Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the idea of sharing the city of Jerusalem with a new Palestinian state. Mr. Netanyahu said Sunday the division of Jerusalem does not reflect his government’s policy. Palestinians hope that mainly Arab East Jerusalem will serve as their capital, while the Israeli government has claimed all of Jerusalem as its capital.
Posts Tagged ‘Mr Netanyahu’
The week ahead
July 4th, 2010 |
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Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, visits Barack Obama in Washington
• ISRAEL’S prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is set to travel to Washington for a meeting with Barack Obama on Tuesday July 6th. Mr Netanyahu’s previous date with America’s president at the beginning of June was postponed after Israeli forces killed nine people in a raid on a boat attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade. Mr Obama will be keen to find a way to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to begin direct talks again. Face-to-face negotiations were suspended in December 2008 after Israel’s deadly offensive against Gaza intended to stop rocket attacks from the territory. In a sign of a thawing of relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Ehud Barak, the country’s defence minister, said that he would shortly meet Salam Fayyad, the PA’s prime minister.
• THE lower house of France’s parliament begins debate on Tuesday July 6th over the controversial issue of banning women from wearing full Muslim veils in public before a vote likely to be held the following week. A burqa ban, which has the backing of President Nicolas Sarkozy, is also winning support in other parts of Europe. Belgium’s lower house has approved a similar measure and Spain Senate recently narrowly voted to impose a ban too. But the Council of Europe, an institution that oversees the human rights of Europeans, has voted unanimously to oppose any national bans on the burqa in EU countries. It also called on Switzerland to reverse its ban on the construction of minarets. …
A wall of suspicion
March 25th, 2010 |
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Despite a rare dressing down from America, Israel’s leader shows no sign of yielding
GLUM Israelis likened the event to thieves entering in the night. When Binyamin Netanyahu and his aides met Barack Obama in the White House on March 23rd, the president forbade any media coverage—not even a quick photograph—in the Oval Office. The encounter with Israel’s prime minister did not seem to lead to the jovial reconciliation that politicians on both sides, after a fortnight of angry mud-slinging between Washington and Jerusalem, had hoped for.
The format was as odd as the extreme confidentiality. After the two leaders had sat alone for an hour-and-a-half, Mr Netanyahu closeted himself to “consult” his advisers, before returning for another half-hour discussion. Did Mr Obama, riding high after his historic victory over health care, choose to confront the silver-tongued Israeli prime minister with an unequivocal challenge to lay out his policy on peace with the Palestinians—and to back down over the controversial issue of building Jewish houses in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their would-be state? …
Building tensions
March 17th, 2010 |
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Relations between America and Israel reach a low point
After a raucous public slanging match, America and Israel are attempting to heal the worst rift between the countries in years. The row erupted during Joe Biden’s visit to Jerusalem last week after the Israeli government approved plans to build 1,600 new homes in a Jewish suburb located in East Jerusalem. America’s vice-president, sent to shore up relations and reassure Israel over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, took this as a gross and gratuitous insult both personally and to his boss, Barack Obama.
Hillary Clinton, America’s secretary of state, berated Mr Netanyahu on the phone and went on television to inform the world what she had done. The next day tensions rose higher after Israel’s ambassador to Washington was reported to have said that the crisis was the worst between the two countries in 35 years. He later claimed that he was misquoted. On March 16th Mrs Clinton, now trying to fight the flames, said that America had “an absolute commitment to Israel’s security. We have a close, unshakeable bond.” …
US-Israeli talks make ‘progress’
July 28th, 2009 |
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US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to call on Israel to halt new settlement construction, in a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Mitchell earlier said such difficult choices would need to be made, as he continues a US push seeking a comprehensive Middle East peace deal.
Mr Netanyahu has previously rejected a freeze on settlement building, saying "natural growth" must be allowed.
Settlement building has been a major block to peace with the Palestinians.
Mr Mitchell is one of several senior US officials visiting the Middle East trying to push the key players to take meaningful steps towards a comprehensive regional peace settlement.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Baghdad after talks in Israel with officials there on Iran and its nuclear programme.
President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser James Jones and veteran diplomat Dennis Ross are also to arrive in the region to join the diplomatic offensive.
‘Roadmap obligations’
In earlier meetings in the region, Mr Mitchell urged Israelis and Palestinians to make the difficult choices needed for peace.
He told Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday that Israel could improve the climate by "dealing with difficult issues like settlements and outposts".
US-Israeli relations have become strained since President Obama demanded a halt to all Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
All settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Israel has settled more than 450,000 Jews in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
US DIPLOMATIC DIARY- Special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell (to Syria, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Bahrain)
- Defence Secretary Robert Gates (to Israel, Jordan)
- National Security Adviser James Jones (to Israel)
- Envoy to the Gulf states Dennis Ross (to Israel)
Although the Israelis are reluctant to agree to demands that they stop settlement building, there may be a compromise brewing whereby the Israelis agree to finish the building of 2,000 new apartments a short distance inside the West Bank, but freeze all other construction.
However, the Palestinians have said nothing short of a complete and immediate end to settlement building will do. They have refused to meet their Israeli counterparts until settlement activity ceases.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat accused Israel of failing "to fulfill any of its roadmap obligations, including a settlement freeze, the reopening of Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, removal of outposts, the release of Palestinian prisoners", reports AFP news agency.
He spoke late on Monday after a meeting between Mr Mitchell and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Earlier in the day Mr Mitchell met President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo – a day earlier than initially scheduled, apparently at Mr Mubarak’s request.
The Egyptians are currently brokering reconciliation talks between the deeply divided Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas.
Despite several rounds of talks, the two Palestinian factions are still at odds on the most sensitive issues, such as the shape of a future unity government, the remit of the joint security force and the system that would be implemented for any upcoming elections.
Iran options
Relations with Iran have also been on the agenda, with the US pushing for a response to earlier overtures.
Shortly after coming to office in January, Mr Obama said if Iran and countries like it were "willing to unclench their fists, they will find an extended hand from us".
On Monday, Defence Secretary Gates said the US offer to Iran was "not open-ended", echoing comments by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this month.
Mr Obama was hoping for a response by the time of the UN General Assembly in September, Mr Gates added.
His Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak indicated that military action remained an option on Iran, following talks with Mr Gates in Jerusalem. But he added that "priority should be given still to diplomacy and sanctions".
Israel says Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions remain its number-one concern and in recent weeks the US has expressed dismay about Iran’s suppression of protests over disputed presidential elections.
Iran denies claims it wants to build nuclear weapons, saying it is enriching uranium for a civilian energy programme.
Mr Gates later held talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Israeli leader’s office said in a statement that he had emphasised the need to use "all available means" to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
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Israeli PM defiant on Jerusalem
July 19th, 2009 |
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a reported US request that a building project in Jerusalem be halted.
The project involves building 20 apartments in the mainly Arab East Jerusalem area, which was captured by Israel in 1967.
Last week US officials told the Israeli ambassador that the project should be suspended, Israeli media said.
But Mr Netanyahu rejected this in comments at his weekly Cabinet meeting.
"We cannot accept the idea that Jews will not have the right to live and buy (homes) anywhere in Jerusalem," he said.
"Unified Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Our sovereignty over it is unquestionable."
Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967. It has annexed the city and declared its east and west Israel’s eternal capital.
"This undermines the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process"
Saeb Erekat,
Palestinian negotiator
This is not recognised by the international community, with the east of the city considered occupied territory.
Palestinians hope to establish their capital in East Jerusalem, as part of a two-state peace deal with the Israelis.
They say Israel uses settlement and demolition orders to try to force them from the area.
‘No credibility’
The project in question concerns a block of 20 apartments in the Sheikh Jarrah district of the city.
Israeli officials said the US State Department summoned Ambassador Michael Oren last week and told him that the construction should not go ahead.
There was no immediate comment from the US.
But Israel has come under pressure from the Obama administration to freeze settlement activity on land that Palestinians want for a future state.
Palestinians say peace talks cannot proceed until settlement activity halts.
A senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said Mr Netanyahu’s comments had further undermined efforts to re-start the peace process.
The decision to pursue this project, he said, reflected Israel’s defiance of international calls for a halt to settlement activity.
"This undermines the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process and this undermines the credibility of those involved in making the peace process continue," he said.
About 268,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, alongside 200,000 Israeli Jews.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Israel FM queries Abbas authority
July 13th, 2009 |
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Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has questioned the authority of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in an escalating Israeli-Palestinian war of words.
Mr Lieberman said Mr Abbas "was not exactly legitimate" and was therefore in no position to make demands on the Israeli leadership.
A day earlier Mr Abbas had called him a bad choice as Israeli foreign minister.
The two sides have been unable to agree terms for restarting peace talks since the Israel government came into office.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been in power since 1 April, on Sunday urged Mr Abbas to restart peace talks immediately.
"There is no reason Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and I should not meet, anywhere in this country, to advance the political process," Mr Netanyahu told the weekly meeting of his cabinet.
Mr Abbas has refused to meet Mr Netanyahu and on Sunday reiterated his stance in a radio interview that, for negotiations on the key issues to resume, there must be "a complete halt" to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Separately in the Egyptian weekly, October, he said that Mr Netanyahu had backed himself into a corner on the Palestinian track, and he would face fierce opposition from Mr Lieberman if he tried to emerge from it.
Mr Abbas said things would be better if the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, had been reappointed instead of the current incumbent.
‘Blessing’
The outspoken Mr Lieberman said he took such comments from Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, as a "blessing".
"As Abu Mazen’s authority or legitimacy deteriorates or declines, he raises his demands and toughens his position.
"There are no middle-ground solutions for the settlement issue: either settlement activity stops or it doesn’t"
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
"Abu Mazen isn’t exactly legitimate, hence neither is his new demand, or suggestion, to replace Lieberman with Tzipi Livni," he said in an interview on Israel radio.
"I see such advice as a blessing. His demand to cease settlement construction is nothing more than an expression of his distress and incompetence."
He said that with Gaza under control of the Hamas militant group, Mr Abbas represented "at best, half of the nation".
Also on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu insisted the Palestinians "must finally abandon" the right of return for Palestinian refugees since 1948, which if realised would facilitate the arrival of millions of displaced Arabs to areas that currently have an Israeli Jewish majority.
He reiterated demands for Palestinians to explicitly recognise Israel as a Jewish state, calling this "the key to peace."
The Palestinians say it is tantamount to legitimising their own displacement in past wars with Israel.
They have also rejected any potential deal between Israel and its main backer, the US, to allow limited Jewish settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
"There are no middle-ground solutions for the settlement issue: either settlement activity stops or it doesn’t," negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas captured by Israel in 1967. Israel wants to be able to keep building within existing communities there, although all such work is illegal under international law.
"If settlement continues, Israel will be allowed to build 1,000 units here and 2,000 units there, which will lead Arabs and Palestinians to believe the US administration is incapable of swaying Israel to halt its settlement activities," Mr Erekat said.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.