Netanyahu to back Lieberman
On Friday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told European Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton that if the 'Palestinians' unilaterally declare a 'state' at the UN in September, the 'peace process' is over. On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to tell Ashton the same thing. Recognition of unilaterally declared Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September could irreparably harm the peace process, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to tell the EU’s foreign policy chief when they meet in Jerusalem on Sunday, according to Israeli officials.In other words, 'negotiations' are going nowhere.
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In a meeting with Ashton in Ramallah on Friday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged the EU to recognize a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat said Ashton replied that the EU’s top priority remained the resumption of the peace process. She also said that the PA demand would be discussed “inside the corridors of the EU.”
The Palestinians did not hear from Ashton that she’s opposed to the UN move, Erekat added. “But we also didn’t hear from her that she supports the step. At least the dialogue remains open on this matter.”
During the meeting, Abbas once again expressed willingness to return to the negotiating table with Israel, if Netanyahu accepted the two-state solution and agreed to halt construction in West Bank settlements and in east Jerusalem, Erekat said.
Israel has rejected the conditions about construction. It has consistently called on the PA to return to negotiations without conditions.
In an interview with France 24 on Friday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said there was no real way to announce an end to all Jewish construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
“There are half a million people living there. They need a new kindergarten every week. They need for natural growth many items,” he said.
The Palestinian and Israeli borders in the West Bank should be determined through negotiations, and once that agreement is finalized, the Palestinians will receive any buildings built by Israel that fall within the boundaries of their new state, Barak said.
“I do not believe either borders or security, if [talks] are taken seriously by both sides, should be insurmountable,” Barak said.
He said there was a fifty-fifty chance that negotiations would be resumed.
By the way, if you're wondering why Barak is suddenly showing concern for the half million Jews whom he has forbidden from building Kindergartens for the last four years (since he became Defense Minister when Amir Peretz resigned in June 2007 in the previous government), it's because he asked the cabinet to postpone consideration of a decision removing Barak's authority to (dis)approve construction in Judea and Samaria, and to transfer it to the Prime Minister's office, until Barak's return from Europe next week. Israel Radio has just reported that the cabinet rejected Barak's request and decided to transfer that authority from Barak to Netanyahu.
Labels: Avigdor Lieberman, Binyamin Netanyahu, Catherine Ashton, Ehud Barak, Judea and Samaria construction, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome, unilateral declaration of statehood
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:38 AM
1 Comments:
I don't expect Europe to place pressure on the PA to resume negotiations. Israel's warning is a fair one: the Palestinians should not continue to reap the benefits of agreements they unilaterally violate. If they want to go to the UN, that's their right but they should not expect Israel to sanction it.
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