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Middle East Talks Fail to Produce Hope for New Negotiations
Barack Obama's call for halt to Israeli settlements on West Bank rebuffed by Binyamin Netanyahu
Barack Obama failed to achieve a hoped-for breakthrough aimed at a resumption of Middle East negotiations today at a three-way meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in New York.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) listen to U.S. President Barack Obama speak during a trilateral meeting with in New York September 22, 2009. Obama, making his most direct foray into Middle East diplomacy, on Tuesday called Israelis and Palestinians to act with a sense of urgency to get formal peace negotiations back on track.
(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) The president had only one success to show for months of effort - a handshake between the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, meeting for the first time since the Israeli leader was elected in February.
The two appeared reluctant to shake hands, smiling hesitantly and having to be coaxed by Obama.
A final burst of White House activity over the preceding 24 hours failed to close the diplomatic gap between Abbas and Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister rebuffed a US call for a total freeze on Jewish settlement on the West Bank. Abbas refused to resume negotiations without such a freeze.
Both blamed the other for the failure of the US peace initiative.
US frustration showed when Obama told reporters: "Permanent status negotiations must begin and begin soon. It is past time to talk about starting negotiations. It is time to move forward."
The US negotiator, George Mitchell, who spent a fruitless week in the Middle East last week shuttling between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, is to return next week to the region for further talks.
The failure to have anything significant to announce today was a major setback for Obama, who hoped for a diplomatic triumph after weeks on the defensive on domestic policy. However, it represents a success - at least in the short term - for Netanyahu, who had been resisting US efforts for a settlement freeze.
It was also a setback for Abbas, who had been reluctant even to attend the tripartite talks without a settlement freeze. By attending, he opens himself to attack from opponents such as Hamas, who had already criticised him for taking part in a photo opportunity without receiving anything in return.
Although Obama stressed today that he was in for the long haul, it was an inauspicious start failing to secure even a confidence-building deal that would have opened the way for the resumption of negotiations.
Obama, speaking at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where he has set up temporary headquarters, said that since his administration took office in January there has been progress toward laying a foundation for the resumption of peace talks "but we still have much further to go".
He called on the antagonists to show "the flexibility, common sense and compromise which is necessary to achieve our goals".
As part of the confidence-building deal, Obama had wrung concessions from Arab states in the Gulf and northern Africa, primarily allowing Israeli flights over their territory, allowing entry to people with Israeli stamps on their passports and the opening of trade office. But the US was frustrated that more Arab states had not signed up and that the concessions were relatively small.
Reflecting this, Obama said: "It remains important for the Arab states to take steps to promote peace in the region."
Obama first met separately with Netanayahu, who was late, held up by tough security that had blocked traffic, and then with Abbas, before bring them together for the handshake.
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36 Comments so far
Show AllTime to cut off the free billions to Israel.
"The failure to have anything significant to announce today was a major setback for Obama, who hoped for a diplomatic triumph after weeks on the defensive on domestic policy. However, it represents a success - at least in the short term - for Netanyahu, who had been resisting US efforts for a settlement freeze."
So you see, you "Naderites" and "Republican trolls" Not EVERYBODY is dissatisfied with Obama!
So you are saying I'm (and any other) that is totally dissatisfied with Obama is a "Naderite" and "Republican troll"?
I'm surprised at you.
That would be me though, I'm not only dissatisfied, I'm angry at what he has done and the opportunities he has squandered.
Time to give the Israeli groups seeking constructive options for peace a platform to be heard via U.S. Congressional hearings on this impasse.
In New York City in pre-negotiations, Obama began to make a strong case when a squadron of Israeli Fighter Jets repeatedly buzzed and "mock strafed," his hotel. Shaken, when helped to his feet, the American president took a deep breath then spit upon Abbas before turning to Prime Minister Netanyahu and slowly lowering himself to all fours, down to his stomach, then rolling over onto his back, whimpering, his throat exposed.
Is Israel ever wrong? Let me count the ways: war crimes (the latest), a huge settler population in occupied territory (ongoing and always)and an ideology of Israel being a land without people for a people without land (stated by Zionists way before the creation of the state of Israel).
So, Israel is never wrong, the Palestinians are never right and the US is a seeming, hapless giant but nevertheless, pushes for a proxy (Christian/Jewish) state in the midst of the Arab world.
Can this circle be squared and peace be brought about?
"Fresh Middle East Talks
Fail to Produce Hope"
_______________________________________
The Fresh Prince of DC went to the "Hope®" well once too often.
Like the song says, sort of: "you never miss the Hope® 'til the well runs dry".
Bibi Netanyahu, Vichy Palestinian Puppet Abbas, and Bonnie Prince-- whoops, King-- Obama (thumb firmly pressing the Zionist side of the scale) is not a recipe for a just peace.
Now, how about a brewski before Moving Forward?
· Yr Obd't Servant
Maybe there would be a possibility for peace if Israel would discontinue their country's business as though they were a theocracy.
The country of Israel does not exist because of God's promise any more than America is a Christian nation that always has God on our side.
Wiki:"Since June 2007, after winning a large majority in the Palestinian Parliament and defeating rival Palestinian party Fatah in a series of violent clashes, Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories. The European Union, the United States, and three other countries have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization."
Hamas won the election, but because the U.S. considers them a terrorist organization, we talk to the leader of Fatah!
Abbas, does not represent the Palestinians! He is our choice!
Here's Obama's wonderful strategy:
"As part of the confidence-building deal, Obama had wrung concessions from Arab states..."
Let's see. Israel is in violation of international law and U.N. resolutions, is illegally occupying Palestinian land, is illegally confiscating Palestinian land to build Israeli colonies on it, is performing gross human rights abuses daily, and to get Israel's ongoing theft and other crimes against humanity to stop, the Arab states have to make "concessions"?
Note to Obama: turn off the money spigot, and stop sending Israel jets and other weapons. Then Israel will be more motivated to stop spitting in your face.
The soul of America has been sacrificed in a Faustian bargain for world domination. So long as the American ruling elite and their 'patriotic' sheep followers glory in being an empire, the 3 billion dollars a year will flow into Israel, the center of our military power in the Middle East. And we will continue to veto any U.N. resolution that seeks to take action regarding Israel's defiance of international law.
Zbigniew Brzezinski is correct in his suggestion that the U.S. refuse to allow Israel to fly over American controled airspace without serious repercussions. Israel has violated international law for decades with impunity. It is time the country be held accountable for its crimes.
They have demanded that Arabs recognize Israel as preconditions to any type of negotiation, yet when PM Abbas requests that Israel adhere to the road map, international law and President Obama's request to stop construction of settlements in occupied Palestinian territory Netanyahu boldly labels him as being obstructionist to the peace process.
The Goldstone report has found Israel guilty of war crimes. Netanyahu has casually dismissed these serious charges. Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein were not granted such a priviledge. It is time for the world community to isolate Israel and account for it war crimes and decades long history of violating international law. Cutting off all U.S. financial and military aid is a good start. Trying Netanyahu would be an even better way to demonstrate that the U.S. actually believes in accountablitiy for those who commit crimes against humanity. Israel didn't bother with borders, treaties or anything else when the Mossad hunted war criminals. They are certainly entitled to receive the same treatment.
Soooo, who to blame for the genocidal rogue state of Israel?
As I recall it was Rothschild's money that bought Balfour's betrayal of the Arabs.
Nothing has changed since then. Biblical cruelty and averice marches on.
Rothschild's money seems to purchased the betrayal of the USA as well.
From ABC News on israhell:
"The national security adviser for former President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, gave an interview to The Daily Beast in which he suggested President Obama should make it clear to Israel that if they attempt to attack Iran's nuclear weapons sites the U.S. Air Force will stop them. "We are not exactly impotent little babies," Brzezinski said. "They have to fly over our (Iraq) airspace in Iraq. Are we just going to sit there and watch? ... We have to be serious about denying them that right. That means a denial where you aren’t just saying it. If they fly over, you go up and confront them. They have the choice of turning back or not. No one wishes for this but it could be a 'Liberty' in reverse."
The USS 'Liberty' was a U.S. Navy technical research ship that the Israeli Air Force mistakenly attacked during the Six Day War in 1967 killing 34 US sailors and wounding 177".
My responses is hell, why wait. Do it now. It will save US taxpayers $8bn a year.
Hello? The USS Liberty was a U.S. Navy ship that the Israeli Air Force DELIBERATELY attacked.
Visit the website kept by the survivors of the attack:
http://www.gtr5.com/
"I was never satisfied with the Israeli explanation. . . . Through diplomatic channels we refused to accept their explanations. I didn't believe them then, and I don't believe them to this day. The attack was outrageous " -- US Secretary of State Dean Rusk
"...the board of inquiry (concluded) that the Israelis knew exactly what they were doing in attacking the Liberty." -- CIA Director Richard Helms
"I can tell you for an absolute certainty (from intercepted communications) that the Israelis knew they were attacking an American ship." -- NSA Deputy Director Oliver Kirby
"That the Liberty could have been mistaken for the Egyptian supply ship El Quseir is unbelievable" -- Special Assistant to the President Clark Clifford, in his report to President Lyndon Johnson
"The highest officials of the [Johnson] administration, including the President, believed it 'inconceivable' that Israel's 'skilled' defense forces could have committed such a gross error." -- Lyndon Johnson's biographer Robert Dallek in Flawed Giant, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 430-31)
Talks? Ferchrissakes, what "talks"? There was a photo op, nothing more, nothing less. Certainly Obama wasn't so foolish as to think that he was going to get earthshaking copy from these guys to go with the forced smiles for the camera . . . or was he?
Its worth noting that shitsrael flag is flanked by two usa flags, with such ample supply of flags in the usa I dont believe their position for the photo op is a coincidence, it sends the message that the usa will keep "protecting" shitsrael.
"Past time to talk about starting negotiations."
Unbelievable. And this guy is the leader of the free fucking world? Dead in the water, people. Obfraud is fucking dead in the water.
The same hammered hobbled horseshit on a half loaf.
Anybody see clips of Obfraud on Letterman? He was in a suit but slouched down in his chair. Making his case on Late Night. If you didn’t know he was POTUS you could have mistaken him for some B lister making the usual self promotion rounds.
What a stupid Bojangles act. This propped up personae he's gaming everybody with.
Same as Bush.
It's all so tiring. Same old shit.
There’s another way of looking at it. If the US is going to tell Israel to swim on its own it might be a good thing that they helped them out to the deep end of the pool first. Perhaps it is time to take off the water-wings? Nothing like a little tough love even for good friends!
I don’t thing his appearance on the Letterman show was either detrimental to his position or the opinions people hold of him nor was such a cameo public appearance relevant to this important question of Middle Eastern and possibly world peace.
Obama is one of two AIPAC candidates that ran for office.
The greater problem is that our senators and congressmen
continue to fund these genocidal scofflaws with our taxes.
Yeah, I'm imagining a cartoon with Obama hopelessly chasing the word change while dragging a huge ball and chain sporting star of david...
Ragdoll
Why do we pursue relentlessly this ill founded "negotiation" for peace? Israel continues to steal and hold land and water that do not belong to it in an ever expanding theft! Since when do we negotiate with gangsters about how much booty they would like to return?
The United Nations must dictate the terms of the so-called "settlement" to Israel: return to the borders of 1967--already a huge concession by the Palestinians--and recognition of East Jerusalem as the capitol of the independent and sovereign state of Palestine. If Israel fails to conform, a rigorous international boycott should be declared by the UN General Assembly!
Right, this is the job of the UN. They should be the decider in the conflict.
Not much may have been expected from these talks, but what they have demonstrated is a great victory for Hamas because as they have transparently show to all:
1, Israel regime’s intransigence on any equitable peace settlement, and their determination to continue stealing and illegally occupying land, using talks for talks sake to turn their wheels while they continue, a barbaric siege, murder, terror, torture imprisonment, torment, humiliation and disrespect of the Palestinian people.
2, America’s complete failure as a “fair intermediary”, and by default their complicity in Israel’s pretence through America's lack of any moral and testicular fortitude to stick by its own resolutions, which in any case are demands not of Palestinians but under the minimum understanding of international law and the principals of previous agreements Madrid, Oslo, the Road Map…..etc.. These continued setlement constructions are in breach of UN resolution.
3, Abbas and his illegitimate and unrepresentative Fattah government have proven themselves to be the pawns, lap dogs of Israel and America, ready to heel, or roll over at the beck and call of that big dumb dog America which is being itself wagged by its own tail, Isreal.
The only thing Isreal will understand and comply with is an immovable force greater than itself. What is needed is a UN resolution for a generat embargo on all armaments and then a stiff economic embargo on trade and aid except humanitarian (Just like Gaza), until all its nuclear installations are under IAEA permanent inspection and surveillance, and its WMD are fully catalogued, accounted for and neutralized, it’s war criminals prosecuted, its borders established under the application of international law.
As Hamas have repeatedly pointed out America is dominated by Zionist interests and cannot therefore provide reasonable mediation especially in dealing with the present ZioNazi government of Israel. Dealing with Netanyahu is equivalent to pandering to war criminals and terrorists with WMD.
That situation is hopeless unless we stop meddling in their affairs.
When the climate changes this and all other problems will be about as important as Fox News.
We all seem to be saying the same thing and I just listened to Obama's UNGA speech and isn't he saying the same thing too.
The forum is the UN.
The goal is a fair solution.
The hook is nuclear non-proliferation and the need to implement resolutions. These cuts many ways.
See my other piece here, and let's see if the US follow up on these words of an American president and how it uses it's veto in the security council?
There was no reason for Obama to be duplicitous to this body. He must have some confidence that he can follow through. Therefore I suggest this is the first time in a long time that the US leads the world with some HOPE!
The "we" I was referring to, was the contributors so far (at that time). Of course there are more radical opinions like yours but I personally do not think de-countrifying, which I have not heard of as a legal process, would either satisfy the needs of the Israeli citizens, their human rights, or contribute to a fair and just peace in the Middle East. A one state or a two state solution I can understand, but regressing to say, a UN administrated protectorate would hardly be a formula for peace even if you could add thousands of blue berets of peace enforcers. Israel is a sovereign state under the UN and I don't see it voluntarily giving up its statehood.
I personally do not see that as a practical step forward towards a lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people and since I think most Israelis and Palestinians would also feel that to be unworkable perhaps we should not bother to consider it. Whatever the solution arrived at must be generally acceptable to the majority of those on the ground and those directly effected, such as refugees and displaced persons claiming right of return.
Give the zionists someplace else. After all the Palestinians didn't reate the Holocaust. Put em in Bavaria, or Austria.
See how long they last there with their bullying.
If the UN cannot enforce its edicts, declarations and censures....whats the point? It cannot dictate anything.
The rhetoric from the President before the UN was just that...rhetoric.
If anyone here believes that our President has won the respect of world leaders or is "leading" the world, I simply don't know what to say. Naive? At best.
If anyone believes that Israel will hesitate to attack if she feels threatened you simply aren't paying attention. Gaza, Lebanon...wherever. Iran? If Israel believes that Iran has a Nuculer weapon, thats the day Iran is on its way to a glassy hole in the desert. Isreal is surrounded by enemies and she knows the reality of actions.
I'm sorry Henry but I think your problem is you cannot see the difference between "dictating" and "leading". That was bush's problem too.
Leading requires consensus, and what I read between the lines of what Obama said at the UN was that the US would, start to work with consensus and he was signalling the end of the dictates that have always given Isreal innumerable "get out of jail free" cards.
I think the idea of seeing everything in terms of the military option and imposing the will of other nations is the kind of naivety and stupidity that got the last US administration into the mess that the US is in. The whole point is the US, Israel, Iran and the reset of the world are actually being forced to think two or three moves ahead and not on lies and make-believe intelligence invented today by rhetorical scare mongering.
So I feel it was only rhetorical if you couldn't see the subtleties behind it.
I understand what you are saying, but yes I certainly understand the difference. Leasding, dictating, issuing decisions are only good if you can get everyone concerned to agree. My point is it happens once in a blue moon. Its not happening now and I see no reason why it would change.
Example.
When UN peacekeepers were in Rawanda they were not allowed to fire, so they watched as people were butchered in front of them. Not an isolated instance with UN peacekeepers.
Sanctions on any number of countries at the moment.....if no one enforces them, how valuable are they?
China and India are not going to sign on to anything Obama or anyone else proposes about emissions, thats clear, so its just a lot of rhetoric without them.
I am aware that many here believe the only solution I see are military because I keep making points like this one. Not only is it not true, I'd be the last to vote to use force. But there are so many folks here that believe you can "jawbone" these folks into things. Thats what George 2 said he was going to do with the Saudi's to lower gas prices. Did not work to well.
As to the last administration....absolutely! They got us in this mess because that is exactly what they did and how they thought. And I have no doubt the wish to invade Iraq there long before 9/11.
I don't see the reset you are speaking of. I don't think for one moment that any of these folks have changed one bit because of Obama.
I know a lot of people think the US runs Israel and I believe its true up to a point that they defer to us because we have been their ally and supply them with a number of things. But in my opinion, no matter what anyone says including us, if Israel feels threatened they will attack the threat. No matter what anyone says.
Perhaps I'm saying its not as subtle as supposed?
Lucitanian
In addition, as I ws walking away I was thinking about what you said about "reset" so I came back to specifically ask what/where/how you see this reset if you get the chance? Thanks.
Henry, I don't think I used the word "reset", but what I suspect is the Obama's hands are more tied than one thinks, however what he can do is, as Netanyahu gets more intransigent he can switch the game back on him by simply removing the double standard of nuclear inspections. In his speech he mentioned the need for countries to comply fully with IAEA, and although he mentioned Iran and Korea it is important to remember the vote in the IAEA meeting earlier this week requiring Isreal to open its facilities to inspection now too.
Iran with no weapons and meeting obligations under IAEA and NPT while false intelligence documentation may be what has been provided by Israel to USA etc. to lay a false trail, while Israel not a NPT member, with illicit nuclear arms capability of about 200 war heads. Now without a US veto in the UNSC Isreal is screwed, and that does not need Obama to ask the senate or house for approval.
Russia is already supplying ground to air defences that will make any attack by Israel on Iran a very dangerous mission from which many pilots would not return even if they can get Iraqi over flight which I doubt.
Direct talks are scheduled US and Iran soon, the agenda will include general security in the ME and that means not only Iran's nuclear position will be on the table but Israel’s WMDs will be there too.
I think if you listen carefully again to Obama's speech you may hear indirect suggestions and nuances that should make Israel think twice and realise that they are screwed if they defy the international community further. But it may just be my wishful thinking, rather than a shift in US foreign policy??
"reset of the world are actually being forced to think two or three moves ahead"
This is specificaly what I was referring to...."reset of the world"
As to Israel......
"Direct talks are scheduled US and Iran soon, the agenda will include general security in the ME and that means not only Iran's nuclear position will be on the table but Israel’s WMDs will be there too."
"I think if you listen carefully again to Obama's speech you may hear indirect suggestions and nuances that should make Israel think twice and realise that they are screwed if they defy the international community"
I'mn suggesting that Israels WMD's are not on the table in talks between Iran and the US. And actually I did hear what you suggest about indirect "suggestions and nuances." Buit I don't think for one minute that Israel would follow Obama's directions unless its to their advantage.
I would also suggest that Israel doesn't give a fig for the International communities opinion. Here we come to the simple fact of power again. The International community has none. Individual countries do. While Israel doesn't want to upset the IC or America by defying (anything) they won't hesitate one minute to do it if they feel they should/must.
Its sort of like the non-violence string some days ago....lots of fine sounding talk and theories, lovely thoughts, but it withiout 100% compliance it means nothing. And it only takes one.
Thanks
A 2-State, Jerusalem shared, needs to be rammed down the throats of both parties. At this point in the annihilation of their culture the Palestinians need any Olive branch extended even if limited; smart and industrious, they would turn it into a new orchard, paradise, country. Israel* could then do whatever it deemed fit on it's land. A peaceful co-existence would evolve over time.
All land is stolen land. Who can say God gve it to me not you. Whether it was stolen last year by Wall Street or 3-4-5 hundred, a thousand years ago it is all stolen. Peace, not redress, is what must be sought.
Rainbows Over The Nile