Israeli official: Talks yes, gestures no

By Attila Somfalvi, YNET NEWS

Talks yes, gestures of goodwill no. Senior officials in Jerusalem who were present during talks between US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Wednesday that Israel does not intend to present any confidence building measures towards the Palestinians. 

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Kerry and Netanyahu (Photo: Yonatan Zindel/Flash90) 

The sources claim that the “preliminary demands presented by the Palestinians attest to the fact that they are peace refusniks. We on the other hand are not presenting any pre-conditions, not even recognition of Israel as the national home of the Jewish nation.” 

US Secretary of State John Kerry is attempting to renew talks between the two sides but it is not going to be simple.

 Possible gestures like releasing prisoners or withdrawal from Area C in order to enable the Palestinian Authority to carry out projects were rejected outright. 

“There will be no response to any demand where the purpose (of the demand) is to supply appease the Palestinians and make them come to the table,” an Israeli source noted. 

“Ministers are unanimous over the decision of not giving in to any pre-condition. They present conditions in order to make the process of renewing direct talks difficult. There will be no gestures, especially not land withdrawals.” 

Netanyahu has extensive government and cabinet backing. This is why it was decided that no pre-conditions be made on the Israeli side. That said, even before Kerry’s arrival, the prime minister refused to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to present the US secretary of state with maps that include the borders he hopes will be included in the permanent agreement. 

“We don’t have any pre-conditions but the Palestinians prepared a list with (demands) like a building freeze, releasing prisoners, and border deliberations before everything (begins). We are ready to discuss everything, but only within the framework of direct talks where we will demand recognition of the Jewish State and declaration of the end of the conflict.” 

The source speaks of Israeli inflexibility, while Netanyahu and Kerry have already discussed economic measures that Israel will offer to the Palestinian Authority, even in Area C. 

“You want cellular antennas? No problem. You want a sweage treatment facility? Can do. It’s possible that in a month 10 prisoners might be released, but that’s small change,” the source added.

“With regards to the Palestinian demands for gestures – that is n’t going to happen unless it’s around the negotiation table. The Palestinians will continue to pressure (us) for gestures and Israel will not accede to gestures as a pre-condition to negotiation.”

 

April 11, 2013 | 12 Comments »

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12 Comments / 12 Comments

  1. opensoc Said:

    Hi Friends
    > The Israeli ambassador and the Minister of the Diaspora would like our National Hymn, HaTikva to become
    > the most popular video on You Tube by April 16, 2013, the 65th anniversary of Israel’s Independence Day.
    >
    > Please view the Video clip, at the website listed below, and then forward it to all your contacts.
    > The object is to place this video among the top five clips.
    > The Arabs, living in Palestine are trying to have this video removed from You Tube.
    > Thank you,
    > http://youtu.be/BDxpVasvNPM

    Give em this Hatikva as well from last years Independence Day Ceremony

  2. Hi Friends
    > The Israeli ambassador and the Minister of the Diaspora would like our National Hymn, HaTikva to become
    > the most popular video on You Tube by April 16, 2013, the 65th anniversary of Israel’s Independence Day.
    >
    > Please view the Video clip, at the website listed below, and then forward it to all your contacts.
    > The object is to place this video among the top five clips.
    > The Arabs, living in Palestine are trying to have this video removed from You Tube.
    > Thank you,

    > http://youtu.be/BDxpVasvNPM

  3. Trouble with Kerry and others including past Israeli Prime Ministers (Olmert, Barak) is they want to go down in the history books as “The One” who solved the Israeli – Arab conflict. They need to be told in plain English this conflict needs to be managed as until the Muslims can accept a Jewish State in the middle east it is not solvable.

    So they should be asked are you willing to help us manage this conflict as an ally. That way when hopefully in the future it can be solved. Is it not better to deal with reality?

    Israel needs to assert its rights and show after seven wars we are not going anywhere. Annex Area C. Build in Area C. Start a plan for plan to help Arabs relocate with payment for any land they can provide undisputed ownership of documents of and turning the title over to the State of Israel or Jews who purchase it.

  4. Israel’s new government, even under Bibi, shows signs of rationality. Good for them. Maybe at some point it will announce to the world, take your two state solution and shove it where he sun doesn’t shine.

  5. CANADA Foreign Miinister breaks taboos – He meets with Livni in eastern Jerusalem and visits Golan – both “occupied” territories. Other foreign officials refuse to meet with Israeli officials in eastern Jerusalem, and never visit the Golan to meet with military there.
    http://israelmatzav.blogspot.ca/2013/04/canadian-foreign-minister-john-baird.html#links

    It’s regretable that the Conservatives still support a resumption of partition talks, but they can’t appear to be more Zionist than the Netanyahu government itself.

  6. even before Kerry’s arrival, the prime minister refused to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to present the US secretary of state with maps that include the borders he hopes will be included in the permanent agreement.

    Is this statement an error? How is BB able to prevent Abbas from presenting a document to Kerry? I think it means that BB refused to present a map as AAbbas demanded.

    In this photo BB looks at Kerry as if he is a creature who just arrived from Mars: astounded, incredulous, repelled (rightly so)

    Kerry is just one more of a series of US buffoons who seek to make their fame on Israels concessions.
    Look what happened to Hillary, her image went down. Then again, if Weiner has the chutzpah to run for NYC mayor then why wouldn’t Hillary still run for president.

  7. What can the Arabs possibly offer us? They want from us the very heartland of our Jewish heritage, tangible assets in all while all they have to offer us are promises.

    Have they ever, I mean – ever, kept any promise they have ever made to us, ever? Have they honored any agreement signed with us?

    So how in the world would anyone expect us to relinquish tangible and strategic assets that are existential to us in exchange for their worthless promises?

    The TSS is an exercise in absurdity and futility.

    Let’s end the nonsense already, annex what is justly, historically, existentially and legally ours and get on with it. The Arabs that don’t like it have where to go and good riddence to them all – a needle in our eye and a thorn in our side.

  8. It should be pointed to Kerry and others the Palestinians are not serious about two states for two peoples. They only want Israel to withdraw from
    Judah and Samria as a first step. Point out to them since this is the case the TWO STATE SOLUTION IS DEAD please bury it and let us get on to new paradigms.

  9. Israel should not accede to the Arab demands.

    The Arabs want Israel to give them nearly everything they want without their having to make equivalent concessions.

    There is no reason why Israel should want to help them evade negotiations.

    If the Arabs want something, they can talk to Israel; otherwise nothing is going to happen in the future.