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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Palestinian officials call on US to play effective role for peace |
| 2010-12-13 |
| (KUNA) -- Paleostinian officials called on the United States to play an effective role in the Middle East grinding of the peace processor noting Israel should be solely blamed for the stalemate in the peace efforts. The US is currently facing "an explicit test" in the eyes of the peoples of the Middle East and the world, and should prove that it can play an effective role for reaching a peaceful settlement, otherwise it may appear as a party that has given in to the parties of extremism in Israel," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, member of the Executive Committee of the Paleostine Liberation Organization (PLO), in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), on Sunday. The grinding of the peace processor needs to be based on "clear basis" or it may appear as mere diplomatic chattering with no contents, said Abed Rabbo in the telephone interview with the Kuwaiti news network. He explained that the process should be based on specific factors such as the establishment of an independent Paleostinian state, otherwise it would be "mere media rhetoric and empty diplomacy." Abed Rabbo made the statement after Washington declared that it was halting its efforts to pressure Israel shelve its settlement schemes. However, The infamous However... it vowed to pursue the grinding of the peace processor on other foundations. Asked on proposals that may be conveyed by the US envoy, George Mitchell, Abed Rabbo stated that the Americans "are quite aware of the Paleostinian stance which is based on the necessity of halting the settlements' construction, which is a vital and basic issue. "Negotiations with Israel cannot be held in the shadow of continuing the settlement activities." The Paleostinian official alluded to recent remarks, uttered by the ultra-Orthodox Israeli leader, Avigdor Lieberman, who expressed satisfaction at the US declaration to stop the bids to coerce Tel Aviv suspend the settlement activities. Abed Rabbo added that the Paleostinian side would discuss with Mitchell a framework for reaching a settlement, "so that the negotiations would not be a waste of time." Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Dr. Nabil Shaath, the member of the Central Committee of the mainstream Paleostinian organization, Fatah, in remarks published by the Paleostinian daily newspaper, "Al-Ayyam," criticized the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill... for equally blaming the Paleostinians and the Israelis for the deadlock in the peace efforts, stressing that it was Tel Aviv that undermined the US bids to reach a solution. Shaath indicated that Clinton expressed insistence on resolving "final solution issues," such as determining the status of Jerusalem, the demarcation of the border, the settlements, the refugees, the water and Israel's security. "However the US secretary of state treats us an equal party and refrains from holding the Israeli side responsible for the failure of the American efforts as a result of continuing the construction of the settlements." He added that the Paleostinian side should not resume the peace talks unless Israel suspended all forms of settlement construction and activities, noting that the Paleostinian leadership would examine proposals that might be carried by Mitchell, expected in the Middle East on Monday. Late on Friday, Clinton confirmed that the US would renew the efforts to start direct negotiations between Israelis and Paleostinians on the core issues of the final status agreement. "The conflict between Israel and the Paleostinians and between Israel and Arab neighbors is a source of tension and an obstacle to prosperity and opportunity for all the people of the region. It denies the legitimate aspirations of the Paleostinian people and it poses a threat to Israel's future security. It is at odds also with the interests of the United States" said Clinton in remarks at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy Seventh Annual Forum. She asked Israeli and Paleostinian leaders to "help build confidence, work to minimize distractions, and focus on the core questions, even in a period when they are not talking directly" and urged them to "stop trying to assign blame for the next failure, and focus instead on what they need to do to make these efforts succeed." Clinton affirmed that the United States is "serious about peace" and "will be persistent and press forward" on the ground " to continue laying the foundations for a future Paleostinian state. And we will redouble our regional diplomacy. When one way is blocked, we will seek another. We will not lose hope and neither should the people of the region." She affirmed that it was time to tackle the core issues of the conflict on borders and security; settlements, water and refugees; and on Jerusalem itself saying that the differences between both sides "are real and they are persistent. But the way to get there is by engaging, in good faith, with the full complexities of the core issues and by working to narrow the gaps between the two sides." |
| Posted by:Fred |