News: US-Israel Talks on Freeze End With No Deal

No US-Israel Deal on Settlement Freeze.

Early reports and statements by the the Israeli PM indicated that US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu were making progress in talks over Israel-Palestinian negotiations, specifically in regards to a settlement freeze. The talks, which were held in London, ended without an agreement.

Netanyahu's position was to seek a compromise that would allow Israel to proceed with some settlement construction while negotiating with the Palestinians. The Obama administration is calling for a complete freeze, a precondition to talks held by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The two parties agree that diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and a regional agreement are primary aims.

The Guardian reported that in return for a freeze, the U.S. may offer a tougher stand against Iran, including the possibility of more strict multi-lateral sanctions.

The next round of talks is scheduled for early next week in Washington. Israel will be represented at those talks by the PM's special envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Defense Ministry chief of staff Mike Herzog. Both participated in today's meeting.

Before that, Netanyahu will meet with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. German government spokesman Klaus Vater said the government advocates that "no further settlements be built in the occupied areas."

A settlement freeze is largely opposed by the Israeli public. A poll released today showed two-thirds of the Israelis questioned opposed a freeze, even in return for moves by Arab countries toward normalization of ties with Israel.

Informal Meeting at the United Nations?

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Gabriela Shalev told reporters that Netanyahu, Abbas and U.S. President Obama may meet next month at the UN, but offered no further details.

HEADLINES

Palestinian PM seeks aid for embryo state (China Daily)

Hamas, Jihad reject Fayyad plan for de facto state (Ma'an News)

Hariri: Gov't will include Hezbollah, whether Israel likes it or not (Ha'aretz)

European sources: Shalit deal could be sealed by September (Ha'aretz)

Israeli forces invade Qalqiliya-area village (Ma'an News)

Former statesmen visit Israeli checkpoint (AFP)

Palestine and the Palestinians

Abbas to call election if talks with Hamas fail (Reuters)

PLO to pick new leaders at landmark meeting (AFP)

Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in Gaza (EI)

Two Old City Jerusalem families forced to demolish own homes (Ma'an News)

Dilemma of Palestinian settlement builders (BBC News)

Abu Mujahid: "Resistance cannot be blackmailed" (IMEMC)

Palestinian reconciliation at stake after breaking another deadline (Xinhua)

IDF fires at Palestinian trying to infiltrate Israel (Ynetnews)

Palestinians seek organ theft probe (Aljazeera)

Israeli Army breaks into Radio Bethlehem 2000, confiscates its equipment (IMEMC)

PLO holds poll amid criticism (Aljazeera)

Israeli soldiers wound Palestinian in West Bank (AFP)

85 Palestinian patients return to the Gaza Strip though Rafah ... (International Middle East Media Center)

MIDEAST: Critical Healthcare Fails to Recover (Inter Press Service)

Crisis at Hebron University over loans (Ma'an News)

Israel

Israel Appoints New Occupation Chief (The Media Line)

Israeli Sues Swedish Tabloid for $7.5 Million (Arutz Sheva)

The Neighbors

Nahr al-Bared becomes test case for security at camps (Daily Star)

Amal: Some states ignoring Israeli breaches (Daily Star)

Army detain suspected Israeli trespasser (Daily Star)

International Relations/Law

Abbas to meet Sarkozy in Paris next week (AFP)

Sarkozy criticizes Iran's leaders, al-Qaida (The Associated Press)

Int'l efforts advance Hamas-Israel prisoner talks: sources (Xinhua)

Arts and Activism

Cartoons promoting peace (Ynetnews)

Season rides to TV's rescue (The National)

Palestine film festival returns to Toronto next month (EI)

Misc.

Elders of peace: Israel must freeze West Bank settlements (Ha'aretz)

Old wounds: Strong feelings linger 80 years after Hebron killings (BBC)

Israeli and Palestinian Leaders to Discuss Water Management, in Arizona (University of Arizona News)

Commentary

Benn: Netanyahu, do Israel a service by firing Lieberman (Ha'aretz)

Apartheid, apartheid, everywhere--and not a sanction in sight (US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation)

McIntyre: Bilin's next generation (EI)

Rosenberg: Zionist Crybabues (TPM Cafe)

Nicholas Blanford: The Seven Villages, another Lebanese-Israeli complication (Daily Star)

Eyal Zisser: Ghajar and the Shebaa Farms: the view from the other side (Daily Star)

Abu Nimah: The impossible reconciliation (Al-Arabiya)

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.

Share |