Photo by: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post) By JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS
10/03/2010 19:34 Talkbacks (16) Peace between Israel and the Palestinians within a year is possible, said Tony Blair on Sunday in an interview with Italian network RAI TV.
The Quartet envoy to the Middle East and former British prime minister outlined the reasons for his belief, saying that he felt people want peace and that US President Obama has made the issue an absolute priority.
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Following a meeting Sunday between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan's King Abdullah II and US envoy George Mitchell, Abbas told reporters in Amman that despite serious issues blighting the peace talks, he would continue to "search for solutions."
According to news agency reports, he also reiterated that Israel's refusal to extend the settlement construction freeze was holding up negotiations, but that he would not stop discussions with the US as a result.
Of course, we are not going to sever ties with the Americans, and we will continue to have contacts with them to search for solutions, but the settlement building should stop and then we will return to the negotiating table," he said.
Earlier on Sunday during a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, US envoy George Mitchell said that the Palestinians are interested in peace talks with Israel continuing.
"Despite their differences, both the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have asked us to continue these discussions in an effort to establish the conditions under which they can continue direct negotiations," Mitchell told reporters after his meeting with Mubarak.
"They both want to continue these negotiations, they do not want to stop the talks," he added.
Directly after the meeting in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit backed the Palestinians' refusal to negotiate with Israel as long as it continues to build West Bank settlements, even as officials urged continued diplomacy Sunday to salvage the month-old talks.
"We understand the Palestinian position which calls for setting the appropriate environment and circumstances for negotiations to take place and continue," Aboul Gheit said. "The current conditions are not favorable."
Aboul Gheit said the focus now should be on continued US and international efforts to pressure Israel into agreeing to extending the settlement moratorium.
Abbas is nothing more than Arafat in a suit and should be treated the same.
15. settlement actvity obsceneAuthor: m. d'agostinoCountry: italy10/03/2010 22:57
the continued settlement activity is obscene, and so is the the thousands of palestinians held in israeli jails. if palestinians and israelis cannot agree a peace deal, then one must be imposed with borders defined once and for all, and jerusalem shared.
Author: H.AliCountry: M.E.10/03/2010 22:13
If the world had guts and did not have double standards, it wouldn't have just told Israel to stop settlements but it would have asked it the following question: Who gave you the right to establish a state based on any racial or ethnic basis depriving thousands and millions of non-Jews of their homeland and locking them out of what used to be Palestine? No it isn't a question of settlements , the whole idea needs to be revisited, the whole concept. Lord Balfour or Harry Truman are no reference when it comes to basic human principles!nor is the holocaust a valid excuse!
13. it is entirely israel's fault.Author: m. d'agostinoCountry: italy10/03/2010 22:08
mr netanyahu thought it would have been an easy ride. he thought he would have easily got mr abbas inside his sleeve. not so, though. mr abbas is quite right to stand firm in his position, insisting, quite rightly, that if mr netanyahu is as genuine as he has publically claimed to be about a settled solution, he must stand firm against anyone trying to stop him from keeping his face. if mr netanyahu is genuine about a palestinian state, he must also consider on what land this state has to be established, and if he intends to leave any for the palestinians.the settlers are already there to take the lot.
Author: steveCountry: Israel10/03/2010 22:08
If the Arab League makes Abbas' decisions, shouldn't Israel be negotiating with it directly?
11. Continue the Search East of Jordan RiverAuthor: Marc J. RauchCountry: US10/03/2010 22:07
They could search all they want in Jordan or Syria or the Sinai, where there's plenty of land...muslim land. But there should be no muslims west of the Jordan River. Israel is for Jews.
Author: SueCountry: USA10/03/2010 21:34
In "peace" talks, it is not supposed to be that "the world" exert pressure on Israel so that the Palestinians get what they want. That is not peace. That is coersion.
Author: PaulmaximusCountry: 10/03/2010 21:15
International Law is clear, the Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank are illegal. The only issue for the 'peace' talks is to agree to a timetable where the illegal seyttlers leave the occupied territory and return to Israel or the USA according to their desire.
Author: Mickey ObermanCountry: Canada10/03/2010 20:52
Once again as Abba Eban once said, "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." Abbas remains steadfast in maintaining a long standing Arab tradition.
7. Abbas on talks: 'We will continue to search for sAuthor: By JPOST.COM STAFFCountry: Canada10/03/2010 20:40
If Abbas had not broken the talks with Israel, it would have been as if one is talking to the thief asking him to return the stolen property while the thief is continuing to steal. Such talks do not make sense.
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