New Rounds of Palestinian Unity Talks ScheduledThe July 7 target date for an electoral reform law and declaration on Palestinian agreement has been postponed to July 28. Azzam al-Ahmad, Chief of Fateh delegation to Cairo dialogue, explained "The Egyptians decided to hold a new round of talks between July 25 and July 28 to give Fateh and Hamas a better chance to end the pending issues."
Mahmud Zahar, a leader of Hamas, described talks with Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman as a "turning point," and said he believes that “things are moving toward an easing of tensions in the dialogue following a breakthrough in the discussions... especially on the issue of political detainees." (AFP) Other reports have described Hamas as less optimistic. Haneya was quoted as stating on Juy 4 that “Hamas is seeking unity, but […] every time we make progress in one point, we get back to the zero point”.
The issue of political detainees has been a central point of contention in the negotiations. Hamas had previously warned a deal would not be possible unless Fateh stopped arresting its members in the West Bank and released a significant number of the 920 Hamas supporters held by Fateh. "We told Fateh we were ready to end the issue of political detainees in 24 hours. We hope they would have the same spirit," a Hamas official, Ezzat el-Rishiq, told Reuters. Fateh has said Hamas is holding nearly 300 of its men in jails in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian factions' failure to settle mutual problematic concerns will put the general elections into question, Xinhua reported a Fateh official said on Sunday. Rival Fateh and Hamas groups have agreed in principle to go for presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 25 next year, but still disagree on the substantial issues related to security, elections' system and the alternative joint factional committee. However, "The presidential and parliamentary elections would be doubted" if Hamas and Fateh fail again to reach an agreement during this month, said Zakaraeya al-Agha, a member of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's party delegation to the talks.
Biden Says Israel can "Determine for Itself" on Iran
In an interview on ABC's "This week" on Sunday, Vice President Biden said Israel can determine for itself how best to deal with the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. He indicated that the United States would not stand in the way of Israeli military action aimed at the Iranian nuclear program. Biden said,
Israel can determine for itself — it’s a sovereign nation — what’s in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else.Biden's remarks suggested a tougher U.S. stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions, but administration officials denied that. Instead, White House officials said, his televised remarks Sunday simply reflected the U.S. view that Israel had a right to defend itself and make its own decisions on national security. The Obama administration has said, and Mr. Biden reaffirmed, that it remains open to negotiations with Tehran, even after the contested election that returned Mr. Ahmadinejad to the presidency.
The Israeli government has said that it hopes to see the Iranian nuclear program halted through diplomacy, but it has not ruled out a military strike. Alaeddin Broujerdi, the head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, said Tehran was ready to take "real and decisive" action if Israel attacked its nuclear facilities. “Both the US and Israel are aware of the consequence of an erroneous decision," Broujerdi told reporters at the Iranian embassy in Tokyo.
HEADLINES
Netanyahu: Israelis support two states (Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu Calls for 'Two States for Two Peoples' (Voice of America)
1,000 Kalashnikovs approved for PA (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel to deport Gaza activists (Xinhua)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Gaza's sea a "no-go zone" for fishermen (Electronic Intifada)
A Gaza first: Fatah operative arrested for 'lying on Web' (Ynet)
Palestinian presidential candidates (Sun-Setinel)
Palestinian Authority Seizes Hamas Money, Weapons in West Bank (Bloomberg)
Palestinians detain rivals to strengthen grip (AP)
Palestinian woman shot, wounded in West Bank (AFP)
Gaza girl killed in border clash (BBC)
Hamas arrests Palestinian woman for not wearing headscarf (Haaretz)
Abbas: PNA not to accept Jewish settlement on Palestinian territories (Xinhua)
Palestinian Media Forum says PA imprisoned, tortured journalist (Ma'an)
Israel
Israel's settlements in West Bank present a major hurdle (LA Times)
Unlikely Ally for Residents of West Bank (NY Times)
Israel considering options to promote peace (AP)
Lieberman: As settler, I avoid negotiating West Bank policy (Ha'aretz)
Israel seeks 'Plan B' if U.S.-Iran talks fail (Ha'artez)
The Neighbors
Peres: Syria won't get Golan on a 'silver platter' (Ha'aretz)
Egypt arrests al-Qaida cell (UPI)
Queen Noor pushes US, Russia for nuke cuts (AP)
Clashes in Jordan over Israeli imports (Gulf News)
Palestinians 'optimistic' about Hariri premiership (Daily Star)
US Foreign Policy
Obama Arrives in Moscow to Seek Arms Control Deal (NY Times)
Despite Crisis, Policy on Iran Is Engagement (Jerusalem Post)
Obama warns of difficult days in Iraq (Gulf News)
International Relations/Law
German FM hopeful of 'fresh start' in Mideast peace (AFP)
Italy expels Palestinian hijacker to Syria (AP)
Iranian clerical group says presidential vote 'invalid' (Daily Star)
Iran: Israel 'main culprit' in abduction of diplomats (Daily Star)
Arts and Activism
Guggenheim Museum buys new work by Palestinian artist (Haaretz)
Cancer trauma inspires Palestinian film (BBC)
Misc.
Palestinian football team to play in Iraq (AFP)
Palestinian FA says will host Egypt in friendly (Guardian)
Commentary
Segev: Why did Ben Gurion call Begin a 'Hitlerist type'? (Haaretz)
Horovitz: For a Palestine like Switzerland (Jerusalem Post)
Amayreh: Masters of hypocrisy (Palestine Think Tank)
Mokhiber: Black caucus muzzled (Counterpunch)
Lebanon may need storm windows to protect itself from Iran's tempest (Daily Star)
Makdisi: Bibi's two-state solution (Ma'an News)
Avnery: The state of the most moral army in the world (Ma'an News)
Baroud: Hamas' political impasse (Ma'an News)
Herzallah: Why Obama should fire General Dayton (Electronic Intifada)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
