Israel-Palestine: "Proximity Talks" and US Vice President Biden

Here's the background: last Friday, US Mideast Special Envoy George Mitchell's deputy, David Hale, said Israeli-Palestinian understandings since the Annapolis talks would not be binding.

Following the approval of two conditions (the outlines of a border deal with Israel and a complete Israeli settlement construction freeze) by the Palestinian Liberation Organization executive committee, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he hoped for direct negotiations in the near future, but reiterated that any permanent settlement would require recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and a long-term guarantee of Israel's security.

Thus, the clear difference between two disputants' mentalities: on one hand, Ramallah is considering indirect talks as a basis to be consolidated in order to move to the next round of direct talks; on the other hand, West Jerusalem sees indirect talks as a way to block preconditions.

In the midst of Defense Minister Ehud Barak's permission for the construction of 112 housing units in the settlement of Beitar Ilit, despite the construction freeze in the West Bank settlements, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived Israel on Tuesday while Mitchell moved to Ramallah for further talks.

Biden, on early Tuesday, met President Shimon Peres. He said that the agreed resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks provided a "moment of real opportunity" for peace and added:

The interests of both the Palestinians and the Israeli people, if everyone would just step back and take a deep breath, are actually very much more in line than they are in opposition.

Then, Biden talked to PM Netanyahu. He said that "historic peace will require both sides to make historically bold commitments" and gave the golden statement:

There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel's security.

When it came to the Iranian issue, Biden said: "We're determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and we're working with many countries around the world to convince Tehran to meet its international obligations and cease and desist." President Peres harshly targeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He stated that Ahmadinejad must face "total" international isolation and added:

A person like Ahmadinejad, who calls openly to destroy the state of Israel, cannot be a full member of the United Nations.

A man who calls for acts of terror, and who hangs people in the street ... he should be placed in his proper definition. He cannot go around almost like a cultural hero.

Ahmadinejad has to be isolated and not be welcomed in the capitals of the world.

Comments

[GREENFELD MEIR]

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT ISRAEL WILL FACE ISN'T SO MUCH FROM

THE ARAB BUT FROM THOSE WHAT ISRAEL THINK THE ARE" FRIEND "EUROPEAN

"SOCIALIST COMMUNIST" THAT 2000 YEARS USE TO KILL JEWS . FROM THE

OTHER HAND ISRAEL THINK THAT UNITED STATE OF AMERICA IS FIEND OF

ISRAEL THE AREN'T FIEND OF ISRAEL .
ISRAEL GOES IN VERY DANGERS PATH ACCEPTING EVERY YEARS 4 OR 5

BILLION DOLLAR . THIS VERY DANGER FOR ISRAEL FUTURE . ITS MUST BE

COME A TIME THAT ISRAEL HAVE TO REJECT AMERICAN HELP . AND BE

INDEPENDENT . AMERICA IS CORRUPTED COUNTRY AS ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE

WORLD ,THE WILL TURN THE BACK ON ISRAEL .
WE SEE AT LIKE ISRAELI DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN WEST BANK .

THAN WHAT IS OUR COUNTRY .?? NO LAND . IN OTHER WORD ISRAEL ISN'T A

COUNTRY .!!!
WE MUST MAKE AT CLEAR TO OUR "EUROPEAN FRIEND " AND" AMERICAN FRIEND"
THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT IN ANY PARTS OF ISRAEL AND THE "GOLAN HEIGHT"
the israeli are naive to think about American support and have to

reject American help . this help is very costly .
we saw that America turn the back on south Africa . that the will do

to Israel to . the same apply about European that help the arab

terrorist and support them
we dont went your peace Mr mitchell .WE DONT WENT TO MAKE A PEACE WITH THE ARAB THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR ISRAEL EXISTENCE IS THE WAR .
OTHER WISE WILL NOT BE ISRAEL . GET OUT AMERICA FROM ISRAEL FIX YOU OWN PROBLEM . 15 MILLION PEOPLE NO JOB .
10 TRILLION $ . DEFICIT .
THIS IS THE EUROPEAN AND USA PUT THE NOISE IN ANY ONE BUSINESS . AT THE TIME THE CANNOT SOLOVE THE OWN PROBLEM . ISAY AT AGAIN UN FOURTHLY . ONLY WAR WITH ARAB .NO OTHER WAY TO SURVIVE .
MY NAME IS GREENFELD MEIR

[Bob D]

Hilarious. Mr Meir.

Nice to see you put the screws to your "friends". They are idiots, but not for the reasons you state. They are suckers because they spend America's blood and trillions in treasure either directly or indirectly trying to make the world safe with perpetual war for Israel. They are cynical vampires but they see it as the path to get reelected. I see what you get out of it. But I don't see what the rest of us do.

Israel could not survive five years without American support. It would become a poor country like their neighbors. But with one difference. Many if not most of the Israelis citizens could, and would leave.

[domingo]

Nice to see you put the screws to your “friends”. nice articals

[Barry]

"Israel could not survive five years without American support".

Hmm - I am not so sure of that. The war of 1948 (after the State of Israel was unilaterally proclaimed) showed what Jews can do when their back is to the wall. I think you misunderstand the driving passion that went into the creation of that State - and how dangerous the Jews are when they feel an existential threat coming on. They will not walk back to the gas chambers willingly - and anybody who thinks that they can be forced back is a fool.

Barry

[Barry]

Nor will they go back to roaming the world stateless for another 2000 years. They are home to stay!

Barry

[Jim]

@Barry

If not that, what? Home to stay are home to stay.

[mechanic]

i hope israel take out iran soon it would not take much ---- iran

[mechanic]

the book of revelation,iran is evil and obamas coward ways is sad