Israel Matzav

Report: Meeting took place before Kalandia violence

Giving partial cover to the 'Palestinians' (who still told a lie no matter how you slice it), JPost is reporting that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and 'Palestinian' chief negotiator bottle washer Saeb Erekat met before Monday's violence in Kalandia.

Israeli and Palestinian officials met Monday morning before the Kalandiya incident, the reason Israeli officials declined throughout the day to confirm claims by Palestinian officials that the talks were called off.

According to a Channel 2 report, Israel has made clear in the talks – which have been described as “serious” – that it was willing to talk about land swaps and the Jordan Valley.

Monday’s talks between Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat was the fourth meeting since the talks were launched last month in Washington.

If this is true, it was a morning session. Al-Arabiya reported that the talks had been called off at 6:20 am Eastern, which is 1:20 pm here. They were one of the first - if not the first - to make the report. And JPost reported that the IDF first entered Kalandia at 5:00 am local time. 

Bottom line: I don't believe this story. I think the talks took place - or at least continued - after the al-Arabiya report. Given how Matt Lee trapped the Marie Harf at the State Department on Monday, I think the Israeli government (and/or the media) decided to run some interference. Note that the first paragraph cited above is unsourced -  not even to 'Israeli officials.'

Labels: Middle East peace process, Palestinian lies

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:47 AM