New Peace Process Abound? Netanyahu and Abbas Exchange Friendly Statements

**Rome101** · July 21, 2011, 10:36 AM

Tonight at 2:20AM (GMT+2, Jerusalem Time). Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas releases a statement to the press while visiting in Spain, ahead of the September vote on an independent Palestinian state. In the statement, he says that the results of the September vote are irrelevant. We will pursue peace with the Israelis even if we are acknowledged independent:

"Whatever happens and whatever the reaction and the result of our action in the UN, we know conclusively that we will return to the negotiating table to reach the best solutions with the Israelis," Abbas said in a speech in Arabic at the headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona.
"The efforts that we have taken to go to the United Nations in September will not be detrimental to peace nor to negotiations that we want to continue to have.", added Abu Mazen"

The The speech came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was willing to hold peace talks with the Palestinians immediately, saying:

"I'm prepared to negotiate with president Abbas directly for peace between our two peoples right now. We can do it here in my home in Jerusalem, we can do it in Ramallah (in the West Bank), we can do it anywhere," he told Arabic-language television station Al-Arabiya.

SOURCE

Bottom Line (or TL;DR):
Netanyahu invites Abbas to his home or offers to come over to Abbas to enter negotiations, immediately and without preconditions. Abbas in return says he is interested in the offer but does not respond right away. We have to wait and see, the ball is in the hands of the Palestinians now (Again, after last month where Netanyahu offered the same deal to Hamas).

In other, related news, the government has not yet enforced the decision to worsen security prisoners' conditions in the jailhouses (many such prisoners are Palestinian or Arabic). They should have been denied several prestigious privileges, such as receiving the daily morning newspapers, having cable-TV, receiving funds from the government to buy candies and drinks in the canteen, having financial accounts into which family and friends could transfer money (usually for them to use in the canteen as well), and receiving government-funded education (something even an Israeli lawful citizen does not get). So far only the cash for the prisoners' education funds have been halted and no other measures taken against them, with the obvious intent of showing the Palestinians that Israel is serious about entering negotiations immediately. According to international law, the security prisoners are entitled only to Red Cross visits and visits from their families. Everything else is a privilege and is not a violation of any humane/UN/RC code, but Islamist militant organization Hamas disputes this.

Well folks, let's hope this one goes through. I hope that unlike Hamas, Abbas will actually take on this offer and enter negotiations. I hope he stands by his word and I hope my government does the same.

**Jingo Eugene** · July 21, 2011, 10:39 AM

This gives me some cautious optimism.

**Sphere** · July 21, 2011, 10:59 AM

The core problem is Netanyahu cannot negotiate a deal without losing his position of Prime Minister. The settler and religous parties would quit his coalition and his government would fall. Netanyahu has been willing to flirt, and talk, propose, negiotiate etc. but when real decisions have ever come up, he has always bowed to the pressure of the religous right (the settlement freeze being the case in point.)

This is a situation that has plagued Likud leaders before. Sharons solution was to ditch the religous right parties of the traditional Likud governing coalition and form a new center-right party. Until something like that happens again, there is no hope for a negotiated deal, unless Netanyahu is willing to fall on his political sword in the name of peace.

**Admiral Piett** · July 21, 2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sphere

The core problem is Netanyahu cannot negotiate a deal without losing his position of Prime Minister. The settler and religous parties would quit his coalition and his government would fall. Netanyahu has been willing to flirt, and talk, propose, negiotiate etc. but when real decisions have ever come up, he has always bowed to the pressure of the religous right (the settlement freeze being the case in point.)

This is a situation that has plagued Likud leaders before. Sharons solution was to ditch the religous right parties of the traditional Likud governing coalition and form a new center-right party. Until something like that happens again, there is no hope for a negotiated deal, unless Netanyahu is willing to fall on his political sword in the name of peace.

We could only hope he's man enough to do it. If he truly cared about the future of his country.

**Rome101** · July 21, 2011, 01:02 PM

Something tells me he won't, but a part of me hopes he will.

I'll vote for a central-right party over any other. I'm central-right myself and I believe that's how Israel will prosper. With really hard decisions, but with a determined mind.

**alhoon** · July 21, 2011, 02:05 PM

Didn't know if that should be here or in the other thread, but here it is.:

http://news.yahoo.com/israel-torn-ap...140500455.html

"Israel is debating whether to say sorry for storming a Gaza-bound Turkish activist ship last year"
Aside from the fact that Israel IMO should apologize it's a good sign they're discussing this.

**Rome101** · July 21, 2011, 03:51 PM

Israel should (and have) say sorry that nine Turks died - but not that the IDF boarded the ship. The IDF had full legitimacy to board the ship and the soldiers had full legitimacy to fire in self defense. It's saddening that people died, but it was still their fault.
Something along the lines of "Sorry that we killed them, sorry they died, we had no other choice".

**Rome101** · July 22, 2011, 01:39 AM

Which is sadly, not something we can say about a lot of world leaders these days...

**irontaino** · July 22, 2011, 07:17 AM

I'm a bit skeptical, but if he's willing to defy the religious nutters in his coalition and make tough decisions, the it's welcome.

**~~John ''True Grit'' Wayne~~** · July 27, 2011, 06:35 AM

such as receiving the daily morning newspapers, having cable-TV, receiving funds from the government to buy candies and drinks in the canteen, having financial accounts into which family and friends could transfer money (usually for them to use in the canteen as well), and receiving government-funded education (something even an Israeli lawful citizen does not get).

source for this shite

UN: Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 'profound and persistent deadlock'
UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process tells Security Council efforts to resume negotiations have become 'extremely difficult' due to lack of framework and settlement construction.

Palestinian state Palestinians UN Security Council

The United Nations acknowledged Tuesday the political process to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in a "profound and persistent deadlock," which has prompted the Palestinian side to explore the UN for alternatives.

Efforts to push both sides to resume negotiations have also become "extremely difficult," Robert Serry, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the UN Security Council.

The United Nations Security Council meets at the UN Headquarters in New York, July 13, 2011

Photo by: Reuters

"In the absence of a framework for meaningful talks, and with Israeli settlement activity continuing, the Palestinians are actively exploring approaching the UN," Serry said.

He was referring to Palestinian plan to demand UN recognition of a Palestinian state when the UN General Assembly opens its annual session in mid-September.
Basically these settlements are blocking peace and Bibi wont stop them
The Palestinians have refused to resume peace talks unless Israel renews a moratorium on settlement building in occupied territory, something Israel has rejected.

Israel reacted coldly to Obama's reference to the 1967 lines, which the Jewish state says are indefensible, but Prosor told journalists on Tuesday the U.S. president's speech could serve as "a base" for negotiations.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...dlock-1.375417

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national...ation-1.318682

Olmert: Netanyahu leading Israel to political isolation
Former prime minister criticizes Netanyahu and Lieberman, saying that the refusal to extend the settlement freeze could lead to political isolation and damage the Israeli economy.

By Barak RavidTags: Ehud Olmert Benjamin Netanyahu Avigdor Lieberman

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday harshly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on the stalled peace process with the Palestinians.

Speaking at an Industry, Trade and Labor ministry conference, Olmert said that the government's refusal to accept the United States request that Israel extend a freeze on West Bank settlement construction for two months could lead to Israel's political isolation in the world and damage Israel's economy.

Former PM Ehud Olmert

Photo by: Mati Milstein

"There are people who think it is possible to separate the political situation from the economic situation and they use the phrase 'economic peace'," Olmert said, alluding to Netanyahu. "This is a lovely phrase but in reality it doesn’t exist."

Olmert told the audience that Israel could not expect to receive continued support from the U.S. and Europe if it continues to "insult the whole world."

Olmert said that it was necessary to have an internal discussion within Israeli society on the issue of the settlements. He added that the lack of a genuine political process with the Palestinians since the formation of Netanyahu's government had led the world to focus on the settlements.

"When we raise doubts about supporting a two-state solution, everyone will talk about the settlements," Olmert said.

Olmert condemned Netanyahu's decision to not respond positively to Barack Obama's request that Israel declare a two-month extension of the West Bank settlement freeze, saying that Netanyahu's refusal hurt Israel's strategic interests.

"[Obama] is the president of the country with which have signed an agreement to receive advanced fighter aircraft and which provides us a grant of billions of dollars annually," Olmert said. "We are an independent and strong country that is determined to protect its interests - but is it logical, responsible and forward looking to not condone what [the U.S.] is saying?"