Tag Archive for peace talks

| May 21, 2013
No comments

Palestinians withhold formal statehood bid giving talks with Israel last chance

Palestinian bureaucrats have completed all the legal paperwork necessary to gain entry into 63 U.N. agencies, treaties & conventions, but haven’t yet applied for membership, giving the latest U.S. peace effort a ‘chance to succeed’, says Saeb Erekat.

By Daniel Siryoti, Shlomo Cesana, News Agencies & Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Palestinians have done all the legal work necessary to join 63 U.N. agencies, conventions and treaties, but have not yet applied for membership, mainly to give the latest U.S. peace effort a chance to succeed, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday. And on Tuesday, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who has been tasked with coordinating peace talks with the Palestinians, said the Palestinian Authority was planning to apply as a state to 16 international organizations if peace talks with Israel did not resume by June.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 21, 2013
No comments

Qatar: Arab Turmoil makes Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement more pressing

Gulf state’s emir tells Doha

 Mideast

Forum, “Our region will not see peace unless we see a resolution to the Palestinian issue.”

By Reuters

Qatar’s emir, who has thrown his state’s riches behind Arab uprisings, said on Monday that the emergence of ‘people power’ had put Arabs in direct confrontation with Israel and made a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more pressing.

קרי במסיבת עיתונאים עם ראש הממשלה א-תאני (צילום: AP)

Qatari PM Al Thani (L) and Kerry during press conference – Photo: AP

“We heard in the past that reform (in the Arab world) must wait until a peaceful settlement with Israel is achieved, but everybody should realize that such belief is now unfounded after the Arab Spring revolts,” Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani told a conference in the Qatari capital. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| May 18, 2013
No comments

No chance Israel will acheive peace deal with Hamas

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is also responsible for peace talks, responds to Erdogan’s call for Palestinian unity in an interview with Army Radio, saying that the Turkish PM’s perception of Hamas is incorrect.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

There is no chance that Israel could reach a peace agreement with Hamas, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said Saturday evening in an interview with Army Radio.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni [file]

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni – Photo: REUTERS

Livni – the minister responsible for peace talks – was referring to remarks made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday that Fatah-Hamas reconciliation is imperative to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.She

Continue Reading »
Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| May 18, 2013
No comments

Fatah’s Policys are Against “Normalization”

The Fatah activists who are threatening Palestinian teenagers for talking to Israelis and playing football with them are the same people who claim, at least in public, that they support the peace process with Israel. But how can there ever be a peace process when anyone who meets with an Israeli is immediately denounced as a traitor? It is worth noting that most of these denunciations are coming form the “moderate” Fatah, and not from Hamas.

by Khaled Abu Toameh

 

While Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was meeting in his office in Ramallah with Shelly Yacimovich, chairwoman of Israel’s opposition Labour Party, his Fatah faction was busy threatening Palestinians who meet with Israelis. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 3, 2013
No comments

China invites Netanyahu & Abbas to Beijing talks

Chinese Foreign Ministry official says that solving Palestinian issue would promote peace & stability for the entire world.

A senior Israeli source writes-off any likelihood of the meeting taking place.

By

The Chinese government announced on Friday that it would arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas next week, when both leaders simultaneously visit the country, should the leaders be willing to do so.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, left, walks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, left, walks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, at his residence in Jerusalem, Israel Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. – Photo: AP

During a daily press briefing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said his country would be happy to facilitate such a meeting. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| May 1, 2013
No comments

Arab League sweetening Israel-Palestinian peace plan brings rift to gov’t

Arab League suggestion puts Netanyahu in bind, straining both internal coalition parties, external pressure, as both domestic & int’l figures laud proposal. 

Associated Press

 

The Arab League‘s decision to sweeten its decade-old proposal offering comprehensive peace with Israel has placed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bind and swiftly exposed fissures in his new government.

In Washington Monday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani tried to allay some of the Israeli concerns. Speaking on behalf of an Arab League delegation, he reiterated the need to base an agreement between Israel and a future Palestine on the 1967 lines, but for the first time, he cited the possibility of “comparable,” mutually agreed and “minor” land swaps between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| May 1, 2013
No comments

Langfan’s Op-Ed challenges Dershowitz’s peace plan

Attorney Mark Langfan’s open letter on Arutz Sheva leads to Prof. Alan Dershowitz’ re-thinking his support for the 1970 Allon Plan.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Prof. Alan Dershowitz, appearing at the Jerusalem Post Conference in New York this week, spoke about his plan to restart the peace talks. Dershowitz, who has not official position in Israel, spoke to PA President Mahmoud Abbas and suggested a version of the Allon Plan of 1970. His suggestion for a “tripartite settlement freeze” was panned by Israel’s Minister of International Affairs, Yuval Steinitz, as well as by former National Security Advisor to PM Netanyahu, Dr. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| April 12, 2013
No comments

Unnamed gov’t source: Israel’s planning to freeze settlement construction

Officials in Jerusalem suggest that while there won’t be a de jure freeze, expansion outside of major settlement towns will be halted.

‘It’ll take a while, but eventually talks will resume’ 

By Attila Somfalvi

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to the Mid-East may have ended without any obvious results, but official sources involved in the preliminary talks said Thursday night that “eventually the negotiations will resume. Israel is expected to quietly freeze construction outside of the major settlement blocs in order to resume bilateral talks.”

Settlement construction - Photo Ynet Archives

Settlement construction – Photo Ynet Archives

A few days ago Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu present a permanent agreement border outline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 11, 2013
No comments

Israeli source: ‘There will be no more goodwill gestures towards Palestinians’

Israel refused to give in to demands of gestures of goodwill, as the Palestinians continue to

 seek

more & more preconditions in their bid to sabotage peace talks before they start.
Jerusalem: ‘We are ready to discuss everything – in direct talks’

By Attila Somfalvi

Talks yes, gestures of goodwill no. Senior officials in Jerusalem who were present during talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Wednesday that Israel does not intend to present any confidence building measures towards the Palestinians. The sources claim that the “preliminary demands presented by the Palestinians attest to the fact that they are peace refusniks. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 8, 2013
No comments

Kerry meets Abbas then conveys to Israel precondition #6 to begin talks

When Kerry met PA president in Ramallah, Abbas adds relinquishment of W. Bank area under Israeli control (as per Oslo Accords) to list of preconditions.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH & HERB KEINON

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry flew into Israel from Turkey late Sunday afternoon, his second visit in two weeks, and went directly to Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Ramallah – Photo: REUTERS

Abbas reiterated his stance regarding the resumption of peace talks with Israel, but added a new demand: that Israel hand control over parts of Area C in the West Bank to his authority.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 6, 2013
No comments

Abbas demands map for future Palestinian from Netanyahu as precondition

 

Abbas demands Netanyahu present US with map on 1967 borders for future Palestinian state before resumption of peace talks with Israel.

AFP

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu present a map for a future Palestinian state before any peace talks can resume, an aide said on Friday.

Mahmoud Abbas - Photo Reuters

Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Reuters

Abbas “wants to know, through a map to be presented by Benjamin Netanyahu to (US Secretary of State John) Kerry, what the prime minister’s view of a two-state solution would be, especially the borders,” political adviser Nimr Hammad told AFP.

The remarks came just days ahead of a visit by Kerry, who will hold fortnightly meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, local media say, as he tries to revive the stalled peace process. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 3, 2013
No comments

Kerry to visit Turkey, Jordan & Israel in hopes of restarting dialogue

US Sec. of State will return to Mid-East in hopes of finding formula to restart negotiations.

Canadian FM Baird also scheduled to visit region.

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will return to Israel Saturday night as part of his efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Netanyahu, March 20, 2013.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Netanyahu, March 20, 2013.- Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing

Kerry, who held four hours of talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on March 23, following the visit of US President Barack Obama to Israel, will also be meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan during his visit.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 24, 2013
No comments

Kerry & Netanyahu met Saturday evening to restart peace talks

US Secretary of State met with Abbas & then Netanyahu to seek common ground to resume stalled peace talks.

Local poll shows Obama’s ‘charm offensive’ effective: 39% say they  feel better about the US president.

By HERB KEINON

 

After the pomp and ceremony of US President Barack Obama’s three day trip to the region, US Secretary of State John Kerry began nitty-gritty efforts at re-starting talks between Israel and the Palestinians with a late night meeting Saturday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

US Secretary of State John Kerry with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, March 23, 2013. Photo Amos Ben-Gershom-GPO

US Secretary of State John Kerry with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, March 23, 2013.- Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom-GPO

Kerry, who arrived in the region last Tuesday, accompanied Obama during his two days in Jerusalem and Ramallah, and also went with him Friday to Jordan. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 21, 2013
No comments

Obama says in Ramallah that settlement freeze not needed to restart peace talks

“If the only way to begin the conversation is that we get everything right at the outset, then we’re never going to get to the broader issue,” President Obama.

By JTA

 

TEL AVIV — President Obama implied in Ramallah that a settlement freeze should not be a precondition for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Obama, Abbas reviewing honor guard.

Obama, Abbas reviewing honor guard. – Photo: Reuters

He made the statement Thursday at a news conference following a long meeting in the West Bank city with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

“If the only way to begin the conversation is that we get everything right at the outset, then we’re never going to get to the broader issue, which is how do we structure a state of Palestine and how do you provide Israel confidence about its security,” Obama said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 17, 2013
One comment

Hollande: France to commence peace initiative after Israeli elections

Israel Radio reports: France considers renewed Israel-Palestinian peace talks an urgent matter, and condemns new construction in Judea & Samaria, arguing, “It fuels tensions on the ground and constitutes an obstacle to peace.”

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

France will introduce a new initiative to jump start Middle East peace talks, French President François Hollande told Israel Radio on Wednesday. According to the report, French diplomats said France and the U.K. were in lockstep over the Middle East but had yet to formulate a joint plant.

French President François Hollande

French Ambassador to Israel Christophe Bigot told Israel Radio on Wednesday his government considered it urgent to have the Palestinians and Israelis renew negotiations.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
  Recent Entries »