canadian gov’t should encourage fairness with all refugee populations being considered in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, not just the Arabs.

By SAM SOKOL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT
 

 

CHICAGO – A Canadian parliamentary committee has called upon Ottawa to recognize the Jewish refugees of the Arab-Israeli conflict, eliciting praise from the country’s Jewish community.

Jewish refugees from Yemen cross desert - Photo Courtesy: Israeli National Photo Archive

Jewish refugees from Yemen cross desert – Photo: Courtesy Israeli National Photo Archive

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development began studying the issue of Jewish refugees from Arabs lands in May and heard testimony from several Jewish advocacy organizations. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| November 16, 2013
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Despite Promises Not To, Palestinian President Quits Peace Talks

 

 

After Kerry’s continued anti-Israel rhetoric the past 2 weeks, Palestinians use his comments on Jewish construction as excuse to walk out on White House brokered peace negotiations.

 

Did Mahmoud Abbas release enough murdering terrorists from Israeli prisons to now close down peace initiative?

By Israel Today Staff

 

 

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday said that the Palestinian Authority had broken its promises to both Israel and the US by walking out on the peace process.

Despite Promises Not To, Palestinian President Quits Peace Talks

 

For days already, regional media had been speculating that the Palestinians were not coming back to the negotiating table after Israel approved the construction of more homes for Jews in Jerusalem and parts of Samaria. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 11, 2013
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Mr. Secretary of State, purposely lying isn’t diplomatic and extremity partisan

Ambassador (ret’) Alan Baker calls out U.S. Sec of State for his strategic misrepresenting historical facts, violating diplomatic protocols, misleading those he purports to represent, and undermining the integrity of past agreements signed by a U.S. President.

By Alan Baker

 

 

 

 

Alan Baker, Attorney, Ambassador (ret’)
P.O.B. 182, Har Adar, Israel *****
Tel: +***-54-3322***
E-mail: ambassador.alan@*****.com


The Hon. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State,
The State Department,
Washington D.C.

November 8, 2013

Dear Secretary Kerry,

After listening to you declare repeatedly over the past weeks that “Israel’s settlements are illegitimate”, I respectfully wish to state, unequivocally, that you are mistaken and ill advised, both in law and in fact. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 10, 2013
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PM Natanyahu blasts Palestinians for Nazi flags & Hitler-style salutes

On anniversary of Kristallnacht, PM Natanyahu says, “Peace won’t be achieved by international pressure on Israel”.

By HERB KEINON
 

 

 

Peace will not be achieved by “international pressure on Israel,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday, three days after US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Israel would face increased international isolation and deligitimization if the current talks with the Palestinians break down.

Nazi flag flying right near the mosque in the Palestinian town of Beit Omar. - Photo Tazpit News Agency

Nazi flag flying right near the mosque in the Palestinian town of Beit Omar. – Photo: Tazpit News Agency

Netanyahu, speaking at a special cabinet meeting held at Sde Boker Sunday to mark 40 years to the death of David Ben-Gurion, noted that Sunday was also 75 years since Kristallnacht. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 7, 2013
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Kerry tells Abbas: US considers Israeli settlements as ‘illegitimate’

 

U.S. Secretary of State Kerry says despite difficulties, both Abbas & PM Netanyahu committed to work toward peace deal.

By REUTERS, KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

BETHLEHEM – US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel on Wednesday to limit settlement building, an issue that is weighing on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - Photo: AP

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: AP

Friction over the talks has risen this past week on the back of Israeli plans, announced in tandem with its release of 26 Palestinian prisoners, for some 3,500 new homes for settlers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 1, 2013
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Following release of terrorists Israel announces building new homes

 

Israel faces widespread condemnation for its announcement of new housing in Jewish towns. 1,500 new housing units approved for construction.

PA: “Continued settlement construction may lead political process to a deadlock.”

By Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hirsch & Daniel Siryoti

 

Israel is facing widespread criticism over its decision to approve settlement construction in Judea and Samaria following Tuesday night’s release of Palestinian prisoners.

The community of Maaleh Adumim in Judea and Samaria [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

On Wednesday, Israel Hayom revealed the list of 1,500 units approved for building in the Ramat Shlomo and Gilo neighborhoods of Jerusalem and in other areas beyond the Green Line.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 1, 2013
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Kerry returns for talks as Palestinians threaten to walk away – AGAIN!

Palestinian negotiator Erekat reportedly resigns, again, but top PLO official denies rumor.

By HERB KEINON & KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit next week for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, even as senior Palestinian officials call for breaking off the talks due to Israel’s announcement of plans to build in Jerusalem and the settlement blocs.

Kerry votes with the other members of the United Nations Security Council on September 27, 2013.- Photo: REUTERS

Kerry votes with the other members of the United Nations Security Council on September 27, 2013.- Photo: REUTERS

PLO officials on Thursday called to halt the peace talks with Israel in response to continued settlement construction and Israeli “raids and assassinations” in the West Bank.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| October 30, 2013
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Israel frees an aditional 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of peace talks

Those freed by Israel ‘in the name of peace’ were all convicted of murder before or just after the Oslo Accords were signed 20 years ago.

By and Reuters

 

 

Israel completed early Wednesday the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. This was the second group of prisoners to be freed, after the first was was released two months ago.

Palestinian prisoners release

Palestinian relatives during a celebrate while waiting for his release at the checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Hanoun between north of Gaza Strip and Israel, Tuesday, Oct.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| October 29, 2013
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2,000 people outside Ofer prison protest release of Palestinian prisoners

“The equation of ‘freeing prisoners equals talks’ or ‘freezing settlement construction equals talks’ is wrong, & the gov’t has to stop this,” Knesset Interior Committee chairwoman Miri Regev (Likud Beytenu) said.

By LAHAV HARKOV, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Some 2,000 people protested on Monday evening outside Ofer prison against the upcoming release of 26 Palestinian security prisoners, Israel Radio reported.

Bereaved families protest Palestinian prisoner release, October 28, 2013.

Bereaved families protest prisoner release outside Ofer prison, October 28, 2013 – Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

MKs from Bayit Yehudi, a party who has vehemently objected to the release of prisoners as part of the ongoing peace talks, attended the protest.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| October 23, 2013
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Latest Round of Palestinian-Israeli Peace Talks Deal with Water Rights

 

Newest round of peace talks opens in Jerusalem as Israel & Palestinians discuss the core issue of water rights.

By AFP

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have held a new round of peace talks in Jerusalem, a Palestinian official said, saying it had focused on the issue of water resources.

Renewed Talks - Ynet

Monday’s session was attended by Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiators Mohammed Shtayeh and Saeb Erakat, the official said.

The official did not elaborate, but the question of water rights is one of the core issues that must be settled in any peace deal.

Israel controls most of the underground water resources in the West Bank, and the Palestinians want a more equitable share of them. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| October 22, 2013
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John Kerry: Palestinian-Israel peace talks moving at ‘increased intensity’

A week after European Court determined Palestinians ‘lost’ $2 Billion in donated aid,  Kerry announces Qatar’s pledge to provide $150 million in aid to Abbas’ cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

By Reuters

 

Qatar has agreed to provide $150 million in debt relief to the Palestinian Authority, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday as he announced that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are intensifying.

Kerry and Al Attiyeh in Paris

John Kerry speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled Al Attiyeh. Paris, Monday Oct. 21 2013.- Photo: AP

Speaking after he briefed Arab states about the direct peace negotiations, which resumed on July 29 with a goal of reaching an agreement within nine months, Kerry told reporters that the two sides have increased the pace of their discussions. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| October 22, 2013
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As Abbas honors terrorists, PA spokesperson slams Israeli ‘incitement’

 

PA Foreign Ministry calls Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman a  “fascist” &  “gangster” for saying ‘Abbas is not a peace partner’.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 

The Palestinian Authority on Monday strongly condemned Israeli “incitement” against PA President Mahmoud Abbas and warned against its negative impact on the peace talks.

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian spin Grand-Master - Photo EPA

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian spin Grand-Master – Photo EPA

The PA’s attack came in response to statements made by Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who was quoted as saying that Abbas is not a peace partner.

Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat described Liberman’s statements as “dangerous incitement” which in his view “reflected an Israeli desire to get rid of President Abbas.”

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| October 10, 2013
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PLO official: Palestinians considering declaring peace talks a failure

PLO official Hanna Amireh accuses Israel of trying to “win time” & blame the Palestinians for the failure of the US-sponsored talks.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

The Palestinians are seriously considering declaring the failure of the peace talks with Israel, a senior PLO official said Wednesday.

Israeli, Palestinian delegations meet in Washington for iftar dinner, July 29, 2013.

Israeli, Palestinian delegations meet in Washington for iftar dinner, July 29, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Hanna Amireh, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that this was one of the scenarios that were discussed during the last meeting of the Palestinian leadership.

Amireh accused Israel of seeking to “win time” and blame the Palestinians for the failure of the US-sponsored talks.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
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