Blair: Serious ideas needed for Mideast success

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JEDIYoda

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Jul 13, 2005
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This is an interesting arricle for several reasons.
The first in my mind being that no matter what Abbas and israel agree too it will mean nothing as long as Hamas and other faction feel the way they do.

The second being the status of Jerusalem.
IMO israel will never ever agree to allowing Jerusalem to be the palestinians Capital. -- I am sure there are ways to allow this to happen. Perhaps one way is to designate Jerusalem an International Holy place.

yet israel on their part need to IMO extend the moratorium on buidling.

All in all lets see how this plays out.

IMO as long as Hamas has any say even the ability to do something militarily nothing will come of these talks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100824/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

By BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press Writer Ben Hubbard, Associated Press Writer – 48 mins ago
HERZLIYA, Israel – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair called on Israelis and Palestinians Tuesday to bring serious proposals to a new round of peace talks set to start on Sept. 2.

Blair's comments come amid moves by both sides to lay out their starting positions since the new U.S.-backed talks were announced last week. Speaking at an Israeli academic conference, Blair said peace talks would only work if they address the main sticking points.

"There will be no successful negotiations unless all the final status issues are on the table," he said. "Proposals on these issues will be a litmus test of seriousness."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be negotiating with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who holds sway only in the West Bank, the territory squeezed between Israel and the Jordan River, excluding the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu demanded that any future Palestinian state be demilitarized and recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland.

He did not, however, spell out his position on the conflict's most intractable elements — borders, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem, often called "final status issues."

Netanyahu has previously said that he will not allow Jerusalem to be divided.

The Palestinians want the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state, along with the West Bank and Gaza.
The militant Hamas group's exiled leader Khaled Mashaal slammed the talks in remarks to reporters in Damascus, Syria.

"These negotiations are taking place by force of coercion and with an American summons," he said, adding that the talks are "illegitimate and do not commit our people to anything."


Even Abbas has expressed some trepidation about the new round of face-to-face discussions and in a letter to President Barack Obama said he will withdraw if Israel does not extend a 10-month construction slowdown in its West Bank settlements.

The current slowdown, which bans the building of new homes, is set to expire on Sept. 26, after talks start.

Blair has been assisting the U.S.-led effort to restart peace talks as the special representative of the "Quartet" of Mideast peacemakers — the U.S., the U.N., the European Union and Russia.

Many have met the new talks with skepticism, doubting the will of the Israeli prime minister and the ability of the Palestinian president to reach a settlement.

At the Tuesday conference, Blair dismissed this view, telling his audience that a Palestinian state need not jeopardize Israel's security.

"I think if Israel can receive real and effective guarantees about its security, then it is willing and ready to conclude the negotiation of a viable, independent Palestinian state," he said.

Also on Tuesday, an Israeli military court convicted prominent Palestinian activist Abdullah Abu Rahmeh for incitement for leading demonstrations against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank.

His lawyer Gaby Lasky said Abu Rahmeh will be sentenced next month.

Abu Rahmeh led marches from the Palestinian village of Bilin to the nearby barrier that slices off 60 percent of the village's land.

Israel says the barrier is crucial to keep out Palestinian attackers. Palestinians call it a land grab as it juts into large chunks of the West Bank which they claim as part of a future state.
 

woolfe9999

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This is an interesting arricle for several reasons.
The first in my mind being that no matter what Abbas and israel agree too it will mean nothing as long as Hamas and other faction feel the way they do.


This is the key issue here. I am slightly more optimistic than most people about the prosect of Netanyahu and Abbas coming to terms, even over the thorny question of Jerusalem. It isn't a given, but it's possible.

The real trouble, however, is Hamas combined with Fatah's lack of real power. Any deal that they conclude would obviously involve Israel withdrawing militarily from the West Bank, which in turn will throw Fatah into direct military conflict with Hamas. If Hamas takes over there, they will obviously not honor any deal with the Israelis. Honestly, I think both the Israelis and Fatah need to include Hamas in the discussions. The main issue is really between Fatah and Hamas. They need to reach a power sharing arrangement and agree to a coalition government before any deal can be concluded.

- wolf
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
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This is the key issue here. I am slightly more optimistic than most people about the prosect of Netanyahu and Abbas coming to terms, even over the thorny question of Jerusalem. It isn't a given, but it's possible.

The real trouble, however, is Hamas combined with Fatah's lack of real power. Any deal that they conclude would obviously involve Israel withdrawing militarily from the West Bank, which in turn will throw Fatah into direct military conflict with Hamas. If Hamas takes over there, they will obviously not honor any deal with the Israelis. Honestly, I think both the Israelis and Fatah need to include Hamas in the discussions. The main issue is really between Fatah and Hamas. They need to reach a power sharing arrangement and agree to a coalition government before any deal can be concluded.

- wolf

I agree that every effort needs to be made to include Hamas and any other factions who claim to have an interest in the peace process.

But sadly my feeling is that as long as Hamas refuses to scknowledge Israel`s right to even exist we will see little to no progress towards peace.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
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Oct 30, 2000
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Peace may be made with the West Bank, but Hamas statements seem to indicate that they reserve the right to ignore anything that is accomplished and/or attempt to destroy it.

Which is an issue that I have put forth multiple times to the Palestinian supporters - Which side/faction will work for a peaceful solution and what to do if the other faction does not want it to.

That is a question that they refuse to answer; mainly because they feel that the Palestinians desire peace and peace will create unity. The Hamas statements are again shattering the rose colored glasses.
 

Soundmanred

Lifer
Oct 26, 2006
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Savages will remain savages and will continue to kill each other until they are all dead in a ditch.
I call this "The Blair Ditch Project".
 
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