Palestinians Accuse Clinton Of Hurting Peace Talks

JERUSALEM — The Palestinians on Sunday accused U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton of undermining progress toward Mideast peace talks after she praised Israel for offering to curb some Jewish settlement construction.

After meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders during a visit Saturday, Clinton called for an unconditional resumption of peace talks and welcomed Israel's offer for a slowdown in settlement activity.

But Palestinians rejected the idea of resuming talks, reiterating their demand that Israel must first freeze all construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem – lands they claim for a future state.

"I believe that the U.S. condones continued settlement expansion," Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib said in a rare public chiding of Washington.

"Calling for a resumption of negotiations despite continued settlement construction doesn't help because we have tried this way many times," Khatib added. "Negotiations are about ending the occupation and settlement expansion is about entrenching the occupation."

Palestinians expressed deep disappointment and frustration at Clinton's words, which signaled a departure from past U.S. calls for a complete freeze on settlement activity.

"If America cannot get Israel to implement a settlement freeze, what chance do Palestinians have of reaching agreement with Israel on permanent status issues?" Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

Similar sentiments were voiced by Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab countries to have peace agreements with Israel. The two countries said most of the blame lay with Israel, but signaled their unhappiness with the American shift.

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Jordan's King Abdullah II traveled to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. After the meeting, a royal palace statement released in Jordan said both leaders "insisted on the need for an immediate halt of all Israeli unilateral actions, which undermine the chances of achieving peace, especially the settlement construction."

Clinton is set to meet with Arab foreign ministers in Morocco in the coming days.

After taking office at the start of this year, President Barack Obama buoyed Palestinian hopes with his outreach to the Muslim world and an initially tough stance urging a full freeze to all settlement construction.

But after making little headway with the Israelis in recent months, Clinton urged the Palestinian leader in a face-to-face meeting on Saturday to renew talks, which broke down late last year, without conditions.

Then, at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday, she praised Netanyahu's offer to curb some settlement construction.

"What the prime minister has offered in specifics on restraints on a policy of settlements ... is unprecedented," Clinton added. "I want to see both sides as soon as possible begin negotiations."

Netanyahu has said he will not create any new settlements in the West Bank and indicated he would temporarily suspend any plans for future construction. But he has insisted Israel would not limit building in east Jerusalem, which it annexed after capturing it. And he has refused to call off the construction of 3,000 apartments in the West Bank that already have been approved.

The Palestinians say the settlements are undermining their dream of independence by gobbling up large chunks of territory they claim as part of a future state. Some 500,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967.

Israel promised to halt all settlement activity in a 2003 peace plan, but construction has never stopped.

Palestinian President Abbas has been badly weakened by the perception among his public that he has repeatedly buckled under U.S. pressure. With Palestinian elections scheduled for January, Abbas is wary of again caving in to Washington.

Abbas' rival, the Hamas militant group, urged the president to resist American calls to restart peace talks. "The Arab and Muslim people know well that the U.S. position is biased," aid Mohammad Nazzal, a top member of the group's exiled leadership in Syria.

Senior Palestinian officials are waiting to see what comes out of Clinton's talks with Arab foreign ministers in Morocco this week. While disappointed with the U.S. stance, Abbas wants to avoid a confrontation with Washington.

Encouraged by the U.S. backing, Netanyahu on Sunday urged the Palestinians to "come to their senses" and restart peace talks.

"The peace process is in the Israeli interest and also in the Palestinian interest. It is important and we are committed to it and we hope that as we are prepared to begin talks without delay, we shall find the Palestinians sharing the same attitude," he told his Cabinet.

Comments

[TN]

"You don't have to take the money" classic!

[waitforme]

Clinton's patronizing, authoritarian tone when she speaks to world leaders (Pakistan, Israel, Palestine) can only evoke the digging in of one's heels and a world backlash. She has never learned to divest herself of her father's bullying style and find a respectful tone which nonetheless carries authority (not authoritarianism, authority) and mutual respect. There are excellent, effective woman leaders in the world she could model herself after to great effectiveness: Mary Robinson of Ireland, Arundati Roy (on nuclear proliferation), the president of Chile, Bachelet.

[Ergon]

MALE American leaders also adopt that whiny, hectoring tone as well.Equally unappreciated around the world.

[waitforme]

Hillary Clinton takes an unfortunate, imperialistic, stance as the Chief Representative of the US government.
Her patronizing, authoritarian tone when she speaks to world leaders (Pakistan, Israel, Palestine) can only evoke the digging in of one's heels and a world backlash. She has never learned to divest herself of her father's bullying style and find a respectful tone which nonetheless carries authority (not authoritarianism, authority) and mutual respect. There are excellent, effective woman leaders in the world she could model herself after to great effectiveness: Mary Robinson of Ireland, Arundati Roy (on nuclear proliferation), the president of Chile, Bachelet.

Clinton should avoid speaking when she is tired or frustrated or feeling resentful, as she frequently reverts to a C. Riceian one of imperial bullying, of using the royal 'I want to see the parties..' do such and such rather than 'it would work better for the peoples of all our countries to...'. This authoritarian style of hers, though it is an easy default position for her, only works against US and all of our interests.

[mmaza]

That's so funny. These people have been in peace talks for 4000 years .

[S1m0n]

There aren't any peace talks.

[soldiergirl]

We've got to stop blindly supporting Isreal. They aren't always right in the way that they do things, and when they are not, we should not support those actions. How can we mediate between the two of them when we are leaning heavily towards Isreal, regardless?

[MrPragmatic]

The United States is by and large a Judeo-Christian nation. Israel is our alli. Of course we support Israel.

[Ben Cohn]

we aren't always right in what we do. You don't abandon your ally because they make mistakes. If that were so, we would have NO allies...that why its called being allies and loyalty. You pressure and tell them when they are wrong, you don't stop supporting them...that is the attitude of tree-hugger Americans who know nothing of loyalty. You'd probably sell your own mother out if she didn't agree with you on everything.

[brady61995]

they will never be happy, either side. arab vs christian/jewish. there will never be peace.

[kannadzuki]

Oh? And on what are you basing this assumption? I happen to disagree with your implication that this situation is based in religion rather than inflamed by it. It's also just plainly wrong to imply that Arabs cannot be Christian or Jewish, or even that all Jews support Israel's actions in Gaza and East Jerusalem. Can you share the facts that prompted you to this weighty conclusion? It's quite an extraordinary claim to say that a war will *never* end.

[brady61995]

well let me reword this muslim and christians will never get along. not the peaceful mind their own business ones but the extremist on each side. I was not trying to suggest that an arab could not be a christian so i am sorry i did not say muslim. the extraordinary claim is watching a world that has been at war from the begining of time and i dont see en end to wars in my lifetime. with natural resources, too many people, no real compassion for each other. i see it getting worse not better. not just israel and palastine. hey maybe i am wrong and everyones going to kiss and make up and but i will stick with the worlds a mess and its not going to get better anytime soon.

[mrh3]

The SOS has a bad case of foot in mouth disease.

[MaxxEliot]

Hardly but you could use one up your sass

[mrh3]

Good one Sparky.

[Ergon]

South African Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both support the Palestinians. I wonder why.

[brady61995]

any opressed group no matter how fanitical will get the sympathy of others that have been supressed.

[pomegrante]

Dark Sphere I agree. She is finally doing what is right by shedding her sheeps clothing and showing the true wolf that she is.

[Dark Sphere]

I never thought I'd say this about Hillary Rodham (Rodman for those of you who are Jesse Jackson supporters) but if the Palestinians are mad, she might be doing something right...

[Tasies]

The Palestinians should say NO to negotiations until Israel agrees to return to the 1967 borders. Well see if Israel reconsiders once there is no more territory to annex, and when the Jewish population becomes a tiny minority. Palestinian women should have 8 to 10 children. Unfortunately, two of every eight will die in future attempts to curtail the Palestinian population. Regardless, this war is going to be won demographically. The Palis should sit it out until they can negotiate from a position of strength.

[Dark Sphere]

Are you kidding, the 1967 borders? The Israelis actually need to take back the temple mount and des.troy the dome of the rock. The dome is considered to be a pa.gan temple according to Jews and Christians alike, and will need to be removed before the daily sacrifices can be started by the Levitical Priesthood.

The Israelis are our only sane allies in this region and we need to support them to the fullest extent.

[LawTalkingGuy]

First, it's pretty surprising that you would recommend the demolition of a centuries old temple that is one of the holiest shrines in Islam. I assume you feel the same way about the 'pagan shrines' right here in America? And what shoudl we do with all the pagans once we destroy their shrines?

Second, how do you describe Israel as 'allies' of the USA? Would a faithful Ally build a nuclear weapons plant right under our noses while lying about it to us? Would a faithful ally ignore solemn commitments made to a US President to stop illegal settlements? Would a faithful ally start wars of aggression against her sovereign neighbor Lebanon without our approval and over our protests? Would a faithful ally openly dismiss formal requests for co-operation made by the Secretary of State?

Remember the Iranians are judged 'crazy' because they *talk* about destroying Israel, while everyone knows they lack the ability. Israel, on the other hand, is the only country in the region that is sitting on a nuclear bomb and is ready to use it. Sane? Ally? I find it difficult to accept.

[Ergon]

Good luck finding the red heifer :)

[Ben Cohn]

"When the Jewish population becomes a tiny minority"

Obviously you have ZERO understanding of history. Jews ARE a tiny minority. They make up less then .3% of the world's population despite having been around for longer then any other major religion. Perhaps this is because there exponential growth (take basic math and you'll understand this concept), has been curtailed more then just a few times through out history. Israel was created to PROTECT this tiny minority. Now you want them to become a tiny powerless minority in the only country they actually have any power in. Never has a group been more attacked and belittled but still blamed then Jews.

[Dark Sphere]

I agree 100%, here is the paradox, though. Jews generally vote 90% of the time for Democrats. Democrats have been shown, along with the rest of Europe, to be either anti-Israel or anti-semite. The majority of Jews in this country tend to be anti-Israel and pro mid east, palestinian. It boils down to this, 90% of Jews in this country are secular, while the remaining 10% are religious, and generally conservati­ve/rebupli­can...

It's funny how we have been told for years by the MSM that Christians are the bigots and anti-semites, but in actuality, they are the biggest supporters of Israel...

[OswegoKayaker]

The so-called Palestinians are often terrorists used by Egypt and other countries like Iran to help in their never-ending war to destroy Israel. Israel is a democracy and has always been our friend. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have fired over 10,000 rockets since 2001, specifically targeting Israeli women and children. Meanwhile the Israelis try NOT to bomb civilians -- which is hard because they dig their tunnels that supply them with arms right in their houses.

The BBC, which is typically very anti-Israel, has published a fairly balanced slide-show, showing pictures related to the desctruction of the Palestinian tunnels.

http://factsofisrael.com/blog/archives/000761.html

[LawTalkingGuy]

It is you who are biased, not the BBC. The BBC never calls them 'so-called Israelis'. And why do you cite how much ordinance Palestinians have fired, but not Israelis? Isn't that biased? Isn't it done just to inflame hatred against one side without providing comparable facts on the other? And why do you talk about rockets fired, but not the deaths those rockets cause? Surely it is the killing of people, not the firing of guns or rockets, that is important. Surely 10.000 rockets that kill 10 people are not as bad as 10 rockets that kill 10,000.

So please, your unbiased evidence... how many Israelis have been killed since 2001 by Palestinian fire, and how many Palestinians by Israeli fire? The numbers will show a stark CONTRAST... but that is not the same as bias.

[Ben Cohn]

Also, those 10,000 rockets will be shot over years and years. If Israel responds to every 1,000 rockets with 1, which is what your scenario contemplates, who is the aggressor. To me that casualties that end up resulting from those 1000 to 1 may be telling about who has the better rocket, but they tell you nothing about who the aggressor in the conflict is. in fact all circumstantial evidence would tell you that the society that shoots 1000 over a year is more of an aggressor than the group that shoots 1. I am not saying that is exactly how it is playing out over there, but it was meant to show why your argument only speaks to death tolls, not to the root of the conflict.

[Ben Cohn]

It's just amazing that so many of you are ready to throw Israel, a longtime loyal ally, under the bus in favor of a group of people that have been nothing but a breeding ground for terrorist activities and attacks, let alone supporting one of the largest terrorist organizations in the world, Hamas. If the Palestinians lived in the U.S. and tried to claim that a section of say California belonged to them...even though we had won the war against their former countries who tried to take it back...we would have removed them LONG AGO.

Israel SHOULD stop with the settlements, but don't confuse the settlements issue with who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Israel will never give support to people trying to blow up America, Europe, or anywhere with Western values...P­alestinian­s do and will.

[alexa07]

The Israelis have no one to blame for themselves. They have created a society that does not respect the rights & human dignity of all who live there. It was always the case, but now it is out in the open much more for the world to see. In the 21st century the cameras are there; 24/7 international satellite channels do not provide the cover that traditionally has been accorded Israel by the US media. The world is judging Israel harshly because it doesn't like what it sees. Even though the US media continues to provide cover; & the Obama people are trying to put a better shine on Israel's face, the world isn't buying it. More Americans than ever have access to the alternative media; the international channels, the internet. All of this has made a huge difference.

[Ben Cohn]

To all those responding what would I do if I woke up and suddenly my land wasn't mine....that is a terrible argument and here is why.

There are many, many, many Arab-Israeli's LIVING INSIDE the confines of what is recognized Israel. THESE people are the real PALESTINIANS. The people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are vastly decedents of settlers from Egypt, Jordan and Syria who were locked out of THERE OWN countries after those nations lost the Six Days War. Don't confuse the people who lived in "Palestine" prior to the creation of Israel, with people we now call "Palestini­ans"...THE­Y ARE NOT THE SAME.

[OswegoKayaker]

I see the Palestinians for what they have always been -- people who want to create tension in the area against Israel. Arafat took our money and never did a thing for us in trying to create peace in that region. He ended up with wealth beyond imaging in a country so poor. Everyone keeps buying into the fiction that the Palestinians are peaceful, perpetual vagrants. Forbes calculated Arafat came in sixth behind Queen Elizabeth II in a list of wealthy world leaders. Yasser Arafat's personal wealth may have been as much as $11 billion -- but most of his people lived in abject poverty. He scuttled every peace talk ever held. So all our money went to his personal fortune which included millions invested in real estate, Middle East phone companies and a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Ramallah. That kind of money passed on to the terrorists, it could fund the intifada for years.

[freshnotbitter]

"removed them long ago"

we don't remove people.Israel removed Palestinians from the land they had been occupying for millenia when boatloads of Jews arrived in Palestine from post war Europe.

Think of waking up one morning, you turn on the TV and the announcer says that if you are American and living in Miami, you are, as of today, a citizen of Cuba, not America and if you have a problem with that you'll have to take it up with Fidel because the UN has just decided to give Miami to Cuba. Hope he doesn't take all your businesses.

Not a pleasant prospect, eh?

What would you do, Mr. Cohen?

[Ben Cohn]

To all those responding what would I do if I woke up and suddenly my land wasn't mine....that is a terrible argument and here is why.

There are many, many, many Arab-Israeli's LIVING INSIDE the confines of what is recognized Israel. THESE people are the real PALESTINIANS. The people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are vastly decedents of settlers from Egypt, Jordan and Syria who were locked out of THERE OWN countries after those nations lost the Six Days War. Don't confuse the people who lived in "Palestine" prior to the creation of Israel, with people we now call "Palestini­­ans"...TH­E­Y ARE NOT THE SAME.

[Ben Cohn]

and my name is COHN...C..­.O...H...N

[Ben Cohn]

Also, by your argument, what are you going to tell a 6 year old Israeli child?..."Hey Timmy, um I know you were just born 6 years ago, but you have to leave this land. Why? Well we think the British and other Western Nations were wrong to give your great great grandpa the right to come live here, so to fix that were kicking you all out." Common blaming Israeli's for the creation of the state of Israel is kind of absurd don't ya think.

[Justtellthetruth]

I think this washington based middle east insider sums it up best in politico;

"I fear her trip to Israel may be the final nail" in the coffin for the Obama administration's efforts to pursue Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, one Washington Middle East hand said on condition of anonymity Sunday.

Clinton "went beyond Obama's talking points in New York City," he said. "She took sides on settlements" and appeared to "'praise' Israel and Bibi."

Either the entire administration is foundering in this critical issue ( and siding with an Israeli regime who are morally not even quite equivalent to South Africas Apartheid government) or, and this seems more likely, Hillary Clinton's ineptitude and/or personal political and monetary ambitions have just hurt the process immeasurably.

[freshnotbitter]

tks.

Obviously she is running for President, isn't, she?

C'mon, be sincere. You know it. Just say it.

Hey, the team of rivals, remember?

[placpje]

Her "personal, political and monetary ambitions"? LOL!

Talk to her regularly, do you?