https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/03/trump-threatens-cut-aid-palestinians-peace-talks
Personally I wouldn't be doubling down on such an idiotic decision if I was Trump (god forbid). Unpredictability and threats to cut aid might seem like a quick fix to a failed businessman but a constructive intermediary has to maintain good relations with both sides.
His current policies simply mean that the US will become not only an irrelevance but an active obstacle to peace in Israel (and the surrounding countries with Palestinian refugees).
Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Trump fumbles in Middle East
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/06/trump-to-plunge-middle-east-into-fire-with-no-end-with-jerusalem-speech
I'm starting to think that Trump must be competing with somebody for the title of worst American president/ international leader in living memory.
I mean surely nobody could be so stupid as to think that this will have any positive effects beyond massaging the egos of hardliners in Israel and maybe giving him a slight electoral boost.
Meanwhile he reignites an issue that has eluded settlement for decades and regularly leads to costly and deadly wars in a sensitive area of the globe.
Total and complete imbecile.
I'm starting to think that Trump must be competing with somebody for the title of worst American president/ international leader in living memory.
I mean surely nobody could be so stupid as to think that this will have any positive effects beyond massaging the egos of hardliners in Israel and maybe giving him a slight electoral boost.
Meanwhile he reignites an issue that has eluded settlement for decades and regularly leads to costly and deadly wars in a sensitive area of the globe.
Total and complete imbecile.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Downed drone in Israel
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24794960
Funny that the Israeli Defence Force have spoken out on this one. I seem to remember in the wake of the recent strikes into Syria they made the mind boggling statement that they were not prepared to comment on individual strikes (despite the implications for any attempt to monitor their compliance with international law).
I guess the rules are different when the IDF feels that it is being portrayed in a negative light. Obviously whether or not the Palestinian rebels have the capacity to shoot down drones is far more important than any moral or legal concerns in the media about Israel's belligerent actions.
Funny that the Israeli Defence Force have spoken out on this one. I seem to remember in the wake of the recent strikes into Syria they made the mind boggling statement that they were not prepared to comment on individual strikes (despite the implications for any attempt to monitor their compliance with international law).
I guess the rules are different when the IDF feels that it is being portrayed in a negative light. Obviously whether or not the Palestinian rebels have the capacity to shoot down drones is far more important than any moral or legal concerns in the media about Israel's belligerent actions.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Abbas pleads for UN recognition
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20550864
I agree with Abbas that it would be a step forward for the UN to enhance recognition of Palestine. Critics can claim all they like that a solution can only come through bilateral negotiation but such agreement is nigh impossible when extremist Palestinians are firing missiles at Israeli towns and the Israeli army treats Palestinian occupied territory like a shooting gallery.
The only way forward is for the international community to support Palestinians, like Abbas, who represent and support moderate solutions and compromise. Doing so undermines the extremists by showing that peaceful negotiation brings results. The current suggestion to support a two state solution inside the 1967 borders is tenable and is argued for in Shlomo Ben Ami's brilliant 'Scars of War, Wounds of Peace'.
Naturally there should be international support for Israel's right to its territory and to freedom from official or unofficial attacks by its neighbours. However, by constantly adopting the most hard line approaches and massacring civilians Israel risks marginalising itself and being seen as little more than an American puppet in the Middle East.
[Edit] - ... and it has happened! Great result but sad to see the UK abstaining.
[Edit, Edit] - .... and what predictable, childish behaviour in response from the Israelis. It is this sort of tit for tat, us versus them attitude that has kept this conflict boiling throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty first.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20564484
I agree with Abbas that it would be a step forward for the UN to enhance recognition of Palestine. Critics can claim all they like that a solution can only come through bilateral negotiation but such agreement is nigh impossible when extremist Palestinians are firing missiles at Israeli towns and the Israeli army treats Palestinian occupied territory like a shooting gallery.
The only way forward is for the international community to support Palestinians, like Abbas, who represent and support moderate solutions and compromise. Doing so undermines the extremists by showing that peaceful negotiation brings results. The current suggestion to support a two state solution inside the 1967 borders is tenable and is argued for in Shlomo Ben Ami's brilliant 'Scars of War, Wounds of Peace'.
Naturally there should be international support for Israel's right to its territory and to freedom from official or unofficial attacks by its neighbours. However, by constantly adopting the most hard line approaches and massacring civilians Israel risks marginalising itself and being seen as little more than an American puppet in the Middle East.
[Edit] - ... and it has happened! Great result but sad to see the UK abstaining.
[Edit, Edit] - .... and what predictable, childish behaviour in response from the Israelis. It is this sort of tit for tat, us versus them attitude that has kept this conflict boiling throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty first.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20564484
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Israel approves construction of settlements in West Bank.
"An Israeli government official said the construction would take place in settlements that Israel expects to retain control of in any possible peace agreement with the Palestinians." Quoted directly from the BBC site.
Oh well that's ok then. I'm sure the Palestinians won't mind you taking that decision without consulting them. Neither could they conceivably have different ideas about the content of a 'possible' future peace agreement.
Oh well that's ok then. I'm sure the Palestinians won't mind you taking that decision without consulting them. Neither could they conceivably have different ideas about the content of a 'possible' future peace agreement.
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