The EU published its guidelines outlawing all dealings with settlements in order to entice Palestinians back to talks, Saeb Erekat adds
By ELHANAN MILLER, TOI
In a lengthy interview with Nazareth-based A-Shams radio, Erekat said that the US had assured Palestinians in writing that talks would recognize the pre-1967 lines as the basis of a Palestinian state; would deal with all core issues (Jerusalem, refugees, borders, security and water); would take place within a six- to nine-month timetable; and would not allow for any provisional or interim solutions before a final status agreement was signed. Erekat also said that an American-Israeli agreement existed regarding settlements, but did not elaborate on its contents.
(The Palestinians long-time preconditions for resuming talks were that they negotiate Palestinian statehood on the basis of the pre-1967 lines; that Israel freeze settlement building; and that pro-Oslo accords Palestinian prisoners be set free. Israel agreed to a phased release of 104 prisoners, but rejected the other two conditions.)
Erekat also claimed that the European Union’s new directives outlawing all EU cooperation with settlements and other Israeli entities over the 1967 lines were part of a deal reached with Europe in exchange for returning to negotiations
He noted that the Palestinian Authority was currently holding talks with Latin American countries, China, Russia, Japan and the African Union to adopt similar sanctions toward settlements.
“This is an accomplishment,” Erekat told the Israeli radio station. “We would not have returned to the table without a written document confirming these points.”
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were expected to meet in the Palestinian territories for a third round of talks under American brokerage on Tuesday. The first meeting in three years between the sides took place in Washington on July 30, and the second in Jerusalem on August 14.
The Obama administration has so far refrained from revealing the contents of American letters of assurance reportedly delivered to both parties ahead of talks, and has not confirmed sending any such letters. US Secretary of State John Kerry has demanded that negotiating parties maintain complete silence regarding the progress of talks, even including the precise location of meetings.
But in his interview, Erekat blasted the negotiating tactics of the Israelis.
“Ninety-five percent of their negotiating behavior consists of attacking us outside the negotiating table,” Erekat said, referring to personal attacks against him in Israeli media as well as continued construction in the settlements. He added that a number of senior Israeli ministers, including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel and Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, have all tried to undermine talks by encouraging construction in the settlements.
“They may yet succeed in doing that,” Erekat warned.
In order to secure an Israeli agreement to release 104 Palestinian prisoners jailed before the signing of the Oslo agreements in 1993, the Palestinian leadership had to commit not to turn to the UN for recognition as a state during the negotiation period, Erekat admitted.
“It was a heavy price to pay, but a reasonable one,” he said. “Every country that respects itself wages battles for the freedom of its sons.”
If Israel failed to release all 104 prisoners — including Arab Israelis and Jerusalem residents — the Palestinians would be free to turn to the UN, Erekat said.
The chief negotiator acknowledged skepticism within the Palestinian camp over renewed talks with Israel, but insisted that negotiations were not an end in themselves but an indispensable means of terminating Israeli occupation.
“No one will gain more than us [Palestinians] from the success of negotiations and no one will lose more than us from their failure, because we want to end the despised occupation,” Erekat said.
yamit82 Said:
If they make an interim deal leaving the referendum to years later perhaps bennett can claim it will fail later and keep his perks in the interim. the question becomes who is a real leader with a mission and who is just there for the cash and perks and getting re-elected.
It appears that even the uninhabited land in C is not considered jewish by israel
yamit82 Said:
my understanding of Libermans position was to swap arab villages inside Israel over to PA, giving them the sovereignty over the land of the villages and not just the residents. Would he be against swaps from the negev for the main settlements?
It’s looking to me that they will agree that 1967 borders will be the starting point and then they will haggle over swaps, parts of jerusalem and security agreements in the Jordan valley which may include a jordan pal confed. If the final security agreements are under the jordan peace treaty then the issues of refugees, gaza link, recognition of jewish state will be sidestepped. If the swaps are left to the end then an interim deal can start with a referendum at the end. In 10 years they expect everyone to accept and ratify the new status qo which seems very much like todays status quo. If the gulf arabs then open relations with Israel the question becomes; what about the golan, will they recognize Israel without the golan, considering the syrian wars. Livni and her friends appear too confident.
Once the treasonous coward’s father died, he pulled all pretense and covers.
The removal of Katz as minister is a copy of what Sharon did as well.
WARNING repeated: The special units prepared for years WILL murder Jewish people under Netanyahu’s orders. The use of torture by the beasts Netanyahu budgets for, including with part of the 12 billion dollars the unJewish enemy pretended to have a need to cover for, are based on direct orders for Netanyahu.
I tried for years and so did several others in this Blog commenting core, to expose the traitor for what he is.
Netanyahu is the most terrible of enemies of the Jews, ever. Even worse than Peres.
He intentionally allowed the growth of the Islamic cancer here.
He intentionally allowed Iran to get the nuclear arms they wanted.
He intentionally destroyed or abandoned Jewish locations.
He intentionally blocked the Judge Levi Report.
He intentionally prevented reform in the “election of judges” secretive conspiracy.
He intentionally allowed foreign NGO’s to receive huge budgets to sabotage Jewish rights.
The formation of a temporary government replacing the treasonous filth now passing as one may be the last chance before we are all delivered for slaughter by Netanyahu.
comment to ross in moderation????
bernard ross Said:
Bennett can be more effective leading the opposition from outside of the government. The right and those opposed to an agreement need leadership and someone to rally round. Bennett inside the government is trumped by the support for BB in the current opposition who will replace him if he bolts.
The key to stopping BB must come from within the likud including Lieberman. The government is dragging out Liebermans trial so as to neutralize him and his party, so he is left to make public statements to let people know he is still there. If lieberman hopes to become PM he needs to oppose BB and not be part of any deal BB is making now. Bennett and Lieberman with some others in the likud could form a blocking coalition against BB and remove any legitimacy from him and any deal he is trying to make. We can now add Katz to opposition to BB. He carries a lot of weight in the likud party.
Best thing to do is to force BB’s hand now see who will join him and see whether Lapid, who is sinking like the Titanic in the polls will agree to sit with the Haredim and Shas? If he does his credibility will be close to zero with his supporters.
Let’s see who is willing to commit political suicide before a deal is made by reneging on all key principles for an as yet consummated peace deal? My gut tells me there would be few tears if the likud is forced to call elections. There is a lot of buyers remorse over the results in the last elections and BB will do even more poorly than the last time.
Bennett leaving the coalition now might force a Likud palace revolt much earlier than any planned for, especially BB.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=11491
PA Threatens to Sue Israel Over Building Tenders
Palestinian Authority shows its confidence in talks by threatening to sue Israel over building plans it knew about prior to negotiations.
This is how BB treats one of his most loyal supporters and one of the Likuds most popular personalities.
MK Katz: PM Takes Ministry as Punishment on Terror Vote
Transportation Minister, Yisrael Katz, tonight said on his Facebook page, that due to his having voted his conscience, and standing against PM Netanyahu in the vote for whether or not to release terrorists as a pre-condition for the newest round of negotiation, he was now going to be made to pay the price of that vote.
“At Sunday’s Cabinet meeting, they transferred the Ministry of Transportation, National Infrastructure and Road Safety, to be under the Ministry of Energy and Water….but despite the problems caused for me, I will not succumb to the pressure, but continue to vote my conscience,” Katz commented.
This is a message to other ministers who cross BB in the future.
BB is losing party support daily. Here is a possible reason why:
Oslo Architect: Peace Agreement Closer Than Ever
One of the thinkers behind the Oslo Accords believes an Israel-PA agreement is closer than ever, says Oslo didn’t cause terror deaths.
Freed Terrorist Killed American Citizen, US ‘Concerned’
State Department opposed release of terrorist who murdered former U.S. Marine in Israel. A7 posted his story before release.
How many more contortions we will do to cover up for the traitors?
Netanyahu is a liar, coward and treasonous item.
Do we intend to gyrate like rose beetles tied with a string to the dunce’s cap forever or we are a people and show it by getting out to the streets at all costs and kick the S… out of the coward, the liar, treasonous piece of garbage and also out the she snake he selected first to join his putrid ensemble?
Nice to spend hours on end talking around legal nuances. That means nothing if we do not act like mentchen rather than like “maskilim”.
The horrors ahead if Netanyahu is not severed from office will include a nuclear Iran on top of the betrayals in place already.
The miserable unJew never intended to do a thing about Iran or anything else to protect Heritage and Jews.
The Pal claim that the West guaranteed the destruction of IL in order to accommodate the Pal.
Even general Al-Sisi would never accept this.
According to Jeffrey Heller of Israel Radio before talks convened in Jerusalem, Livni (the traitor) said “there will be dramatic decisions” by Israel at the end of the negotiations. To think that she was Netanyahu’s first choice to join the coalition after elections. Compare her to Erakat, a staunch and convince defender of his cause.
And what is livni’s cause? It is hardly a question.
No countries ever decided their conflicts on goodwill, but only on the balance of power. The calls for compromise and accommodation in the Israeli-Arab conflict stem from moralism and rationalist fallacy, which presumes that chaos could be settled by negotiations rather than suppressing the chaos or wearing it down. Conflicts are solved through total victory or attrition, not talks. Besides, Israel has already compromised to the bones and core values by giving up Jordan in 1922. Judea is non-negotiable. Moses did not compromise with the Egyptians for better work terms, nor did the Maccabees negotiate with the Hellenists for relaxed Sabbath rules.
Israel is an irrational project conducted against all odds. Rational people without faith or vision cannot steer her course.
Make BB Resign and opt for a King or Dictator subservient to the law, constitution and a non political judiciary while the people reserve the right of insurrection to remove the leader if all else fails. Democracy just does not lend itself to the Jewish psyche.
What he means is the end of Israel.
Jews are deep in denial and their leaders appear to want peace at any price.
The Arabs on the other hand, have no interest in peace and will drag out the talks forever – if they cannot concoct an excuse to walk out of them sooner.
Saeb Erekat is extreme as far as Arabs go and Tzipi Livni will not find in him a kindred soul.
I agree with Erekat that the “despised” occupation should end and he and his ilk leave our ancestral Jewish home land and return to the Arabian peninsula from whence they came!