Palestine: Abbas to Latin America "Obama is Doing Nothing"

In an interview with the Argentine daily Clarin, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has prodded President Obama through criticism: "For now he is doing nothing, but he has invited us to revive the peace process. I hope that in the future he can play a more important role."

And, within weeks of Israeli President Shimon Peres' tour of Latin America (and the same day that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in Brasilia), Abbas called upon Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to take a more active role as mediator in the Middle East, "He can do it, because he has good relations with the two parties in the conflict and I think he can help."

Israel: UN Official Calls for “Immediate Actions on the Ground” to Save Peace Process

Abbas also explained that there will be no more concessions from the Palestinian side:

We accepted to have only 22 per cent of Palestine, and that is the biggest concession. And we also accepted that Israel had 78 per cent. So, what kind of concessions are they expecting from us?

Now we are ready to announce our independence if the Israelis will allow us to.

Middle East Inside Line: Israel Request Turkey's Return as Mediator

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has confirmed that Israel has requested that Turkey resume its mediation of peace talks. He said Monday, "We are willing to mediate between the two countries and contribute to the political process in the region, and hope that we will begin a new era on the Palestinian issue and in everything connected to peace talks in the region."

According to sources, the first step of reconciliation is a formal visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was harshly criticized by Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Davos Summit in January.

Middle East Inside Line: Israel’s Government Splits over Relations with Turkey?

In a meeting with Israel's Industry, Labor and Trade Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, the Turkish deputy prime minister, Bulent Arinc, said that Turkey-Israel relations must improve: "The diplomatic relations between the two countries have known ups and downs, but they must stabilize." In response to Arinc, Ben-Eliezer said that "the Israeli people want to return to good relations with Turkey".

Israel-Palestine Video: Obama & Peres on the Path to Peace

Palestine Video: 20 Years Later, Another Wall (Partially) Comes Down

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On the 14th anniversary of the murder of Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin, President Barack Obama's video message was shown to Israelis gathered at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square.He underlined Washington's strong ties with Israel while stressing the importance of peace between Israelis and Palestinians:

America's bond with our Israeli allies is unbreakable and U.S. support for Israel's defense will never be undermined.

To all who seek peace I say tonight, you will always have a partner in the United States of America and in my administration. That's why we've been working aggressively for our clear goal, two states living side by side in peace and security.

Israelis will not find true security while the Palestinians are gripped by hopelessness and despair.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnt8qx8XoIM[/youtube]

Then Israeli President Shimon Peres addressed the crowd:

You, here tonight, don't leave any stone unturned so that next year we will be able to reconvene here, on the 15th anniversary of the murder, and say 'we did it, we realized our dream and Yitzhak's last will and testament.

It is better to have imperfect peace, than a perfect war with no end.

And the path to that imperfect peace? Peres called on Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to stay in office:

We both signed the Oslo accords, and I turn to you as a colleague and ask that you don't let go.

I know that you toiled for the sake of your people for 50 years. Toil that was accompanied by many disappointments and frustrations. But knowing my people and Israel's government I can tell you that Israel wants true peace, not make-believe. A close peace, not peace from a distance. Therefore, it stands to reason that your 51st year will bring independence to the Palestinian people and peace to the State of Israel. The next year could be a turning point.

Palestine Video & Analysis: Reactions to the Election Bluff of Mahmoud Abbas

Israel-Palestine: UN General Assembly Endorses Goldstone Report on Gaza

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On Thursday, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas said,"I have told our brethren in the Palestine Liberation Organization...that I have no desire to run in the forthcoming election" on 24 January.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGxXyzu2T5o[/youtube]

The head of the PLO Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo, quickly announced that the committee had rejected Abbas' announcement. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri jumped in to allege Abbas was bluffing, urging his Western friends to put pressure on Israel. Zuhri suggested an alternative course, "We advise him to...face the Palestinian people and tell them frankly that the path of negotiations has failed. Halt negotiations with the occupation and take practical steps toward reconciliation."

Israel and the US are calling on Abbas to remain in the election. Israeli president Shimon Peres told Abbas in a phone call, "If you leave the Palestinians would lose their chance for an independent state. The situation in the region would deteriorate. Stay, for the Palestinian people's sake."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "Of the existing alternatives, if we want an agreement with the Palestinians then Abbas is the best partner." Clinton subsequently asked Arab foreign ministers and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to press Abbas for a change of decision.