Israeli Foreign Minister rejects Annapolis Agreement

[Dari]

So the new Israeli Government doesn't want to abide by an agreement signed by a previous Israeli Government. This is exactly the reason why Hamas is being isolated---because they refuse to respect previous agreements. We shall see if this double-standard is allowed.

link

Israel FM rejects Annapolis deal

Israel's new ultra-nationalist foreign minister has said it is not bound by a US-sponsored 2007 agreement to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

"The Annapolis conference, it has no validity," Avigdor Lieberman said.

He was speaking at a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry, prompting his predecessor Tzipi Livni to interrupt and diplomats to shift uncomfortably.

At Annapolis, each side agreed to further discussions aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state.

Palestinian officials described Mr Lieberman as an "obstacle to peace" whose policies would rebound negatively on Israel.

"Nothing obliges us to deal with a racist person hostile to peace such as Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Lieberman," Yasser Abed Rabbo said in comments to AFP news agency.

Correspondents say officials at the foreign ministry seemed taken aback at such a sudden and public repudiation of one of the main planks of Israeli diplomatic activity.

"There is one document that obligates us - and that's not the Annapolis conference, it has no validity," Mr Lieberman said.

The document he was referring to was the international peace plan known as the Road Map, signed in 2003, while "the Israeli government never ratified Annapolis, nor did parliament".

Conflagration

The Annapolis accords were seen as a last-ditch attempt by the previous US administration to realise what President George W Bush called his "vision" of peace involving a two-state solution.

? I voted against the Road Map in the government, but that is the only document that was ratified by the government and the Security Council, and it binds this government as well ?
Avigdor Lieberman
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to launch "vigorous, ongoing and continuous" negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace deal, and make every effort to conclude it before the end of 2008.

Although the incoming Netanyahu government has avoided committing itself to the establishment of a Palestinian state, the Road Map endorsed by Mr Lieberman was also meant to achieve that aim.

Middle East envoy Tony Blair earlier warned Israel that the Palestinians must have their own state to avoid a major conflagration in the region.

"The alternative to a two-state solution is a one-state solution. If there is a one-state solution there is going to be a big fight," the former UK prime minister said on a visit to Brussels.

After Mr Lieberman's comments were published, a senior US official in London for the G20 summit said the Obama administration remained committed to a two-state solution.

Ratified

Mr Lieberman, known for his outspoken criticism of Arab citizens of Israel and some Arab leaders, was a controversial choice for foreign minister in the government of right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu which was sworn in on Tuesday.

In his speech, he admitted voting against Israel's ratification of the Road Map "but that is the only document that obligates us, it is the only document that was ratified by the government and the Security Council, and it binds this government as well".

Asked about the new foreign minister's comments, political sources close to Mr Netanyahu were quoted saying they largely reflected the new leader's position.

The Road Map made progress towards a Palestinian state contingent on the Palestinian Authority's progress on suppressing activity by militant groups - the strongest of which, Hamas, actually ousted the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority from Gaza in 2007.

It also obliges Israel to freeze settlement activity on territory it occupied in the 1967 war.

Mr Netanyahu's cabinet is the largest in Israel's political history combining centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties.

Ms Livni's Kadima party, which backs a two-state solution, won the most seats in February elections, but was considered less likely to be able to form a coalition than a Likud-led right-leaning coalition.

Talks aimed at bringing Kadima into a unity government failed, with Ms Livni saying the parties' platforms were too different.

 

[EagleKeeper]

"There is one document that obligates us - and that's not the Annapolis conference, it has no validity," Mr Lieberman said.

The document he was referring to was the international peace plan known as the Road Map, signed in 2003, while "the Israeli government never ratified Annapolis, nor did parliament".

If the previous Israeli government never ratified the Annapolis agreement, then where is the issue?

The US has become slammed for not signing the KOYOTO agreement also.

People gave Arafat a pass because he chose to not sign the Oslo agreements and others.

Countries sign agreements based on what they feel is best for themselves.

Once the agreement is signed, then they are obligated to honor it. If a signed/approved agreement is broken, then the country can be ostracized.

In his speech, he admitted voting against Israel's ratification of the Road Map "but that is the only document that obligates us, it is the only document that was ratified by the government and the Security Council, and it binds this government as well".

The Road Map made progress towards a Palestinian state contingent on the Palestinian Authority's progress on suppressing activity by militant groups - the strongest of which, Hamas, actually ousted the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority from Gaza in 2007.

It also obliges Israel to freeze settlement activity on territory it occupied in the 1967 war.

Both sides have failed; is the failure of one justified by the other to ignore?
If not, then why shoiuld one side get a free pass to honor obligations while the other can ignore and thumb their nose at such an agreement.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

"There is one document that obligates us - and that's not the Annapolis conference, it has no validity," Mr Lieberman said.

The document he was referring to was the international peace plan known as the Road Map, signed in 2003, while "the Israeli government never ratified Annapolis, nor did parliament".

If the previous Israeli government never ratified the Annapolis agreement, then where is the issue?

The US has become slammed for not signing the KOYOTO agreement also.

People gave Arafat a pass because he chose to not sign the Oslo agreements and others.

Countries sign agreements based on what they feel is best for themselves.

Once the agreement is signed, then they are obligated to honor it. If a signed/approved agreement is broken, then the country can be ostracized.

In his speech, he admitted voting against Israel's ratification of the Road Map "but that is the only document that obligates us, it is the only document that was ratified by the government and the Security Council, and it binds this government as well".

The Road Map made progress towards a Palestinian state contingent on the Palestinian Authority's progress on suppressing activity by militant groups - the strongest of which, Hamas, actually ousted the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority from Gaza in 2007.

It also obliges Israel to freeze settlement activity on territory it occupied in the 1967 war.

Both sides have failed; is the failure of one justified by the other to ignore?
If not, then why shoiuld one side get a free pass to honor obligations while the other can ignore and thumb their nose at such an agreement.

You were doing well until you started pointing fingers at the other side, something most Israeli-backers have a habit of doing. It must be instinctive. Either way, considering this was his first day in office, I have a feeling this new FM will have an interesting tenure.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Dari
So the new Israeli Government doesn't want to abide by an agreement signed by a previous Israeli Government. This is exactly the reason why Hamas is being isolated---because they refuse to respect previous agreements. We shall see if this double-standard is allowed.
-snip-

If it truly wasn't ratified I don't see any issue here, nor any "double standard" etc.

Fern

 

[Lemon law]

The agreement was that Israel agreed in Principle to a Palestinian state, and now Lieberman is trying to crawfish out.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Lieberman is precisely what the Palestinians cried for when they refused to lay down their guns. Sad, but true.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: SamurAchzar
Lieberman is precisely what the Palestinians cried for when they refused to lay down their guns. Sad, but true.

I agree with you there.

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: SamurAchzar
Lieberman is precisely what the Palestinians cried for when they refused to lay down their guns. Sad, but true.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrong again Sammy, Lieberman is merely Israeli business as usual, and one day the rest of the world will realize Israel is doing nothing but practicing the politics of pigs if idiots like Lieberman have their way.

There is always that win win win sensible middle ground for a just and lasting middle east peace. And the Lieberman position is the enemy of that peace.

 

[Turin39789]

sosad

 

[SamurAchzar]

Originally posted by: Lemon law

Originally posted by: SamurAchzar
Lieberman is precisely what the Palestinians cried for when they refused to lay down their guns. Sad, but true.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrong again Sammy, Lieberman is merely Israeli business as usual, and one day the rest of the world will realize Israel is doing nothing but practicing the politics of pigs if idiots like Lieberman have their way.

There is always that win win win sensible middle ground for a just and lasting middle east peace. And the Lieberman position is the enemy of that peace.

I'll bet you that with the new government in place, not only will Israeli live more peaceful lives, the Palestinians will as well. The politics of this region revolve around power, if you're strong you are respected.

You just can't expect people like Livni to stop a gang like the Hamas, won't work.

 

[Dari]

link

Israeli FM questioned over fraud

Israel's new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been questioned by police for at least seven hours over corruption allegations.

Police said Mr Lieberman was questioned under caution on suspicion of "bribery, money-laundering and breach of trust" as part of an ongoing investigation.

Mr Lieberman was sworn in as foreign minister on Tuesday.

He has previously denied any wrong-doing and says the corruption probe against him is politically motivated.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Mr Lieberman had been questioned over the long-standing investigation into his business dealings, the Associated Press reported.

Mr Lieberman, an ultra-nationalist, is one of Israel's most outspoken politicians.

He was a controversial choice for a leading ministerial post in the government of right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, which was sworn in on Tuesday.

As he assumed office, Mr Lieberman raised concerns among some people by saying Israel was not bound by a US-sponsored 2007 agreement to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Palestinian officials described him as an "obstacle to peace" whose policies would rebound negatively on Israel.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
The agreement was that Israel agreed in Principle to a Palestinian state, and now Lieberman is trying to crawfish out.

no that wasn`t the agreement. Just because you use the words "in Principle" meat horse shit...nada nothing. It was not ratified thus it means caca!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

So where in the article does it say the Israeli Foreign Minister is being questioned for fraud???

If it`s not in the article I would change the summary....the summary is fraudulent!!


So now you add,,,,the fraud article...lolol

okay...

 

[Lemon law]

For what its worth, I again heard on NPR that Lieberman is being investigated for fraud, not a fraud related to the Palestinian peace process, but something totally unrelated of a financial influence peddling nature.

Only time will tell on how serious and credible those other charges are.

edit in, speak of the devil.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...RUEQZJ.IfxGxHBSFFvaA8F

 

[kylebisme]

The guy is a fascist. At least some people can see that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtuKO06RAqo

 

[mrSHEiK124]

"Kahane Chai" Lieberman is the farthest thing from an ally of peace, he's openly xenophobic towards all Arabs.

 

[Lemon law]

Its also possible for someone to be both a Jerkl and a Hyde. On one hand doing all kinds of Noble things, that are financed by some criminal fraud.

But I suspect in the case of our Lieberman, its a case of being a jerk and a fraud, doing nothing worthwhile while financing his activities with fraud.