Erekat says Mitchell failed to stop Israeli settlements

Published Tuesday 22/09/2009 (updated) 23/09/2009 19:40

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Head Palestine Liberation Organization negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, lamented on Tuesday that US special envoy George Mitchell had not yet succeeded in convincing the Israeli occupation government to pause its settlement enterprise during talks in New York.

"Senator Mitchell could not have the Israelis comply with their obligations, ie stopping settlement activities including natural growth," Erekat said after meeting Israeli leaders. "He could not get the Israeli government's acceptance to resume the permanent status negotiations."

He said accepting US President Barack Obama's invitation to the trilateral meeting that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under the pretense that Israel might have been pressured to fulfill its agreements. "We thought that the invitation of President Obama was a personal invitation that reflected the commitment to achieve the two-state solution."

While top Palestinian negotiator applauded Obama and Mitchell's efforts, he nevertheless lamented that since "the Americans cannot have the Israelis comply with stopping settlement activities," little more could be expected out of Israel on larger issues.

"If the Israeli government believes that they want to make peace to maintain their coalition by saying Jerusalem is not going to be negotiated, refugees is not going to be negotiated, settlements will continue then they can make peace between themselves," he said.

"It's time and high time for the Israeli government to realize that obligations are the essence of international law, international relations, interactions between nations," he added. "Responsible governments carry out their obligations."

Former US President Carter: No peace with settlements

Published Tuesday 22/09/2009 (updated) 23/09/2009 17:43

 Bethlehem - Ma'an -

 Israel will have to stop erecting settlements in occupied Palestinian territory if it actually wants peace with its neighbors, former US President Jimmy Carter insisted in a speech on Monday evening.

"As President Barack Obama has made clear, the key factor that prevents peace is the continuing building of Israeli settlements in Palestine, driven by a determined minority of Israelis who desire to occupy and colonize east Jerusalem and the West Bank," he said.

Accepting an award from the James Madison University's Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence in the US state of Virginia, Carter reiterated his support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which offers normalization in exchange for an end to the occupation that began in 1967. "All 22 Arab countries have offered diplomatic recognition and full trade and commerce if Israel will withdraw."

"The alternative to two states is one nation in the same area, within which Arabs will soon comprise a clear majority," Carter added. "This will mean the end of a Jewish state or else an apartheid system within which Palestinians are dominated and deprived of equal rights."

Qassem: The New York meeting is a form of normalization, vindicates occupation

[ 22/09/2009 - 08:46 PM ]

NABLUS, (PIC)--

Dr. Abdul Sattar Qassem, political science professor at Najah University in Nablus, said on Tuesday that the three-way summit between Obama, Netanyahu and Abbas is a form of normalisation with the occupation and vindicates the occupation with regard to settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

"This meeting is part of normalisation program pursued by the occupation and the US administration," Dr. Qassem told PIC in an exclusive statement, "This meeting will only benefit the occupation and will not bring any benefits to the Palestinian people."

He added that such a meeting while the occupation continues to build settlements and tear up the West Bank serves as a vindication for these acts as it sends a message to the occupation that all theses acts do not bother the Arabs and Muslims the least.

About Abbas's reneging on his public declarations that he will not meet Netanyahu while settlements continue to be built, Qassem said that Abbas cannot decide for himself, adding that all the PA leadership in Ramallah is part of the US program, the US is the party that decides and if the PA leadership in Ramallah decides to have an independent position they risk losing financial support and luxurious life style.

He added that all Abbas's statements about Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank do not mean a thing because practical steps taken by the PA contradict those statements.