With Netanyahu Bribe, Washington Going For Broke
Watching the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians drag on year after year without conclusion, it is easy to overlook the enormous changes that have taken place on the…
Crowley: “Peace Agreement Needs More Than A Year”
U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Philip J. Crowley, stated that Washington still believes that a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is possible, but added that such a deal requires…
Palestinians & Arab League Likely To Reject U.S. Proposal
According to Ma’an News, a proposal from the United States for a 90-day temporary freeze on construction in Israeli West Bank settlements might not be enough to entice the Palestinians…
U.S. Government Offers Israel $3 Billion Weapons Deal In Exchange For 3-month Settlement Freeze
After US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with the Israeli Prime Minister on Friday, the US set out an offer of additional military assistance to Israel in exchange for…
Erekat: “We Will Seek U.S. Recognition Of A Palestinian State”
Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, stated Friday, that should the United States fail in obliging Israel to halt its settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and in occupied…
Clinton: “Israel’s Security Needs Will Be Guaranteed Under Any Peace Deal”
U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, assured Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that all of Israel’s security needs will be taken into full consideration under any future peace deal with…
Clinton: ‘We Do Not Support Unilateral Steps’
On Wednesday, at a videoconference with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Washington, the U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton declared that the U.S. will not support any unilateral step related…
Plans of Settlement Construction Approved Amidst Stalled Peace Negotiations
On the eve of Netanyahu’s trip to Washington, Israel announced its approval to build 800 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Ariel. The United States and the…
Obama: Settlement Construction Does Not Help Peace Process
On Tuesday, during a trip to Indonesia, U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters that Israeli plans to build new settler homes in occupied east Jerusalem are not helpful for the…
Erekat: “Netanyahu Determined To Destroy Talks”
Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, accused Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of acting in a way that is meant to foil peace talks and hinder the chances of a…
Abbas: Palestinian State Could be Declared Within a Year
Speaking at the first Sir Bani Yas Forum on Peace and Global Security in Abu Dhabi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestinians will declare a sovereign state within a…
Palestinian Negotiator to Give US More Time for Resumption of Peace Talk
Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said that the Palestinian side would be willing to give the US a few more weeks to convince Israel to stop settlement expansion. The statement…
Political Survey: 56% Against the Resumption of Talks with Israel
According to a recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), 56.1% of the respondents polled are opposed to resuming direct peace talks with the Israeli government,…
US Midterm Elections and the Middle East Peace Process
The outcome of Tuesday’s midterm elections in the United States marked the Republican party’s victory in the House of Representatives with a majority of at least 62 seats gained. No…
Rivlin: “Settlement Issue used by Palestinians as an excuse to End Peace talks’
On Thursday, Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin lambasted the Palestinian leadership, accusing them of using the issue of Israeli settlements as an excuse to end peace talks currently on hold…
Likud Members Form Israeli ‘Tea Party’
On Sunday, the group will hold a rally at the Zionist Organization of America House in Tel Aviv, under the banner ‘Say No to Obama.’ Their objective is to push…
Moratinos: ‘I Regret Leaving Without Seeing Peace in Palestine’
The former Foreign Minister of Spain, Miguel Angel Moratinos, who was replaced on Wednesday by Trinidad Jimenez, told the media that, despite the efforts, he has been unable to achieve…
Clinton: ‘Two-State Solution Still Possible’
On Wednesday, at an annual gala of the American Taskforce for Palestine in Washington D.C., United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said that Israelis and Palestinians have not abandoned…
Netanyahu Agrees With Rabin’s Approach
At the 15th anniversary memorial of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed: ‘I am a partner to Rabin’s approach that we must always continue pushing for…
Netanyahu Calls Settlement Expansion Trivial
On Monday, during a Likud meeting in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that only a small percentage of settlements have added construction. “The additions are trivial and…
Israel Delayed a Summit of Regional Leaders in Paris
Palestinian Authority Spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, said that the decision to delay a regional summit in Paris was made by Israel to avoid revealing its rejection of peace negotiations.On Saturday,…
Jimmy Carter Will Visit The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Beginning On Saturday
The trip will be the second collective visit by The Elders, a group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, who are also going to travel to Egypt, Syria, Jordan…
Gheit: ‘Arab nations may ask U.N. to recognize Palestinian state if settlements continue’
The Arab League’s monitoring committee decided last week to consider alternatives to negotiations On Friday, the Egyptian foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said that Arab nations may seek recognition of…
Gaza Government Demands Abed Rabbo’s Immediate Resignation
On Thursday, the Hamas-led government in Gaza, called for the resignation of a Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) official, Yasser Abed Rabbo, who was quoted in the press as agreeing to…
U.S. Supports The PLO’s Request To See A Map Of Israel’s Borders
With regard to PLO Secretary-General Yasser Abed Rabbo’s request to see a map of Israel’s borders, U.S. State Department Spokesman Phillip Crowley said it is a “perfectly legitimate question,’ and…
Israel Willing To Review Presence In Jordan Valley, Depending On Conditions On The Ground
Israel could reconsider their future presence in the Jordan Valley, according to Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, but the recognition will depend on conditions on the ground. Regev told the…
PLO Responds To Israeli Demand Of ‘Jewish State’ Recognition: ‘Show US The Map Of Your Borders’
Yasser Abed Rabbo, an official with the Palestine Liberation Organization, told reporters on Wednesday that in response to the Israeli demand that the Palestinians recognize it as a ‘Jewish state’,…
Crowley: “U.S Committed To Recognizing Israel As A Jewish State”
Philip Crowley, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said that the United States is committed to the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and that President Obama’s administration…
Abbas Hints at Dismantling P.A. Should Peace Talks Fail
During a Friday night meeting with the Arab Follow-up Committee in the Libyan city of Sirt, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, cast doubts on the future of the Palestinian Authority if…
Arab Summit Supports Palestinian Decision To Halt Talks With Israel
The Arab Summit held its meeting in Libya on Friday and a decision was made to support the Palestinian conclusion to halt talks with Israel until it stops all settlement…
Mitchell Leaves Middle East, Talks Suspended
United States Middle East Peace Envoy, George Mitchell, left the Middle East on Friday without achieving any breakthrough in the troubled direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.Mitchell could not convince Israeli Prime…
U.S Angered As Netanyahu Rejects Guarantees
The United States was angered by the response of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, rejecting an American proposal offering Israel unprecedented security and political assistance in return for extending settlement…
Mitchell: “U.S. Efforts Will Continue To Ensure Resumption Of Talks”
U.S. Special Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, stated Thursday that Washington is conducting extensive efforts to ensure the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. His statements came following his meeting with…
Foreign Secretary Of The European Union To Meet Palestinian And Israeli Officials
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, said she would travel to the Middle East from 30 September to 2 October, to meet…
Abu el-Gheit: “I Don’t Think The Palestinians Will Resume Talks”
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmad Abu el-Gheit, stated that he does not believe that Palestinians will be back to the negotiations table due to Israel’s refusal to halt its settlement activities…
Mitchell To Meet Abbas, Arab And Israeli Leaders
The U.S. State Department stated Tuesday that U.S. Middle East Peace Envoy, George Mitchell, will be meeting Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and several Arab and Israeli leaders during his Wednesday…
Netanyahu Instructs His Envoy To Remain In the U.S.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, instructed his envoy to peace talks, Yitzhak Molcho, to remain in the United States in an attempt to find a solution to the issue of…
Obama Urges Israel To Extend Settlement Freeze
American president, Barack Obama, urged Israel to extend the freeze on settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, and stated that Palestinian-Israeli peace talks must continue. Speaking at the UN…
Abbas: ‘Settlement Resumption Doesn’t Necessarily Mean End Of Talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signaled on Wednesday, that renewed settlement construction by Israel would not end the current round of peace talks. Abbas’ comments came during a dinner with Jewish…
Palestinians Demonstrate In Nablus Calling For End Of Talks
As the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter’s residence in Jerusalem, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in Nablus and called for halting…
Netanyahu, Abbas Meet In Jerusalem
At his Jerusalem home, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, held his first official meeting with Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas; U.S. secretary of state, Hilary Clinton, and U.S. Middle East Peace…
EU To Call On Israel To Halt Its Settlement Activities
During their Thursday meeting in Brussels, leaders of the European Union intend to call on the Israeli government to extend the temporary settlement freeze order so that the newly resumed…
Mitchell Urges Israel Not To Resume Settlement Activities
American Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, stated that the freeze on Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied West Bank must continue, and added that he realizes the issue is very…
Netanyahu, Abbas To Meet In Jerusalem
Direct Palestinian-Israeli talks will be resumed Wednesday by a meeting that brings together Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu; the meeting will be held at Netanyahu’s…
US Reaffirms Call For Continuance of Settlement Freeze
Speaking following trilateral talks between the US, Israel and the PLO delegation, Tuesday morning, US Special Envoy George Mitchell has reaffirmed the US government’s desire for Israel to continue their…
Israel: “Talks To Be Held Away From The Media”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared Monday evening that the press conference that was supposed to be held with U.S secretary of state, Hilary Clinton, at the…
Abbas, Netanyahu To Meet In Egypt Tuesday
The Palestine News Agency, WAFA, reported Saturday that Egypt will be hosting a meeting between Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Egyptian resort of…
P.A. Receives $42 Million From UAE
The Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank received $42 Million as a donation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE); the money was donated in an attempt…
Sha’ath: “P.A Will Not Recognize Israel As Jewish State”
Palestinian negotiator, Dr. Nabil Sha’ath, stated that Palestinian Authority will not recognize Israel as a Jewish State as this issue would harm the Palestinian residents of Israel and the internationally…
Egypt To Host Second Round Of Talks
Spokesperson of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Husam Zaki, stated Sunday that Cairo will be hosting the second round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud…
Peace Talks Resume in Washington
Yesterday, September 2nd, marked the beginning of a new round of peace talks between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Israeli government in Washington. The talks are the first in…
Palestinian Legislators From Across Political Spectrum Opposed To ‘direct Talks’
Mustafa Barghouti, a leading parliamentarian from the Palestinian left-wing, has published an open letter questioning the wisdom of ‘direct talks’ with Israel at this time. On the right of the…
Haniyya: “Direct Talks Have No Chances Of Success”
Prime Minister of the dissolved government in the Gaza Strip, stated Monday, that the decision of the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank to resume direct talks…
Viva Viva Negotiations!
Returning from the Friday demonstration in al-Walaja in unbearable heat (new video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pftDUGV9RY) we note that the talks about the talks about the peace talks are to resume in…
Clinton: “Direct Talks September 2nd”
U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, stated, Friday evening, that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be launched on September 2nd. Clinton said that Israeli Prime Minister,…
Israel Likely To Accept U.S Calls For Direct Talks
Israeli sources reported that the government of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will likely respond positively to U.S calls for starting direct talks with the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas.…
Hale Leaves Ramallah Following A Meeting With Abbas, P.A Officials
U.S envoy, David Hale, left Ramallah by midnight Sunday following a meeting with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and a number of Palestinian officials at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. Palestinian…
PA To Decide On Resumption Of Direct Talks In The Coming Two Days
The decision on whether to start direct talks with Israel will come out in two days, said Azzam Al-Ahmad, member of Fatah central committee on Saturday.“Our decision will be determined…
Abbas Is Not Opposed To Direct Talks With Conditions
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has laid out the conditions that would get Palestinians back into face-to-face discussions with the Israelis.The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has said that he will likely…
Erekat: “P.A Presented A Detailed Plan For Ending The Conflict”
Dr. Saeb Erekat, head of the negotiations department at the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), stated that the Palestinian Authority (P.A) presented a detailed plan to the United States regarding a…
Arab League Backs Direct Talks In Principle
The Arab League has agreed to direct talks, in principle, but would not endorse them over Abbas’s judgment and without clear guidelines for their progression.Thursday, the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh…
Palestinians Likely To Reject Direct Talks
Abbas is likely to tell the Arab League that he is rejecting direct negotiations at least until the period allotted indirect negotiations formally ends.For a while now Palestinian Authority leadership…
U.S. To Abbas: Go to direct talks to stop home demolitions and freeze settlements
An Internal Palestinian memo issued by the Negotiation department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization warned the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of rescinding his preconditions to direct talks with the Israeli…
Netanyahu paints Palestinians as avoiding direct talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will move to direct talks only after Israel makes clear certain defining issues for a future Palestine.The Palestinian Authority is determined to sabotage…
Netanyahu Open To Political Risks For Talks To Begin
Though quiet on important issues, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that he is willing to take political risks to return to direct talks with the Palestinian AuthorityIn a…
Mubarak Turns Netanyahu Down
The two leaders met, Sunday, and afterwards sources have said that he rejected Netanyahu’s plan for the peace process.Egyptian President Hussni Mubarak supposedly rejected Israel’s proposed plans for the borders…
Mubarak Holds Separate Meetings With Abbas, Mitchell, and Netanyahu
Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, held separate meetings in Cairo with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, U.S Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The talks were focused…
Obama Phones Abbas, Assures Him Peace Is Possible
United States President Barack Obama, phoned on Friday evening the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah and discussed with him the latest developments that took place during Obama’s meeting with…
Netanyahu thinks peace possible within a year
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed to a crowd in New York that he thought peace was attainable in the next year in spite of Israel’s recent actions.The idea that peace…
Recent Survey of Palestinians Reveals Opinions, Hopes, Frustrations
A recent survey conducted in Gaza and the West Bank demonstrated that a slim majority supports direct talks with Israel and that most Palestinians want Marwan Barghouti to succeed current…
Fayyad To Meet Barak
Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr. Salaam Fayyad, will be holding a meeting on Monday afternoon with Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, to discuss issues related to the siege of Gaza and…
White House: “Direct Talks Possible After Progress”
A senior White House official stated that although it is early to determine when will direct Israeli-Palestinian talks take place, some progress was made that would likely lead to this…
Mousa: “Peace Without Full Israeli Withdrawal, Impossible”
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa, stated that all efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East cannot reach a positive outcome without a full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Arab and…
Obama To Give Netanyahu Warm Welcome In Washington
Israeli sources reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will receive a warm welcome from U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Washington next week. The sources added that Obama…
Erekat: “Peace Process Can’t Advance Without Progress On Borders”
Dr. Saeb Erekat, head of the negotiations department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) stated that moving to direct talks and achieving peace cannot be conducted without progress in the…
Mitchell To Start Middle East Tour
U.S. Middle East Peace Envoy, George Mitchell, will start a two-day tour in Israel and the Palestinian territories, on Tuesday.Mitchell will be holding talks with senior Israel officials and officials…
Israeli Official During Informal Talks: “Jerusalem was promised by God to the Jews”
Deputy Israeli Prime Minister Dan Meridor held an ‘informal meeting’ with Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Friday, during which he quoted the late Pope John Paul II as saying,…
Mitchell Meets Egyptian President Mubarak
At the end of his Middle East tour, U.S. Middle East Peace Envoy, George Mitchell, held a meeting on Saturday with the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak. Mitchell toured the region…
Obama to Give 400 Million Dollars for Development in Gaza
Following his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US President Barack Obama announced that his administration had decided to give 400 million dollars to the Gaza Strip in order to…
Abbas Offers Concessions Over Borders
The Wall Street Journal reported, Friday, that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, offered Israel concessions regarding the borders of the anticipated Palestinian State. The report stated that Abbas and his negotiations…
PA Willing To Have NATO Forces In Future State
London based Al-Quds al-Arabi are reporting that Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, is willing to have NATO forces stationed in a future Palestinian state, and intends on informing Special US…
Erekat: “Mitchell And Abbas To Meet Wednesday”
Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, stated Monday that President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, will meet this coming Wednesday instead of Tuesday, as had previously…
Chief Palestinian negotiator questions Israeli commitment to peace talks
Saeb Erekat, who has been chief Palestinian negotiator with the Israeli government since the Oslo Accords of 1993, told an audience in Tel Aviv Sunday that the Palestinian people’s patience…
Obama To Abbas: “Talks To Focus On Borders, Security”
The White House reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama phoned Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and informed him that the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians will focus on final-status…
Palestinian- Israeli Proximity Talks At Risk
The U.S Special Envoy for Peace in the region, George Mitchell, left the Middle East on Sunday, after completing the first round of proximity talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.…
Will Obama adopt a dangerously simplistic peace plan?
A new conventional wisdom is rapidly taking shape that the United States can resolve the 130-year-old conflict in Palestine by advancing its own peace plan. Former US National Security Advisor…
Israeli-Palestinian Indirect Talks Pending PLO Approval
The Palestinian Librations Organization Executive Committee will convene on Saturday to decide on resuming indirect talks with Israel mediated by Washington. The U.S envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell…
US: “Jerusalem Issue To Be Discussed At Final Stage Of Negotiations”
As indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks are to start Wednesday, advisor to U.S. President, Barack Obama, stated that the issue of Jerusalem would be discussed during the final stages of negotiations. David…
Indirect Talks Starts Wednesday With A Netanyahu-Mitchell Meeting
United States special Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, will be holding a meeting on Wednesday with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem to mark the start of indirect talks…
Netanyahu Orders Media Blackout On Talks
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered a full media blackout on the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians slated to start Wednesday.He instructed his government and officials in charge…
Proximity Talks To Start Wednesday
The Indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks, mediated by the United States, are set to start this coming Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will be heading the talks on the Israeli side,…
Sunday Could Witness Official Declaration Of Indirect Talks, Israel Says
Israeli sources reported that this coming Sunday could witness an official declaration for the beginning of American-mediated indirect Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. The sources expressed optimism that the mission of U.S.…
Obama Urges Israel, the Palestinians, To Start Proximity Talks
United States President, Barack Obama, urged the Palestinians and Israel to start proximity Talks. His statements came during a Monday meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. He also called on…
Obama Weighs Presenting Plan, Netanyahu Rejects “Imposing” Solutions On Israel
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that U.S. President, Barak Obama, is seriously weighing presenting a new plan for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This plan could be presented this Autumn and…
Senior Fateh Official To Stand Trial Wednesday
Member of the Fateh’s Central Committee, Abbas Zaki, reported that senior European official, representatives of the French and Spanish Consulates, will be attending his trial which will be held at…
U.S Informs Abbas Of Obama-Netanyahu Meeting Failure
The United States Administration officially informed Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, of the failure of the meeting that took place between American President, Barack Obama, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.…
Mousa: “Withdrawing Arab Initiative, On the Agenda Of Arab Summit”
Arab League Secretary General, Amro Mousa, said that withdrawing the Arab peace initiative is on the agenda of the upcoming Arab League meeting in Libya. Shortly from travelling to Tripoli…
Shaath: “No Negotiations Amidst Settlement Activities”
The Higher Political Committee of the Fateh movement held a meeting on Sunday in Ramallah and decided that there will be no resumption of peace talks with Israel while it…
P.A Decides Not To Hold Talks With Israel
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank decided that it will not be entering indirect talks with Israel due to its ongoing violations and its decision to build 1600 homes…
Mitchell Starts Middle East Tour Saturday
U.S. Special Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, will start his Middle East tour on Saturday evening as he will be holding separate meetings with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, and…