Turkish FM calls Gilo construction plans 'a flagrant violation of international law'; says settlement building justifies Palestinian UN statehood bid.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday sharply criticized Israel's plans to construct 1,100 new homes in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem, calling those plans "a flagrant violation of international law", Army Radio reported.
Gilo is located on land annexed by Israel after it took control of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War.
"The plan raises doubt about Israel's sincerity and true intention to solve the conflict," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu added that continued settlement construction proved that the Palestinian attempt to gain United Nations recognition of statehood was both justified and timely.
The United States, Europe and Arab states have said that the announcement of new construction in Gilo would complicate efforts to renew peace talks and defuse the crisis over the Palestinian UN statehood bid.
Britain and the European Union called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse the decision, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said new settlement building would be "counter-productive."
On Wednesday, Netanyahu rejected criticism of the planned construction plans.
"Gilo is not a settlement nor an outpost. It is a neighborhood in the very heart of Jerusalem about five minutes from the center of town," Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said.
In every peace plan on the table in the past 18 years Gilo "stays part of Jerusalem and therefore this planning decision in no way contradicts" the current Israel government's desire for peace based on two states for the two peoples, Regev added.
Sep 29, 2011
Arab League: Israeli construction in Jerusalem is violation of international law
Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi says Israeli plans to build new homes in neighborhood of Gilo is proof Israel does not desire peace.
The Arab League said Thursday that Israel's plan to build new homes in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, which lies beyond the Green Line, was proof of its lack of desire for peace.
Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi described the construction as a "scandalous violation of international law."
He also criticized United States policy in the Middle East, saying that as a mediator between the Israelis and Palestinians it had failed to halt settlement activity.
The Jerusalem District Planning Committee announced Tuesday that it had approved the construction of 1,100 homes in Gilo, a neighborhood in southern Jerusalem built on land captured by Israel in the June 1967 war.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of new homes in Gilo would complicate Middle East peace efforts, saying that Gilo is not a settlement or an outpost.
"Gilo is a neighborhood in the very heart of Jerusalem about five minutes from the center of town," Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said.
In every peace plan on the table in the past 18 years Gilo "stays part of Jerusalem and therefore this planning decision in no way contradicts" the current Israel government's desire for peace based on two states for the two peoples, he added.
Netanyahu also stressed the construction approval announced on Tuesday was a "preliminary planning decision."
The Arab League said Thursday that Israel's plan to build new homes in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, which lies beyond the Green Line, was proof of its lack of desire for peace.
Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi described the construction as a "scandalous violation of international law."
He also criticized United States policy in the Middle East, saying that as a mediator between the Israelis and Palestinians it had failed to halt settlement activity.
The Jerusalem District Planning Committee announced Tuesday that it had approved the construction of 1,100 homes in Gilo, a neighborhood in southern Jerusalem built on land captured by Israel in the June 1967 war.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of new homes in Gilo would complicate Middle East peace efforts, saying that Gilo is not a settlement or an outpost.
"Gilo is a neighborhood in the very heart of Jerusalem about five minutes from the center of town," Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said.
In every peace plan on the table in the past 18 years Gilo "stays part of Jerusalem and therefore this planning decision in no way contradicts" the current Israel government's desire for peace based on two states for the two peoples, he added.
Netanyahu also stressed the construction approval announced on Tuesday was a "preliminary planning decision."
Sep 28, 2011
Clinton meets Egyptian FM to discuss relations with Israel, peace process
Egyptian FM says attack on Israeli Embassy in Cairo 'was quite unfortunate', and was 'condemned by all responsible parties in Egypt at the time.'
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr in Cairo on Wednesday, for talks which included fraying Israel-Egypt relations and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Amr said that an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo earlier this month, "was quite unfortunate, and I think it was condemned by all responsible parties in Egypt at the time. We made it very clear that Egypt respects its commitment under the Vienna 1961 treaty on diplomatic relations. We made it clear that we are committed to protect any mission on our soil and the personnel working in them.
"The army was very careful to see that all the personnel that wanted to leave left under the guard of the army. No one was hurt. We made sure that everyone was safe. And I think we were very clear in just reiterating our commitments to the protection of any missions and personnel."
Concerning recent attempts by Congress to impose conditions on American aid to Egypt, Clinton that the Obama administration opposed such a move.
"We are against conditionality. And I conveyed our position to the minister. We will be working very hard with the Congress to convince the Congress that that is not the best approach to take," she said. "We believe that the long-standing relationship between the United States and Egypt is of paramount importance to both of us. We support the democratic transition, and we don't want to do anything that in any way draws into question our relationship or our support.
We also believe that the army has played a very stabilizing, important role during this period. You can see what happens when you either don't have an institution like the institutions that Egypt has, including an army. And you've seen what happens when the army is not on the side of the people. Well, Egypt's strong institutions, long- standing respect for the army and the role the army played was absolutely critical for the revolution.
"So we're going to make that case very strongly, and I want to be sure that Egyptians know that the Obama administration opposes conditionality and do not believe that's in the best interests of our relationship."
Clinton's statement follow a speech Amr made to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, in which he attacked Israel and called on the nations of the world to recognize a Palestinian state, saying that "the establishment of a Palestinian state is the only way to achieve a just peace based on two states."
He accused Israel of ignoring the international community, continuing its policy of settlement expansion, relentlessly continuing the blockade on Gaza, violently assaulting civilians, and continuously violating international law.
It was absurd to negotiate peace while Israel was continuing to build in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, he said.
Clinton, meanwhile, said a demarcation of borders between Israeli and Palestinian territory would be a constructive step.
"If there were an agreement on borders, then there would be no more controversy about settlements, because everybody would know what side of the border is for Palestine and what side is for Israel.
"So I think that there is no shortcut to this. We have to urge the parties to put aside their reluctance or their distrust and begin the hard work of negotiating. And you know, Egypt, the United States, the Quartet, everyone will stand prepared to put pressure on both sides to try to move toward a settlement of the outstanding issues".
Recent developments in the Middle East such as the storming of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, in which a group of Egyptian protesters broke into the embassy compound and led to American intervention to safely extract six Israeli security officials inside, have been of concern to the United States, which has been lobbying much of the world in recent weeks against a Palestinian bid for recognition as a state and UN membership. Egypt, which under ousted president Hosni Mubarak often played a key mediation role between the two sides, has come out determinedly for the Palestinian bid over fierce Israeli opposition.
And with elections in the United States around the corner, Washington's challenge is only likely to get more difficult. At stake is American influence in a crucial geopolitical space linking North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Also in question is how the U.S. projects power in a part of the world where al-Qaida and other Islamist extremists still pose a threat to the United States, and where the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to hamper American relations with Arab countries.
Among American officials, the early hopes of a triumph for democracy and rule of law after Mubarak's February ouster, alongside a continuum of U.S.-Egyptian cooperation, have slipped somewhat amid the increasingly worrying signs: the apparent chaos in the Israeli embassy storming, the arrests of demonstrators and bloggers, the extension of the Mubarak-era emergency law empowering authorities to detain people without charge and stamp out strikes and demonstrations.
The vote for Egypt's legislative People's Assembly starts November 28 and the less powerful Shura Council on January 29, with both parliamentary houses to begin their session in March. And well-organized Islamist parties could make significant gains, with the hardline Muslim Brotherhood likely to parlay any new power into a far tougher line on cooperation with the United States and Israel.
While any new government would likely honor the 1979 accords with Israel, the result may be one closer to cold peace than regional partnership. Neither the remnants of the old regime nor youth-driven secular groups are keen to assume the banner of Mubarak's unpopular legacy or ignore the voices on the streets which mobilized so forcefully against Mubarak.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr in Cairo on Wednesday, for talks which included fraying Israel-Egypt relations and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Amr said that an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo earlier this month, "was quite unfortunate, and I think it was condemned by all responsible parties in Egypt at the time. We made it very clear that Egypt respects its commitment under the Vienna 1961 treaty on diplomatic relations. We made it clear that we are committed to protect any mission on our soil and the personnel working in them.
"The army was very careful to see that all the personnel that wanted to leave left under the guard of the army. No one was hurt. We made sure that everyone was safe. And I think we were very clear in just reiterating our commitments to the protection of any missions and personnel."
Concerning recent attempts by Congress to impose conditions on American aid to Egypt, Clinton that the Obama administration opposed such a move.
"We are against conditionality. And I conveyed our position to the minister. We will be working very hard with the Congress to convince the Congress that that is not the best approach to take," she said. "We believe that the long-standing relationship between the United States and Egypt is of paramount importance to both of us. We support the democratic transition, and we don't want to do anything that in any way draws into question our relationship or our support.
We also believe that the army has played a very stabilizing, important role during this period. You can see what happens when you either don't have an institution like the institutions that Egypt has, including an army. And you've seen what happens when the army is not on the side of the people. Well, Egypt's strong institutions, long- standing respect for the army and the role the army played was absolutely critical for the revolution.
"So we're going to make that case very strongly, and I want to be sure that Egyptians know that the Obama administration opposes conditionality and do not believe that's in the best interests of our relationship."
Clinton's statement follow a speech Amr made to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, in which he attacked Israel and called on the nations of the world to recognize a Palestinian state, saying that "the establishment of a Palestinian state is the only way to achieve a just peace based on two states."
He accused Israel of ignoring the international community, continuing its policy of settlement expansion, relentlessly continuing the blockade on Gaza, violently assaulting civilians, and continuously violating international law.
It was absurd to negotiate peace while Israel was continuing to build in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, he said.
Clinton, meanwhile, said a demarcation of borders between Israeli and Palestinian territory would be a constructive step.
"If there were an agreement on borders, then there would be no more controversy about settlements, because everybody would know what side of the border is for Palestine and what side is for Israel.
"So I think that there is no shortcut to this. We have to urge the parties to put aside their reluctance or their distrust and begin the hard work of negotiating. And you know, Egypt, the United States, the Quartet, everyone will stand prepared to put pressure on both sides to try to move toward a settlement of the outstanding issues".
Recent developments in the Middle East such as the storming of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, in which a group of Egyptian protesters broke into the embassy compound and led to American intervention to safely extract six Israeli security officials inside, have been of concern to the United States, which has been lobbying much of the world in recent weeks against a Palestinian bid for recognition as a state and UN membership. Egypt, which under ousted president Hosni Mubarak often played a key mediation role between the two sides, has come out determinedly for the Palestinian bid over fierce Israeli opposition.
And with elections in the United States around the corner, Washington's challenge is only likely to get more difficult. At stake is American influence in a crucial geopolitical space linking North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Also in question is how the U.S. projects power in a part of the world where al-Qaida and other Islamist extremists still pose a threat to the United States, and where the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to hamper American relations with Arab countries.
Among American officials, the early hopes of a triumph for democracy and rule of law after Mubarak's February ouster, alongside a continuum of U.S.-Egyptian cooperation, have slipped somewhat amid the increasingly worrying signs: the apparent chaos in the Israeli embassy storming, the arrests of demonstrators and bloggers, the extension of the Mubarak-era emergency law empowering authorities to detain people without charge and stamp out strikes and demonstrations.
The vote for Egypt's legislative People's Assembly starts November 28 and the less powerful Shura Council on January 29, with both parliamentary houses to begin their session in March. And well-organized Islamist parties could make significant gains, with the hardline Muslim Brotherhood likely to parlay any new power into a far tougher line on cooperation with the United States and Israel.
While any new government would likely honor the 1979 accords with Israel, the result may be one closer to cold peace than regional partnership. Neither the remnants of the old regime nor youth-driven secular groups are keen to assume the banner of Mubarak's unpopular legacy or ignore the voices on the streets which mobilized so forcefully against Mubarak.
Netanyahu rejects criticism of Jerusalem construction beyond green line
The prime minister denies that Gilo is a settlement, saying that all peace plans that have been considered by Israel and the Palestinians have placed Gilo in Israeli territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo on annexed land close to Jerusalem would complicate Middle East peace efforts.
"Gilo is not a settlement nor an outpost. It is a neighborhood in the very heart of Jerusalem about five minutes from the center of town," Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said.
In every peace plan on the table in the past 18 years Gilo "stays part of Jerusalem and therefore this planning decision in no way contradicts" the current Israel government's desire for peace based on two states for the two peoples, he added.
Netanyahu also stressed the construction approval announced on Tuesday was a "preliminary planning decision."
The United States, Europe and Arab states said the announcement would complicate efforts to renew peace talks and defuse a crisis over a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
Britain and the European Union called on Netanyahu to reverse the decision, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said new settlement building would be "counter-productive."
The U.S. State Department's number two and three officials for policy, Deputy Secretary Bill Burns and Under Secretary Wendy Sherman, discussed the issue with Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren on Tuesday, the State Department said.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters both meetings were in person but had been previously scheduled, so Oren was not "summoned" to the State Department -- a sign of diplomatic annoyance.
Nuland declined to say whether the United States had been given any advance warning of the construction decision.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applied at the United Nations on Friday for full Palestinian membership, a move opposed by Israel and the United States, which urged him to resume negotiations with Israel to end the 63-year-old conflict.
Abbas has made a cessation of Israeli settlement building a condition for returning to talks which collapsed a year ago after Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month partial moratorium on construction.
The so-called Quartet of international mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the UN -- has called for talks to begin within a month and urged both sides not to take unilateral actions that could block peacemaking.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said the new housing units Israel wants to build represented "1,100 'noes' to the Quartet statement" urging a resumption of negotiations.
Gilo is a suburban settlement that was erected on West Bank land captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed unilaterally as part of Jerusalem.
Palestinians want to create a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and say settlements could deny them a viable country.
The Interior Ministry said a district planning committee approved the Gilo project and public objections to the proposal could be lodged within a 60-day review period, after which construction could begin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo on annexed land close to Jerusalem would complicate Middle East peace efforts.
"Gilo is not a settlement nor an outpost. It is a neighborhood in the very heart of Jerusalem about five minutes from the center of town," Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said.
In every peace plan on the table in the past 18 years Gilo "stays part of Jerusalem and therefore this planning decision in no way contradicts" the current Israel government's desire for peace based on two states for the two peoples, he added.
Netanyahu also stressed the construction approval announced on Tuesday was a "preliminary planning decision."
The United States, Europe and Arab states said the announcement would complicate efforts to renew peace talks and defuse a crisis over a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
Britain and the European Union called on Netanyahu to reverse the decision, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said new settlement building would be "counter-productive."
The U.S. State Department's number two and three officials for policy, Deputy Secretary Bill Burns and Under Secretary Wendy Sherman, discussed the issue with Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren on Tuesday, the State Department said.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters both meetings were in person but had been previously scheduled, so Oren was not "summoned" to the State Department -- a sign of diplomatic annoyance.
Nuland declined to say whether the United States had been given any advance warning of the construction decision.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applied at the United Nations on Friday for full Palestinian membership, a move opposed by Israel and the United States, which urged him to resume negotiations with Israel to end the 63-year-old conflict.
Abbas has made a cessation of Israeli settlement building a condition for returning to talks which collapsed a year ago after Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month partial moratorium on construction.
The so-called Quartet of international mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the UN -- has called for talks to begin within a month and urged both sides not to take unilateral actions that could block peacemaking.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said the new housing units Israel wants to build represented "1,100 'noes' to the Quartet statement" urging a resumption of negotiations.
Gilo is a suburban settlement that was erected on West Bank land captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed unilaterally as part of Jerusalem.
Palestinians want to create a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and say settlements could deny them a viable country.
The Interior Ministry said a district planning committee approved the Gilo project and public objections to the proposal could be lodged within a 60-day review period, after which construction could begin.
Palestinian statehood bid to be reviewed by UN committee
Security Council unanimously votes to send Palestinian application for review, which normally can take up to five weeks.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously agreed to hand the Palestinian application to join the United Nations to a committee that will review and assess it in the coming weeks.
The standing committee on the admission of new members to the world body is comprised of all 15 council members. Normally, the review period for a membership application is a maximum of 35 days, but Western diplomats say that this limit can be waived and might take much longer for the Palestinians.
The chief Palestinian delegate to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the council's move.
"We are grateful to the Security Council for moving decisively and clearly on our application," he said. "The process is moving forward step by step, and we hope that the Security Council will shoulder its responsibility and approve our application."
He reiterated that the Palestinians hoped that the process would not take too long. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he wants the review over within weeks. The standing committee will hold its first meeting on Friday.
The United States has pledged to veto the Palestinian application, which needs council approval in order to be handed to the UN General Assembly for confirmation. So far, Western diplomats say, the Palestinians only have six certain votes on their side.
Security Council resolutions need nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members in order to pass.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously agreed to hand the Palestinian application to join the United Nations to a committee that will review and assess it in the coming weeks.
The standing committee on the admission of new members to the world body is comprised of all 15 council members. Normally, the review period for a membership application is a maximum of 35 days, but Western diplomats say that this limit can be waived and might take much longer for the Palestinians.
The chief Palestinian delegate to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the council's move.
"We are grateful to the Security Council for moving decisively and clearly on our application," he said. "The process is moving forward step by step, and we hope that the Security Council will shoulder its responsibility and approve our application."
He reiterated that the Palestinians hoped that the process would not take too long. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he wants the review over within weeks. The standing committee will hold its first meeting on Friday.
The United States has pledged to veto the Palestinian application, which needs council approval in order to be handed to the UN General Assembly for confirmation. So far, Western diplomats say, the Palestinians only have six certain votes on their side.
Security Council resolutions need nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members in order to pass.
Sep 26, 2011
Lieberman: Israel should be satisfied with Quartet call for Mideast peace talks
Referring to the wake of the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, Foreign Minister dismisses talk of a diplomatic 'tsunami' against Israel, saying in reality there wasn't even 'rain on a cloudy day'.
A statement by the Quartet on the Middle East calling upon Israel and the Palestinians to return immediately to negotiations is a significant Israeli achievement, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday.
On Friday, the Palestinian Authority officially submitted its bid for recognition in the United Nations, a move that was met with stern U.S. and EU objections, both advocating the resumption of peace talks over a unilateral move at the United Nations.
Following the Palestinian Authority's UN bid, the Quartet - comprised of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations – released a statement urging both sides to return to the negotiations table in order to achieve peace within a limited timetable.
On Monday, Lieberman lauded the Quartet announcement as an Israeli achievement, saying he suggested those who felt the Palestinian move was an Israeli diplomatic failure to "see and hear the U.S. State Department statements, to read [U.S. President Barack] Obama's speech, and the Quartet's statement."
"I have my reservations concerning the Quartet's statement, but, at the end of the day, when the Quartet, the UN, the EU, and the United States, sign a document that states that peace talks would renew without preconditions, I think that's noteworthy. The Israeli delegation brought back a significant achievement," Lieberman said.
The Foreign Minister discounted prevalent fears of a massive global diplomatic backlash following the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations, saying: "There isn't a diplomatic tsunami, not even rain on a cloudy day."
"We're past it, we know how to withstand pressures, and we shall continue to do so in the future," he added.
According to the foreign minister, the Israeli leadership "stood its ground," adding: "when you keep your forces unified and believe that what you are doing is right, eventually everyone is convinced you are right."
The Foreign Minister also commented on the support Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi gave the Palestinian delegation, saying: "The representatives of terror organizations in the Knesset came to New York as part of the Palestinian delegation. I saw as they spit fire and brimstone against Israel."
Lieberman also spoke of ongoing tensions with Turkey over Israel's refusal to apologize for its raid of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in 2010, blaming any diplomatic distress on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"We don't have any problems with Turkey. We respect the Turkish people and Turkey as a state. Our problem is with the current leadership, which is radically Muslim, supports terror and nourishes terror," Lieberman said, adding: "No wonder Erdogan supports Hamas. The IHH is on the terror list in Israel as well as in Germany, as so is Hezbollah."
A statement by the Quartet on the Middle East calling upon Israel and the Palestinians to return immediately to negotiations is a significant Israeli achievement, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday.
On Friday, the Palestinian Authority officially submitted its bid for recognition in the United Nations, a move that was met with stern U.S. and EU objections, both advocating the resumption of peace talks over a unilateral move at the United Nations.
Following the Palestinian Authority's UN bid, the Quartet - comprised of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations – released a statement urging both sides to return to the negotiations table in order to achieve peace within a limited timetable.
On Monday, Lieberman lauded the Quartet announcement as an Israeli achievement, saying he suggested those who felt the Palestinian move was an Israeli diplomatic failure to "see and hear the U.S. State Department statements, to read [U.S. President Barack] Obama's speech, and the Quartet's statement."
"I have my reservations concerning the Quartet's statement, but, at the end of the day, when the Quartet, the UN, the EU, and the United States, sign a document that states that peace talks would renew without preconditions, I think that's noteworthy. The Israeli delegation brought back a significant achievement," Lieberman said.
The Foreign Minister discounted prevalent fears of a massive global diplomatic backlash following the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations, saying: "There isn't a diplomatic tsunami, not even rain on a cloudy day."
"We're past it, we know how to withstand pressures, and we shall continue to do so in the future," he added.
According to the foreign minister, the Israeli leadership "stood its ground," adding: "when you keep your forces unified and believe that what you are doing is right, eventually everyone is convinced you are right."
The Foreign Minister also commented on the support Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi gave the Palestinian delegation, saying: "The representatives of terror organizations in the Knesset came to New York as part of the Palestinian delegation. I saw as they spit fire and brimstone against Israel."
Lieberman also spoke of ongoing tensions with Turkey over Israel's refusal to apologize for its raid of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in 2010, blaming any diplomatic distress on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"We don't have any problems with Turkey. We respect the Turkish people and Turkey as a state. Our problem is with the current leadership, which is radically Muslim, supports terror and nourishes terror," Lieberman said, adding: "No wonder Erdogan supports Hamas. The IHH is on the terror list in Israel as well as in Germany, as so is Hezbollah."
U.S. lawmaker: Palestinians must return to peace talks or suffer possible divestment
U.S. State Department waits for Palestinians' 'official response' to Quartet proposal; U.S. Congress members suggest reevaluation of U.S. financial assistance to Palestinian Authority.
A U.S. Congressmen said Monday that the Palestinians should think twice about their bid to gain recognition at the United Nations,urging the Palestinian Authority to "reverse course" and get back to the negotiation table.
Speaking at a gathering of Congressmen and leaders of Jewish organizations outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, Rep. Gary Ackerman, member of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, stressed that "There may need to be a total cutoff of all aid to the Palestinians for pursuing this course of action which is very dangerous and ill advised."
"If they're willing to consider putting their future in the hands of the United Nations, perhaps they should think about how much aid their friends at the United Nations will provide to accompany whatever meaningless, one-sided UN resolution they might pass," said Ackerman.
"They should think twice, reverse course and get back to the negotiating table where Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu awaits them," he concluded.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' actions a counter-productive publicity stunt, saying he is not interested in peace. "They [the Palestinians] have not been forced into this position, and the circumstances are not beyond their control. They have chosen to discontinue negotiations with Israel and pursue a counter-productive publicity stunt." she said.
"Abu Mazen's [Abbas] speech made clear he's not interested in peace. Peacemakers are not obstinate, cynical, incendiary, and inflammatory. Peacemakers take constructive – not destructive – actions toward the goal of peace."
Lowey suggested Abbas' actions warrant a strong U.S. response. "His action cross a line and should lead to a reevaluation of U.S. assistance for the Palestinian Authority," she said.
U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. Administration is still waiting for the Palestinians' "official response", despite comments made by members of the Palestinian delegation that suggest the Quartet's proposal does not meet their demands.
In a statement on Friday, the Quartet - the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia - said it wanted to see comprehensive proposals within three months on territory and security, and substantial progress within six months, with a goal of a deal by the end of 2012.
The statement followed a day of high-stakes diplomacy over the Middle East which saw Abbas submit a formal application to the UN Security Council for recognition of a Palestinian state.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki rejected on Saturday the Quartet's proposal to renew peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking to a Palestinian radio station, al-Malki said that the Quartet's proposal does not call for a settlement freeze and an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, and therefore isn't sufficient.
Other U.S. Congressmen expressed disappointment with the Palestinian president. Bob Turner, who won the recent special elections for the Congress at NY-9 district, said that the Palestinian Authority "continues to pay - with U.S. dollars - terrorists in Israeli prisons convicted of murdering Israeli civilians, and it has done nothing to stop the incessant shelling of Israeli towns. If the United Nations truly wants to stand up against terrorism, it has a moral obligation to deny this request."
A U.S. Congressmen said Monday that the Palestinians should think twice about their bid to gain recognition at the United Nations,urging the Palestinian Authority to "reverse course" and get back to the negotiation table.
Speaking at a gathering of Congressmen and leaders of Jewish organizations outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, Rep. Gary Ackerman, member of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, stressed that "There may need to be a total cutoff of all aid to the Palestinians for pursuing this course of action which is very dangerous and ill advised."
"If they're willing to consider putting their future in the hands of the United Nations, perhaps they should think about how much aid their friends at the United Nations will provide to accompany whatever meaningless, one-sided UN resolution they might pass," said Ackerman.
"They should think twice, reverse course and get back to the negotiating table where Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu awaits them," he concluded.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' actions a counter-productive publicity stunt, saying he is not interested in peace. "They [the Palestinians] have not been forced into this position, and the circumstances are not beyond their control. They have chosen to discontinue negotiations with Israel and pursue a counter-productive publicity stunt." she said.
"Abu Mazen's [Abbas] speech made clear he's not interested in peace. Peacemakers are not obstinate, cynical, incendiary, and inflammatory. Peacemakers take constructive – not destructive – actions toward the goal of peace."
Lowey suggested Abbas' actions warrant a strong U.S. response. "His action cross a line and should lead to a reevaluation of U.S. assistance for the Palestinian Authority," she said.
U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. Administration is still waiting for the Palestinians' "official response", despite comments made by members of the Palestinian delegation that suggest the Quartet's proposal does not meet their demands.
In a statement on Friday, the Quartet - the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia - said it wanted to see comprehensive proposals within three months on territory and security, and substantial progress within six months, with a goal of a deal by the end of 2012.
The statement followed a day of high-stakes diplomacy over the Middle East which saw Abbas submit a formal application to the UN Security Council for recognition of a Palestinian state.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki rejected on Saturday the Quartet's proposal to renew peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking to a Palestinian radio station, al-Malki said that the Quartet's proposal does not call for a settlement freeze and an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, and therefore isn't sufficient.
Other U.S. Congressmen expressed disappointment with the Palestinian president. Bob Turner, who won the recent special elections for the Congress at NY-9 district, said that the Palestinian Authority "continues to pay - with U.S. dollars - terrorists in Israeli prisons convicted of murdering Israeli civilians, and it has done nothing to stop the incessant shelling of Israeli towns. If the United Nations truly wants to stand up against terrorism, it has a moral obligation to deny this request."
Blast destroys Egypt gas pipeline to Israel for sixth time
Local hospital says one man admitted with burns from blast, which also set olive groves and shacks on fire; fire brigades getting flames under control after company operating pipeline cut off gas supply.
Unknown assailants blew up an Egyptian pipeline in Sinai on Tuesday that supplies Israel and Jordan with gas, security sources and witnesses said.
A witness told investigators he saw three men jump out of a small truck at a pumping station in an area known as al-Maidan, southwest of the city of el-Arish, and open fire on the pipeline, the security sources said.
This was followed by a large explosion heard across the city and witnesses said 15-meter high flames could be seen shooting up from the pipeline.
A local hospital said one man was admitted with burns from the blast, which also set olive groves and shacks in the area on fire. Fire brigades were getting the flames under control after the company operating the pipeline cut off the gas supply.
The pipeline has been blown up by assailants believed to be opposed to selling Egyptian gas to Israel six times since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February
The last attack occurred in July when men with machine guns in a small truck forced guards at a station out and blew it up.
The extent of the damage caused by Tuesday's blast and the effect on gas supplies to Israel and Jordan was not immediately clear.
Egypt has been trying to charge Israel and Jordan more for its gas after complaining that prices fixed during Mubarak's rule were below market rates.
The pipeline is run by Gasco, Egypt's gas transport company which is a subsidiary of the national gas company EGAS.
The Egyptian armed forces launched a security operation in Sinai in August to root out hundreds of suspected militants believed to be behind some of the attacks on the pipeline and police compounds in the peninsula.
Security sources said then that they had captured a group of four Islamist militants as they prepared to blow up the gas pipeline in el-Arish.
Unknown assailants blew up an Egyptian pipeline in Sinai on Tuesday that supplies Israel and Jordan with gas, security sources and witnesses said.
A witness told investigators he saw three men jump out of a small truck at a pumping station in an area known as al-Maidan, southwest of the city of el-Arish, and open fire on the pipeline, the security sources said.
This was followed by a large explosion heard across the city and witnesses said 15-meter high flames could be seen shooting up from the pipeline.
A local hospital said one man was admitted with burns from the blast, which also set olive groves and shacks in the area on fire. Fire brigades were getting the flames under control after the company operating the pipeline cut off the gas supply.
The pipeline has been blown up by assailants believed to be opposed to selling Egyptian gas to Israel six times since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February
The last attack occurred in July when men with machine guns in a small truck forced guards at a station out and blew it up.
The extent of the damage caused by Tuesday's blast and the effect on gas supplies to Israel and Jordan was not immediately clear.
Egypt has been trying to charge Israel and Jordan more for its gas after complaining that prices fixed during Mubarak's rule were below market rates.
The pipeline is run by Gasco, Egypt's gas transport company which is a subsidiary of the national gas company EGAS.
The Egyptian armed forces launched a security operation in Sinai in August to root out hundreds of suspected militants believed to be behind some of the attacks on the pipeline and police compounds in the peninsula.
Security sources said then that they had captured a group of four Islamist militants as they prepared to blow up the gas pipeline in el-Arish.
Sep 25, 2011
Hamas bans Gaza restaurant from screening Abbas' UN speech
The party's General Investigations Service arrived at the establishment in western Gaza City late Friday and ordered the owner to stop the broadcast, threatening to close his restaurant.
Hamas security personnel prevented a Gaza restaurant from screening Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' address to the UN General Assembly, a local rights group said Sunday.
Two men in plain clothing, who introduced themselves as members of the Hamas-run General Investigations Service (GIS), arrived at the establishment in western Gaza City late Friday and ordered the owner to stop the broadcast, threatening to close his restaurant.
The GIS members then contacted the Hamas police, who arrested the owner, the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) said.
They also confiscated the ID card of a journalist who filmed the incident and refused to hand over his tape.
The restaurant owner had not been released by Sunday, PCHR said.
President Abbas spoke to the UN General Assembly last Friday, moments after he submitted a formal request for the United Nations to recognize Palestinian statehood. In his speech, Abbas urged Israelis to "come to peace" in order to save the two-state solution.
Hamas security personnel prevented a Gaza restaurant from screening Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' address to the UN General Assembly, a local rights group said Sunday.
Two men in plain clothing, who introduced themselves as members of the Hamas-run General Investigations Service (GIS), arrived at the establishment in western Gaza City late Friday and ordered the owner to stop the broadcast, threatening to close his restaurant.
The GIS members then contacted the Hamas police, who arrested the owner, the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) said.
They also confiscated the ID card of a journalist who filmed the incident and refused to hand over his tape.
The restaurant owner had not been released by Sunday, PCHR said.
President Abbas spoke to the UN General Assembly last Friday, moments after he submitted a formal request for the United Nations to recognize Palestinian statehood. In his speech, Abbas urged Israelis to "come to peace" in order to save the two-state solution.
Turkey to deploy warships over gas dispute with Cyprus
Fighter jets to be stationed in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. It is still unclear whether gas exploration will take place in areas where Israel and Greek-controlled Cyprus have divided exploration rights.
Turkey is set to begin natural gas exploration in the coming days in the Eastern Mediterranean, north of Cyprus. According to reports in the Turkish media, the exploration will be accompanied by a fleet of Turkish war ships and submarines.
Turkey's war planes will also be stationed in the northern part of the island, which is under Turkish control. It is still unclear whether the exploration will take place in the areas where Israel and Cyprus divided exploration rights in an agreement signed last year. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both Israel and Cyprus of "oil madness".
As it happens, the conflict over Mediterranean oil allows Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to continue his diplomatic confrontation on two fronts: one with Israel, and one with Cyprus. Turkey is the only county that recognizes the pro-Turkish regime in North Cyprus, and claims that the pro-Greek government in the southern part of the island does not have the authority to sign deals with Israel.
The threats to use military, naval, and air power to strengthen the exploration come on the heels of Erdogan's threats earlier this month to accompany future Gaza flotillas with war ships. According to Israel's defense establishment, Erdogan is using empty threats in order to bolster his relations with the Arab world, and that Turkey has no intention of entering into a military confrontation with Israel.
Another reason that is causing Turkey to step up its threats against Greek-controlled Cyprus is the fact that in another nine months, it is expected to assume the EU rotating presidency. Turkey considers the move a slap in the face from the EU, which refused to allow Turkey to join.
A confrontation over oil rights in the Mediterranean will inevitably and directly involve the United States, as its company, Noble Energy, conducts explorations on behalf of Israel and Cyprus.
Turkey is set to begin natural gas exploration in the coming days in the Eastern Mediterranean, north of Cyprus. According to reports in the Turkish media, the exploration will be accompanied by a fleet of Turkish war ships and submarines.
Turkey's war planes will also be stationed in the northern part of the island, which is under Turkish control. It is still unclear whether the exploration will take place in the areas where Israel and Cyprus divided exploration rights in an agreement signed last year. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both Israel and Cyprus of "oil madness".
As it happens, the conflict over Mediterranean oil allows Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to continue his diplomatic confrontation on two fronts: one with Israel, and one with Cyprus. Turkey is the only county that recognizes the pro-Turkish regime in North Cyprus, and claims that the pro-Greek government in the southern part of the island does not have the authority to sign deals with Israel.
The threats to use military, naval, and air power to strengthen the exploration come on the heels of Erdogan's threats earlier this month to accompany future Gaza flotillas with war ships. According to Israel's defense establishment, Erdogan is using empty threats in order to bolster his relations with the Arab world, and that Turkey has no intention of entering into a military confrontation with Israel.
Another reason that is causing Turkey to step up its threats against Greek-controlled Cyprus is the fact that in another nine months, it is expected to assume the EU rotating presidency. Turkey considers the move a slap in the face from the EU, which refused to allow Turkey to join.
A confrontation over oil rights in the Mediterranean will inevitably and directly involve the United States, as its company, Noble Energy, conducts explorations on behalf of Israel and Cyprus.
Erdogan: U.S. likely to deploy drones on Turkish soil to fight Kurdish rebels
The two countries have been negotiating the possible deployment of Predator drones after the U.S. leaves Iraq.
The U.S. will likely deploy some Predator drones on Turkish soil, the Turkish prime minister said last Friday. Turkey has been pressing for the drones in an escalating war against Kurdish rebels.
The U.S. shares drone surveillance data from northern Iraq with Ankara to aid its fight against Kurdish rebels who have bases in Iraq. The two countries have been negotiating the possible deployment of Predator drones after the U.S. leaves Iraq.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday the two allies have agreed "in principle" over the deployment of the drones in Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.
Turkey has offered to purchase or lease the drones, Erdogan said.
"Our negotiations will continue," Anatolia quoted Erdogan as saying. "The developments are moving toward an agreement."
Turkey is operating Israeli-made Heron drones against the Kurdish rebels who have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. They have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months, who have retaliated with airstrikes in the rebels' suspected bases in northern Iraq.
Paramilitary police on Friday defused a powerful bomb believed to be planted by Kurdish rebels on a bridge in the country's southeast, and police also averted a possible attack in western resort town popular with foreign tourists.
The attempted attacks came a day after police detained a would-be Kurdish rebel bomber.
Kurdish rebels have dramatically stepped up attacks in Turkey. Friday's thwarted attack stoked more fears a day after a Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack near a school in the Turkish capital of Ankara that killed three people and wounded 34 on Tuesday.
The paramilitary police, acting on a tip, discovered 125 kilograms (275 pounds) of booby-trapped explosives planted on a highway bridge between the cities of Bingol and Elazig in the country's southeast. The explosives, containing ammonium nitrate and C-4 plastic explosives, were stashed in four large gas canisters as well as a pressure cooker, the governor's office in Bingol said.
The foiled attack came a day after anti-terror squads captured a suspected bomber in a raid in the western holiday town of Bodrum, seizing 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds) of plastic explosives, the Hurriyet newspaper reported, citing unnamed police sources. The suspect was believed to be behind a small bomb attack in the Mediterranean resort town of Kemer that wounded 10 people, including four Swedes on Aug. 28, according to Hurriyet.
Police refused to comment on the alleged arrest.
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, which also claimed the bombing in Kemer, had vowed more assaults in retaliation for what it called the Turkish government's "war" against the rebels, according to pro-Kurdish Firat news agency.
"Our cross-border operations will continue in the same way as long as there is terrorism," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also hinted further cooperation with neighboring Iran against the Kurdish rebels. A wing of the Kurdish rebel group is also fighting against Tehran from their main base on Qandil Mountain, which sits on the Iranian-Iraqi border.
"There are steps that we can jointly take together with Iran," Erdogan said. "We already have intelligence sharing."
Erdogan said Turkey would only halt its military drive if the rebels "lay down their arms."
The prime minister last week confirmed reports that government officials met with representatives of Kurdish rebels in Europe. The secret talks, which apparently failed to produce any tangible results, came to light after some websites this week posted an audio recording from an alleged 2010 meeting.
The rebels intensified their attacks on Turkish targets in mid-July, accusing the government of not responding to their demands, including autonomy and education in Kurdish language -- which Turkey fears could divide the country along ethnic lines.
In a nationwide crackdown on alleged Kurdish rebel sympathizers, police on Friday detained the mayors of the towns of Sirnak, Silopi and Idil in the Kurdish-dominated southeast, increasing the number of Kurdish suspects captured so far this week to more than 80, NTV television reported.
The U.S. will likely deploy some Predator drones on Turkish soil, the Turkish prime minister said last Friday. Turkey has been pressing for the drones in an escalating war against Kurdish rebels.
The U.S. shares drone surveillance data from northern Iraq with Ankara to aid its fight against Kurdish rebels who have bases in Iraq. The two countries have been negotiating the possible deployment of Predator drones after the U.S. leaves Iraq.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday the two allies have agreed "in principle" over the deployment of the drones in Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.
Turkey has offered to purchase or lease the drones, Erdogan said.
"Our negotiations will continue," Anatolia quoted Erdogan as saying. "The developments are moving toward an agreement."
Turkey is operating Israeli-made Heron drones against the Kurdish rebels who have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. They have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months, who have retaliated with airstrikes in the rebels' suspected bases in northern Iraq.
Paramilitary police on Friday defused a powerful bomb believed to be planted by Kurdish rebels on a bridge in the country's southeast, and police also averted a possible attack in western resort town popular with foreign tourists.
The attempted attacks came a day after police detained a would-be Kurdish rebel bomber.
Kurdish rebels have dramatically stepped up attacks in Turkey. Friday's thwarted attack stoked more fears a day after a Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack near a school in the Turkish capital of Ankara that killed three people and wounded 34 on Tuesday.
The paramilitary police, acting on a tip, discovered 125 kilograms (275 pounds) of booby-trapped explosives planted on a highway bridge between the cities of Bingol and Elazig in the country's southeast. The explosives, containing ammonium nitrate and C-4 plastic explosives, were stashed in four large gas canisters as well as a pressure cooker, the governor's office in Bingol said.
The foiled attack came a day after anti-terror squads captured a suspected bomber in a raid in the western holiday town of Bodrum, seizing 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds) of plastic explosives, the Hurriyet newspaper reported, citing unnamed police sources. The suspect was believed to be behind a small bomb attack in the Mediterranean resort town of Kemer that wounded 10 people, including four Swedes on Aug. 28, according to Hurriyet.
Police refused to comment on the alleged arrest.
The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, which also claimed the bombing in Kemer, had vowed more assaults in retaliation for what it called the Turkish government's "war" against the rebels, according to pro-Kurdish Firat news agency.
"Our cross-border operations will continue in the same way as long as there is terrorism," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also hinted further cooperation with neighboring Iran against the Kurdish rebels. A wing of the Kurdish rebel group is also fighting against Tehran from their main base on Qandil Mountain, which sits on the Iranian-Iraqi border.
"There are steps that we can jointly take together with Iran," Erdogan said. "We already have intelligence sharing."
Erdogan said Turkey would only halt its military drive if the rebels "lay down their arms."
The prime minister last week confirmed reports that government officials met with representatives of Kurdish rebels in Europe. The secret talks, which apparently failed to produce any tangible results, came to light after some websites this week posted an audio recording from an alleged 2010 meeting.
The rebels intensified their attacks on Turkish targets in mid-July, accusing the government of not responding to their demands, including autonomy and education in Kurdish language -- which Turkey fears could divide the country along ethnic lines.
In a nationwide crackdown on alleged Kurdish rebel sympathizers, police on Friday detained the mayors of the towns of Sirnak, Silopi and Idil in the Kurdish-dominated southeast, increasing the number of Kurdish suspects captured so far this week to more than 80, NTV television reported.
Sep 22, 2011
Obama to Abbas: U.S. will veto Palestinian statehood bid at UN
U.S. President appeals to Palestinian President at meeting on sidelines of UN General Assembly; ahead of Clinton meeting, Netanyahu says West Bank settlement freeze not an option.
U.S. President Barack Obama told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday that UN action would not achieve a Palestinian state and the United States would veto any Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood, the White House said.
"We would have to oppose any action at the UN Security Council including, if necessary, vetoing," Ben Rhodes, the White House national security council spokesman, told reporters after Obama met Abbas in New York.
PLO diplomatic envoy to the U.S. Maen Rashid Erekat told Haaretz that the U.S. President "reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to the establishment of the Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution, and stressed the position of the US that the UN is not the right venue to reach this goal."
"President Abbas explained the Palestinian position - basically it's what we've done in the past few months, each side explained his position," he added.
Obama met Abbas at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to hold separate talks with Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening.
In a joint press conference preceding his meeting with Clinton, Netanyahu referred to why he will not freeze settlement construction, despite that this may be one way to return to negotiations.
Netanyahu told reporters, "I did something that no previous Israeli government did. I actually froze any construction for ten months, waited nine months and one week; the Palestinians finally came and said, well, keep on freezing."
"So I think wisely – and we concluded with the United States – that what we really have to do is get on with the real issues and get down and negotiate all these issues in order to get peace. We have to negotiate the issues to resolve them. We can't just negotiate about the negotiations," he added.
Obama met with Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday. Netanyahu thanked Obama for endorsing direct talks with Palestinians and speaking out against any UN bid to declare a Palestinian state.
At a joint press conference following the meeting, Netanyahu said that direct negotiation was the only way to achieve a stable Middle East peace, and that the Palestinian effort to secure UN recognition of statehood "will not succeed."
Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath also told a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations is the only alternative to violence, stressing that the UN move will give the Palestinians the chance to promote their rights.
Shaath said that the Palestinians plan to give the UN Security Council time to mull its statehood bid, which they are due to submit on Friday, before turning to the UN General Assembly.
Earlier Wednesday, Obama delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly, urging the Palestinians to renew negotiations with Israel, rather than seek statehood at the United Nations.
U.S. President Barack Obama told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday that UN action would not achieve a Palestinian state and the United States would veto any Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood, the White House said.
"We would have to oppose any action at the UN Security Council including, if necessary, vetoing," Ben Rhodes, the White House national security council spokesman, told reporters after Obama met Abbas in New York.
PLO diplomatic envoy to the U.S. Maen Rashid Erekat told Haaretz that the U.S. President "reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to the establishment of the Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution, and stressed the position of the US that the UN is not the right venue to reach this goal."
"President Abbas explained the Palestinian position - basically it's what we've done in the past few months, each side explained his position," he added.
Obama met Abbas at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to hold separate talks with Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening.
In a joint press conference preceding his meeting with Clinton, Netanyahu referred to why he will not freeze settlement construction, despite that this may be one way to return to negotiations.
Netanyahu told reporters, "I did something that no previous Israeli government did. I actually froze any construction for ten months, waited nine months and one week; the Palestinians finally came and said, well, keep on freezing."
"So I think wisely – and we concluded with the United States – that what we really have to do is get on with the real issues and get down and negotiate all these issues in order to get peace. We have to negotiate the issues to resolve them. We can't just negotiate about the negotiations," he added.
Obama met with Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday. Netanyahu thanked Obama for endorsing direct talks with Palestinians and speaking out against any UN bid to declare a Palestinian state.
At a joint press conference following the meeting, Netanyahu said that direct negotiation was the only way to achieve a stable Middle East peace, and that the Palestinian effort to secure UN recognition of statehood "will not succeed."
Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath also told a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations is the only alternative to violence, stressing that the UN move will give the Palestinians the chance to promote their rights.
Shaath said that the Palestinians plan to give the UN Security Council time to mull its statehood bid, which they are due to submit on Friday, before turning to the UN General Assembly.
Earlier Wednesday, Obama delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly, urging the Palestinians to renew negotiations with Israel, rather than seek statehood at the United Nations.
Palestinians disappointed by Obama's UN speech
PLO Secretary-General, members of PLO delegation in Washington say U.S. president's speech was 'double standard' when he praised the Arab Spring but did not express support for Palestinian state.
A senior Palestinian official voiced disappointment at U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the United Nations on Wednesday, saying he had hoped for an expression of support for Palestinian freedom.
Obama urged Israel and the Palestinians to relaunch direct peace talks as he made a last-ditch attempt to avert a UN crisis over Palestinian statehood and pull his Middle East policy back from the brink of diplomatic disaster.
He also touched on the "Arab Spring" uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East, remarking how "change had come to Egypt and to the Arab World."
Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), told Reuters there was "a gap between praising the struggle of Arab peoples for the sake of freedom and between an abstract call for negotiations between us and the Israelis."
"We expected to hear that the freedom of the Palestinian people was key for the Arab Spring," he said. "Freedom should cover the [whole] region."
Moreover, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior member of the PLO delegation in Washington, told Haaretz that she was very disappointed with Obama's speech.
"Listening to [Obama], you would think it was the Palestinians who occupy Israel," she told Haaretz.
"He presented a double standard when he disassociated the Arabs' fight for their freedom in the region from the Palestinian freedom fighters, who deal with the occupation for 63 years… what we heard is precisely why we are going to the UN."
Abbas has vowed to submit to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an application for full UN membership for Palestinian statehood when he addresses the General Assembly session in New York on Friday despite U.S. and Israeli opposition.
Israel and the United States oppose the idea of a Palestinian UN push, which Israel says is aimed at delegitimizing it. The Palestinians say it will enable direct peace talks to talk place between two equal, sovereign states.
"We are here at the United Nations to call for an active international intervention, including by America, to lay down the foundations for serious negotiations and foremost the recognition of a Palestinian state," Abed Rabbo said.
"It is time that the policies of slipping away (from peace commitments), and continued annexation (of Palestinian land) be stopped," he said.
A senior Palestinian official voiced disappointment at U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the United Nations on Wednesday, saying he had hoped for an expression of support for Palestinian freedom.
Obama urged Israel and the Palestinians to relaunch direct peace talks as he made a last-ditch attempt to avert a UN crisis over Palestinian statehood and pull his Middle East policy back from the brink of diplomatic disaster.
He also touched on the "Arab Spring" uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East, remarking how "change had come to Egypt and to the Arab World."
Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), told Reuters there was "a gap between praising the struggle of Arab peoples for the sake of freedom and between an abstract call for negotiations between us and the Israelis."
"We expected to hear that the freedom of the Palestinian people was key for the Arab Spring," he said. "Freedom should cover the [whole] region."
Moreover, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior member of the PLO delegation in Washington, told Haaretz that she was very disappointed with Obama's speech.
"Listening to [Obama], you would think it was the Palestinians who occupy Israel," she told Haaretz.
"He presented a double standard when he disassociated the Arabs' fight for their freedom in the region from the Palestinian freedom fighters, who deal with the occupation for 63 years… what we heard is precisely why we are going to the UN."
Abbas has vowed to submit to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an application for full UN membership for Palestinian statehood when he addresses the General Assembly session in New York on Friday despite U.S. and Israeli opposition.
Israel and the United States oppose the idea of a Palestinian UN push, which Israel says is aimed at delegitimizing it. The Palestinians say it will enable direct peace talks to talk place between two equal, sovereign states.
"We are here at the United Nations to call for an active international intervention, including by America, to lay down the foundations for serious negotiations and foremost the recognition of a Palestinian state," Abed Rabbo said.
"It is time that the policies of slipping away (from peace commitments), and continued annexation (of Palestinian land) be stopped," he said.
Palestinians gather in Ramallah to protest Obama's UN speech
Protesters amass near office of Palestinian President Abbas, accuse U.S. President of siding 'with killers against victims'; activists call for protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.
Dozens of Palestinians gathered outside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office in Ramallah on Thursday, protesting U.S. President Barack Obama's opposition to their bid to gain recognition of a Palestinian state in the United Nations.
The protesters held up anti-Obama signs, including one reading "Obama the hypocrite" and another claiming the American president is siding "with killers against victims."
Also Thursday, the Egypt's semi-official Al Ahram newspaper reported online that activists in several Arab countries have called mass demonstrations in support of the Palestinian bid for statehood.
The demonstrations are being organized for Friday in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, countries where uprisings have this year led to the toppling of long-standing rulers.
The activists planned to protest Obama's address on Wednesday at UN General Assembly, which they termed disappointing and biased, Al Ahram said.
Obama reiterated his objection of what he considered to be a unilateral Palestinain move for UN recognition in a speech given in front of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, saying that the only path for peace was bilateral negotiations.
In a meeting with Abbas following his UN address on Wednesday, Obama told the Palestinian president that UN action would not achieve a Palestinian state and the United States would veto any Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood.
"We would have to oppose any action at the UN Security Council including, if necessary, vetoing," Ben Rhodes, the White House national security council spokesman, told reporters after Obama met Abbas in New York.
PLO diplomatic envoy to the U.S. Maen Rashid Erekat told Haaretz that the U.S. President "reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to the establishment of the Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution, and stressed the position of the US that the UN is not the right venue to reach this goal."
"President Abbas explained the Palestinian position - basically it's what we've done in the past few months, each side explained his position," he added.
Dozens of Palestinians gathered outside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office in Ramallah on Thursday, protesting U.S. President Barack Obama's opposition to their bid to gain recognition of a Palestinian state in the United Nations.
The protesters held up anti-Obama signs, including one reading "Obama the hypocrite" and another claiming the American president is siding "with killers against victims."
Also Thursday, the Egypt's semi-official Al Ahram newspaper reported online that activists in several Arab countries have called mass demonstrations in support of the Palestinian bid for statehood.
The demonstrations are being organized for Friday in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, countries where uprisings have this year led to the toppling of long-standing rulers.
The activists planned to protest Obama's address on Wednesday at UN General Assembly, which they termed disappointing and biased, Al Ahram said.
Obama reiterated his objection of what he considered to be a unilateral Palestinain move for UN recognition in a speech given in front of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, saying that the only path for peace was bilateral negotiations.
In a meeting with Abbas following his UN address on Wednesday, Obama told the Palestinian president that UN action would not achieve a Palestinian state and the United States would veto any Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood.
"We would have to oppose any action at the UN Security Council including, if necessary, vetoing," Ben Rhodes, the White House national security council spokesman, told reporters after Obama met Abbas in New York.
PLO diplomatic envoy to the U.S. Maen Rashid Erekat told Haaretz that the U.S. President "reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to the establishment of the Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution, and stressed the position of the US that the UN is not the right venue to reach this goal."
"President Abbas explained the Palestinian position - basically it's what we've done in the past few months, each side explained his position," he added.
U.S. Jews give Obama mixed reviews for 'pro-Israel' UN speech
AIPAC says Obama acknowledged that Israelis 'deserves recognition and normal relations with their neighbors'; 'U.S. cannot maintain credibility as the standard-bearer of rights and freedoms while the Israeli-Palestinians conflict is left to fester' says Peace Now president.
It was quite clear that U.S. President Barak Obama's speech, which Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he "would sign with both hands," would draw mixed reactions. Its failure to go into details about the Israeli-Palestinian issue was assumed to be a due to a combination of re-election concerns and those of slipping Jewish support.
But the U.S. Jewish organizations provided varying - in some cases even polar - responses to the speech.
The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), which recently launched a new website explaining Obama's support for Israel, took the speech as an opportunity to claim that all the "political chatter" doubting the president's support for Israel should be "put to bed once and for all."
"As he has proven throughout his presidency, President Obama supports Israel and its people instinctively. Israel truly has no better friend in the world today," NJDC leaders Marc Stanley and David Harris said in a joint statement Wednesday.
"On behalf of the National Jewish Democratic Council's Board of Directors and leadership, we wish to express our thanks to President Barack Obama for passionately and eloquently standing up for Israel and the Jewish State's security needs at the United Nations today," they said.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) welcomed the speech. "AIPAC appreciates the President's "unshakeable" commitment to Israel's security and his clear statements outlining the daily dangers and strategic threats facing Israel. President Obama demonstrated his understanding of Israel's legitimate requirements when he stated that the Jewish people – in their historic homeland – deserve recognition and normal relations with their neighbors," the Jewish lobby said.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David Harris said "President Obama's message was crystal clear that the only path to sustainable peace is direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, not what goes on in the corridors of the UN."
The Conference of Presidents Chairman Richard Stone and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein welcomed Obama's comments at the opening session of the UN General Assembly in support of direct negotiations, and his rejection of solutions imposed by outside parties, unilateral moves, or one sided declarations at the United Nations.
"The President correctly and clearly identified Israel's security needs and challenges," said the Conference of Presidents heads.
"The President said that "the Jewish people have forged a successful state in their historic homeland" and that "Israel deserves recognition." We specially note this formulation not only because it reaffirmed a historic truth but also because many in the hall he was addressing have sought to deny Israel's ancient and constant connection to the land and others have refuse to recognize it as the Jewish State," their statement continued.
"We hope that other leaders will listen to President Obama's words and heed his warnings," they said, adding, "Most of all, we hope that the automatic majority against Israel at the UN will come to consider the danger to that institution and to the cause of peace that results from a blanket acceptance of anti-Israel measures no matter how unjustified they may be."
Jewish Council for Public Affairs President Rabbi Steve Gutow praised Obama for saying the United States is dedicated to achieving peace through bilateral negotiations.
"He (Obama) understands that peace is a cooperative venture. It needs leaders, partners, supporters, witnesses, and principled advocates. No sustainable peace can be achieved alone," said the Rabbi. "The path to peace is paved with compromise and cooperation, not unilateralism."
But on the left side of the map, the disappointment was palpable.
Americans for Peace Now President and CEO Debra DeLee said Obama's speech, while saying the Americans support peace, offered little hope to Israelis and Palestinians.
"Israelis want and deserve peace and security as much as anyone in the region. Palestinians want and deserve freedom and self-determination as much as Egyptians, Tunisians, or Libyans. The United States cannot maintain credibility as the standard-bearer of rights and freedoms while the Israeli-Palestinians conflict is left to fester," said DeLee.
DeLee called upon the U.S. President to use his time at the United Nations this week as an opportunity to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back negotiations. "Only this can re-establish and re-assert U.S. credibility and re-inject hope for an end to this conflict," she said.
J Street rejected the Palestinian UN bid, but its President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that Obama was right to say there is "no shortcut" to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that Obama must turn this "crisis" into "an opportunity to jumpstart meaningful diplomacy that yields results."
It was quite clear that U.S. President Barak Obama's speech, which Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he "would sign with both hands," would draw mixed reactions. Its failure to go into details about the Israeli-Palestinian issue was assumed to be a due to a combination of re-election concerns and those of slipping Jewish support.
But the U.S. Jewish organizations provided varying - in some cases even polar - responses to the speech.
The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), which recently launched a new website explaining Obama's support for Israel, took the speech as an opportunity to claim that all the "political chatter" doubting the president's support for Israel should be "put to bed once and for all."
"As he has proven throughout his presidency, President Obama supports Israel and its people instinctively. Israel truly has no better friend in the world today," NJDC leaders Marc Stanley and David Harris said in a joint statement Wednesday.
"On behalf of the National Jewish Democratic Council's Board of Directors and leadership, we wish to express our thanks to President Barack Obama for passionately and eloquently standing up for Israel and the Jewish State's security needs at the United Nations today," they said.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) welcomed the speech. "AIPAC appreciates the President's "unshakeable" commitment to Israel's security and his clear statements outlining the daily dangers and strategic threats facing Israel. President Obama demonstrated his understanding of Israel's legitimate requirements when he stated that the Jewish people – in their historic homeland – deserve recognition and normal relations with their neighbors," the Jewish lobby said.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David Harris said "President Obama's message was crystal clear that the only path to sustainable peace is direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, not what goes on in the corridors of the UN."
The Conference of Presidents Chairman Richard Stone and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein welcomed Obama's comments at the opening session of the UN General Assembly in support of direct negotiations, and his rejection of solutions imposed by outside parties, unilateral moves, or one sided declarations at the United Nations.
"The President correctly and clearly identified Israel's security needs and challenges," said the Conference of Presidents heads.
"The President said that "the Jewish people have forged a successful state in their historic homeland" and that "Israel deserves recognition." We specially note this formulation not only because it reaffirmed a historic truth but also because many in the hall he was addressing have sought to deny Israel's ancient and constant connection to the land and others have refuse to recognize it as the Jewish State," their statement continued.
"We hope that other leaders will listen to President Obama's words and heed his warnings," they said, adding, "Most of all, we hope that the automatic majority against Israel at the UN will come to consider the danger to that institution and to the cause of peace that results from a blanket acceptance of anti-Israel measures no matter how unjustified they may be."
Jewish Council for Public Affairs President Rabbi Steve Gutow praised Obama for saying the United States is dedicated to achieving peace through bilateral negotiations.
"He (Obama) understands that peace is a cooperative venture. It needs leaders, partners, supporters, witnesses, and principled advocates. No sustainable peace can be achieved alone," said the Rabbi. "The path to peace is paved with compromise and cooperation, not unilateralism."
But on the left side of the map, the disappointment was palpable.
Americans for Peace Now President and CEO Debra DeLee said Obama's speech, while saying the Americans support peace, offered little hope to Israelis and Palestinians.
"Israelis want and deserve peace and security as much as anyone in the region. Palestinians want and deserve freedom and self-determination as much as Egyptians, Tunisians, or Libyans. The United States cannot maintain credibility as the standard-bearer of rights and freedoms while the Israeli-Palestinians conflict is left to fester," said DeLee.
DeLee called upon the U.S. President to use his time at the United Nations this week as an opportunity to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back negotiations. "Only this can re-establish and re-assert U.S. credibility and re-inject hope for an end to this conflict," she said.
J Street rejected the Palestinian UN bid, but its President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that Obama was right to say there is "no shortcut" to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that Obama must turn this "crisis" into "an opportunity to jumpstart meaningful diplomacy that yields results."
IDF bans Meir Kahane's grandson from West Bank for 3 months
Associates of right-wing activist Meir Ettinger say he was banned over his involvement in a self-defense class for residents of illegal West Bank outposts.
The Israel Defense Forces issued an order against the grandson of former right-wing leader Meir Kahane on Thursday, effectively banning him from entering the West Bank for three months.
Associates of Meir Ettinger said the right-wing activist was banned for his involvement in a self-defense class geared at residents of illegal West Bank outposts.
Ettinger, who was handed the order by Israel Police detectives as he was standing in Jerusalem's French Hill Junction, published an article on the Hakol Hayehudi (The Jewish Voice) website, in which he criticized the actions of a top IDF West Bank officer.
In the article, Kahane's grandson encouraged settlers to physically defend outpost activity, alleging that outpost residents could successfully defend themselves by being more violent.
Ettinger's grandfather, Meir Kahane, was an American-born orthodox rabbi and Knesset member, made famous by his founding of Kach, an extreme-right political party that was banned from the Knesset in 1988 and outlawed in 1994. Kahane was assassinated in 1990.
The Israel Defense Forces issued an order against the grandson of former right-wing leader Meir Kahane on Thursday, effectively banning him from entering the West Bank for three months.
Associates of Meir Ettinger said the right-wing activist was banned for his involvement in a self-defense class geared at residents of illegal West Bank outposts.
Ettinger, who was handed the order by Israel Police detectives as he was standing in Jerusalem's French Hill Junction, published an article on the Hakol Hayehudi (The Jewish Voice) website, in which he criticized the actions of a top IDF West Bank officer.
In the article, Kahane's grandson encouraged settlers to physically defend outpost activity, alleging that outpost residents could successfully defend themselves by being more violent.
Ettinger's grandfather, Meir Kahane, was an American-born orthodox rabbi and Knesset member, made famous by his founding of Kach, an extreme-right political party that was banned from the Knesset in 1988 and outlawed in 1994. Kahane was assassinated in 1990.
Sep 20, 2011
Israel's president requests heads of state to oppose Palestinian UN bid
In phone calls with the presidents of Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Shimon Peres promotes direct negotiations; Palestinian sources: negotiations are complementary, not contradictory, to UN bid.
President Shimon Peres spoke to the presidents of Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, requesting they oppose the Palestinian bit for statehood at the UN Security Council.
In telephone conversations with Austrian President Heinz Fischer and incumbent President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Živko Budimir, Peres said a Palestinian state could only be established via direct negotiations.
Peres is planning to speak to the presidents of Gabon and Nigeria later tonight.
Gabon's position is being closely watched because it is one of the countries voting on the Security Council. The vote is expected to be close.
Laure Olga Gondjout, the chief of staff for President Ali Bongo of Gabon, said Tuesday that the country has not yet made up its mind on whether Palestinians should be granted UN membership. She added that the country's delegation to the United Nations has not yet submitted its position on the matter.
When asked how Gabon would vote on the Palestinians' bid for United Nations membership, Gondjout replied: "We have not turned in our position statement... We cannot anticipate a recognition of the new state of Palestine… or a non-recognition at this point."
Peres' conversations with his fellow heads of state come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets off for the United Nations in New York.
Speaking at a Likud party conference ahead of his flight, Netanyahu said he is aware that he will come under heavy pressure at the United Nations.
"Tonight I am going to New York to speak at the General Assembly, meet with (U.S. President Barack) Obama and with other leaders," Netanyahu said. "I know the reception I received here is much warmer than the one I will receive at the UN, and exactly because of that I think we should go there and present our truth… of a people attacked over and over by those opposed to their very existence. That is the most basic truth."
Netanyahu said he has turned to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas several times, and offered him to meet, but Abbas declined. "I told him the road to peace goes through direct negotiations and not unilateral decisions at the UN," he said.
Netanyahu received support from opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who called upon the prime minister to initiate political negotiations with the Palestinians. "Your trip is critical for the future of Israel," said Livni, "Every move at the United Nations dangers the security and national interests of Israel, and this is avoidable."
Sources at the Palestinian government told Haaretz on Tuesday evening, following Netanyahu's comments, that "even if we start direct negotiations with Israel, it does not cancel the UN bid. We see both of these paths as complimentary, not contradictory."
President Shimon Peres spoke to the presidents of Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, requesting they oppose the Palestinian bit for statehood at the UN Security Council.
In telephone conversations with Austrian President Heinz Fischer and incumbent President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Živko Budimir, Peres said a Palestinian state could only be established via direct negotiations.
Peres is planning to speak to the presidents of Gabon and Nigeria later tonight.
Gabon's position is being closely watched because it is one of the countries voting on the Security Council. The vote is expected to be close.
Laure Olga Gondjout, the chief of staff for President Ali Bongo of Gabon, said Tuesday that the country has not yet made up its mind on whether Palestinians should be granted UN membership. She added that the country's delegation to the United Nations has not yet submitted its position on the matter.
When asked how Gabon would vote on the Palestinians' bid for United Nations membership, Gondjout replied: "We have not turned in our position statement... We cannot anticipate a recognition of the new state of Palestine… or a non-recognition at this point."
Peres' conversations with his fellow heads of state come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets off for the United Nations in New York.
Speaking at a Likud party conference ahead of his flight, Netanyahu said he is aware that he will come under heavy pressure at the United Nations.
"Tonight I am going to New York to speak at the General Assembly, meet with (U.S. President Barack) Obama and with other leaders," Netanyahu said. "I know the reception I received here is much warmer than the one I will receive at the UN, and exactly because of that I think we should go there and present our truth… of a people attacked over and over by those opposed to their very existence. That is the most basic truth."
Netanyahu said he has turned to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas several times, and offered him to meet, but Abbas declined. "I told him the road to peace goes through direct negotiations and not unilateral decisions at the UN," he said.
Netanyahu received support from opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who called upon the prime minister to initiate political negotiations with the Palestinians. "Your trip is critical for the future of Israel," said Livni, "Every move at the United Nations dangers the security and national interests of Israel, and this is avoidable."
Sources at the Palestinian government told Haaretz on Tuesday evening, following Netanyahu's comments, that "even if we start direct negotiations with Israel, it does not cancel the UN bid. We see both of these paths as complimentary, not contradictory."
Sep 19, 2011
Jordan's Abdullah: Israel must decide if it's part of the Mideast ahead of Palestinian vote at UN
Jordanian King warns of possible 'negative impact' of continued negotiations stalemate, adding that a U.S. veto against Palestinian statehood at the UN Security Council would only further isolate Israel.
Israel has to decide whether or not it is part of the Middle East ahead of a Palestinian bid for statehood in the United Nations, Jordanian King Abdullah II said in an interview late Monday, adding that he was not optimistic as to the Israeli government's seriousness regarding resolving its conflict with the Palestinians.
Earlier Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Fox News that he was willing to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their mutual stay in New York. Abbas is currently in New York holding meetings in preparation for UN Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood status.
"I will meet any Israeli official any time," said Abbas, though he added that "there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Earlier, Abbas met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters and reaffirmed that he planned to ask this week for a Security Council vote on Palestinian membership despite the certainty of a US veto, his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Abdullah referred to what he considering as the Israeli government's distancing itself from Mideast issues, including the conflict with the Palestinians, adding that the upcoming Palestinian vote was a chance for Israel to change its ways.
According to the Jordanian King, Israel is at a very critical juncture today where denying that they have nothing to do with what's going on in the area denying that the Palestinian issue does not involve them in the region is going to make it much more difficult for them to engage with us in the future."
"So I think that you know the buzz word is Israel has to decide; does it want to be part of the neighborhood or does it want to be fortress Israel and the decisions that we've seen over the past year or so are not encouraging," Abdullah said.
Abdullah told the Wall Street Journal that, at first, he had been positive regarding Netanyahu's plans to reach Mideast peace, saying there had" been very positive statements over the past several years. The vision that he has for the region which has been reassuring."
"Having said that everything we see on the ground has been completely the opposite and as a result I think we're all disappointed and I think my best way to describe my view toward Israel is my increasing frustration because they're sticking their head in the sand and pretending that there's not a problem," the Jordanian king said.
Referring to last-ditch attempts by Quartet officials to bring Netanyahu and Abbas back to the negotiations table as a way to thwart the Palestinian statehood bid, the Jordanian king said that "if we can't get the Israelis and Palestinians together in this next couple of days then what signal is that for the future process, in other words, we're normally back to the drawing board."
"I think we're back beyond that and as a result the end of 2011 to 2012 is very bleak it has a very negative impact I think on all of us in the region," Abdullah said, adding that a recent crisis between Israel and Turkey and an attack on the Israeli embassy in Egypt were manifestations of such an impact.
[Yo]u've been watching very serious breakdown in relations between Turkey and Israel; what's happening in Egypt recently, so the failure to move forward past the UN General Assembly," he said, adding that another result of a continued stalemate would be the further isolation of both Israel and the United States.
"I believe the U.S. and Israel are going to be more isolated and the pressure on Israel is going to be greater. I know that there are Israeli that are saying you know that the Arab Spring is a good thing for them and I don't think that is necessary the case as we've seen by recent examples," Abdullah said.
The Jordanian king also referred to the possibility of the United States using its veto to push back a Palestinian proposal at the UN Security Council, saying that "if the U.S. vetoes it's going to have … you know … the Middle East will have a very negative view towards the United States that's part of the problem and again the aspirations of people are being spoken in much louder voices. And so again I think Israel is becoming more and more isolated."
Israel has to decide whether or not it is part of the Middle East ahead of a Palestinian bid for statehood in the United Nations, Jordanian King Abdullah II said in an interview late Monday, adding that he was not optimistic as to the Israeli government's seriousness regarding resolving its conflict with the Palestinians.
Earlier Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Fox News that he was willing to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their mutual stay in New York. Abbas is currently in New York holding meetings in preparation for UN Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood status.
"I will meet any Israeli official any time," said Abbas, though he added that "there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Earlier, Abbas met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters and reaffirmed that he planned to ask this week for a Security Council vote on Palestinian membership despite the certainty of a US veto, his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Abdullah referred to what he considering as the Israeli government's distancing itself from Mideast issues, including the conflict with the Palestinians, adding that the upcoming Palestinian vote was a chance for Israel to change its ways.
According to the Jordanian King, Israel is at a very critical juncture today where denying that they have nothing to do with what's going on in the area denying that the Palestinian issue does not involve them in the region is going to make it much more difficult for them to engage with us in the future."
"So I think that you know the buzz word is Israel has to decide; does it want to be part of the neighborhood or does it want to be fortress Israel and the decisions that we've seen over the past year or so are not encouraging," Abdullah said.
Abdullah told the Wall Street Journal that, at first, he had been positive regarding Netanyahu's plans to reach Mideast peace, saying there had" been very positive statements over the past several years. The vision that he has for the region which has been reassuring."
"Having said that everything we see on the ground has been completely the opposite and as a result I think we're all disappointed and I think my best way to describe my view toward Israel is my increasing frustration because they're sticking their head in the sand and pretending that there's not a problem," the Jordanian king said.
Referring to last-ditch attempts by Quartet officials to bring Netanyahu and Abbas back to the negotiations table as a way to thwart the Palestinian statehood bid, the Jordanian king said that "if we can't get the Israelis and Palestinians together in this next couple of days then what signal is that for the future process, in other words, we're normally back to the drawing board."
"I think we're back beyond that and as a result the end of 2011 to 2012 is very bleak it has a very negative impact I think on all of us in the region," Abdullah said, adding that a recent crisis between Israel and Turkey and an attack on the Israeli embassy in Egypt were manifestations of such an impact.
[Yo]u've been watching very serious breakdown in relations between Turkey and Israel; what's happening in Egypt recently, so the failure to move forward past the UN General Assembly," he said, adding that another result of a continued stalemate would be the further isolation of both Israel and the United States.
"I believe the U.S. and Israel are going to be more isolated and the pressure on Israel is going to be greater. I know that there are Israeli that are saying you know that the Arab Spring is a good thing for them and I don't think that is necessary the case as we've seen by recent examples," Abdullah said.
The Jordanian king also referred to the possibility of the United States using its veto to push back a Palestinian proposal at the UN Security Council, saying that "if the U.S. vetoes it's going to have … you know … the Middle East will have a very negative view towards the United States that's part of the problem and again the aspirations of people are being spoken in much louder voices. And so again I think Israel is becoming more and more isolated."
Clinton urges Turkey to 'keep door open' for ties with Israel
Deterioration in diplomatic ties began when a IDF on Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 left nine Turkish citizens dead. Israel refused the Turkish request to apologize for the deaths and pay compensation to the families those killed.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Turkey to "keep the door open" to better ties with Israel, a U.S. official said on Monday, seeking to prevent relations between two U.S. allies from getting worse.
"She encouraged Turkey to keep the door open," a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters after Clinton met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for nearly an hour.
"We want to see them repair their relationship, so she encouraged them to avoid any steps that would close that door and, on the contrary, to actively seek ways that they can repair (their) important relationship with Israel," he added.
"The secretary made clear that this is not a time when we need more tension, more volatility in the region," said a second official, apparently referring to deteriorating Israeli ties with Egypt and Jordan and tensions with the Palestinians.
The United States has watched with dismay as Turkish-Israeli ties began to unravel in late 2008, after Israel outraged Turkey by launching an offensive against the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group.
Turkey reacted angrily this month to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to apologize for an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turkish citizens in May 2010.
After the release of a U.N. report on the flotilla, which aimed to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, Erdogan's government expelled Israel's envoy, froze military cooperation and said the Turkish navy could escort future aid flotillas.
The senior U.S. officials declined to say whether Clinton had specifically warned Davutoglu against such military escorts, which raise the prospect of military confrontation between NATO-member Turkey and the Jewish state.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Turkey to "keep the door open" to better ties with Israel, a U.S. official said on Monday, seeking to prevent relations between two U.S. allies from getting worse.
"She encouraged Turkey to keep the door open," a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters after Clinton met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for nearly an hour.
"We want to see them repair their relationship, so she encouraged them to avoid any steps that would close that door and, on the contrary, to actively seek ways that they can repair (their) important relationship with Israel," he added.
"The secretary made clear that this is not a time when we need more tension, more volatility in the region," said a second official, apparently referring to deteriorating Israeli ties with Egypt and Jordan and tensions with the Palestinians.
The United States has watched with dismay as Turkish-Israeli ties began to unravel in late 2008, after Israel outraged Turkey by launching an offensive against the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group.
Turkey reacted angrily this month to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to apologize for an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turkish citizens in May 2010.
After the release of a U.N. report on the flotilla, which aimed to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, Erdogan's government expelled Israel's envoy, froze military cooperation and said the Turkish navy could escort future aid flotillas.
The senior U.S. officials declined to say whether Clinton had specifically warned Davutoglu against such military escorts, which raise the prospect of military confrontation between NATO-member Turkey and the Jewish state.
U.S. Republicans submit resolution supporting Israel's right to annex West Bank
Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) introduces House resolution that supports annexation if the Palestinian Authority continues to push for UN vote.
U.S. Representative Joe Walsh (R-IL), introduced on Monday a resolution (with 30 co-sponsors) to support Israel's right to annex the West Bank in the event that the Palestinian Authority continues to push for vote at the United Nations.
"We've got what I consider to be a potential slap in the face coming up with the vote in the UN, which is absolutely outrageous," Walsh told Politico website last July.
He was quoted as saying that "it's clear that the United States needs to make a very strong statement. I would argue that the president should make this statement, but he's not capable of making it. So, the House needs to make this statement, if the [Palestinian Authority] continues down this road of trying to get recognition of statehood, the U.S. will not stand for it. And we will respect Israel's right to annex Judea and Samaria."
Meanwhile on Sunday, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) delivered the keynote address at the Jewish National Fund's 2011 National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Boehner said that it is the U.S.'s duty to stand by Israel "not just as a broker or observer – but as a strong partner and reliable ally."
Referring to the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN, Boehner said that "Israel has demonstrated time and again it seeks nothing more than peace … a peace agreed to by the two states and only the two states. Like every prime minister before him, Prime Minister Netanyahu knows peace will require compromise – and he accepts that. He welcomes that."
U.S. Representative Joe Walsh (R-IL), introduced on Monday a resolution (with 30 co-sponsors) to support Israel's right to annex the West Bank in the event that the Palestinian Authority continues to push for vote at the United Nations.
"We've got what I consider to be a potential slap in the face coming up with the vote in the UN, which is absolutely outrageous," Walsh told Politico website last July.
He was quoted as saying that "it's clear that the United States needs to make a very strong statement. I would argue that the president should make this statement, but he's not capable of making it. So, the House needs to make this statement, if the [Palestinian Authority] continues down this road of trying to get recognition of statehood, the U.S. will not stand for it. And we will respect Israel's right to annex Judea and Samaria."
Meanwhile on Sunday, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) delivered the keynote address at the Jewish National Fund's 2011 National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Boehner said that it is the U.S.'s duty to stand by Israel "not just as a broker or observer – but as a strong partner and reliable ally."
Referring to the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN, Boehner said that "Israel has demonstrated time and again it seeks nothing more than peace … a peace agreed to by the two states and only the two states. Like every prime minister before him, Prime Minister Netanyahu knows peace will require compromise – and he accepts that. He welcomes that."
Abbas says willing to meet with Netanyahu during stay in New York
Abbas in New York pushing ahead with plans to seek full UN membership for a Palestinian state, a move the United States and Israel say could lead to disaster.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Fox News that he was willing to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their mutual stay in New York, Monday. Abbas is currently in New York holding meetings in preparation for UN Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood status.
"I will meet any Israeli official any time," said Abbas, though he added that "there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Earlier, Abbas met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters and reaffirmed that he planned to ask this week for a Security Council vote on Palestinian membership despite the certainty of a US veto, his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said.
Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu called Abbas to meet with him in New York in a statement Netanyahu gave before leaving for the UN headquarters where he will be trying to thwart the Palestinian statehood bid, YNet reported.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said the Palestinian move could spur retaliation - which could exacerbate the financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority because of a shortfall in aid from Arab states.
Netanyahu said on Sunday he expected that the Palestinian bid to join the United Nations would fail and that this might help them "come to their senses" and rejoin direct peace talks.
Abbas in New York pushing ahead with plans to seek full UN membership for a Palestinian state, a move the United States and Israel say could lead to disaster.
More on this topic
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Fox News that he was willing to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their mutual stay in New York, Monday. Abbas is currently in New York holding meetings in preparation for UN Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood status.
"I will meet any Israeli official any time," said Abbas, though he added that "there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Earlier, Abbas met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters and reaffirmed that he planned to ask this week for a Security Council vote on Palestinian membership despite the certainty of a US veto, his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said.
Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu called Abbas to meet with him in New York in a statement Netanyahu gave before leaving for the UN headquarters where he will be trying to thwart the Palestinian statehood bid, YNet reported.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said the Palestinian move could spur retaliation - which could exacerbate the financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority because of a shortfall in aid from Arab states.
Netanyahu said on Sunday he expected that the Palestinian bid to join the United Nations would fail and that this might help them "come to their senses" and rejoin direct peace talks.
Abbas in New York pushing ahead with plans to seek full UN membership for a Palestinian state, a move the United States and Israel say could lead to disaster.
Israel to withdraw police representative in Turkey
Public Security Minister's decision motivated by lack of working relationships and concerns for the police representative's safety.
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch announced Monday that Israel will withdraw its police representative in Turkey following the deepening crisis between Jerusalem and Ankara.
"Lately, there have not been working relations between the police representative and the Turks. In addition, we are concerned for the safety of the representative and as such he will be transferred in the coming days," said Aharonovitch.
The representatives in Turkey also provide services to other Eastern European countries and as such the intention is to transfer these representatives to Romania.
The recent crisis in Israel-Turkey relations deepened after the UN-commissioned report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid was leaked to the New York Times, foiling a last-ditch effort to patch up relations between the two countries.
Turkey then announced a series of measures against Israel, beginning with the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador along with other senior diplomats and the downgrading of bilateral relations to the level of second secretary.
The deterioration in diplomatic ties began when the Israel Defense Forces raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 left nine Turkish citizens dead. Following the incident, Israel refused the Turkish request to apologize for the deaths.
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch announced Monday that Israel will withdraw its police representative in Turkey following the deepening crisis between Jerusalem and Ankara.
"Lately, there have not been working relations between the police representative and the Turks. In addition, we are concerned for the safety of the representative and as such he will be transferred in the coming days," said Aharonovitch.
The representatives in Turkey also provide services to other Eastern European countries and as such the intention is to transfer these representatives to Romania.
The recent crisis in Israel-Turkey relations deepened after the UN-commissioned report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid was leaked to the New York Times, foiling a last-ditch effort to patch up relations between the two countries.
Turkey then announced a series of measures against Israel, beginning with the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador along with other senior diplomats and the downgrading of bilateral relations to the level of second secretary.
The deterioration in diplomatic ties began when the Israel Defense Forces raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 left nine Turkish citizens dead. Following the incident, Israel refused the Turkish request to apologize for the deaths.
Abbas predicts very difficult' time for Palestinians after UN bid
PA President arrives in New York ahead of UN General Assembly; Palestinians deny reports that Netanyahu agreed to compromise on wording of Israel as a Jewish state in Mideast Quartet statement.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he expects a "very difficult" situation after the Palestinians submit their request for full membership at the United Nations General Assembly, the French news agency AFP reported.
Speaking upon his arrival in New York ahead of the opening of the General Assembly on Wednesday, Abbas called on Israeli citizens to recognize Palestinian statehood to prove that a two-state solution can be reached.
Moreover, Palestinian sources close to Abbas insisted overnight Sunday that in contrast to recent reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not offer them a compromise on Israel's demand to be recognized as a Jewish state in the draft of a Quartet statement calling for direct peace talks to resume due to be published on Monday.
Netanyahu was reported to have agreed to several compromises in regard to the Quartet statement's wording, as an attempt to sway the Palestinian Authority away from its statehood bid at the United Nations.
The Palestinian officials confirmed that Israel offered the Palestinian Authority, through the Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair, several compromises, but denied that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to be flexible on the wording of Israel as a Jewish state.
Moreover, they said that the idea of altering the specific wording of "Israel as a Jewish state," which is Netanyahu's precondition to negotiations with the Palestinians, does now show flexibility on the part of Israel since the Palestinians reject it as a precondition.
On Sunday, it was reported that Abbas rebuffed proposals that included compromises by Netanyahu, which allegedly included a compromise on the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Among other compromises that were reportedly made by Netanyahu was a vaguer wording concerning the West Bank's main settlement blocs. One Quartet draft spoke of negotiations based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps, with borders that are not identical to those of 1967 and taking into account "demographic reality on the ground."
Netanyahu gave his consent to have a more ambiguous wording to that statement, in order to provide the Americans and Blair more leeway with the Palestinian side.
The Palestinian sources claimed Monday that they rejected the proposal since it did not include their demand that the lands that are swapped will be identical in scope and quality.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he expects a "very difficult" situation after the Palestinians submit their request for full membership at the United Nations General Assembly, the French news agency AFP reported.
Speaking upon his arrival in New York ahead of the opening of the General Assembly on Wednesday, Abbas called on Israeli citizens to recognize Palestinian statehood to prove that a two-state solution can be reached.
Moreover, Palestinian sources close to Abbas insisted overnight Sunday that in contrast to recent reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not offer them a compromise on Israel's demand to be recognized as a Jewish state in the draft of a Quartet statement calling for direct peace talks to resume due to be published on Monday.
Netanyahu was reported to have agreed to several compromises in regard to the Quartet statement's wording, as an attempt to sway the Palestinian Authority away from its statehood bid at the United Nations.
The Palestinian officials confirmed that Israel offered the Palestinian Authority, through the Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair, several compromises, but denied that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to be flexible on the wording of Israel as a Jewish state.
Moreover, they said that the idea of altering the specific wording of "Israel as a Jewish state," which is Netanyahu's precondition to negotiations with the Palestinians, does now show flexibility on the part of Israel since the Palestinians reject it as a precondition.
On Sunday, it was reported that Abbas rebuffed proposals that included compromises by Netanyahu, which allegedly included a compromise on the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Among other compromises that were reportedly made by Netanyahu was a vaguer wording concerning the West Bank's main settlement blocs. One Quartet draft spoke of negotiations based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps, with borders that are not identical to those of 1967 and taking into account "demographic reality on the ground."
Netanyahu gave his consent to have a more ambiguous wording to that statement, in order to provide the Americans and Blair more leeway with the Palestinian side.
The Palestinian sources claimed Monday that they rejected the proposal since it did not include their demand that the lands that are swapped will be identical in scope and quality.
Palestinians hack Jewish 'Facebook' site
Group calling itself 'Challenges HackerS' take over 'FaceGlat', say will never stop hacking 'until you stop killing our brothers and sisters and mothers in Palestine'.
FaceGlat, an ultra-Orthodox alternative to Facebook that separates between male and female profiles, was hacked on Saturday by a group calling themselves, "Challenges HackerS".
The site, normally frequented by Haredi Jews who do not wish to be tempted by the voyeurism of Facebook, now calls to "free Palestine". The hackers wrote that if they could change the domain they would, but for now they are telling "the owner of this site that am gonna get this PC soon or later," adding, "Palestine is the best of the best."
The group pledged to never stop hacking "until you stop killing our brothers and sisters and mother in Palestine," warning that "the day is coming."
The hackers, who claim to be from Jordan, posted a picture of a hand making the peace sign on the site, signing it M17 Hacker, DrZero Hacker and Sn!peR Hacker.
FaceGlat, an ultra-Orthodox alternative to Facebook that separates between male and female profiles, was hacked on Saturday by a group calling themselves, "Challenges HackerS".
The site, normally frequented by Haredi Jews who do not wish to be tempted by the voyeurism of Facebook, now calls to "free Palestine". The hackers wrote that if they could change the domain they would, but for now they are telling "the owner of this site that am gonna get this PC soon or later," adding, "Palestine is the best of the best."
The group pledged to never stop hacking "until you stop killing our brothers and sisters and mother in Palestine," warning that "the day is coming."
The hackers, who claim to be from Jordan, posted a picture of a hand making the peace sign on the site, signing it M17 Hacker, DrZero Hacker and Sn!peR Hacker.
Sep 18, 2011
Deputy FM Ayalon warns Palestinians of Israeli sanctions
"Future assistance and cooperation could be severely and irreparably compromised," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the Palestinian Donors Conference
Today (Sunday, 18th September), Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the Palestinian Donors Conference held at the United Nations that Israel is interested in continuing to assist Palestinian economic development, but this position could be affected if the Palestinians unilaterally declare a state.
"Future assistance and cooperation could be severely and irreparably compromised if the Palestinian leadership continues on its path of essentially acting in contravention of all signed agreements which also regulate existing economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," Ayalon told the conference, which was hosted by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe and chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Ghar Store. The Palestinians were represented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Ayalon laid out all of Israel's activities that have assisted the continued growth in Palestinian economy during the past few years, and how cooperation with Israel is essential for the Palestinian Authority's institution building. However, the Deputy Foreign Minister warned the Palestinians that all of this will be affected by the Palestinian initiative to bypass negotiations and impose their demands on the international community.
"The Palestinian Authority's path of unilateralism and reneging on its commitments bode extremely ill, not just for a peaceful resolution to our conflict, but the immediate future," Ayalon said. "If the Palestinian Authority is staking a path, not just against its signed commitments, but against the norms and standards of international peace-making, then it will prove very hard for the State of Israel to continue a process abandoned by
its partners and co-signatories."
Ayalon also warned that unilaterally declaring statehood with have legal ramifications for any future cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians. "The State of Israel signed the Oslo Accords with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which created the Palestinian Authority. Israel will have absolutely no obligations towards a so-called
Palestinian state, especially one created artificially in this building, in breach of these very accords," Ayalon told the donors conference.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister also called on the international community to use its influence to call on the Palestinians to refrain from taking unilateral steps damaging for the peace process. "The international community and especially donors to the Palestinian Authority should ask for minimal standards of diplomatic practice by the Palestinians," Ayalon said. "They should do their best to turn the Palestinian leadership away from confrontational and provocative unilateral steps and lead them back to the negotiating table where they will find a waiting Israeli government intent on finding solutions to all the outstanding issues with a view to arriving at a real and lasting end to our conflict."
Ayalon called on the Palestinians to immediately return to the negotiating table: "It is incumbent on the Palestinian leadership to return to the path of negotiation, compromise and cooperation and lead its people towards the goals set by the international community - two states for two peoples solution, living in enduring peace and security."
Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon also called on the international community to demand the immediate release of Gilad Shalit.
Today (Sunday, 18th September), Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the Palestinian Donors Conference held at the United Nations that Israel is interested in continuing to assist Palestinian economic development, but this position could be affected if the Palestinians unilaterally declare a state.
"Future assistance and cooperation could be severely and irreparably compromised if the Palestinian leadership continues on its path of essentially acting in contravention of all signed agreements which also regulate existing economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," Ayalon told the conference, which was hosted by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe and chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Ghar Store. The Palestinians were represented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Ayalon laid out all of Israel's activities that have assisted the continued growth in Palestinian economy during the past few years, and how cooperation with Israel is essential for the Palestinian Authority's institution building. However, the Deputy Foreign Minister warned the Palestinians that all of this will be affected by the Palestinian initiative to bypass negotiations and impose their demands on the international community.
"The Palestinian Authority's path of unilateralism and reneging on its commitments bode extremely ill, not just for a peaceful resolution to our conflict, but the immediate future," Ayalon said. "If the Palestinian Authority is staking a path, not just against its signed commitments, but against the norms and standards of international peace-making, then it will prove very hard for the State of Israel to continue a process abandoned by
its partners and co-signatories."
Ayalon also warned that unilaterally declaring statehood with have legal ramifications for any future cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians. "The State of Israel signed the Oslo Accords with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which created the Palestinian Authority. Israel will have absolutely no obligations towards a so-called
Palestinian state, especially one created artificially in this building, in breach of these very accords," Ayalon told the donors conference.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister also called on the international community to use its influence to call on the Palestinians to refrain from taking unilateral steps damaging for the peace process. "The international community and especially donors to the Palestinian Authority should ask for minimal standards of diplomatic practice by the Palestinians," Ayalon said. "They should do their best to turn the Palestinian leadership away from confrontational and provocative unilateral steps and lead them back to the negotiating table where they will find a waiting Israeli government intent on finding solutions to all the outstanding issues with a view to arriving at a real and lasting end to our conflict."
Ayalon called on the Palestinians to immediately return to the negotiating table: "It is incumbent on the Palestinian leadership to return to the path of negotiation, compromise and cooperation and lead its people towards the goals set by the international community - two states for two peoples solution, living in enduring peace and security."
Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon also called on the international community to demand the immediate release of Gilad Shalit.
Bill Clinton: Palestinian statehood bid won't change Mideast realities
Speaking to NBC's 'Meet the Press,' former U.S. President says U.S. must veto PA statehood bid at Security Council, but should try and 'contain negative fallout.'
A recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations will not change the fundamental realities of the Middle East, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Sunday, adding that he believed Washington would veto a the proposal at the Security Council since it is "committed to Israel's security."
Earlier Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to an upcoming UN vote on Palestinian statehood, said in a cabinet meeting that "the Palestinians' wish to become a permanent UN member… is bound to fail because they have to go through the Security Council."
He said that even though the Palestinians can opt to turn to the general assembly, "it does not have the same significance of the Security Council, and that is not the Palestinians' stated goal."
Speaking to NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, former president Clinton said that the United States must "contain the fallout" from the Palestinian UN bid expected later this week, adding that "when this is over the underlying reality won't change, and we still believe there should be a Palestinian state and we still believe that there should be cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors."
Clinton said he felt that above all the Palestinian bid was an "act of frustration by the Palestinians, and what I think we've all got to do is contain the negative fallout."
Clinton said he felt the Palestinians knew "that they have to negotiate borders and securities with the Israelis, they're just frustrated because they feel they have provided a secure environment, they have reinforced cooperation with the Israelis, they have produced a growing economy in the West Bank, they have renounced violence…and there's been no progress."
"So when they get the vote, which will be extremely positive, since most of the rest of the world thinks the Israelis have made an error not being more forthcoming with the government, and the U.S. vetoes it, which we will do because we're committed to Israel's security and that the idea that the two parties have to negotiate a solution," he added.
"So I don't know what's going to happen, I just know that this is one of those deals where we're either going to go forward or fall back and I favor going forward, I don't think the fundamental realties have changed in 20 years," the former U.S. president said.
A recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations will not change the fundamental realities of the Middle East, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Sunday, adding that he believed Washington would veto a the proposal at the Security Council since it is "committed to Israel's security."
Earlier Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to an upcoming UN vote on Palestinian statehood, said in a cabinet meeting that "the Palestinians' wish to become a permanent UN member… is bound to fail because they have to go through the Security Council."
He said that even though the Palestinians can opt to turn to the general assembly, "it does not have the same significance of the Security Council, and that is not the Palestinians' stated goal."
Speaking to NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, former president Clinton said that the United States must "contain the fallout" from the Palestinian UN bid expected later this week, adding that "when this is over the underlying reality won't change, and we still believe there should be a Palestinian state and we still believe that there should be cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors."
Clinton said he felt that above all the Palestinian bid was an "act of frustration by the Palestinians, and what I think we've all got to do is contain the negative fallout."
Clinton said he felt the Palestinians knew "that they have to negotiate borders and securities with the Israelis, they're just frustrated because they feel they have provided a secure environment, they have reinforced cooperation with the Israelis, they have produced a growing economy in the West Bank, they have renounced violence…and there's been no progress."
"So when they get the vote, which will be extremely positive, since most of the rest of the world thinks the Israelis have made an error not being more forthcoming with the government, and the U.S. vetoes it, which we will do because we're committed to Israel's security and that the idea that the two parties have to negotiate a solution," he added.
"So I don't know what's going to happen, I just know that this is one of those deals where we're either going to go forward or fall back and I favor going forward, I don't think the fundamental realties have changed in 20 years," the former U.S. president said.
Israel held indirect contacts with Iranian sources on Gilad Shalit, WikiLeaks cable says
According to leaked 2009 cable, U.K. rabbi was asked by Israel to contact Iranian clergyman with contacts to Revolutionary Guard's former commander.
Israel has attempted to indirectly contact Iranian military officials in order to advance a prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, according to leaked American diplomatic cables.
According to a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. embassy in London to the U.S. State Department, Israel attempted to contact a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Yahya Rahim Safavi through a mediator – Chabad Rabbi Herschel Gluck, a U.K. citizen known for his contacts with Muslim clergymen, including Iranians.
The intended contact, the WikiLeaks cable claimed, was Salman Safavi, an Iranian clergyman and brother of the former Revolutionary Guard chief and current military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the WikiLeaks cable, Salman Safavi is described as an unofficial emissary to certain unnamed Iranian circles.
According to the leaked cable, Rabbi Gluck conveyed to a U.S. diplomat that he had just met Safavi in London, at the request of the Israeli embassy, who had asked him to try and find out the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers as well as information concerning Gilad Shalit, who is held captive by Hamas.
The cable quotes an American diplomat as saying that Gluck had made it clear that Safavi was aware of the Rabbi's connection to the Israeli embassy, adding, however, that it wasn't clear whether Safavi was aware of the fact that Gluck had discussed the issue with U.S. officials.
One Iranian website described Salman Safavi as a clergyman and the editor of the Transcendent Philosophy Journal. However, in other WikiLeaks cables he is described as a "Revolutionary Guards fighter." The cable quoted made it clear that the conversation was the first between Gluck and Safavi. The latter fiercely criticized Israeli policy which he saw as responsible for the death of Palestinians in Gaza, telling his Jewish interlocutor: "There can be no deal after Gaza."
However, according to the leaked cable, Gluck made it clear that Safavi's outburst was the harshest by the Iranian clergyman, adding that it was possibly that the flare-up was meant to function as a bargaining tool in case of future negotiations.
Gluck also told the U.S. diplomats, the cable said, that Safavi could have stopped seeing him at any time, had his Tehran associates been interested in ending the meetings.
When Gluck reportedly asked on the whereabouts of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, Safavi is reported to have said that Arad "isn't in my jurisdiction."
Iran specialists have come up with two options as to the possible nature of these irregular contacts. One, is that Salman Safavi is a kind of unofficial envoy with authority to contact Western and even Israeli officials on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard.
Another possibility is that Safavi wished to make it seem as if he was speaking on behalf of Iranian officials, when in reality he had no authority to speak for them and could even be said to be working in a way that his brother would disapprove of.
It should be emphasized, that an edited version of report concerning the leaked cable appeared also in the Iranian news website Tabnak, with some passages removed, presumably to protect Safavi's safety.
The website stated that Gluck had received "threats from unknown men over his contacts with the Iranian religious sage." Gluck himself told Chabad website Chabad.info in response that he feared the publication of the cable would bring harm to his Iranian interlocutor.
Israel has attempted to indirectly contact Iranian military officials in order to advance a prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, according to leaked American diplomatic cables.
According to a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. embassy in London to the U.S. State Department, Israel attempted to contact a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Yahya Rahim Safavi through a mediator – Chabad Rabbi Herschel Gluck, a U.K. citizen known for his contacts with Muslim clergymen, including Iranians.
The intended contact, the WikiLeaks cable claimed, was Salman Safavi, an Iranian clergyman and brother of the former Revolutionary Guard chief and current military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the WikiLeaks cable, Salman Safavi is described as an unofficial emissary to certain unnamed Iranian circles.
According to the leaked cable, Rabbi Gluck conveyed to a U.S. diplomat that he had just met Safavi in London, at the request of the Israeli embassy, who had asked him to try and find out the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers as well as information concerning Gilad Shalit, who is held captive by Hamas.
The cable quotes an American diplomat as saying that Gluck had made it clear that Safavi was aware of the Rabbi's connection to the Israeli embassy, adding, however, that it wasn't clear whether Safavi was aware of the fact that Gluck had discussed the issue with U.S. officials.
One Iranian website described Salman Safavi as a clergyman and the editor of the Transcendent Philosophy Journal. However, in other WikiLeaks cables he is described as a "Revolutionary Guards fighter." The cable quoted made it clear that the conversation was the first between Gluck and Safavi. The latter fiercely criticized Israeli policy which he saw as responsible for the death of Palestinians in Gaza, telling his Jewish interlocutor: "There can be no deal after Gaza."
However, according to the leaked cable, Gluck made it clear that Safavi's outburst was the harshest by the Iranian clergyman, adding that it was possibly that the flare-up was meant to function as a bargaining tool in case of future negotiations.
Gluck also told the U.S. diplomats, the cable said, that Safavi could have stopped seeing him at any time, had his Tehran associates been interested in ending the meetings.
When Gluck reportedly asked on the whereabouts of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, Safavi is reported to have said that Arad "isn't in my jurisdiction."
Iran specialists have come up with two options as to the possible nature of these irregular contacts. One, is that Salman Safavi is a kind of unofficial envoy with authority to contact Western and even Israeli officials on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard.
Another possibility is that Safavi wished to make it seem as if he was speaking on behalf of Iranian officials, when in reality he had no authority to speak for them and could even be said to be working in a way that his brother would disapprove of.
It should be emphasized, that an edited version of report concerning the leaked cable appeared also in the Iranian news website Tabnak, with some passages removed, presumably to protect Safavi's safety.
The website stated that Gluck had received "threats from unknown men over his contacts with the Iranian religious sage." Gluck himself told Chabad website Chabad.info in response that he feared the publication of the cable would bring harm to his Iranian interlocutor.
Netanyahu: Palestinian statehood bid at UN bound to fail
Prime Minister says Palestinians bound to 'come to their senses' and return to the negotiation table.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting Sunday that "the Palestinians' wish to become a permanent UN member… is bound to fail because they have to go through the Security Council." He said that even though the Palestinians can opt to turn to the general assembly, "it does not have the same significance of the Security Council, and that is not the Palestinians' stated goal."
Netanyahu decided last week to address the UN General Assembly next Friday, the day the Palestinians will submit their statehood bid.
According to Netanyahu, the purpose of his visit to the UN is to make sure that the Palestinian "move to circumvent negotiations does not succeed, and… to present our truth, which is that we are not foreigners and we have rights going back 4,000 years."
Netanyahu added that "we are ready to enter negotiations if the Palestinians want to. At the end of the day I believe that after the smoke clears the Palestinians will come to their senses and sit down for negotiations that will bring peace for us and our neighbors."
"Peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel, a statement released by the prime minister's office said on Friday, accusing the Palestinian Authority of consistently avoiding talks with Israel.
It concluded saying "when the Palestinian Authority will abandon its futile measures, firstly its unilateral decision to approach the UN, it will find Israel as a partner for negotiations and peace."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday that the Palestinians plan to approach the United Nations Security Council for full recognition, clarifying that they are seeking to delegitimize the occupation, not Israel, by taking the UN route for Palestinian statehood.
He stressed that Israel is a legitimate state, but that by continuing to build in the settlements and rejecting the internationally recognized borders of a future Palestinian state, they are engaging in illegitimate activity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting Sunday that "the Palestinians' wish to become a permanent UN member… is bound to fail because they have to go through the Security Council." He said that even though the Palestinians can opt to turn to the general assembly, "it does not have the same significance of the Security Council, and that is not the Palestinians' stated goal."
Netanyahu decided last week to address the UN General Assembly next Friday, the day the Palestinians will submit their statehood bid.
According to Netanyahu, the purpose of his visit to the UN is to make sure that the Palestinian "move to circumvent negotiations does not succeed, and… to present our truth, which is that we are not foreigners and we have rights going back 4,000 years."
Netanyahu added that "we are ready to enter negotiations if the Palestinians want to. At the end of the day I believe that after the smoke clears the Palestinians will come to their senses and sit down for negotiations that will bring peace for us and our neighbors."
"Peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel, a statement released by the prime minister's office said on Friday, accusing the Palestinian Authority of consistently avoiding talks with Israel.
It concluded saying "when the Palestinian Authority will abandon its futile measures, firstly its unilateral decision to approach the UN, it will find Israel as a partner for negotiations and peace."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday that the Palestinians plan to approach the United Nations Security Council for full recognition, clarifying that they are seeking to delegitimize the occupation, not Israel, by taking the UN route for Palestinian statehood.
He stressed that Israel is a legitimate state, but that by continuing to build in the settlements and rejecting the internationally recognized borders of a future Palestinian state, they are engaging in illegitimate activity.
Abbas rejects Netanyahu compromises ahead of Palestinian statehood bid
Faced with a possible recognition of an independent Palestinian state later this week, Quartet officials, including Mideast envoy Tony Blair, labor to draft a statement that would send Israel and the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiations table.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected several attempts to sway it away from its statehood bid at the United Nations and toward resumed peace talks with Israel, Haaretz learned on Sunday, with sources saying that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rebuffed proposals that included compromises by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Representatives of the Quartet on the Middle East – which includes the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations – are scheduled to meet in New York later Sunday in order to draft a statement that will call on Monday for direct peace talks to resume.
Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to several compromises in regard to the Quartet statement's wording, specifically on issues such as the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, among others.
Regarding the proposed borders of a future Palestinian state, Netanyahu reportedly agreed to a vaguer wording concerning the West Bank's main settlement blocs. One Quartet draft spoke of negotiations based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps, with borders that are not identical to those of 1967 and taking into account "demographic reality on the ground."
Netanyahu gave his consent to have a more ambiguous wording to that statement, in order to provide the Americans and Blair more leeway with the Palestinian side.
On the subject of recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, an older version of the Quartet proclamation offered "two states for two nations, with Israel as a Jewish state and the national home of the Jewish people."
Netanyahu agreed to compromise here as well, and allow the statement to speak of two states for two as well as of two national states, without mentioning a "Jewish state."
Furthermore, the premier also reportedly agreed to be more flexible on the length of future negotiations as well as on security assurances, a subject he has until now refused to address and which was not included in the Quartet's July statement.
American officials want the current version to limit negotiations to six months, while Netanyahu is prepared to agree to one year of peace talks.
Until this point, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected all of the proposed draft statements, even those which included Netanyahu's revisions. Eventually, Quartet Mideast Envoy Tony Blair and American officials decided that a statement would be released regardless of any objections, in order to gauge the sides' responses later.
One U.S. proposal handed to Abbas has been to ask the UN Secretary General and the Security Council that Palestine be accepted as a full UN member, on condition that the membership is processed for a period of several months, at which time direct talks between Israel and the PA could resume along the guidelines stipulated in the Quartet statement.
However, sources have indicated that Abbas has rejected that offer as well, with aides to the Palestinian president saying that Abbas was interested in bringing Palestinian statehood to the General Assembly and to the Security Council at the same time, as a result of the length of time needed to process the proposal at the UNSC.
A reported Palestinian proposal is to bring to the UNGA an offer to recognize Palestine as an independent state within the 1967 borders, but not as a full member of the UN.
Speaking of their repeated rejections of Quartet drafts, Palestinian officials have said that the United States was working with cooperation with Israel, going as far as saying that Blair spoke to them like an "Israeli diplomat" and not like an international emissary, adding that U.S. Mideast envoy Dennis Ross used "undiplomatic language."
The Palestinian Authority has rejected several attempts to sway it away from its statehood bid at the United Nations and toward resumed peace talks with Israel, Haaretz learned on Sunday, with sources saying that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rebuffed proposals that included compromises by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Representatives of the Quartet on the Middle East – which includes the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations – are scheduled to meet in New York later Sunday in order to draft a statement that will call on Monday for direct peace talks to resume.
Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to several compromises in regard to the Quartet statement's wording, specifically on issues such as the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, among others.
Regarding the proposed borders of a future Palestinian state, Netanyahu reportedly agreed to a vaguer wording concerning the West Bank's main settlement blocs. One Quartet draft spoke of negotiations based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps, with borders that are not identical to those of 1967 and taking into account "demographic reality on the ground."
Netanyahu gave his consent to have a more ambiguous wording to that statement, in order to provide the Americans and Blair more leeway with the Palestinian side.
On the subject of recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, an older version of the Quartet proclamation offered "two states for two nations, with Israel as a Jewish state and the national home of the Jewish people."
Netanyahu agreed to compromise here as well, and allow the statement to speak of two states for two as well as of two national states, without mentioning a "Jewish state."
Furthermore, the premier also reportedly agreed to be more flexible on the length of future negotiations as well as on security assurances, a subject he has until now refused to address and which was not included in the Quartet's July statement.
American officials want the current version to limit negotiations to six months, while Netanyahu is prepared to agree to one year of peace talks.
Until this point, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected all of the proposed draft statements, even those which included Netanyahu's revisions. Eventually, Quartet Mideast Envoy Tony Blair and American officials decided that a statement would be released regardless of any objections, in order to gauge the sides' responses later.
One U.S. proposal handed to Abbas has been to ask the UN Secretary General and the Security Council that Palestine be accepted as a full UN member, on condition that the membership is processed for a period of several months, at which time direct talks between Israel and the PA could resume along the guidelines stipulated in the Quartet statement.
However, sources have indicated that Abbas has rejected that offer as well, with aides to the Palestinian president saying that Abbas was interested in bringing Palestinian statehood to the General Assembly and to the Security Council at the same time, as a result of the length of time needed to process the proposal at the UNSC.
A reported Palestinian proposal is to bring to the UNGA an offer to recognize Palestine as an independent state within the 1967 borders, but not as a full member of the UN.
Speaking of their repeated rejections of Quartet drafts, Palestinian officials have said that the United States was working with cooperation with Israel, going as far as saying that Blair spoke to them like an "Israeli diplomat" and not like an international emissary, adding that U.S. Mideast envoy Dennis Ross used "undiplomatic language."
Israel held indirect contacts with Iranian sources on Gilad Shalit, WikiLeaks cable says
According to leaked 2009 cable, U.K. rabbi was asked by Israel to contact Iranian clergyman with contacts to Revolutionary Guard's former commander.
Israel has attempted to indirectly contact Iranian military officials in order to advance a prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, according to leaked American diplomatic cables.
According to a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. embassy in London to the U.S. State Department, Israel attempted to contact a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Yahya Rahim Safavi through a mediator – Chabad Rabbi Herschel Gluck, a U.K. citizen known for his contacts with Muslim clergymen, including Iranians.
The intended contact, the WikiLeaks cable claimed, was Salman Safavi, an Iranian clergyman and brother of the former Revolutionary Guard chief and current military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the WikiLeaks cable, Salman Safavi is described as an unofficial emissary to certain unnamed Iranian circles.
According to the leaked cable, Rabbi Gluck conveyed to a U.S. diplomat that he had just met Safavi in London, at the request of the Israeli embassy, who had asked him to try and find out the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers as well as information concerning Gilad Shalit, who is held captive by Hamas.
The cable quotes an American diplomat as saying that Gluck had made it clear that Safavi was aware of the Rabbi's connection to the Israeli embassy, adding, however, that it wasn't clear whether Safavi was aware of the fact that Gluck had discussed the issue with U.S. officials.
One Iranian website described Salman Safavi as a clergyman and the editor of the Transcendent Philosophy Journal. However, in other WikiLeaks cables he is described as a "Revolutionary Guards fighter." The cable quoted made it clear that the conversation was the first between Gluck and Safavi. The latter fiercely criticized Israeli policy which he saw as responsible for the death of Palestinians in Gaza, telling his Jewish interlocutor: "There can be no deal after Gaza."
However, according to the leaked cable, Gluck made it clear that Safavi's outburst was the harshest by the Iranian clergyman, adding that it was possibly that the flare-up was meant to function as a bargaining tool in case of future negotiations.
Gluck also told the U.S. diplomats, the cable said, that Safavi could have stopped seeing him at any time, had his Tehran associates been interested in ending the meetings.
When Gluck reportedly asked on the whereabouts of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, Safavi is reported to have said that Arad "isn't in my jurisdiction."
Iran specialists have come up with two options as to the possible nature of these irregular contacts. One, is that Salman Safavi is a kind of unofficial envoy with authority to contact Western and even Israeli officials on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard.
Another possibility is that Safavi wished to make it seem as if he was speaking on behalf of Iranian officials, when in reality he had no authority to speak for them and could even be said to be working in a way that his brother would disapprove of.
It should be emphasized, that an edited version of report concerning the leaked cable appeared also in the Iranian news website Tabnak, with some passages removed, presumably to protect Safavi's safety.
The website stated that Gluck had received "threats from unknown men over his contacts with the Iranian religious sage." Gluck himself told Chabad website Chabad.info in response that he feared the publication of the cable would bring harm to his Iranian interlocutor.
Israel has attempted to indirectly contact Iranian military officials in order to advance a prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, according to leaked American diplomatic cables.
According to a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. embassy in London to the U.S. State Department, Israel attempted to contact a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Yahya Rahim Safavi through a mediator – Chabad Rabbi Herschel Gluck, a U.K. citizen known for his contacts with Muslim clergymen, including Iranians.
The intended contact, the WikiLeaks cable claimed, was Salman Safavi, an Iranian clergyman and brother of the former Revolutionary Guard chief and current military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the WikiLeaks cable, Salman Safavi is described as an unofficial emissary to certain unnamed Iranian circles.
According to the leaked cable, Rabbi Gluck conveyed to a U.S. diplomat that he had just met Safavi in London, at the request of the Israeli embassy, who had asked him to try and find out the whereabouts of missing Israeli soldiers as well as information concerning Gilad Shalit, who is held captive by Hamas.
The cable quotes an American diplomat as saying that Gluck had made it clear that Safavi was aware of the Rabbi's connection to the Israeli embassy, adding, however, that it wasn't clear whether Safavi was aware of the fact that Gluck had discussed the issue with U.S. officials.
One Iranian website described Salman Safavi as a clergyman and the editor of the Transcendent Philosophy Journal. However, in other WikiLeaks cables he is described as a "Revolutionary Guards fighter." The cable quoted made it clear that the conversation was the first between Gluck and Safavi. The latter fiercely criticized Israeli policy which he saw as responsible for the death of Palestinians in Gaza, telling his Jewish interlocutor: "There can be no deal after Gaza."
However, according to the leaked cable, Gluck made it clear that Safavi's outburst was the harshest by the Iranian clergyman, adding that it was possibly that the flare-up was meant to function as a bargaining tool in case of future negotiations.
Gluck also told the U.S. diplomats, the cable said, that Safavi could have stopped seeing him at any time, had his Tehran associates been interested in ending the meetings.
When Gluck reportedly asked on the whereabouts of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, Safavi is reported to have said that Arad "isn't in my jurisdiction."
Iran specialists have come up with two options as to the possible nature of these irregular contacts. One, is that Salman Safavi is a kind of unofficial envoy with authority to contact Western and even Israeli officials on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard.
Another possibility is that Safavi wished to make it seem as if he was speaking on behalf of Iranian officials, when in reality he had no authority to speak for them and could even be said to be working in a way that his brother would disapprove of.
It should be emphasized, that an edited version of report concerning the leaked cable appeared also in the Iranian news website Tabnak, with some passages removed, presumably to protect Safavi's safety.
The website stated that Gluck had received "threats from unknown men over his contacts with the Iranian religious sage." Gluck himself told Chabad website Chabad.info in response that he feared the publication of the cable would bring harm to his Iranian interlocutor.
Sep 16, 2011
Palestinian, settler wounded following West Bank altercation
Conflict broke out near Palestinian village of Qusra, where a mosque was torched just under two weeks ago, amid growing tensions over planned Palestinian statehood bid at UN.
A violent West Bank altercation between settlers and Palestinians resulted in two people wounded on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a planned Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
The incident occurred near the West Bank settlement of Shilo, as a group of settlers reportedly set out on a hike near the Palestinian village of Qusra when a conflict began with a few of the residents of the villages. It was not yet clear who started the incident.
Initial reports claimed that one settler was lightly wounded as a result of a reported stabbing attack near the Ein Kodesh outpost, with one Palestinian seriously wounded after reportedly being shot by a member of the settler group.
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, village watchmen were able to grab hold of nine settlers who had entered the village.
The incident took place a little under two weeks after a mosque in the West Bank village, located south of Nablus, was set on fire, hours after Israeli police officers destroyed three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron.
According to Palestinian sources, a group of settlers arrived at the village mosque at approximately 3 A.M., threw burning tires toward it, and broke several of its windows. The event is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, stating that it is not the first of its kind to be carried out by settlers against mosques in the West Bank, and called on the Middle East Quartet to get involved.
In response to the attack, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement which strongly condemns the setting on fire and vandalizing of the Al-Nurayn mosque in Qusra in the West Bank on Monday."
A violent West Bank altercation between settlers and Palestinians resulted in two people wounded on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a planned Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
The incident occurred near the West Bank settlement of Shilo, as a group of settlers reportedly set out on a hike near the Palestinian village of Qusra when a conflict began with a few of the residents of the villages. It was not yet clear who started the incident.
Initial reports claimed that one settler was lightly wounded as a result of a reported stabbing attack near the Ein Kodesh outpost, with one Palestinian seriously wounded after reportedly being shot by a member of the settler group.
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, village watchmen were able to grab hold of nine settlers who had entered the village.
The incident took place a little under two weeks after a mosque in the West Bank village, located south of Nablus, was set on fire, hours after Israeli police officers destroyed three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron.
According to Palestinian sources, a group of settlers arrived at the village mosque at approximately 3 A.M., threw burning tires toward it, and broke several of its windows. The event is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, stating that it is not the first of its kind to be carried out by settlers against mosques in the West Bank, and called on the Middle East Quartet to get involved.
In response to the attack, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement which strongly condemns the setting on fire and vandalizing of the Al-Nurayn mosque in Qusra in the West Bank on Monday."
Palestinian, settler wounded following West Bank altercation
Conflict broke out near Palestinian village of Qusra, where a mosque was torched just under two weeks ago, amid growing tensions over planned Palestinian statehood bid at UN.
A violent West Bank altercation between settlers and Palestinians resulted in two people wounded on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a planned Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
The incident occurred near the West Bank settlement of Shilo, as a group of settlers reportedly set out on a hike near the Palestinian village of Qusra when a conflict began with a few of the residents of the villages. It was not yet clear who started the incident.
Initial reports claimed that one settler was lightly wounded as a result of a reported stabbing attack near the Ein Kodesh outpost, with one Palestinian seriously wounded after reportedly being shot by a member of the settler group.
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, village watchmen were able to grab hold of nine settlers who had entered the village.
The incident took place a little under two weeks after a mosque in the West Bank village, located south of Nablus, was set on fire, hours after Israeli police officers destroyed three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron.
According to Palestinian sources, a group of settlers arrived at the village mosque at approximately 3 A.M., threw burning tires toward it, and broke several of its windows. The event is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, stating that it is not the first of its kind to be carried out by settlers against mosques in the West Bank, and called on the Middle East Quartet to get involved.
In response to the attack, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement which strongly condemns the setting on fire and vandalizing of the Al-Nurayn mosque in Qusra in the West Bank on Monday."
A violent West Bank altercation between settlers and Palestinians resulted in two people wounded on Friday, amid rising tensions ahead of a planned Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
The incident occurred near the West Bank settlement of Shilo, as a group of settlers reportedly set out on a hike near the Palestinian village of Qusra when a conflict began with a few of the residents of the villages. It was not yet clear who started the incident.
Initial reports claimed that one settler was lightly wounded as a result of a reported stabbing attack near the Ein Kodesh outpost, with one Palestinian seriously wounded after reportedly being shot by a member of the settler group.
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, village watchmen were able to grab hold of nine settlers who had entered the village.
The incident took place a little under two weeks after a mosque in the West Bank village, located south of Nablus, was set on fire, hours after Israeli police officers destroyed three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron.
According to Palestinian sources, a group of settlers arrived at the village mosque at approximately 3 A.M., threw burning tires toward it, and broke several of its windows. The event is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, stating that it is not the first of its kind to be carried out by settlers against mosques in the West Bank, and called on the Middle East Quartet to get involved.
In response to the attack, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement which strongly condemns the setting on fire and vandalizing of the Al-Nurayn mosque in Qusra in the West Bank on Monday."
Israel minister: Palestinian state serves to perpetuate Mideast conflict
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticizes Palestinian Authority for turning to UN for recognition despite repeatedly rejecting Israel's peace offers, negotiations.
The Palestinians want to achieve independence in order to perpetuate their conflict with Israel, not to end it, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Thursday, adding that the Palestinian Authority repeatedly refused peace negations in the past.
Sa'ar's comments come amid an effort spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to downplay an upcoming Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations next week.
Netanyahu said earlier Thursday that his speech at the UN would stress that negotiations are the only road to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, adding in talks with the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that Israel would agree to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's status at the United Nations as long as it is not declared a state.
Speaking in a Rosh Hashanah event, Sa'ar severely criticized the Palestinians' UN bid, calling the Palestinian Authority "serial peace refusers. From 1947 they always knew to say 'no' to negotiations."
"They don't want to end the conflict by founding a state. They want a Palestinian state that would serve as a basis for the continued conflict between us and them," the education minister added.
Speaking of what he saw as proof of the Palestinians' unwillingness to achieve peace, Sa'ar referred to peace talks between former prime minister and current Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former PA President Yasser Arafat, saying that the PA even refused a state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The education minister also spoke of Netanyahu's upcoming speech at the UN, saying that Israel was "in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic battle, and there's no one better to present our stance in the international arena than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
Netanyahu is scheduled to speak next Friday at 2 A.M. Israel time, a few hours after PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
U.S. President Barack Obama is to be in New York at the same time Netanyahu is there, but no meeting has been scheduled between the two.
Netanyahu continued his talks with U.S. envoys Dennis Ross and David Hale on Thursday, as well as Ashton and Quartet envoy Tony Blair, in an attempt to reach a compromise that would prevent an Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN. But no breakthrough was made, and the PA's appeal to the United Nations next week is regarded as inevitable.
Netanyahu told his interlocutors that granting the PA the status of a state would allow the Palestinians to go to the International Criminal Court in The Hague over issues like settlement construction. "But as long as it is less than a state, I'm ready to talk about it," a source familiar with the conversation quoted him as saying.
The Palestinians want to achieve independence in order to perpetuate their conflict with Israel, not to end it, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Thursday, adding that the Palestinian Authority repeatedly refused peace negations in the past.
Sa'ar's comments come amid an effort spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to downplay an upcoming Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations next week.
Netanyahu said earlier Thursday that his speech at the UN would stress that negotiations are the only road to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, adding in talks with the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that Israel would agree to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's status at the United Nations as long as it is not declared a state.
Speaking in a Rosh Hashanah event, Sa'ar severely criticized the Palestinians' UN bid, calling the Palestinian Authority "serial peace refusers. From 1947 they always knew to say 'no' to negotiations."
"They don't want to end the conflict by founding a state. They want a Palestinian state that would serve as a basis for the continued conflict between us and them," the education minister added.
Speaking of what he saw as proof of the Palestinians' unwillingness to achieve peace, Sa'ar referred to peace talks between former prime minister and current Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former PA President Yasser Arafat, saying that the PA even refused a state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The education minister also spoke of Netanyahu's upcoming speech at the UN, saying that Israel was "in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic battle, and there's no one better to present our stance in the international arena than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
Netanyahu is scheduled to speak next Friday at 2 A.M. Israel time, a few hours after PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
U.S. President Barack Obama is to be in New York at the same time Netanyahu is there, but no meeting has been scheduled between the two.
Netanyahu continued his talks with U.S. envoys Dennis Ross and David Hale on Thursday, as well as Ashton and Quartet envoy Tony Blair, in an attempt to reach a compromise that would prevent an Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN. But no breakthrough was made, and the PA's appeal to the United Nations next week is regarded as inevitable.
Netanyahu told his interlocutors that granting the PA the status of a state would allow the Palestinians to go to the International Criminal Court in The Hague over issues like settlement construction. "But as long as it is less than a state, I'm ready to talk about it," a source familiar with the conversation quoted him as saying.
Israel moves to retroactively okay settlement homes built on Palestinian land
State responds to appeal by Palestinian against construction in Ofra, one the largest West Bank settlements, by ordering the drafting of a plan that would legally define the settlement's jurisdiction.
Israel announced on Thursday the initiation of a municipal plan that would retroactively legitimize structures in the largest West Bank settlement that were built on private Palestinian land.
There are three kinds of land in Ofra, the West Bank's largest settlement: The settlement's original tract of land; land expropriated by the Jordanians; and land expropriated by Israel, which designated exclusively for the construction of public structures.
Over 58% of Ofra's structures are built on private Palestinian land, a fact which has delayed potential construction plans.
However, in an attempt to allow further construction in Ofra, the state told the High Court of Justice on Thursday that it was initiating a jurisdiction plan for Ofra, the legal significance of which would be the retroactive approval of past construction plans, even on private Palestinian land.
The plan has another objective, which is the following of a 2005 state report, according to which constructions plans would be approved in settlements only if they possess a defined jurisdiction.
Israel's announcement came during a High Court hearing of an appeal made by the residents of nearby Palestinian villages against any new construction in the lands originally appropriated by Jordan.
In response, the state said that the building would indeed be approved, but that any construction would cease for the time being.
Dror Etkes, who has been aiding the Palestinian families in their legal battle against further construction on private lands, said that the move "at once cleared the smoke screen that the settlers and the state have been trying to keep for years in regards to the land on which Ofra was founded."
"It's clear that out of the thousands of dunams the settlers took control of, only a few dozen were actually purchased. The rest was just looted from their owners," Etkes added.
Israel announced on Thursday the initiation of a municipal plan that would retroactively legitimize structures in the largest West Bank settlement that were built on private Palestinian land.
There are three kinds of land in Ofra, the West Bank's largest settlement: The settlement's original tract of land; land expropriated by the Jordanians; and land expropriated by Israel, which designated exclusively for the construction of public structures.
Over 58% of Ofra's structures are built on private Palestinian land, a fact which has delayed potential construction plans.
However, in an attempt to allow further construction in Ofra, the state told the High Court of Justice on Thursday that it was initiating a jurisdiction plan for Ofra, the legal significance of which would be the retroactive approval of past construction plans, even on private Palestinian land.
The plan has another objective, which is the following of a 2005 state report, according to which constructions plans would be approved in settlements only if they possess a defined jurisdiction.
Israel's announcement came during a High Court hearing of an appeal made by the residents of nearby Palestinian villages against any new construction in the lands originally appropriated by Jordan.
In response, the state said that the building would indeed be approved, but that any construction would cease for the time being.
Dror Etkes, who has been aiding the Palestinian families in their legal battle against further construction on private lands, said that the move "at once cleared the smoke screen that the settlers and the state have been trying to keep for years in regards to the land on which Ofra was founded."
"It's clear that out of the thousands of dunams the settlers took control of, only a few dozen were actually purchased. The rest was just looted from their owners," Etkes added.
Sep 15, 2011
Britain changes law that enabled war crime charges against Israelis
Reform began after arrest warrant issued in 2009 against opposition leader Tzipi Livni; British Ambassador says change in law means it 'can no longer be abused for political reasons.'
Britain has amended a law that allowed for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli politicians who visit the country, British Ambassador Matthew Gould announced Thursday. Gould called opposition leader Tzipi Livni, against whom an arrest warrant was issued in 2009, and told her the Queen has signed the amendment "to ensure that the UK's justice system can no longer be abused for political reasons."
Lawyers working with Palestinian activists in recent years have sought the arrest of senior Israeli civilian and military figures under terms of universal jurisdiction. This legal concept empowered judges to issue arrest warrants for visiting officials accused of war crimes in a foreign conflict, under the principle of universal jurisdiction which holds that some alleged crimes are so grave that they can be tried anywhere, regardless of where the offences were committed.
After the warrant was issued against Livni in 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced that Britain would no longer tolerate legal harassment of Israeli officials in that fashion.
Ambassador Gould added Thursday that the change in the law will ensure that people cannot be detained when there is no realistic chance of prosecution, while ensuring that we continue to honour our international obligations.
Livni welcomed the amendment, and told Gould that she is "pleased that the warrant issued against me opened Britain's eyes and will put a stop to the cynical use of British legislation against IDF commanders and soldiers."
Livni added that "real justice has been done, and it will distinguish between leaders and commanders who defend their country against terrorism, and real war criminals."
Britain has amended a law that allowed for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli politicians who visit the country, British Ambassador Matthew Gould announced Thursday. Gould called opposition leader Tzipi Livni, against whom an arrest warrant was issued in 2009, and told her the Queen has signed the amendment "to ensure that the UK's justice system can no longer be abused for political reasons."
Lawyers working with Palestinian activists in recent years have sought the arrest of senior Israeli civilian and military figures under terms of universal jurisdiction. This legal concept empowered judges to issue arrest warrants for visiting officials accused of war crimes in a foreign conflict, under the principle of universal jurisdiction which holds that some alleged crimes are so grave that they can be tried anywhere, regardless of where the offences were committed.
After the warrant was issued against Livni in 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced that Britain would no longer tolerate legal harassment of Israeli officials in that fashion.
Ambassador Gould added Thursday that the change in the law will ensure that people cannot be detained when there is no realistic chance of prosecution, while ensuring that we continue to honour our international obligations.
Livni welcomed the amendment, and told Gould that she is "pleased that the warrant issued against me opened Britain's eyes and will put a stop to the cynical use of British legislation against IDF commanders and soldiers."
Livni added that "real justice has been done, and it will distinguish between leaders and commanders who defend their country against terrorism, and real war criminals."
UN Chief: End to Israeli-Palestinian conflict 'long overdue'
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he's sympathetic to the frustrations of the Palestinian people who have failed to achieve an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference Thursday that an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is long overdue" and it's vital that long-stalled negotiations resume.
He said he's sympathetic to the frustrations of the Palestinian people who have failed to achieve an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. "I am profoundly troubled by the lack of progress in the peace negotiations," he said. "Time is not our friend."
Ban said Israel has a duty to create conditions favorable to resuming negotiations and noted that new settlement activity "has not been helpful." He said the Palestinians should try to sit down for talks with the Israelis.
On Thursday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said that the Palestinians will submit a bid for full membership at the United Nations Security Council on September 23, but said that they would be open to other suggestions.
The remarks by Malki put an end to speculation that the Palestinians might avoid a showdown with the United States by sidestepping the Security Council and going directly to the UN General Assembly to seek a lesser status of a non-member observer.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference Thursday that an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is long overdue" and it's vital that long-stalled negotiations resume.
He said he's sympathetic to the frustrations of the Palestinian people who have failed to achieve an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. "I am profoundly troubled by the lack of progress in the peace negotiations," he said. "Time is not our friend."
Ban said Israel has a duty to create conditions favorable to resuming negotiations and noted that new settlement activity "has not been helpful." He said the Palestinians should try to sit down for talks with the Israelis.
On Thursday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said that the Palestinians will submit a bid for full membership at the United Nations Security Council on September 23, but said that they would be open to other suggestions.
The remarks by Malki put an end to speculation that the Palestinians might avoid a showdown with the United States by sidestepping the Security Council and going directly to the UN General Assembly to seek a lesser status of a non-member observer.
Five Israeli Arabs arrested on suspicion of planning terror attacks
Residents of the village of Daburiya, identified with the Salafi movement in Islam, planned to abduct IDF soldier and border guard, carry out terror attacks.
Five Israeli Arabs from the village of Daburiya in northern Israel have recently been arrested on suspicion of planning terror attacks against Israeli citizens, it was revealed Thursday, after a gag order was lifted on the case.
The General Security Service operated in coordination with the Northern District's Central Unit of Israel Police and detained the men, who according to suspicions, planned to hurt an Israel Defense Forces soldier and a border guard living in Daburiya and attack a police station in the village among other attacks.
The men were detained in the planning stages, before they were able to acquire weapons.
The group is part of the Salafi movement in Islam, and one member of the terror cell created a website advocating Jihad according to Salafi principles.
Israel's defense system has recently seen an increase of Salafi influence on radical actors in the region. Those responsible for the murder of the Nazareth taxi driver Yafim Weinstein were also identified with the Salafi ideology.
Five Israeli Arabs from the village of Daburiya in northern Israel have recently been arrested on suspicion of planning terror attacks against Israeli citizens, it was revealed Thursday, after a gag order was lifted on the case.
The General Security Service operated in coordination with the Northern District's Central Unit of Israel Police and detained the men, who according to suspicions, planned to hurt an Israel Defense Forces soldier and a border guard living in Daburiya and attack a police station in the village among other attacks.
The men were detained in the planning stages, before they were able to acquire weapons.
The group is part of the Salafi movement in Islam, and one member of the terror cell created a website advocating Jihad according to Salafi principles.
Israel's defense system has recently seen an increase of Salafi influence on radical actors in the region. Those responsible for the murder of the Nazareth taxi driver Yafim Weinstein were also identified with the Salafi ideology.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)