The Middle-East Observer
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
Netanyahu to Abbas: ‘You Can’t Have it Both Ways’
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Palestinian Authority’s leader Mahmoud Abbas that reconciliation with Hamas will take Israel away from its willingness to talk for peace. Netanyahu said “the Palestinian Authority must choose between an alliance with Hamas and peace with Israel.” However, Netanyahu’s resistance to the formation of a Fatah-Hamas unity cabinet is based on Hamas’s … Continue reading
If Israel is an ally, press them for peace, Abbas urges Canada
Mahmoud Abbas is looking to Israel’s new best friend; Canada, to pressure Israel into peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Yesterday, Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird were meeting with Mr. Abbas and his adviser Majdi al-Khaldi in Ramallah before moving on to Jerusalem to meet with Benjamin Nethanyahu and … Continue reading
U.S. criticizes Israel plan to subsidize West Bank settlement construction
The United States have criticized the plan of Netanyahu’s government to subsidize construction in 557 rural settlements, of which 70 are deep inside the West Bank. State Department spokesman Mark toner calls the move “unconstructive and unhelpful”, adding that these kinds of actions can hamper the process of getting Israel and Palestine back to direct … Continue reading
Report: Amman talks to continue until March
After five meetings between Israeli and Palestinian representatives in Amman, and despite low expectations from both sides on the outcome of the negotiations, the peace talks will continue until March though they were supposed to end on January 26. ”The Palestinian Authority decided to continue talks with Israel, being conducted by Saeb Erekat and Prime Minister [Binyamin Netanyahu]‘s … Continue reading
Peres in Davos: Palestinian state already established
A discussion between Israeli president and Palestinian PM took place last Thursday, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In the discussion, which aimed at restarting the stalled peace process, Peres said that the Palestinians had effectively established a state while peace negotiations were still ongoing and praised the work by Prime Minister Fayyad and … Continue reading
Palestinians say Israeli proposals suggest West Bank barrier as border
After Israel presented for the first time last week its position on the borders of a future Palestinian state, Palestinian officials said the proposal falls short of what the Palestinian side can accept, especially in regards to the status of East Jerusalem, over which Israel wants to keep sovereignty. The officials said Israel essentially proposed … Continue reading
Opinion: Water for all: The case for a one-state solution
Ramzy El Houry, author of this article, argues for Palestinian negotiators to stop pushing for a two-state solution and start looking into a one-state solution with Israel. He uses water resources as the main example to prove the ‘impossibility’ of the two-state solution: ” It is on this basis - the basis that Israel cannot accept a sovereign … Continue reading
Barghouti sent to isolation after Israel comments
Marwan Barghouti, the jailed Palestinian leader, was sent to solitary confinement as a result of the remarks he recently made, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society. The former secretary-general of Fatah in the West Bank is widely considered as a potential successor to Mahmoud Abbas as President of the Palestinian Authority, but is serving five life sentences … Continue reading
Israel presents the Palestinians with its stance on borders
Israel has presented the Palestinians with its position on borders for what would be a Palestinian state, in accordance with the Mideast Quartet’s January 26 deadline. It marks the first time the current Netanyahu government has agreed to discuss the future parameters of a Palestinian state. Molho, Netanyahu’s envoy, presented Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian … Continue reading
Jordan mulling sanctions against Israel
Various diplomatic moves against Israel have been considered by King of Jordan Abdullah II, who is frustrated by the current talks between Israelis and Palestinians in Amman. Unless Israel demonstrates it is willing to make considerable moves to reignite the stalled peace process, Abdullah may take steps towards a possible deterioration in Amman’s relationship with Jerusalem and … Continue reading
Barghouti: ‘Withdrawal to ’67 lines would signal conflict’s end’
Marwan Barghouti, one of the most popular Palestinian public figure, said from Israeli jail that when Israel withdraws to pre-1967 borders, the conflict will end. ”What’s more important today is to form a national unity government and pursue peaceful resistance, including negotiations,” he added. Barghouti was sentenced to five consecutive life terms in 2004 for his involvement … Continue reading
Israeli, Palestinian negotiators clash in Jordan meeting
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, Yitzhak Molcho and Saeb Erekat, had a bitter exchange of harsh words during their last meeting on Saturday. Erekat reportedly refused to let the Israeli side present its proposal on security arrangement. Palestinians said Israel must present its position on borders by January 26, but the Israeli team came with the … Continue reading
Opinion: The Palestinian Campaign to Delegitimize Israel
Although a new series of negotiations have started between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, Palestinians are still trying to out-maneuver Israel in the international arena. Though last year’s attempt to gain full UN membership for a sovereign state of Palestine failed, Abbas is now regrouping, visiting countries that may support the bid and trying new … Continue reading
Interview: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
President Mahmoud Abbas says the response of Israel to the Palestinian proposal on borders and security is “worthless”. Abbas also says the purpose of his European tour is to look at different routes in case the current talks between negotiators fail. Abbas said “We want to live side-by-side with Israel, but we want to isolate Israeli … Continue reading
Haniyeh: PLO must suspend talks with Israel until MPs freed
Following reports of the detention of Speaker of the Palestinian Parliament Aziz Dweik by Israel, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for the suspension of PLO talks with Israel until Dweik’s release. “A Palestinian should not shake the hand of his enemy, the enemy who arrests the symbols of Palestinian legitimacy,” he said. ”This is the minimal response … Continue reading
Britain condemns Israeli settlements as “deliberate vandalism”
As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is on an official visit to the UK, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg made some of Britain’s strongest comments on the Middle-East conflict. “Once you place physical facts on the ground which make it impossible to deliver what everyone has for years agreed is the ultimate destination, then you do … Continue reading
Netanyahu to unveil political plan in March?
Following a third meeting between Israeli and Palestinian envoys in Amman, both sides have agreed to meet again for a fourth time on January 25th, a day before the Quartet’s deadline. Before the last meeting, Israeli officials said they would try to arrange a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President … Continue reading
Israel, PLO to meet Saturday
Representative from the PLO and Israel will meet for the third time in Amman this saturday as exploratory discussions continue. The Quartet, which brought the two sides to Amman, is hoping these discussions will lead to a new round of peace negotiations. Palestinian Authority President Abbas has downplayed the outcome of these talks and has … Continue reading
Abbas says Israel submitted no new proposals in exploratory talks with Palestinians
Following two meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials after months with no direct negotiations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel had made no new proposals over how formal peace talks could be resumed. Two more meetings are set. “Until now, there is nothing new in the dialogue that is going on in Amman,” Abbas … Continue reading
Netanyahu mulls gestures toward Palestinians to keep peace talks going
Netanyahu mulls gestures toward Palestinians to keep peace talks going
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