Shortest peace talks ever?

Posted By Blake Hounshell Monday, September 6, 2010 - 8:19 AM Share

I may be skeptical about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that began in Washington last week, but at least I'm not in the Israeli government. Avigdor Lieberman, however, is, and it looks like the foreign minister -- who lives in a West Bank settlement -- is out to sabotage the negotiations. Speaking at a gathering of his far-right Yisraeli Beiteinu party Sunday, Lieberman reportedly said that a complete, final peace deal would not be possible -- "not next year and not for the next generation."

He also said that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas "will not sign an agreement with Israel," but that he wouldn't take up arms, either. "The only practical solution," Lieberman said, "is a long-term interim agreement, on which we can debate. Our proposal is: No to unilateral concessions, no to continuing the settlement freeze, yes to serious negotiations and mutual gestures of good faith."

Haaretz also channels Israeli cabinet ministers' complaints that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, isn't sharing details of his discussions with Abbas (many of them would love to be able to leak controversial bits to the press and blow up the talks) or his plan to deal with the impending expiration of his 10-month settlement freeze (a majority wants to start building again). Meanwhile, senior Abbas aides are already feuding in the press and spreading strategic leaks of their own.

It will take an unimaginable change of heart, not to mention skillful coalition management, by Netanyahu, to make these negotiations succeed -- and that's assuming he really wants to do it and isn't just trying to relieve American pressure. (Israeli commentator Aluf Benn predicts that Bibi's about to pull a "Nixon to China" moment, but I'm not persuaded by clichés.)

Already, it looks to me like both sides expect the talks to fail and are maneuvering to hang that failure on the other guy. Abbas has said repeatedly and unequivocally that he'll walk out if building resumes, while the Israeli government remains committed -- at least publicly -- to letting the freeze expire. According to the Jerusalem Post, 57 projects are ready to drop on Sept. 27, the day after the moratorium ends (indeed, some projects have already begun).

Carlos Stenger calls forth a parade of horribles to expect if and when the talks fall apart: an uptick in terrorist attacks, the possible dissolution of the Palestinian Authority, a return to full Israeli control of the West Bank, growing diplomatic isolation for Israel. So what's Plan B?

JASON REED/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL/PALESTINE

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AVNER STEIN

1:54 AM ET

September 7, 2010

More anti-Israeli BS from FP islamists

AL who lives in a West Bank settlement -- is out to sabotage the negotiations..."

LIES. Lieberman has been more supportive of the peace process than Netanyahu. In fact, he doesn't even support a strike on Iran.

It is the Palestinians who need to sabotage the peace process. Abbas himself said yesterday that if Israel does not meet his demands on the "core issues" the PLO will pull out of the talks.

What? 4 Israelis were murdered by Palestinians in the West Bank less than a week ago. The terrorist act was allowed because Israel has gradually been removing check points and roadblocks as part of its "good-faith gestures" demanded by Obama. The Palestinians have now petitioned the IDF to allow Israeli settlers back into Palestinians cities so they can shop and contribute to their economy.

Hmmmm...would this ever be stated by a Leftist war mongerer?? NOOOO...can't blame Israel.

Not a lot Israel can do to please the Palestinians, and not a lot the Palestinians do because they are not in a position to deliver a peace treaty. They could never enforce one.

The last thing Israel wants is a peace process that blows up. Already Hamas is trying to incite violence by beefing up another campaign of terror, hopefully to derail the process.

The Leftists secretly support this agenda because they need the conflict to continue or else they would be out of a job. Imagine, if this conflict resolved - would this writer still be publishing stories on it? HELL NO.

Norman Finkelstein would go broke, nobody would read Chomsky's books...universities would lose all their Saudi dollars....

The writer above me - SIR_MIXXALOT1 - is a fucking idiot who knows jack and shit about the ME. Another University of California liberal shill who has all the answers.

GUESS WHAT professor? The Palestinians have voted NO on the "one state solution." The whole peace process is predicated on two or three states. Israelis have been trying to divorce themselves from the Palestinian responsibility for the last 20 years. The Palestinians want to benefit from Israeli occupation, but would never agree to a one state solution because they would lose their jobs.

Fayad, Abbas...all the crooks, they would cease to exist. As an academic, would you give up your livelihood? Of course not. Neither will the 140,000 Palestinians who work for the Palestinian Authority.

God Americans are fools.

SAINTSIMON

6:08 AM ET

September 7, 2010

Avigdor is out to sabotage

Avigdor is out to sabotage the peace talks? So in other words, if current peace efforts fail it will be Israel's fault. Have you not read Abbas' remarks made this morning to Palestinian press saying he doesn't feel any need on his part to compromise on refugee question, settlements, 67 borders, recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, division of Jerusalem etc etc? But of course if talks fail it will be Israel's fault.

As shrewd analysts in Israel always try to point out to the West which the West seems inclined to always ignore: it doesn't matter what Palestinian negotiators say to the western or world press - listen to what they say in their own language to the Palestinian and Arab press if you want a true picture of things.

Now, as to why the West insists on ignoring this rather obvious impediment when discussing the state of negotiations... well, I think we can take a few good guesses as to what that's about.

BUDAHH

12:34 PM ET

September 7, 2010

The "Objective" Western Media

Why do we bring up Liberman as an example why don't we mention Hamas which represents a big chunk of the Palestinians, what did they have to say about the peace process?(death to Israel awesome terror attacks) Liberman says the truth that others don't have the balls to say prove me wrong anyone if you can.

What does the palestinian authority have in terms of ability on the ground to deliver? A sustaining peace? they couldn't stop the last Hamas terror attacks although they have improved a lot, they don't control the Gaza strip, what will be the status of the Gaza strip in the agreement if there will be one in a year? The Hamas is not just going to say yes we are going to give up terror and live in peace, even if Israel accepts all of the Palestinian's demands the Hamas will stick to its terror ways and sponsorship by Iran.

Unless we have an agreement for a West bank state only, than still we need to stop the incitement , we can't have peace when the kids are growing up to hate Jews, it takes generations to change, Abbas is not even the legit elected man to lead the Palestinians. The Palestinians are unfortunately dependent on Israel for everything and have not proved responsible enough to run a state. If there will be a brave Palestinian leader that will say he is willing to give up the "right of return" I might see hope.
They cannot even make peace with each other how will they make peace with us how will they have a state with no support from the people, with no control of the people, everyone understands this and abbas does too, that is why he was forced to negotiate and trying to blow up the talks whenever he can,

Most Israelis wish to live in peace with a palestinian state, and most Israelis are in support of territorial compromise for true lasting peace, I believe that it will come some day not anytime soon unfortunately, as long as there is terror and hate there will be no peace, Israel has no interest to control the palestinians they are a big burden , they don't add any value to Israel in any way.

That is why it makes sense to have something in the middle like an autonomy, or like liberman says interim agreement, so that palestinian people can feel they are independent and see their lives improve.

But lets be realistic how can we deal with hamas and the other problems even if we sign this peace of paper that says we put an end to the demands, and end the conflict , if anyone has a good idea i am sure that the whole world would love to hear it

BLUE13326

3:19 PM ET

September 7, 2010

To a certain type, it's

To a certain type, it's always going to be the fault of the Jews, and education's got nothing to do with it.

Abbas: Will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state:

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=187402

But it's all the fault of the Jews, blah, blah, blah

BUDAHH

6:54 PM ET

September 7, 2010

you answer me " true tell" that knows nothing of the truth

Who attacked who in 1948, who did not accept the partition plan and went to a war of destruction? Who decided to start a bloody war during Oslo and after?

Land stolen from what Palestinians, you attack and you loose the war and now you want the land back? give me one example of such a case that happened in the world before.

Hamas has not stolen anything from anyone? They steal the food from the u.n they are stealing the money of the palestinians they proved to be just as bad as Fatach, they stole the lives of how many palestinians when they throw them off buildings and use them as human shields, they stole how many lives of innocent jewish civilians,

You must not know arabic, if you don't know what the "moderate" palestinian media says, and if you can read their textbooks, so don't give us crap stories about all the dead kids, there were a few dead kids yes, but lets not change the facts and tell us stories about no incitement liar.

Again you bring an example of a few minor incidents and maybe a few loonies, you try to make it a fact that goes across the board and represents all of Israel. Again you are a liar.
Lets not compare what they teach in mosques ok. Those hamas parades with little kids and little cute suicide vests is awesome education, I am sure they will get far.
you can't even argue with the truth and you gave no answer to how to solve the problem, I might be the devil and because of you the palestinians will never have anything, you keep encouraging them for terror friend and see where it takes them .

Please dont write back unless you have a serious solution. stop spreading your lies and propaganda

AVNER STEIN

1:45 AM ET

September 8, 2010

Heh

Israel's presence in the WB is far more morally and legally defensible than America's presence in Native American territory.

Lieberman's house does not sit on "stolen land." The land was captured in a war with Jordan - not "Palestine - and nothing was "stolen." None of the settlements exist on bulldozed Palestinian homes or villages (unlike Israel proper).

Most of the land is either barren or underpopulated, completely independent of major Palestinian cities. Most Palestinians would love to sell their land to settlers cause they don't need it, but the PA passed land laws that prohibits the sale of land to Jews.

And need I remind you - 1,000,000+ Jews were displaced from the Arab states, a land 4x the size of Israel conquered by the arabs.

And yet, do you call the Arab residents of Jewish land settlers?

Where do you think Lieberman comes from? His family was sent to the gulag, and eventually kicked out of Russia where they fled to Palestine.

Now you say Israel has no right to exist because Jews live in the WB? Even though they lived in the WB before the "occupation?"

Why is Israel evaulated according to different standards?

Israel's existence is not predicated on the slaughter of 15,000,000 NATIVES - you fucking American troll. Go back to Europe you settler.

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