US MediationIsrael and Palestine
The US would like to believe it is fair and balanced and a fair broker for the conflict. Most of the rest of the world, and especially the Arab street, see things otherwise. Why? What do do we say and do to promote that view? Do we even recognise that we do it?
Sunday, March 27, 2005
PA's Abbas criticizes Israel, U.S. over settlement policy
Haaretz - Israel News: "27/03/2005 21:00 | PA's Abbas criticizes Israel, U.S. over settlement policy | By Gideon Alon and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday criticized Israel and indirectly the United States over settlements.
Incensed over a repeat of U.S. support for Israel's retaining main settlement blocs in the West Bank in a peace deal, Abbas did not name the U.S., but his target was clear.
"Any talk of settlements that is not a discussion of stopping them is unacceptable," Abbas said. "Here I'm talking about the discussions of annexing settlement blocs. This is unacceptable because this affects final status issues." The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank.
Earlier Sunday, Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon, responding to a controversy surrounding American policy on the Middle East, said that President George W. Bush unequivocally supports Israel's stance that major West Bank settlement blocs are to be part of the Jewish state under a future peace treaty.
Haaretz - Israel News: "27/03/2005 21:00 | PA's Abbas criticizes Israel, U.S. over settlement policy | By Gideon Alon and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday criticized Israel and indirectly the United States over settlements.
Incensed over a repeat of U.S. support for Israel's retaining main settlement blocs in the West Bank in a peace deal, Abbas did not name the U.S., but his target was clear.
"Any talk of settlements that is not a discussion of stopping them is unacceptable," Abbas said. "Here I'm talking about the discussions of annexing settlement blocs. This is unacceptable because this affects final status issues." The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank.
Earlier Sunday, Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon, responding to a controversy surrounding American policy on the Middle East, said that President George W. Bush unequivocally supports Israel's stance that major West Bank settlement blocs are to be part of the Jewish state under a future peace treaty.
