Official: Israel 'ready now for a deal' at Mideast summit

Teri B. · 11-27-2007, 09:26 AM

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (CNN) -- Israel is "ready now for a deal," said an Israeli official attending Tuesday's U.S.-brokered Mideast summit aimed at laying the groundwork for future peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have "very good chemistry," the official said, adding that he is hopeful a document "will be finalized before we leave Washington Wednesday night."

Olmert and Abbas met Monday night to hammer out a statement that could guide peace negotiations but could not come to an agreement.

The official said some of the 40 nations represented at the summit have offered Israel a chilly welcome, but their participation alone is encouraging.

"The Saudis won't shake our hands; the Syrians won't say nice things about us," the Israeli official said. "But they're here."

The coming months will be crucial to the peace deal's fate, the official said. That sentiment will be echoed by President Bush during remarks later in the day, according to advance excerpts of his planned speech.

Bush will say that while Tuesday's summit is an important event, it is merely a starting block for future negotiations that he hopes will ultimately yield a Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel.

"Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is the key to realizing their own -- and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state," Bush will say, explaining that a two-state solution is the path to peace for both nations.

"Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it is to launch negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians," he will say. "For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort -- and to give them the support they need to succeed."

Israeli and Palestinian officials worked late into the night Monday on the joint agreement to dictate how negotiations would move forward, diplomats from several delegations said.

But the two sides disagreed on several issues and there was no guarantee that any work plan would be agreed upon, the diplomats said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was cautious but hopeful the parties could finish an agreement, diplomats said.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh denounced the Annapolis summit in a televised address Tuesday.

"The Palestinian people will not be bound by anything the Palestinian Authority agrees to in Annapolis," he said.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Monday expressed hope and optimism that a renewed peace effort will emerge from the conference.

Hours apart, Olmert and Abbas spoke to reporters alongside President Bush, following separate talks at the White House.

Abbas said he hoped the conference would trigger expanded negotiations with Israel that would lead to a permanent peace deal, calling the event a "historic initiative."

Olmert explained to reporters that this visit was different "because we're going to have lots of participants involved."

"I hope we're going to launch a serious process of negotiations between us and the Palestinians," said Olmert. "This will be a bilateral process but the international support is very important."

Representatives of more than 40 countries, including a wide array of Arab nations such as Syria and Saudi Arabia, will attend the conference at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Monday night, Bush, Olmert and Abbas attended a dinner held by Rice.

In a toast at the dinner, Bush said Israeli and Palestinian leaders would need to make "difficult compromises" to achieve a breakthrough during the summit, but he gave his personal commitment to a renewed peace process between the two sides.

"The extremists and terrorists want our efforts to fail," Bush said. "We offer a more hopeful vision of a Middle East growing in freedom and dignity and prosperity."

The Bush administration is hoping the conference will trigger final status talks on major issues such as Jerusalem and Israeli borders.

U.S. officials are looking for a commitment by the Palestinians and Israelis to carry out previous agreements linked to the "road map" plan for Mideast peace. Watch how Iraq and Iran factor in U.S. hopes »

Bush said Monday the United States can't impose Mideast peace "but can help facilitate it."

Administration officials also said they hoped the summit would lead to the strengthening of the Palestinian government's infrastructure after the recent split between Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas.

The talks come amid domestic distractions for both Olmert's government and that of Abbas. Abbas has been involved in a political power struggle against Gaza-based leaders of Hamas, a group that Israel considers terrorist and which opposes the Jewish state.

Palestinian protesters, anxious about possible concessions by the Abbas delegation, have taken to the streets with demonstrations.

Olmert's administration has been plagued by low approval ratings in opinion polls in the wake of Israel's 2006 war against Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants.

Syria and Saudi Arabia agreed to attend the conference just days ago after a push from the Arab League, which agreed to participate following a meeting on Friday.

The Syrian decision to send its deputy foreign minister comes less than three months after Israeli warplanes attacked a site in Syria reported to be a facility linked to nuclear weapons.

Israel accuses Syria of helping Palestinian militants who oppose Israel's existence. It also says Damascus is helping Iran and its anti-Israel policy.

Like Iran, Syria is listed on the U.S. State Department's roster of State sponsors of terrorism along with Cuba, North Korea and Sudan.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Sunday the conference will draw a line between moderates and extremists in the Arab world.

"There will be those who are shouting -- Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah," she said. "They will be on the outside trying to stop this conference from happening."

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat agreed that no "magic stick" would emerge from the meeting in Annapolis, but he said it would provide the basis for talks that should begin the day after Tuesday's meeting.

"The most important thing today is [the] 28th of November, the day after Annapolis," Erakat said. "Palestinians and Israelis will stand next to each other and announce that they are launching the permanent status negotiations, deciding to put a work plan for the negotiations and to carry out their obligations emanating from the road map."

If a work plan can be agreed upon Tuesday, diplomats said Olmert and Abbas would kick off further negotiations in a bilateral meeting Wednesday.

Erakat told CNN that his team is open to discussing land swaps, meaning that if Israel takes parts of the West Bank, then the Palestinian Authority could take parts of Israel for a future state.

Asked how the conference could be held without Hamas leaders, State Department spokesman Michael Pelletier said Hamas "refuses to meet the international sort of principles on which peace will be based -- recognizing Israel, denouncing and renouncing violence, respecting former agreements."

On Tuesday, Haniya suggested the use of violence was a legitimate tool for the Palestinian people.

"We reaffirm resistance as a natural right under international law," calling on Palestinian and Arab people to unite and confront the "pro-Israel policies led by the United States."

At the summit, Tuesday will be the main event, a full -- and likely long -- day of meetings. On Wednesday, the president again will meet the Israelis and Palestinians at the White House.

Rice described the final U.S. push for the conference, persuading the Israelis and Palestinians to move past a demand for a new document before the conference and leap ahead to these new negotiations.

"It's hard in something this complex to just have principles," Rice explained. "The devil is in the detail. You might as well get to the detail, and that is what they are going to do."

The main thrust of the Annapolis talks will be establishment of an independent Palestinian state -- the two-state solution. But other huge issues related to regional peace are expected to surface, especially since long-time Israeli foes, Syria and Saudi Arabia and others, will attend.

Rice also stressed the importance of Palestinian leadership, especially that of Abbas.

"No one questions that he is someone who believes in a nonviolent negotiated solution. And I frankly don't think that was ever true of Yasser Arafat," Rice said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/...mit/index.html

VKMHVM2 · 11-27-2007, 09:47 AM

The cellphone/suicide bombs are being readied as we speak. I hope I'm wrong.

Teri B. · 11-27-2007, 10:07 AM

God I hope you're wrong too, but probably not. There are too many factions who do not want peace.

chambers92 · 11-27-2007, 10:25 AM

I don't have much hope for this summit but time will tell. I also don't know how it's going to play out long term because Hamas and Iran weren't included.

.

Heretic · 11-27-2007, 10:06 PM

My bet's that the whole thing goes down in flames, because the Palestinians will actually want statehood without Israel dictating what they can do inside their own country.

TrueBlueAmerican · 11-27-2007, 11:09 PM

Palestinians are never going to have a real nation state until they have a credible military that can stand up to the IDF. Until then, they will be at the mercy of the Israeli's.

Heretic · 11-27-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueBlueAmerican

Palestinians are never going to have a real nation state until they have a credible military that can stand up to the IDF. Until then, they will be at the mercy of the Israeli's.

Actaully even if they did get a military capable of taking on the IDF they'd still not get their state, because the U.S. would instantly jump in. In fact I can't imagine anything that'd sink their still-born statehood faster than actually getting the force to kick the IDF out.

That's why Palestinians really need to have an international conference with American Indians, Canadian Indians and Mexican Indians. As it stands there's only going to be Palestinian reservations [on whatever little land that can't be used for anything else] with a Bureau of Palestinian Affairs in the Israeli government.

That's why I recommend to Palestinians, as much as it'd hurt, to simply leave Palestine.

VKMHVM2 · 11-27-2007, 11:50 PM

11-27-2007, 09:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Teri B. Know It All Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,489 My Mood: Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 49 Thanked 72 Times in 45 Posts	Official: Israel 'ready now for a deal' at Mideast summit ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (CNN) -- Israel is "ready now for a deal," said an Israeli official attending Tuesday's U.S.-brokered Mideast summit aimed at laying the groundwork for future peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have "very good chemistry," the official said, adding that he is hopeful a document "will be finalized before we leave Washington Wednesday night." Olmert and Abbas met Monday night to hammer out a statement that could guide peace negotiations but could not come to an agreement. The official said some of the 40 nations represented at the summit have offered Israel a chilly welcome, but their participation alone is encouraging. "The Saudis won't shake our hands; the Syrians won't say nice things about us," the Israeli official said. "But they're here." The coming months will be crucial to the peace deal's fate, the official said. That sentiment will be echoed by President Bush during remarks later in the day, according to advance excerpts of his planned speech. Bush will say that while Tuesday's summit is an important event, it is merely a starting block for future negotiations that he hopes will ultimately yield a Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel. "Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is the key to realizing their own -- and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state," Bush will say, explaining that a two-state solution is the path to peace for both nations. "Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it is to launch negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians," he will say. "For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort -- and to give them the support they need to succeed." Israeli and Palestinian officials worked late into the night Monday on the joint agreement to dictate how negotiations would move forward, diplomats from several delegations said. But the two sides disagreed on several issues and there was no guarantee that any work plan would be agreed upon, the diplomats said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was cautious but hopeful the parties could finish an agreement, diplomats said. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh denounced the Annapolis summit in a televised address Tuesday. "The Palestinian people will not be bound by anything the Palestinian Authority agrees to in Annapolis," he said. Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Monday expressed hope and optimism that a renewed peace effort will emerge from the conference. Hours apart, Olmert and Abbas spoke to reporters alongside President Bush, following separate talks at the White House. Abbas said he hoped the conference would trigger expanded negotiations with Israel that would lead to a permanent peace deal, calling the event a "historic initiative." Olmert explained to reporters that this visit was different "because we're going to have lots of participants involved." "I hope we're going to launch a serious process of negotiations between us and the Palestinians," said Olmert. "This will be a bilateral process but the international support is very important." Representatives of more than 40 countries, including a wide array of Arab nations such as Syria and Saudi Arabia, will attend the conference at the U.S. Naval Academy. Monday night, Bush, Olmert and Abbas attended a dinner held by Rice. In a toast at the dinner, Bush said Israeli and Palestinian leaders would need to make "difficult compromises" to achieve a breakthrough during the summit, but he gave his personal commitment to a renewed peace process between the two sides. "The extremists and terrorists want our efforts to fail," Bush said. "We offer a more hopeful vision of a Middle East growing in freedom and dignity and prosperity." The Bush administration is hoping the conference will trigger final status talks on major issues such as Jerusalem and Israeli borders. U.S. officials are looking for a commitment by the Palestinians and Israelis to carry out previous agreements linked to the "road map" plan for Mideast peace. Watch how Iraq and Iran factor in U.S. hopes » Bush said Monday the United States can't impose Mideast peace "but can help facilitate it." Administration officials also said they hoped the summit would lead to the strengthening of the Palestinian government's infrastructure after the recent split between Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas. The talks come amid domestic distractions for both Olmert's government and that of Abbas. Abbas has been involved in a political power struggle against Gaza-based leaders of Hamas, a group that Israel considers terrorist and which opposes the Jewish state. Palestinian protesters, anxious about possible concessions by the Abbas delegation, have taken to the streets with demonstrations. Olmert's administration has been plagued by low approval ratings in opinion polls in the wake of Israel's 2006 war against Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Syria and Saudi Arabia agreed to attend the conference just days ago after a push from the Arab League, which agreed to participate following a meeting on Friday. The Syrian decision to send its deputy foreign minister comes less than three months after Israeli warplanes attacked a site in Syria reported to be a facility linked to nuclear weapons. Israel accuses Syria of helping Palestinian militants who oppose Israel's existence. It also says Damascus is helping Iran and its anti-Israel policy. Like Iran, Syria is listed on the U.S. State Department's roster of State sponsors of terrorism along with Cuba, North Korea and Sudan. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Sunday the conference will draw a line between moderates and extremists in the Arab world. "There will be those who are shouting -- Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah," she said. "They will be on the outside trying to stop this conference from happening." Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat agreed that no "magic stick" would emerge from the meeting in Annapolis, but he said it would provide the basis for talks that should begin the day after Tuesday's meeting. "The most important thing today is [the] 28th of November, the day after Annapolis," Erakat said. "Palestinians and Israelis will stand next to each other and announce that they are launching the permanent status negotiations, deciding to put a work plan for the negotiations and to carry out their obligations emanating from the road map." If a work plan can be agreed upon Tuesday, diplomats said Olmert and Abbas would kick off further negotiations in a bilateral meeting Wednesday. Erakat told CNN that his team is open to discussing land swaps, meaning that if Israel takes parts of the West Bank, then the Palestinian Authority could take parts of Israel for a future state. Asked how the conference could be held without Hamas leaders, State Department spokesman Michael Pelletier said Hamas "refuses to meet the international sort of principles on which peace will be based -- recognizing Israel, denouncing and renouncing violence, respecting former agreements." On Tuesday, Haniya suggested the use of violence was a legitimate tool for the Palestinian people. "We reaffirm resistance as a natural right under international law," calling on Palestinian and Arab people to unite and confront the "pro-Israel policies led by the United States." At the summit, Tuesday will be the main event, a full -- and likely long -- day of meetings. On Wednesday, the president again will meet the Israelis and Palestinians at the White House. Rice described the final U.S. push for the conference, persuading the Israelis and Palestinians to move past a demand for a new document before the conference and leap ahead to these new negotiations. "It's hard in something this complex to just have principles," Rice explained. "The devil is in the detail. You might as well get to the detail, and that is what they are going to do." The main thrust of the Annapolis talks will be establishment of an independent Palestinian state -- the two-state solution. But other huge issues related to regional peace are expected to surface, especially since long-time Israeli foes, Syria and Saudi Arabia and others, will attend. Rice also stressed the importance of Palestinian leadership, especially that of Abbas. "No one questions that he is someone who believes in a nonviolent negotiated solution. And I frankly don't think that was ever true of Yasser Arafat," Rice said. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/...mit/index.html
	Top

11-27-2007, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
VKMHVM2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,843 My Mood: Thanks: 92 Thanked 71 Times in 54 Posts	The cellphone/suicide bombs are being readied as we speak. I hope I'm wrong. __________________ It's All Here! Dr. Albert Pastore: An Independent Investigation of 9-11 and the War on Terrorism "Missing Links" - the 911 film THEY do NOT want you to see!
	Top

11-27-2007, 10:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Teri B. Know It All Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,489 My Mood: Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 49 Thanked 72 Times in 45 Posts	God I hope you're wrong too, but probably not. There are too many factions who do not want peace.
	Top

11-27-2007, 10:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
chambers92 Front Range Girl Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 701 Thanks: 20 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I don't have much hope for this summit but time will tell. I also don't know how it's going to play out long term because Hamas and Iran weren't included. .
	Top

11-27-2007, 10:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Heretic Master of Quill-Fu Space Invaders Champion! Pool Jam - 10 Minute Game Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Taylorsville, "Utahistan" [stuck in the 20th century]... Now can I have my foreign aid/bribe??? Posts: 9,398 My Mood: Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 68 Thanked 290 Times in 223 Posts	My bet's that the whole thing goes down in flames, because the Palestinians will actually want statehood without Israel dictating what they can do inside their own country. __________________ "Yes We Did..." -Heretic, Hopped Up On Hope http://www.politicalgroove.com/blogs...es-we-did.html http://www.politicalgroove.com/blogs...formation.html
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11-27-2007, 11:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
TrueBlueAmerican Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,229 Thanks: 30 Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts	Palestinians are never going to have a real nation state until they have a credible military that can stand up to the IDF. Until then, they will be at the mercy of the Israeli's. Last edited by TrueBlueAmerican; 11-27-2007 at 11:12 PM.
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11-27-2007, 11:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
VKMHVM2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,843 My Mood: Thanks: 92 Thanked 71 Times in 54 Posts	__________________ It's All Here! Dr. Albert Pastore: An Independent Investigation of 9-11 and the War on Terrorism "Missing Links" - the 911 film THEY do NOT want you to see!
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