Monday morning and it is off to a rocky start in the Israeli/Palestinian Peace talks. Apparently the press conference for the talks as well as remarks from S.O.S. Hillary Clinton were cancelled today due to what was termed "differences of opinion" over recent Israeli insistence that they could not halt settlement construction completely. This announcement regarding an only "limited freeze" is threatening to derail the talks. Particularly as the the Palestinian Authority (the PA) has stated that this "freeze" is a non-negotiable position for Direct talks.
YNET is reporting that the Sharm talks get off to bad start
Prime Minister's Office says media events at Netanyahu-Abbas summit canceled, including US Secretary of State Clinton's press conference. Statement on restarting direct negotiations expected to be postponed
Will the disagreements and differences between the Israelis and Palestinians disrupt the Sharm el-Sheikh summit and lead to a crisis in the negotiations, before their actual start? The Prime Minister's Office announced Monday that the media events scheduled to take place during the summit have been cancelled.
According to the announcement, the media will only be given a photo opportunity as the leaders shake hands at the start of the discussions. A press conference sponsored by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which was slated to take place at the Hayatt Hotel has also been canceled.
Given that Israel just announced Israel official: Netanyahu to offer Palestinians partial settlement freeze
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to adopt a policy identical to that of his predecessor for construction in West Bank settlements - a partial freeze - as the September 30 end of the moratorium approaches.
Under Ehud Olmert, more than 90 percent of construction was carried out in the major settlement blocs - Ma'aleh Adumim, Gush Etzion and Ariel.
Netanyahu will be going to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt tomorrow for the second round of direct negotiations with the Palestinians, where he will be joined by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The Palestinians have said they will quit the talks if the settlement freeze does not continue, and a senior Palestinian source says this remains their firm position.
Certainly a position like this hurts the Israeli governments credibility that it is seeking peace or will be abandoning settlements in order to make peace. Now P.M. Benyamin Netanyahu is stating that he is merely building along the lines of agreements that Former P.M. Ehud Olmert had established. Construction in existing larger blocs would continue but no new or isolated settlements would be developed.
This announcement thus of course should be seen as a major stumbling block in the process. The P.A. is working on the assumption that the borders will be 1967 with a few adjustments. Israel seems to be going off a completely different set of assumptions.
Shalom Achshav (Peace Now Israel) is reporting:
The Peace Now report released Sunday indicated that work could proceed on 2,066 housing units, spread out over 42 different settlements since those building projects had already received the required permits and have preliminary foundations.
The report's figures corresponded with previously released data on the subject, which alleged that between 2,000 and 2,500 homes were okayed for continued construction as soon as the settlement freeze expires in September 26.
Certainly a problematic situation. One that is complicated by two factors. The first is that the Right is saying should the Prime Minister extend the "freeze", they will bring down the coalition. So the P.M. does have that to worry about (not that I feel bad for him, he did this too himself).
Also, in the all time category for "How to destroy Peace Talks" I believe Hamas ranks up there with the Israeli Right with this wonderful display of cinematic expertise </snark> Hamas presents: 'Liberation of TA'
VIDEO - A new Hamas video clip has the Arab internet all a frenzy: It depicts the "battle to free Palestine" and includes fire on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and changes to Channel 2's news anchors.
The video, which is particularly popular in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, was created by two Hamas operatives from Gaza and the West Bank.
It shows a graphic simulation of the burning down of the High Court of Justice and the Bank of Israel buildings in Jerusalem, and cars with Palestinian flags driving across Ayalon Highway.
The beginning of the video shows a Palestinian refugee saying "Inshallah, the Jihad will take back the homeland."
The next image is of Palestinian students telling their teacher they want to become part of the resistance; followed by an image of an armed Palestinian outlining the liberation operation.
After Israel is successfully attacked and "liberated," Palestinians are shown walking along the Tel Aviv promenade and on its streets
Now I know the Israelis are sure to take kindly to this portrayal by Hamas of the military defeat of Israel, and given the message it sends regarding Hamas' intentions towards Israel coupled with recent statements that it would "liberate the Holy land from the Med. Sea to the Jordan River" this gives Israelis cause to wonder (Hamas' goal btw). It should be noted that Hamas has offered a 10 year truce with Israel should Israel withdraw from all the lands won in the 1967 war AND full adherence with the Palestinian Right of Return to "Green Line Israel", However, Israel rejects those claims due to the fact they perceive a demographic shift of that size would end Israel as a "Jewish State".
All in all - as Bill and Ted would say: "Most NON-Triumphant".