News: EU's Solano Meets Palestinian and Israeli Officials

Lieberman Responds to Fayyad's De Facto State Plan.

"Palestinians' unilateral initiatives do not contribute to a positive dialogue between the parties, and if the unilateral initiative presented by Salaam Fayad is promoted, Israel will respond," Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said. He was referring to a plan presented by the PA prime minister to establish a de-facto Palestinian state in the West Bank by the end of 2010.

He relayed this in a meeting today with EU Policy Chief Javier Solana and Quartet special representative Tony Blair.

Last week, Fayyad told the Times of London, "We have decided to be proactive, to expedite the end of the occupation by working very hard to build positive facts on the ground, consistent with having our state emerge as a fact that cannot be ignored." He added, "This is our agenda, and we want to pursue it doggedly."

Fayyad suggested this would "end the occupation, despite the occupation."

The de facto state would include security forces, public services and a thriving economy, Fayyad said, and would pressure to Israel to honor its own commitments. Lieberman's response suggests that Israel's response to any such moves will not be amicable; he implied Israel will answer with its own unilateralism.

Solana Suggests Settlement Freeze, UN Meeting Possible

Solana told press that Israel may agree to a West Bank settlement freeze by mid-September and is discussing the technical aspects of a deal with the United States.

He also said after meeting the Israeli premier that a summit between the US, Israeli and Palestinian leaders to relaunch the dormant peace process could take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the end of September.

"I spoke to the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu)... I got the clear sentiment that there is a possibility to get to an agreement before the beginning of the General Assembly that will allow us to resume negotiations," he told reporters.

"I hope we will arrive at some agreement sufficiently constructive (for) the meeting in New York of three parties" to occur, added Solana, who met Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Monday as part of his regional tour.

HEADLINES

Still no charges in IDF soldier's killing of Palestinian near Hebron (Ha'aretz)

Abbas: No peace talks without full settlement freeze (Ha'aretz)

Israel may soon agree on settlement freeze: Solana (AFP)

Palestine and the Palestinians

Hamas mulls denying Fatah leaders entry to Gaza (Ma'an News)

All three Gaza Strip border crossings open Monday (Ma'an News)

MIDEAST: East Jerusalem Shuts Out Thousands of Prayers (IPS)

Israeli warships bombard Gaza fishing boat (Ma'an News)

The Israeli military attacks the weekly protest in Nil'in (IMEMC)

Several injuries reported in Bil'in weekly nonviolent protest (IMEMC)

Meshal in Jordan for rare visit (Ha'aretz)

Hamas slams UN over "Holocaust classes" in Gaza (Reuters)

De facto gov. investigates Gaza City explosions (Ma'an News)

Israel; Palestinians fire shells at the Western Negev (IMEMC)

Night raids continue in Bil'in (ISM)

Group: Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalist (Ma'an News)

Erekat: Settlements key to talks (Aljazeera.net)

Gaza pilgrims continue to return via Rafah crossing (Ma'an News)

Israel navy burns Gaza fishermen boat (Middle East Online)

Israeli man stabbed to death in Jerusalem (Ma'an News)

Report: Hamas Demanding Release of Israeli Arabs (Arutz Sheva)

Israel

Chief Rabbi: Ethiopian students can't be integrated for halakhic reasons (Ha'aretz)

IDF chief's routine to be changed following discovery of Hezbollah spy (Ynet)

Israeli Arab charged in Hezbollah plot to kill IDF chief (Ha'aretz)

Paper Chase: Former Israel PM Olmert indicted (JURIST)

PM, reacting to Ya'alon, says Peace Now 'not a virus' (Jerusalem Post)

The Neighbors

EU's Solana: Syrian president wants renewed peace talks (Ma'an News)

Egypt nabs explosives slated for Gaza (United Press International)

Report: Hamas wants Jordanian prisoners freed in Shalit deal (Ha'aretz)

Jordan's Islamic opposition praises Hamas visit (Gulf News)

HM King Mohammed VI plays pioneering role in preserving Al-Quds ... (Maghreb Arabe Presse)

Nahr el Bared residents protest against suspension of constructions (iloubnan.info)

International Relations/Law

Following inflammatory article, Sweden to demand EU condemn anti-Semitism (Ha'aretz)

Will the Japanese Obama put pressure on Israel? (Ha'aretz)

Israel accuses IAEA over Iran (Al Jazeera)

S. Africa supports efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Xinhua)

WJC head urges Zuma to denounce unfair 'apartheid' slurs against Israel (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation must end — Zuma (Business Day)

Turks begin Iraq-Syria mediation: Turkey's foreign minister arrives in Baghdad in a bid to resolve a row (BBC)

Arts and Activism

Sit-in for Radio Bethlehem 2000, still off the air a week after ... (Palestine News Network)

Mass demonstration planned outside Israel's Ofer prison (Ma'an News)

Misc.

Archbishop Tutu: "Arabs paying the price of Germany's crimes" (IMEMC)

Palestinians Observe Ramadan under Tight Israeli Security (Voice of America)

SMU professors work to build special education in the Palestinian territories (Winona Daily News)

Commentary

Hishmeh: Stormy seas ahead for brave Obama (Gulf News)

Hishmeh: Time to speak openly and freely (Al-Ahram)

Peterson: Boycotts as a Legitimate Means of Resistance (Dissident Voice)

Uri Avnery: Against the Israel Boycott (Antiwar.com)

Wright: Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Is No Role Model for Hawaii's Women (Huff Post)

Khouri: Sensible US Courage and Hapless US Imbecility (Middle East Online)

Alam: Zionism: An 'abnormal' nationalism (Online Journal)

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.

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