Israel's criticism of William Hague reflects its preference for America's historic role as sole mediator of talks with the Palestinians Photo: Getty Images The delegation was due to visit to discuss access for aid to Gaza in the wake of the clash between the Israeli navy and a flotilla of aid ships.
The cancellation comes among growing Israeli irritation at what Israel sees as unmerited intervention by the EU in the Middle East peace process.
"The whole country is paralysed and the airport is closed," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "We told them that it was impossible to hold meetings on Friday morning and that no-one would be available. We suggested alternative dates, which they all refused.
"This has caused some bad feelings because of the way they insisted on holding meetings on Friday or nothing."
Privately officials addded that Israel had rejected attempts by European ministers to broaden discussions to the wider Middle East peace process, and the talks begun earlier this month between the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
"This effort was made by the Americans in great solitude," one said. "The Americans set up the whole thing, while the Europeans stood on the sidelines criticising it all. But when things fall into place, then they ask for a role. It is not convincing."
Israel's criticism of Mr Hague and the other foreign ministers reflects its preference for America's historic role as sole mediator of talks with the Palestinians. It refused to accept an invitation negotiated by the "Quartet" of foreign powers, made up of the United States, the United Nations, the EU and Russia at the outset of talks but did take up a separate invitation to Washington by President Barack Obama.
The Quartet's invitation referred to a previous call for settlement-building on the West Bank and in Jerusalem to be frozen.
British officials point to the original invitation issued by the Israeli foreign minister and suggest that a "rescheduling" has been "blown out of proportion".
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We do not comment on travel plans of the foreign secretary".
Mr Hague's strong condemnation of the Gaza flotilla incident suggested he had decided on a more critical relationship with Israel that that pursued by previous Conservative administrations.
American diplomats led by the Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, will be actively engaged with the Israelis and Palestinians this week.
Mrs Clinton is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday and in Jerusalem on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the settlement issue.
A senior minister cast doubt that the stand-off on the settlements could be resolved through compromise. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel would lift a 10-month-old partial construction freeze on West Bank settlements at the end of the month, rejecting US pleas to extend the moratorium.
"President Obama has asked Israel to reconsider the freeze," Mr Steinitz told Israel Radio. "We very much respect every idea and recommendation, but according to the Cabinet decision, the freeze is over at the end of September."
The US has given the sides a year to reach agreement on all the issues at the core of the conflict.
Yes and Israelis feel that they are omnipotent and "goy" or non-jews are "lesser than" So it goes both ways. But I believe the ecentrics in both camps are being pushed to the rear. People by nature don't enjoy violence.
"The politics is very difficult internally, but for the people on both sides, I think they will back political leadership that offers a just deal," Mr Blair said.
"But my point is very simple - both peoples want peace. The negotiation is tough, but the alternative to negotiation is conflict."
Any continuation of the construction freeze would lead to severe political instability within Israel and the ultimate collapse of the current government” End Quote Yesha Council statement
Obstacles to peace: Settlements The issue of illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian land is seen as one of the most crucial issues under discussion at the talks, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem.
On Friday, US President Barack Obama said he had urged Mr Netanyahu to continue the partial construction freeze in the settlements as the best way of helping talks to progress.
But right-wing groups in Israel have warned that the talks are doomed to failure over the issue of settlements.
"If this government does not abide by its promises, then it will not be able to continue to govern," said Danny Dayan, Chairman of the Yesha Council, a powerful political body representing many of the 400,000 Israelis who live in illegal Jewish settlements on the Palestinian West Bank and in Arab East Jerusalem.
In a statement, the council said that "any continuation of the construction freeze would lead to severe political instability within Israel and the ultimate collapse of the current government".
Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib again called on the Israeli government to end all settlement activity, saying it was endangering the peace process.
"Israel should stop all kinds of settlement activities in order to give a chance for negotiations," Mr Khatib told the BBC. "Any Israeli settlement activities is a threat to the newly-established Israeli-Palestinian peace process."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in Egypt and Jerusalem for the talks, which she says may be the last chance for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mrs Clinton said there was a "certain momentum" after an initial round in Washington on 2 September, which marked the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in nearly two years.
A day before peace talks are to resume, the Yesha Council warned it would withdraw its support for PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.
A partial freeze on Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank is due to expire on 26 September.
The Palestinians say they will walk out of the talks if construction resumes.
Continue reading the main story Israel and the PalestiniansBowen: First hurdle cleared Mid-East talks: Where they stand 'Limited hopes' in the region Q&A: Resuming direct talks Meanwhile, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was optimistic that the Israelis and the Palestinians could reach a peace deal.
Mr Blair, the international Quartet's Middle East envoy, made the remark a day before the second round of direct talks was due to open in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
Mr Blair told the BBC that both Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas want peace, and know that if the chance for agreement is lost now and could disappear for many years.
Ariel’s 19,000 residents are mostly secular Jews, not messianic ideologues who believe in settling the biblical heartland. About half are immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Many say they came for the good air and cheap housing, but they are also living an inner contradiction. While considering themselves part of the Israeli mainstream, many say they are not certain about Ariel’s future, their anxiety compounded by the renewal of peace talks.
“A lot of people are thinking about it,” said Valeria Vishnevski, a Russian immigrant who has lived here for 15 years. “It would be a tragedy if we had to leave. It is so nice here, like Switzerland.”
Although Ariel juts deep into the West Bank, the town’s mayor, Ron Nachman, has toiled to give it a feeling of middle Israel. He is fond of pointing out that Ariel has all the characteristics of a normal city: a hotel; a nearby industrial park that employs thousands of Palestinians alongside Israelis; a university center; a sports and recreational complex with its central John Hagee Building, named for the American preacher whose ministries donated $1.5 million toward the project; and the theater, which is scheduled to open in November.
The Israeli artists’ protest began with the publication of the theater program for the 2010-2011 season, showing that five major Israeli theater companies were scheduled to perform.
Coming days before the peace summit in Washington, it was serendipitous for the Israeli left, which has been largely dormant in recent years. It also set off rare public debate in Israel about the legitimacy of the settlements in the territories conquered in the 1967 Middle East war.
“There was a big effort to turn Ariel into a consensus town,” said Amiram Goldblum, an Israeli professor of chemistry and a founder of Peace Now, the liberal advocacy organization, who joined the academics’ petition. “But it seems that Ariel is not part of the consensus, and people will understand that now.”
At the Ariel University Center, formerly known as the Judea and Samaria College, staff and students dismissed the protest as hypocrisy. “They are willing to talk to the worst enemies of Israel, and not to us,” said Eldad Halachmi, the university center’s vice president for resource development. “I pity them. God willing, their grandchildren will study here and become doctors.”
The managements of the major Israeli theaters, which are partly state-financed, lined up with the government and said that they would stage their productions in Ariel. Ariel Turgeman, the chief executive officer of the Ariel theater, said the artists’ boycott “did us a favor. They gave us a P.R. campaign for free. An unbelievable number of people are asking to perform here.”
Still, the settlement’s future is not clear. As well as an obstacle to an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, it could also serve as a crucial trade-off for negotiators hammering out a final deal.
In January, to mark Jewish Arbor Day, Israel’s conservative-leaning prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, planted a sapling in Ariel. He declared it the “capital of Samaria” and an integral part of Israel. But Oren Ben Uziyahu, the owner of a toy store in Ariel, said that in return for genuine peace, most people would “leave behind their fake leather couches” and give up their Ariel homes. “It is reasonable to assume,” he continued, “that in the end, Ariel will have to go.”
ARIEL, West Bank — When a group of Israeli artists recently refused to perform in the new theater at this large Jewish settlement, local residents reacted with a mixture of hurt and defiance.
Related The Lede Blog: Boycott of Theater in Israeli Settlement Grows (August 27, 2010) The Lede Blog: Israeli Actors Boycott Theater in Settlement (August 26, 2010) Enlarge This Image
Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times Tania Rashkovski, 24, playing with her baby, Martin, in the West Bank Israeli city of Ariel, which settlers fear may not remain under Israeli control in a peace dea Enlarge This Image
Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times An Ariel resident shows how the settlement’s theater will look when finished. Some Israeli artists and others are refusing to perform in the settlement, at right. When scores of leftist Israeli academics, prominent writers and intellectuals said that they would not lecture at the Ariel University Center or in any other settlement, many here said that nobody had asked them to come.
But the protest broadened again this week when an American advocacy group, Jewish Voice for Peace, said that more than 150 international film and theater professionals, including Julianne Moore, Theodore Bikel, Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Kushner, had endorsed its statement in support of Israeli artists against performing in the settlements, which are viewed by much of the world as a violation of international law.
For many in Ariel, the growing boycott is something of a surprise. Ariel, an elongated urban settlement that lies about 12 miles inside the West Bank, has long been labeled in Israel as part of the “consensus” — local code for settlements destined to be included within Israel’s borders under any peace deal with the Palestinians. It often appears as one of the regular dots on Israeli weather maps.
Yet as Israel and the Palestinians embark on a new, American-sponsored peace effort, and with a temporary Israeli moratorium on residential construction in the settlements set to expire later this month, Ariel has suddenly found itself at the crux of Israel’s settlement conundrum, and perhaps not so much in the consensus as it likes to think. Linked to Israel’s coastal plain by a modern, high-speed highway, it underscores the bind Israel’s settlement policy has created for those who seek a two-state solution.
The settlement was founded in 1978 by a group of employees from Israel’s military industries, secular security hawks who wanted to ensure that the high ground of Samaria — the northern West Bank by its biblical name — would remain under Israeli control. They were supported by Shimon Peres, who was defense minister at the time. Now the country’s president, and a figure more recently identified with the Israeli peace camp, Mr. Peres attended the 30th anniversary celebrations in Ariel in 2008.
Successive Israeli governments have insisted that Ariel, with its sizable population and strategic location, must remain within Israel’s borders under any final peace accord. So far, no Palestinian negotiator has agreed to that. The Palestinians argue that an Israeli “finger” reaching that far into the West Bank would preclude the territorial contiguity of a Palestinian state. They also note that Ariel sits on a major aquifer
So David ripped off mother nature herself, so what else is new. Just another Camels toe away from plagerism. At least the Christians came up with something ORIGINAL you tank trap.
Snow sometimes occurs as fine needles. The needles may be solid, hollow, or partially hollow. Snow crystals tend to form needle shapes when the temperature is around -5°C. Some snowflakes are six-sided columns. The columns may be short and squat or long and thin. Some columns may be capped. Sometimes (rarely) the columns are twisted. Twisted columns are also called Tsuzumi-shaped snow crystaColumn-shaped snowflakes sometimes taper at one end, forming a bullet shape. When the bullet-shaped crystals are joined together they can form icy rosettes. Most snowflakes are imperfect. They may have grown unevenly, broken, melted Sometimes snow crystals come in contact with water vapor from clouds or warmer air. When the water freezes onto the original crystal it forms a coating that is known as rime. Sometimes rime appears as dots or spots on a snowflake. Sometimes rime completely covers the crystal. A crystal coated with rime is called graupel.
I don't want to burst your bubble on this one but very few Americans have fallen for Israels cruel ruse my dear. Most are aware of Israel/Mossads efforts to bribe their way into important American political posts in an effort to skew American political "stance". Do your homework and come back when you have a better understanding of what you are talking about.
Every PBS backdrop during the Christmas holidays has snowflakes made in the Star of David. No, Israel is not the 51st state. The American people aren't behind Israel. Every time the United Nations vote condeming Israeli atrosities and the US sides with you guys it sickens me because it does not reflect the true senitment of people of The United States.
Yep, I'm sick of Israel dragging the US down to their murderous thug level. And sick of the payoffs and bribes to place Israeli agents in powerful political and military positions and sending US soldiers out to fight Israels wars. And sick of the Star of David being crammed down our throats during every form of media from PBS to McDonalds bags.
We're not talking Bible thumping Conrad. We're talking about the subversive efforts of Americas ally. Placeing?Purchaseing key elected positions within the American government and useing these appointments to steer American foreign policy and military decisions, ie Rumsfeld and Iraq. I'm sick of it and so are most Americans.
Thats right Conrad, I like America the way it was. Befor we started subsidizing Israels brutal occupation and militarization. Befor we were called "Israels primary ally." When Americans could travel the world and could hold their heads high. Not be thought of as the people who are bankrolling the atrocious murders of Palestinian children.
The "last chance" notion is based in part on the knowledge that Abbas is living on borrowed time, in a political sense. His electoral mandate expired in 2009 and he fears a Hamas takeover of the West Bank, which is supposed to make up the bulk of an independent Palestinian state.
Time is a motivating factor for the Israelis, too. Some Israelis believe the longer that Israel occupies the West Bank and its growing Arab population, the more Israel's future as a Jewish state is imperiled. Creating a sovereign Palestine would get Israel out of the occupation business.
More broadly, the status quo is a drag on U.S. interests. The wars and grievances that flowed from Israel's 1948 founding as a Jewish state have divided the Middle East, and U.S. officials have argued that the conflict begets hatred and suspicion of the U.S. as Israel's principal ally.
Obama wants a deal within a year; Israelis are deeply skeptical after decades of failed efforts.
Netanyahu acknowledges the widespread doubts.
"There are many obstacles, many skeptics, and many reasons for skepticism," he said in a Jewish new year address last Tuesday. He called the resumed negotiations "an important step in an attempt" to make peace, but added that it "is an attempt because there is no certainty of success."
One concern of all the parties to the talks is Hamas, the militant Islamist movement that refuses to negotiate and opposes Israel's very existence. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, which is supposed to be part of a negotiated Palestinian state along with most of the West Bank.
Michele Dunne, a Mideast expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said it appears the talks will go nowhere until the two sides, with Clinton's help, can find a compromise solution to the settlements issue.
"That's probably going to have to be the first item on the agenda," she said in a telephone interview. "The first priority is to make sure that the talks don't collapse at the end of September."
She gives the current format for negotiations about six months before the U.S. will have to either give up or put forth its own peace plan and try to rally support for it from moderate Arab states.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is shepherding Mideast talks this week that she says may be the last chance for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Clinton and former Sen. George Mitchell, President Barack Obama's special envoy to the region, planned to be in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, for talks Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
They're scheduled to shift to Jerusalem for a second day of talks Wednesday, and it's likely that Obama will resume negotiations with Abbas and Netanyahu in New York the following week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
The most immediate obstacle for negotiators is a Palestinian demand that Israel extend a curb on new housing construction in the West Bank — a constraint that Israel says will expire Sept. 26.
The Palestinians have insisted that without an extension, the peace talks will go nowhere.
Raising the pressure, Obama said Friday that he has urged the Israeli leader to extend the partial moratorium as long as talks are making progress. Obama also said he's told Abbas that if he shows he's serious about negotiating, it will give political maneuver room for Netanyahu to take the domestically unpopular step of extending the limits on settlements.
Abbas knows "the window for creating a Palestinian state is closing," Obama said.
Clinton's task, he said, is to get the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "start thinking about how can they help the other succeed, as opposed to how do they figure out a way for the other to fail."
Previewing the upcoming talks, Clinton said "there is a certain momentum" after an initial round in Washington on Sept. 2., which marked the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in nearly two years.
In an appearance this past week at the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton was asked why those who see little chance of reaching a settlement in the one-year deadline Obama has set are wrong.
"I think they're wrong because I think that both sides and both leaders recognize that there may not ever be another chance," she replied.
There is no justification for killing. Jew or Gentile. I have never advocated killing as a tool in this or any conflict. I don't hate. But I will voice my contempt for oppressive regimens. And that is why the "world" is watching these Peace talks.
As was just posted "you can fool some of the people all the time but not all the people all the time.
SilverBirch Forum Posts (3,158)
United Nations Peace Keepers in Gaza
Israel's criticism of William Hague reflects its preference for America's historic role as sole mediator of talks with the Palestinians Photo: Getty ImagesThe delegation was due to visit to discuss access for aid to Gaza in the wake of the clash between the Israeli navy and a flotilla of aid ships.
The cancellation comes among growing Israeli irritation at what Israel sees as unmerited intervention by the EU in the Middle East peace process.
"The whole country is paralysed and the airport is closed," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "We told them that it was impossible to hold meetings on Friday morning and that no-one would be available. We suggested alternative dates, which they all refused.
"This has caused some bad feelings because of the way they insisted on holding meetings on Friday or nothing."
Privately officials addded that Israel had rejected attempts by European ministers to broaden discussions to the wider Middle East peace process, and the talks begun earlier this month between the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
"This effort was made by the Americans in great solitude," one said. "The Americans set up the whole thing, while the Europeans stood on the sidelines criticising it all. But when things fall into place, then they ask for a role. It is not convincing."
Israel's criticism of Mr Hague and the other foreign ministers reflects its preference for America's historic role as sole mediator of talks with the Palestinians. It refused to accept an invitation negotiated by the "Quartet" of foreign powers, made up of the United States, the United Nations, the EU and Russia at the outset of talks but did take up a separate invitation to Washington by President Barack Obama.
The Quartet's invitation referred to a previous call for settlement-building on the West Bank and in Jerusalem to be frozen.
British officials point to the original invitation issued by the Israeli foreign minister and suggest that a "rescheduling" has been "blown out of proportion".
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We do not comment on travel plans of the foreign secretary".
Mr Hague's strong condemnation of the Gaza flotilla incident suggested he had decided on a more critical relationship with Israel that that pursued by previous Conservative administrations.
American diplomats led by the Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, will be actively engaged with the Israelis and Palestinians this week.
Mrs Clinton is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday and in Jerusalem on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the settlement issue.
A senior minister cast doubt that the stand-off on the settlements could be resolved through compromise. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel would lift a 10-month-old partial construction freeze on West Bank settlements at the end of the month, rejecting US pleas to extend the moratorium.
"President Obama has asked Israel to reconsider the freeze," Mr Steinitz told Israel Radio. "We very much respect every idea and recommendation, but according to the Cabinet decision, the freeze is over at the end of September."
The US has given the sides a year to reach agreement on all the issues at the core of the conflict.