Reuters – Two secular Palestinian organizations joined Hamas on Sunday in calling on President Mahmoud Abbas not to bow to U.S. pressure to resume direct peace talks with Israel, which they described as dangerous.
Reuters – Two secular Palestinian organizations joined Hamas on Sunday in calling on President Mahmoud Abbas not to bow to U.S. pressure to resume direct peace talks with Israel, which they described as dangerous.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets Arab foreign ministers in Cairo to discuss whether to resume direct talks with the Israelis.
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There are six hugely important developments that have happened in the last month that will provide extraordinary help to protect Israel’s security. Unfortunately, these events have been underreported in the media.
- On June 9, 2010, the U.N. Security Council passed a set of new sanctions against Iran with Russia, China, the U.S. …..the most immediate, as well as long term benefit of the sanctions is that Russia has agreed not to sell its S-300 anti-aircraft system to Iran! The S-300 system is extremely difficult to overcome, according to all knowledgeable military experts. If delivered to Iran, it would be a game-changer in Iran’s military position vis-a-vis Israel…
- On June 12, 2010, Saudi Arabia agreed to permit Israel to over fly a portion of its territory, should Israel feel it necessary to undertake military actions against Iran…
- On June 10, 2010, the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, publically stated that Israel should not be forced to end its blockade of Gaza….
- On June 9, 2010, Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas publically declared in Washington, D.C. that he and the Palestinians were ready to recognize that the Jewish people have a right to some portion of Israel and the territories.
- On May 10, 2010, Israel was admitted, unanimously, to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This enables Israel to join the world’s fellow economic powers as a co-equal, first class citizen for the first time.
- On May 13, 2010, President Barack Obama announced his intention to give the state of Israel $205 million so that Israel might purchase additional Iron Dome anti-missile defense batteries for deployment throughout the State of Israel….. to intercept short-range rockets, missiles, and mortars launched by terrorists in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
All these six items have a major, positive impact on the security of the State of Israel! Each of these six accomplishments was only made possible with the direct, powerful, and demanding insistence of President Barack Obama. In my opinion, the big picture for Israel’s security has improved! There is, obviously, a long way to go, but progress such as this is important not to overlook, ignore, or belittle.
Reuters – President Barack Obama on Wednesday is expected to offer Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fresh U.S. aid for Gaza as Washington seeks to contain the fallout over Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
AP – The Palestinians are ready to swap some land with Israel, although differences remain over the amount of territory to be traded, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday after two rounds of U.S.-led indirect peace talks.
““Following the closures, sources said the PMA imposed a 300,000 US dollar fine per branch closed as the bank failed to inform the authority in advance of the move. Sources said the decisions came without consultation and appeared arbitrary, noting they flew in the face of Palestinian banking law. Other sources said President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad had supported the bank’s decision, telling the London–based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Haya that “the administration of the Bank contacted both to cancel the fine [and demand an] apology.” The unnamed source said bank officials complained that the PMA withdrew money from the Arab Bank accounts without consultation following the announcement of the fines.”"
“I want to work with Netanyahu,” proclaimed Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, quoted by the Jerusalem Post. “Try me,” he said, noting his hopes that the Arab League would back his plan to resume proximity talks on May 1. “I say on behalf of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, that we are prepared for an agreement.” He emphasized Netanyahu was “chosen by the Israeli people and elected by the Knesset [parliament],” and because of that it was his “duty to work with him”.
This spectacular change of tone on the part of the man who, exactly a month ago, ruled out any form of negotiations without a settlement freeze, came on the heels of massive pressure from the American administration and an invitation for him to pay the White House an official visit next month. Talks, albeit indirect in format initially, are scheduled to restart in mid-May.There are three main explanations of this unexpected behavior, and they all likely contribute in varying degrees to the developments. Perhaps, in a manner characteristic of Middle Eastern bargaining, Abbas has been bluffing all along with his obstinacy, and ….. Maybe he is feeling pressure from his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad – a darling of the American administration….…. the Israeli government made some sort of a short-term pledge to US President Barack Obama…. It is even likely that Netanyahu won acquiescence from his right-wing coalition partners: a very striking development, which would indicate that any such concession would be short-lived…. Netanyahu is also taking up Obama’s challenge for the moral high ground in case of a future confrontation between them. This could have profound implications in case of an Israeli attack on Iran. Given the widespread support which Israel enjoys, the Obama administration finds itself embroiled in an uphill public relations campaign every time it decides to confront the Israeli government openly. …Netanyahu is setting up a bargaining strategy to use with Obama in case he chooses to go to war without American blessing: the settlement halt and progress in the negotiations will continue for as long as support on Iran is provided. This is, importantly, a compromise he can sell domestically as well, … (more/here)
Reuters – President Mahmoud Abbas is studying a U.S. proposal for talks between the Palestinians and Israel at a level below full-scale negotiations between their leaders, a Palestinian official said on Monday.
AP – President Barack Obama’s Mideast envoy failed Friday to lure Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas back to peace talks with Israel, as Abbas stuck to his insistence that an Israeli settlement freeze come first.
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