Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to the release of hundreds of Fatah prisoners as part of efforts backed by the United States and Egypt to jump-start the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu expressed a willingness to release prisoners as a goodwill gesture in talks with the special U.S. Mideast envoy, George Mitchell. Under the plan, Israel would also embark on low-level negotiations with U.S. mediation.
Last Sunday, after meeting with Mitchell, Netanyahu told the cabinet that he heard new ideas from the American administration on the efforts to resume peace talks.
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"I expressed my hope that these ideas will enable the resumption of the process if the Palestinians express a similar interest in favor of all those who aspire for reconciliation in our region," the prime minister said.
A senior source in Jerusalem said Thursday that Netanyahu's comment referred to a new proposal by Mitchell and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Negotiations would take place in the format of proximity talks, similar to the indirect negotiations that Israel held with Syria under prime minister Ehud Olmert.
Mitchell proposes that he travel between Jerusalem and Ramallah, relaying messages to the two sides on various core issues, including borders, Jerusalem, refugees and security. At a later stage the talks might be taken over by low-level officials on both sides to evaluate if negotiations can be continued at top levels.
The proposal also included Israeli goodwill gestures that would be carried out at the start of the proximity talks the United States would conduct. The main goodwill gesture is expected to be the release of hundreds of Fatah prisoners to the West Bank.
The senior source in Jerusalem said that these would largely be prisoners with only a little time left in their sentences. Other goodwill gestures involve easing travel in the West Bank.
Netanyahu accepted Mitchell's proposal, according to the Israeli source. However, Netanyahu emphasized that the Palestinians must also agree to the plan.
Mitchell presented his proposal to Abbas but the Palestinian leader has not yet said whether he agrees.
"Abbas said that he will think about it and went abroad without offering an answer," the senior source in Jerusalem said.
Mitchell is expected to return to the region in the coming weeks to receive a response from Abbas.
Abbas traveled to Cairo Friday for a meeting with Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian president is expected to pressure Abbas to respond positively to the American mediation proposal. Next week Abbas will visit Germany and Britain.
Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog told Palestinian academics in Jerusalem Wednesday that the Palestinians are not correctly reading the situation in Israel regarding the current coalition.
"You are not correctly reading the exceptional opportunity that exists at this time," Herzog said.
"I believe that the leaders of a center-right government will go to a historic settlement. Do not miss an opportunity again." _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently visiting Israel on a week-long mission to promote Middle East Peace, released this statement harshly criticizing the Israeli government for a newly-announced expansion of housing units in East Jerusalem.
"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I've had here in Israel. We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and Christians. We believe that through good faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem and safeguards its status for people around the world. Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues. As George Mitchell said in announcing the proximity talks, 'we encourage the parties and all concerned to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.'" _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Don't believe Benjamin Netanyahu for one moment when he says he "never knew." The Jerusalem planning committee is only too aware of what the bosses want, and the government has decided to step up construction in greater Jerusalem. Dispossession and taking possession, kicking out and moving in - that's what it's all about.
Over the years, a streamlined and generously lubricated machine has evolved, one that makes it possible to take solace in the building of Jerusalem (in the phrase used to console mourners) and to take pride - but also to take cover - behind a facade of disingenuousness and disowning. Yesterday, it was convenient to disown.
No pretext is more dismal than "bad timing." Ehud Barak immediately put out a press release about the "harmful timing of the publication." As if there were a proper time for provocations. If the announcement of the 1,600 planned housing units had come before Joe Biden's trip, they would have said it was aimed at sabotaging the visit, and if it happened after he left, they would have said Biden himself was in on the secret.
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But with Barak, that willing slave-minister of Netanyahu's, everything's cool, but if only they had kept that call for bids confidential, if only they built apartments in some dark secluded hideaway, like the Western Wall tunnel.
Don't believe for a moment that they never knew: The chaos works like clockwork. The detonation mechanism is activated remotely and a safety range is carefully observed. It will always be possible to make procedural claims - "it's a technical matter" or "the political echelon wasn't involved" or "the timing was purely coincidental" or "three years of deliberations happened to end now." What judge hearing a case would accept "I didn't know" as a mitigating circumstance?
This is one visit Joe Biden will not quickly forget. First he was compelled to sit through 25 minutes of an annoying speech in his honor by our president. Shimon Peres really believes that he is the destination for pilgrims from all over the world who drink in his musings and are intoxicated by his vision.
Later, Biden was given a certificate memorializing his mother, but the glass broke. Once again, Bibi didn't pay attention, leaned on it and shattered it. No fear, his speeches have always diverted attention from such mishaps. And finally, to add a finishing touch of infuriating disgrace, the Haredi neighborhood Ramat Shlomo was dumped on the vice-presidential head.
Truth be told, the Obama administration just about asked for this slap. In Jerusalem, the lesson has been learned that the White House doesn't fulfill its obligations - it just goes through the motions by issuing insincere rebukes. And now, they'll begin the "proximity talks" - Orwellian for distance, which is greater than it's been in 20 years.
If I were Rahm Emanuel, I wouldn't advise Barack Obama to follow in his Veep's footsteps and visit Israel soon. It's safe to predict that on the day he's addressing the Knesset, they'll tell him work has begun on the Temple Mount. The first Temple was that of Solomon the Wise, the Second was that of Ezra the Scribe, and the Third of Netanyahu and Eli Yishai. Let the Temple be built, and the home of the nation will be laid waste. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Even Mahmoud Abbas would have been hard put to dream up a greater victory for Palestinian diplomacy than the one handed to him Tuesday on a silver platter by the Israeli Interior Ministry. The condemnations have been pouring in since the plan to build 1,600 homes in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood was announced. Not only from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, but from the United Nations, the European Union and world leaders, all of them slamming the decision.
While government officials were busy yesterday blaming each other for the bad timing, it seems they were missing the bigger picture: Washington and the international community will no longer accept, even by looking the other way, Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. The capital is now the focus of the cold (but slowly warming) war between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority is exploiting this with weekly demonstrations, while Israel throws fuel on the fire by taking further unilateral steps. The situation is only likely to escalate this morning with the expected disclosure of full details of the city's building plans.
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Senior PA officials barely contained their satisfaction yesterday. While waiting for the start of Biden's press conference in Ramallah, a Palestinian reporter said the Palestinian people "thank Benjamin Netanyahu from the bottom of their hearts for the service he rendered to us." Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the PA welcomed the harsh international response to the Israeli decision.
With the entire international community behind it, the PA is expected to demand, in preparation for the indirect talks with Israel, the withdrawal of the Ramat Shlomo plans as well as an Israeli promise not to build in East Jerusalem for the duration of the talks.
Biden was confronted yesterday with a rather impressive show of Palestinian strength. In Ramallah and Bethlehem he saw signs of an economy recovering from the decade-long knockout punch dealt by the second intifada. He marveled at the level reached by the PA security forces under the tutelage of U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton.
Above all, he heard the Palestinian president, Abbas, and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad speaking in a language the Americans love to hear: no to terror, yes to peace. In comparison it appeared that the Israeli government had caught what used to be called the "as if" policy of Yasser Arafat: declaring a freeze on construction with one hand and planning new building projects with the other.
From the Israeli perspective, this embarrassing affair could have much more serious consequences. The main purpose of Biden's visit is to increase Israeli-U.S. coordination in the campaign against Iran's nuclear program. As things stand, the level of trust between Barack Obama and Netanyahu is low. If the prime minister proves once again that he can't be trusted not to embarrass the U.S. president when it comes to construction in Jerusalem and the settlements, how can they trust each other on Iran, where the issue of coordination is more critical?
Three and a half months in, the settlement freeze is turning out to be more of a slowing down. With all the exceptions being made, its effect is limited and it appears to be mainly a demonstration of Israel's willingness to offer concessions to expedite the renewal of negotiations. The total disappearance of the settlers' protests against the freeze, which they originally described as a disaster, testifies to the actual state of things.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi heard about the flap with Biden while in the United States to speak at the annual gala dinner of American Friends of the IDF, in New York. He was also there to tighten his already close relations with the U.S. military establishment.
The main threat to world peace, he told his audience in New York, is Iran. In stopping that country's nuclear program, he said that "all options should remain on the table."
It was a success: With Ashkenazi as the drawing card, $20 million was raised in one night - money that will benefit Israeli soldiers. The commander in chief's decision to reprise the feat in Miami shows, one hopes, that the tensions with Hezbollah on Israel's northern border have eased a bit. U.S. officers visiting Israel this week, meanwhile, voiced surprise: With U.S. security aid of $3 billion a year, why does Israel have to send its chief of staff abroad to do fundraising? _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1155755.html PA: Peace talks off until East Jerusalem housing shelved
By DPA
Tags: Israel news
PA says indirect negotiations with Israel on hold over plans for 1,600 Jewish homes in E. Jerusalem.
Palestinians will not begin indirect talks with Israel unless the Israeli government annuls a decision to build 1,600 houses in East Jerusalem, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Thursday.
"We want to hear from [United States envoy George] Mitchell that Israel has cancelled the decision to build housing units before we start the negotiations," Erekat said.
His remarks follow comments by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who told visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Wednesday that it was not enough for the Israeli decision to be condemned, it also had to be cancelled.
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The Israeli announcement of the construction of the houses in East Jerusalem, announced Tuesday evening, came 24 hours after Mitchell announced that Israelis and Palestinians had agreed to begin indirect
peace talks, after a 15-month hiatus in negotiations, and in the midst of a visit to the region by Biden.
The announcement severely embarrassed Biden, who issued his Israeli hosts with a sharp rebuke. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not informed in advance of the decision, announced by the interior ministry.
The prime minister summoned Interior Minister Eli Yishai Wednesday morning and reprimanded him for the decision's "wretched, displaced, insensitive" timing.
The 1,600 homes will be built in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox
neighborhood in northern Jerusalem, near the Palestinian village of
Shuafat.
The neighborhood lies within the municipal boundaries drawn up by Israel after it annexed East Jerusalem following its capture in the 1967 Middle East War _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Israel and the Palestinians have a chance to surprise the world and strike a peace deal to end decades of conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
"We can surprise all the doubters," Netanyahu told ministers at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
"But we need a serious partner," he said. "If we have a serious partner, we can achieve an historic agreement."
Netanyahu's comments follow news on Friday that Israel and the Palestinians will return to direct peace talks on September 2 after an 18-month pause, to be hosted in Washington by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Obama will hold separate meetings with Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as the Egyptian and Jordanian heads of state, on September 1, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to launch the renewed negotiations the following day.
Ahead of his trip to Washington, Netanyahu has repeatedly demanded that talks focus on guaranteeing Israel's security before moving on to determine the borders of a future Palestinian state.
"Any deal will have to be based on security arrangements and a recognition of Israel as a Jewish state," Netanyahu said.
Both Clinton and U.S. special envoy George Mitchell said over the weekend that the negotiations will aim to reach a permanent settlement and the establishment of a Palestinian state in a year. They said the negotiations will focus on all core issues: Jerusalem, borders, refugees, security, settlements and water.
Clinton noted that there will be no preconditions - this is considered a major achievement for Netanyahu, who insisted that the direct talks take place unconditionally.
In her announcement over the weekend, Clinton also did not mention the September 26 expiry of the freeze on settlement construction. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Israel and the Palestinians have a chance to surprise the world and strike a peace deal to end decades of conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: مَحْمُود عَبَّاس Maḥmūd ʿAbbās; born 26 March 1935), also known by the kunya Abu Mazen (Arabic: أَبُو مَازِن), has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah (فتح Fataḥ) ticket.
Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally extended his term for another year and continues in office even after that deadline expired. Rival political party Hamas announced it would not recognise the extension.[1][2][3] Abbas was chosen as the President of the "State of Palestine" by the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Central Council on 23 November 2008,[4] a job he had held unofficially since 8 May 2005.[5]
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"We can surprise all the doubters," Netanyahu told ministers at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
Oh...ya-ya.....
Óæå óäèâèëè!
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"But we need a serious partner," he said. "If we have a serious partner, we can achieve an historic agreement."
È ýòîò "a serious partner"- èçâåñòíî êòî. Ýòî - Õàìàñ. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
After Netanyahu calls on Palestinian president to 'just say it – say yes to a Jewish state', Abbas answers that 'if Israel wants negotiations in which Palestinians recognize it, then it must also recognize Palestinian state'
Attila Somfalvi
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas answered a demand by Israel to recognize it as a Jewish state somewhat sardonically, saying that as far as he was concerned, "Israel can call itself… the Jewish-Zionist Empire". Abbas spoke just before meeting President Shimon Peres in New York.
In an interview with the Palestinian Maan news agency Abbas said the state's character was "not interesting", adding that "if Israel wants negotiations in which the Palestinians recognize it, then it must also recognize a Palestinian state".
Abbas spoke shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that the recognition would be a central part of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
"Just say it," Netanyahu called on Abbas. "Say yes to a Jewish state".
The prime minister explained that he was insisting on this because "this is a move the Palestinians have refused to make for 62 years. Its significance is Palestinian recognition of the right of the Jewish people to self-definition in their historic homeland. I recognized the Palestinians' right to self-definition, so they must do the same for the Jewish people."
Palestinian officials have said repeatedly that they would not recognize Israel as Jewish because it would irredeemably revoke the Palestinian refugees' right of return.
"Just as Israel has given every Jew in the world the right to immigrate to Israel, so should the new state allow Palestinians throughout the world to immigrate to its territory. Palestinian refugees have no place in a Jewish state," Netanyahu said.
Regarding the Israeli Arabs he said, "A Jewish state means no one has the right to approve a law damaging Israel's character. There are more than a million non-Jews in Israel who enjoy equal rights, but this does not mean they have national rights. They are free to voted and be chosen, and to be full and equal partners in Israeli democracy, but they do not have the right to create their own state."
Abbas must make a decision, Netanyahu declared. "He cannot evade the issue nor can use vague words and terms. He must recognize the state as Jewish and say it in a clear manner to his people in their language," he concluded. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
"Just as Israel has given every Jew in the world the right to immigrate to Israel, so should the new state allow Palestinians throughout the world to immigrate to its territory. Palestinian refugees have no place in a Jewish state," Netanyahu said.
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Regarding the Israeli Arabs he said, "A Jewish state means no one has the right to approve a law damaging Israel's character. There are more than a million non-Jews in Israel who enjoy equal rights, but this does not mean they have national rights. They are free to voted and be chosen, and to be full and equal partners in Israeli democracy, but they do not have the right to create their own state."
_________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered Monday to halt settlement construction if the Palestinians were to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, but the Palestinian leadership was prompt to reject the proposal.
"If the Palestinian leadership will say unequivocally to its people that it recognizes Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, I will be ready to convene my government and request a further suspension," Netanyahu said while speaking at the third session of the opening of the 18th Knesset.
"Just as the Palestinians expect us to recognize their state, we expect reciprocal treatment," said Netanyahu.
"This is not a condition but a trust-building step, which would create wide-ranging trust among the Israeli people, who have lost trust in the Palestinian will for peace over the last 10 years."
However, Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said a return to U.S.-backed peace talks required a freeze on settlement building by Israel.
"The issue of the Jewishness of the state has nothing to do with the matter," Rdainah said.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel is willing to make concessions, and that a peace deal and a Palestinian state could be achieved if the Palestinians would be willing to recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland.
"The Palestinians wasted 10 months and now they demand to continue the [settlement] freeze. I hope their demand isn't a ploy to avoid the concessions that must be made in order to achieve a peace deal."
The prime minister also praised Israel as a perfect example of a democratic country that treats all its citizens equally.
"The Zionist state erected an exemplary democracy," said Netanyahu during his speech before the Knesset. He said that in Israel, "Jews and non-Jews alike enjoy equal rights under law."
The prime minister emphasized the importance of Israel as a Jewish state and reminded the plenum that David Ben-Gurion erected the state as a country for the Jews, not only as a country with Jewish residents.
"Israel is the Jewish homeland and is also democratic to all its citizens – not other country ensures the rights of its minority population like we do," Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni criticized Netanyahu for his "lack of leadership" during her speech before the Knesset.
"You refuse to pay a political price [for the peace process]… If your main interest is the coalition, you will not be able to make the right decisions," said Livni.
Livni also blamed Netanyahu for eroding Israel's international status. "You have turned Israel into a weak, fearful state which is losing its friends in the world, which defies the leader of the free world, the source of its strength."
"Perhaps you have led Israel to this position out of weakness, due to your inability to make a decision and take a stand," said Livni. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
"If the Palestinian leadership will say unequivocally to its people that it recognizes Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, I will be ready to convene my government and request a further suspension," Netanyahu said while speaking at the third session of the opening of the 18th Knesset.
Åìó ïàëåñòèíöû îòâå÷àþò: Âîïðîñ î åâðåéñêîì õàðàêòåðå ãîñóäàðñòâà Èçðàèëü íå èìååò îòíîøåíèÿ ê äåëó.
Ñîâåðøåííî ïðàâèëüíûé è ëîãè÷íûé îòâåò!
Ðå÷ü èä¸ò î ñîçäàíèè ïàëåñòèíñêîãî ãîñóäàðñòâà. Îáñóæäàòñÿ ìîãóò ãðàíèöû, ñðîêè, óñëîâèÿ ðàçìåæåâàíèÿ è ïð. Íî ïðè÷¸ì çäåñü åâðåéñêèé õàðàêòåð ãîñóäàðñòâà Èçðàèëü? Ýòî âíóòðåííåå äåëî Èçðàèëÿ. _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
×ëåí ïåðåãîâîðíîé ãðóïïû Íàáèëü Øààò, â ñâîþ î÷åðåäü, ïîä÷åðêíóë, ÷òî ïàëåñòèíöåâ íå óñòðàèâàåò ïðîäëåíèå ìîðàòîðèÿ íà ñòðîèòåëüñòâî â ïîñåëåíèÿõ: îí çàÿâèë, ÷òî ïàëåñòèíöû òðåáóþò îêîí÷àòåëüíîãî è áåñïîâîðîòíîãî ïðåêðàùåíèÿ ñòðîèòåëüñòâà.
Ïðåäñòàâèòåëü ïðåäñåäàòåëÿ ÏÍÀ Íàáèëü Àáó Ðóäåéíà çàÿâèë, ÷òî ìèðíûå ïåðåãîâîðû íèêàê íå ñâÿçàíû ñ çàìîðàæèâàíèåì ñòðîèòåëüñòâà â ïîñåëåíèÿõ, è âîïðîñ î ïðèçíàíèè åâðåéñêîãî ãîñóäàðñòâà òàê æå íå èìååò íèêàêîãî îòíîøåíèÿ ê ïåðåãîâîðàì.
... _________________ A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
FAQ
. Òàêîãî ðîäà òâîð÷åñòâî ïðåäñòàâëÿëîñü ìíå â ñâîå âðåìÿ èçðÿäíîé ãëóïîñòüþ.
