PLO official questions US stance on peace process

[freepalestine]

PLO official questions US stance on peace process
Published yesterday (updated) 16/12/2010 23:10
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A member of the PLO negotiating team with Israel said Thursday that while the Palestinians backed a strong US role in the peace process, the Obama administration could be doing more.

Mohammad Shtayyeh criticized Wednesday's US House vote opposing the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and questioned why the Americans did not take a harder line against unilateral Israeli measures.

"If America isn't in a position to oblige Israel into freezing settlements for 90 days, how will it convince us they're ready to begin decolonizing the West Bank?" Shtayyeh said at a briefing in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

Peace talks began in September but collapsed after Israel opted not to renew a moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank. Israel's premier considered but ultimately declined a US bid to extend the freeze for three months, citing concerns that his right-wing government would not survive another moratorium.http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=342836

[freepalestine]

Israel downplays focus on settlement growth
Published Wednesday 15/12/2010 (updated) 16/12/2010 23:10
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – The settlement construction issue is simple, minor, not so important, and marginal, says spokeswoman of the Israeli foreign ministry Amira Oron during a chat Tuesday with Ma’an radio.

Oron said the Netanyahu government was exerting serious efforts to resume negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. She said the government of Israel endeavored to reach a two-state solution asserting that both the Palestinians and the Israelis along with the US administration should exert more efforts.

“Despite the fact that the last few years saw several crises, there were positive steps as well and the Palestinian Authority took charge of security in the West Bank and managed to make improvements,” she said.

She added that Israel welcomed those achievements, however, “the Palestinian adamancy on a settlement freeze was wrong because that is not a major issue, it's something subject to negotiations.

“It is wrong to spend a long time talking only about settlements while other issues are ignored. This way, we will lose the opportunity to go ahead with negotiations for the sake of a simple issue compared to the serious core issues which we should talk about.”

She added: “The Israeli government does not have plans to build new settlements as we realize how sensitive this is to the Palestinian side. However, we must focus on more important issues such as Jerusalem, refugees and borders, and each side can tell his point of view.”

Commenting on a proposal to divide Jerusalem suggested by Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak, Oron said that reflected Barak’s own point of view which mirrors similar opinions in Israel.

“We should return to the negotiation table if we want to make progress. In the past, Israel refused to give Sinai back to Egypt, but after negotiations, the Egyptians got Sinai back, and that is a good example.”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=342309

[freepalestine]

No Israel talks 'in any format,' negotiators say
Published yesterday (updated) 16/12/2010 21:34
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Azzam Al-Ahmad, head of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian PLC, speaks to the
media after attending an Iftar on the 18th day of the holy month of Ramadan
organized by the US Consulate in the West Bank city of Ramallah September 30,
2007. [MaanImages/Luay Sababa]

RAMALLAH (AFP) -- Leaders in the Palestinian Authority on Thursday said they would not hold any form of talks with Israel, in any format, without a complete halt to Israeli settlement activity on occupied Palestinian lands.

The tough stance came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner council met to discuss US ideas on the peace process and a top American envoy held talks with Israeli defense officials.

"There will not be any negotiations with Israel, in any form -- direct, indirect or parallel -- without an end to settlement," said Azzam Al-Ahmad, a senior member of the Central Committee of Fatah, the party of president Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke to AFP by telephone from Cairo, where Arab League foreign ministers on Wednesday had ruled out a resumption of negotiations without a "serious offer" that would ensure their success.

Ahmad called on Washington to officially declare its definition of the Palestinian territories to include all the lands occupied by Israel during the 1967 war, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

And he urged the Obama administration to state its official position on security and borders.

"We are starting to find that the American position on these issues is confused," he said.

Earlier this week, US Middle East envoy George Mitchell held talks with Netanyahu and Abbas to try to find a way to keep the sides engaged in the search for peace.

He proposed six weeks of "parallel" talks, in which negotiators would hold separate discussions with the Americans in a format that would not be classed as "negotiations," a Palestinian official told AFP on Wednesday.

In his talks with Abbas, Mitchell suggested that in the six weeks starting from Sunday, the two sides meet US officials to discuss security, border arrangements and any other issues raised by the parties.

Asked whether Israel would consider such a parallel format, an Israeli official told AFP they were "open" to the idea.

"We obviously prefer direct talks with the Palestinians, but because they are steadfast in their refusal to engage directly over the issues ... that is something to which we are open," he said.

There was no immediate word on the content of Netanyahu's talks with his Forum of Seven, the inner advisory council, although a government official confirmed they had met.

Meanwhile, Dennis Ross, a senior advisor to US President Barack Obama, held talks in Tel Aviv with top defense officials, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi and the head of military intelligence, Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi.

"During the talks they discussed the security aspects of a possible peace agreement with the Palestinians," Barak's office said..

The peace process was thrown into disarray last week after Washington acknowledged it had failed in to persuade Israel to renew restrictions on settlement construction.

US officials are now trying to find new ways for both sides to engage in some form of talks.

Following the Arab League meeting, Arab and Palestinian officials were likely to step up their efforts in coming days to secure further recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, Ahmad said.

On Wednesday, Abbas held a phone conversation with Bolivian President Evo Morales, who confirmed La Paz would be recognizing a Palestinian state "in the coming days," the Fatah official said.

Over the past few weeks, Palestinian officials have been talking up their options if peace talks with Israel totally collapse -- one of which is seeking recognition for a unilateral declaration of statehood.

Earlier this month, Brazil and Argentina recognized a Palestinian state, with Uruguay soon to follow suit. And this week, European Union also expressed "its readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state."

Israel opposes such a move, saying a Palestinian state should be established only through negotiations.

Shortly after the Cairo talks, the US House of Representatives approved a measure condemning any recognition of a Palestinian state, and backing a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The European Union also issued a new plea to speed up progress towards a two-state solution encompassing a "viable" Palestine alongside a "secure" Israel.http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=342824

[freepalestine]

4 national security officers detained near Hebron
Published yesterday (updated) 16/12/2010 23:10
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HEBRON (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces detained on Thursday four Palestinian security officers at the entrance of Hebron.

Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that the forces in Yatta village took the Palestinian officers to the Civil Administration headquarters even though they showed the soldiers their security IDs.

The four officers were identified as Imad Bahees, Imad Hammad, Khalil Kabaja, and Mahmud Abu Qabita.

An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=342765

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Hebron court vandalized 'without any justification'
Published today (updated) 17/12/2010 01:45
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HEBRON (Ma’an) – The Palestinian lawyers’ union condemned on Thursday what it called an attack by Israeli troops against the Dura courthouse in Hebron "without any justification."

The court’s doors and windows were damaged during arrest raids in the village overnight.

The union said in a statement that such attacks were disrespectful to legal institutions. The group called on human rights organizations to oppose the targeting of lawyers and courts.

An Israeli military spokeswoman denied knowledge of the incident.http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=342662