Palestinian sources report positivity in talks

rafie

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 19,00.html

Al-Hayat quotes Palestinian sources close to direct peace talks as saying members of delegation have undergone '180 degree change in mood after tensions enveloping them at the beginning', adds leaders discussed Annapolis, settlements

Roee Nahmias
Published: 09.04.10, 10:07 / Israel News

Palestinian sources expressed satisfaction with the launching of the direct talks in Washington Thursday, and especially with the US administration's vow to attempt to reach a settlement within a year, Al-Hayat reported Saturday.

The London-based paper reported that the mood of members of the Palestinian delegation to the talks "has changed by 180 degrees after the tension enveloping them at the beginning".

The paper quoted knowledgeable sources as saying that the newfound satisfaction was due to the US determination to reach a settlement.

The sources said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the troubles that had ended previous negotiations with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as of the Annapolis Summit. They added that the two had agreed upon a timetable of one year for the talks.

The paper also reported that Netanyahu and Abbas had discussed settlements vaguely, but no specific solutions. US President Barack Obama is said to be looking into a number of solutions for when the freeze on construction in settlements terminates on September 26.

Obama is believed to be seeking a covert agreement with Netanyahu by which the latter will expand only large settlement blocs expected to be included in a future agreement, and refrain from making one-sided moves in east Jerusalem.

On the Israeli side, President Shimon Peres was also optimistic. He called the ceremony launching the talks "a very promising beginning" and expressed hope that they would "lead to actual success".

"I think that, surprisingly, it began well, considering the skepticism evident until now," Peres told reporters in Italy, where he also met with Pope Benedict XVI.

Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, was also pleased, and surmised that the talks would be the last to take place between Israel and the Palestinians. He said the Arabs were ready to make peace with Israel in return for all territory captured in 1967, including east Jerusalem.

Commy

inside the delegations, from the bbc.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11184636



the tone does seem optimistic.


still, its about action.

the freeze on settlement construction expires in 3 weeks. whether Israel continues to build or not could be crucial.

Commy

While Netanyahu and Abbas seem to be having a good time, i'm wondering if a representative of the Palestinians is even present at the talks.

gimmesometruth27

Commy wrote:

While Netanyahu and Abbas seem to be having a good time, i'm wondering if a representative of the Palestinians is even present at the talks.

of course not...there will never be a true voice of all sides at the talks...and people wonder why the true voice of the palestinians on the streets is now lobbing rockets and shooting civilians this week.. it is a political statement and nothing more.

gimmesometruth27

here is a very good article that gives the basic information about what is at stake with the israel- palestinian peace talks...it is concise and to the point and for those of you that don't really know much about the conflict is gives you some of the basics for understanding...i was not sure if it deserved its own thread or not, because there is really nothing to discuss, it is just facts...it does sounds as if both sides are close to walking away at any time though...if someone wants to repost into a new thread feel free...

Mideast crisis looms over Israeli settlements
By KARIN LAUB and MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH Associated Press Writer The Associated Press
Sunday, September 5, 2010 1:53 PM EDT

http://charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id ... %20&page=1

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Just days after Mideast peace talks began in Washington, the first major crisis is already looming: Israel hinted Sunday it will ease restrictions on building in West Bank settlements, while the Palestinian president warned he'll quit the talks if Israel resumes construction.

Israel's 10-month-old slowdown on new building in settlements expires Sept. 26, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a tough choice.

If he extends the freeze, he risks breaking up his hardline coalition. If he lifts the restrictions, he risks getting blamed for derailing negotiations and disrupting President Barack Obama's Mideast peace efforts soon after they began.

The Israeli prime minister struck an unusually conciliatory tone during the Washington peace summit and again on Sunday, when he briefed his Cabinet about his 2 1/2-hour meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the U.S. capital.

Once a fervent opponent of Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu said Sunday he wants negotiations to succeed after 17 years of failed attempts. He also called for creative solutions to complicated problems, although he did not elaborate.

Netanyahu also said he hopes to build a relationship of trust with Abbas.

"I believe that what is needed now to move the process forward is not a proliferation of negotiating teams, but decisions by leaders," he said. "In order to reach practical solutions, we will need to think about new solutions to old problems. I believe that this is possible."

Netanyahu's foreign minister, the hawkish Avigdor Lieberman, dismissed the whole process Sunday. He said a peace accord "is a target that is not attainable within the next year and not within the next generation."

Under intense U.S. pressure, Israel imposed restrictions on most West Bank settlement construction last November in a bid to bring the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. He has not yet said what he will do when the slowdown expires.

The Palestinians view a continued curb on settlement construction — even if it falls short of a complete freeze — as the true test of Netanyahu's intentions.

Abbas told a group of PLO activists in Libya late Saturday that anything but an extension of the current slowdown is unacceptable. "If the (Israeli) government extends the Israeli decision to stop the settlements, we will continue the negotiations, and if it doesn't extend, we will leave these negotiations," Abbas said.

Negotiations between Abbas and Netanyahu's predecessor, Ehud Olmert, broke off in December 2008, and Abbas only agreed under intense U.S. pressure to restart talks with Netanyahu.

The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. They are willing to accept some border adjustments that would enable Israel to keep some of the largest settlements, but fear Netanyahu is unwilling to cede large amounts of the territory they seek.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak signaled Sunday it's unlikely the freeze will be extended in its current form. "I don't think it will remain, and we're looking for a way to ensure that this will not harm the continuation of the talks," Barak told Israel Army Radio.

Barak did not elaborate, but said Israel would try to persuade Abbas to accept some new construction.

He also suggested Abbas might hesitate pulling out of talks if upcoming negotiations seem promising.

"If in the meetings, we find that there are real and substantive discussions on the issues, it will raise questions for Abu Mazen (Abbas) ... about the meaning of missed opportunities on his part if he decides to pull out," Barak said.

One proposal being considered is to keep most restrictions in place, and only allow construction on a limited scale, with personal approval by Barak or Netanyahu, said Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the idea has not yet been presented.

Aides to Abbas and Netanyahu are to discuss the plan before the leaders meet for a second time, the officials said.

High-level talks are to resume Sept. 14 and 15 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki.

The Islamic militant Hamas, which wrested Gaza from Abbas in a violent takeover in 2007, has repeatedly said in recent days that Abbas has no right to negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Israeli aircraft bombed three Gaza smuggling tunnels late Saturday in retaliation for two Hamas shooting attacks that killed four Israelis in the West Bank last week. The airstrikes killed two Palestinians and wounded a third. Two more Palestinians were missing.

Hamas officials identified all five as smugglers working in one of the many tunnels used to ferry goods under the Gaza-Egypt border.
__________________________________________________________________________

Laub reported from Jericho, West Bank. Associated Press writers Matti Friedman in Jerusalem and Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.