Prime Miniser Ariel Sharon and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ahead of their talks in Jerusalem on Sunday.
(AP)
Condoleezza Rice laying a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem on Sunday.
(Reuters)
Posted on 02/06/2005 12:53:43 PM PST by anotherview
Last Update: 06/02/2005 20:55
Rice urges Israel to avoid unilateral steps on J'lem
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent Haaretz Staff and Agencies
Prime Miniser Ariel Sharon and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ahead of their talks in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Condoleezza Rice laying a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem on Sunday.
(AP)
(Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and President Moshe Katsav, and urged them to maintain the status quo over Jerusalem, and avoid taking any unilateral steps on the disputed capital which could harm Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli sources said Rice was referring to the government's decision from last summer to apply the absentee property law to tens of thousands of dunams (acres) of Palestinian property in East Jerusalem. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz last week instructed Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order an immediate halt to the application of the law. The sources said Rice may also have been referring to the decision to build the separation fence in Jerusalem, and to expand Jewish neighborhoods in the city.
Rice said Sunday that the disengagement plan is an historic opportunity, and that the future security of Palestinians and Israelis will be ensured only by two states exisiting side by side.
In an interview with TV Channel 2 Rice emphasized the importance of direct contact between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, and minimum involvement of mediators such as the U.S.
When asked about the right of return for Palestinian refugees, the secretary of state said that while new demographic realities since 1967 must be taken into account, the parties must reach an agreement accommodating to the needs of them both.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who was the first Israeli official to meet with Rice on Sunday, told the secretary of state, "Israel will not relinquish its sovereignty over Jerusalem. The issue of Jerusalem will be left to the final status agreement, but we have to intention to harm the Palestinians."
Rice also said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan must be implemented without delay, and carried out according to its timetable. She told Shalom that Abu Mazen [Abbas] was elected through democratic elections and he needs as much help as possible to give a firm basis to his leadership. Shalom responded that "the pain of the settlers [to be evacuated under the plan] must be understood and empathy must be shown. These people do not know where they will live or where they will work.
Rice arrived in Israel in an optimistic mood Sunday afternoon, as she prepared for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials two days before the first official Middle East summit since the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat last November.
Her first stop was a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, where she laid a wreath inside the Hall of Remembrance.
She then met with Shalom, followed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. She is also due to meet President Moshe Katsav later Sunday.
Ahead of their meeting, Sharon said he was sure his talks with Rice would "contribute to the friendly relations between the two countries." Sharon said he also expected her visit to contribute to the peace process, "which we want to very much want to push forward in the region."
In response, Rice said U.S.-Israel relations were solid "because we share not just interests but values." She said her goal was to "try to advance the cause of peace and to overcome the scourge of terrorism."
Before meeting Shalom, Rice said, "we will ask of our partners and our friends in Israel that Israel continues to make the hard decisions that must be taken in order to promote peace and... the emergence of a democratic Palestinian state.
"This is a time of optimism because fundamental changes are underway in the Middle East as a whole," she added.
After their meeting, Shalom told Channel 2 television that he gave Rice Israel's demands of the Palestinians.
"If the Palestinians do not to everything to halt the smuggling of weapons through tunnels, close the tunnels, close the weapons workshops, gather up illegal weapons - we would simply be giving the violent groups time to regroup and then carry out terror attacks that could collapse the whole process," he said.
On Monday, Rice will travel to the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.
Tuesday's summit, hosted and initiated by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, will be attended by Sharon, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah.
Although the U.S. has said that the secretary of state will not attend the talks, her agenda is likely to include in part a review of the plans for the summit.
Rice has signaled she prefers to see Sharon and Abbas make progress as free of foreign mediation as possible.
"I hope we would all get into a mind-set that says if the parties are able to continue to move on their own, that's the very best outcome," Rice told reporters en route to Ankara, the stop before Israel.
Preparations for the Egypt summit are being finalized, but not before her arrival.
Israeli officials assessed that the secretary of state would commend both sides on their recent efforts.
Paul Patin, a spokesman of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, said Rice would bring up a wide range of issues, including Israel's commitment under the internationally backed road map peace plan to dismantle dozens of unauthorized West Bank settlement outposts and Israeli gestures to the Palestinians, such as the removal of Israeli checkpoints that disrupt Palestinian travel - gestures that would bolster confidence in the new Palestinian leadership.
"Outposts are something that they promised to remove years ago and we expect them to abide by their commitments," Patin said.
She is also expected to call on the Palestinians to do more to restore security and bring an end to violence.
For their part, the Americans are trying to play down Rice's absence from the Egyptian summit.
"It is not necessary to participate at the highest level in every gathering in order to be a major player and part of the solution," a State Department spokesman explained Saturday.
In Israel, police raised their level of operations in various regions around the country Sunday, in anticipation of Rice's arrival and the run-up to Tuesday's summit.
Police decided to bolster forces around the country and checkpoints were set up between the seam line and various Israeli cities. Police will conduct both regular and undercover patrols.
Sharon may invite Mubarak Israeli officials, meanwhile, said Sunday that Sharon may invite his Egyptian counterpart to visit Israel during Tuesday's summit, as relations between the former enemies continue to flourish.
The invitations "is quite likely," said an unnamed official. "We would very much like him to come."
In recent months relations have improved as Egypt took a larger role in mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. The last visit by an Egyptian leader to Israel was by Mubarak in 1995, when he came to the funeral of assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The German economy improved under Hitler but the Holocaust still happen why?
Because of the hate taught by the Nazis. Currently the Islamists are filling hate into the so called Palestinians.
Golda Meir said it best "There can be no peace until the Muslims learn to love their children more then they hate they Jews"
Arafat is dead. This may not be a time for peace - but it is a time for change and for hope and for opportunity seized.
Abbas was Arafat's right hand man. Ignoring history and you are bound to repeat it!
We saw the Palestinians dancing after 9/11. Disgusting. And we can see how truly miserable they are. Do you really want to keep things just as they are? I don't.
Time to capitalize on the death of Arafat and improve the lives of the average Palestinian.
E Rocc, if you, as your ally seem to suggest, care to accuse me of being a foreigner, or disloyal, or and extremist, or a "chosen" who feel his faith is superior to others, or as potentially violent (I'm a hunter), or any of the lunatics other accusations, feel free. You know how to support your statements.
If you plan on accusing be of supporting terrorist groups, you better have facts, I don't take kindly to being called a criminal.
If sunsong is just blabbering in your name as I suspect, no answer is necessary.
AM, you had it right when you banned her the first time.
The so called Palies have recieved billions in aid and every time they kill JEws they run to America for help.
And we can see how truly miserable they are. Do you really want to keep things just as they are? I don't.
They arent miserable they feel they are serving Allah by killing Jews and dancing on 9/11.
Time to capitalize on the death of Arafat and improve the lives of the average Palestinian.
AS in time to repeat history and go through the merry go round of peace talks that will end once the terrorists groups have fully rearmed.
I don't see you or your pessimism (which I'm sure you see as the only "real" view) as being helpful.
Step back for a while and watch. There is much that you can learn from those who can see the light..
and the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not
What I see is a naive person who is ignoring history and DOOMED to repeat it!
This is not pessimism but REALISM.
I am optimistic that once Israel completes the wall and strikes down all terrorist groups that the Israelis will be able to leave in peace. As for the so called Palies they wont have the Jews to blame and kick around anymore.
You have the gall to accuse me of being someone that I am not - and then go on to present yourself as a victim? Give me a break.
I have no idea who sungirl is. As long as you post to me or about me - you will receive posts from me. And as long as you present extremist views - I will call a spade a spade.
Didn't I just predict that :-)
And how did you predict it?
You look at history.
History will tell you that Abbas is Arafat in a suit.
You couldn't be more wrong. I am surprised that you have such little understanding of what their lives are like.
Now is the time for hope and opptimism. If you are not capable of that - at least step back for a while and watch. If you are right - you will have enough time to gloat with "I told you sos"
You know your repsonse that is completely in character with the owner of a vicious dog, or the mother of a vicious bully. No matter how much the dog or the bully have terrorized the neighborhood, can't we just love him? What's wrong with us.
I'm just repeating myself now. If you can't muster some optimism - with so much that is hopeful all around you - won't you please step back and let others have a try at changing a horrible situation? There are those who really believe in miracles. And they are justified in their beliefs.
How many incarnations? I think you are missing a few. This sol-chant persona's been around for a while.
So what if they live in poverty that is their own governments fault. Why dont they rise up against their own government?
Because they will get B*tch slapped!
Yet they hate JEws more than their own corrupt government.
Now is the time for hope and opptimism. If you are not capable of that - at least step back for a while and watch. If you are right - you will have enough time to gloat with "I told you sos"
I will have the right to say "I told you so" but it will come at the price of Dead Jews and that is not worth it!
You've been asked on this thread and others, and never answer. Your posting habits, both incitement and topics are the same. I think you're lying, but at least you've finally answered.
Do you really object to change? Do you really object to things getting better? Pessimism and hostility are not called for at this time. Hope and optimism are.
Hope you will decide to get on board.
That, I think, is the lie. Please produce any posts that have "asked" me about this sungirl business! I will be waiting - but I will not be holding my breath.
Extremist are not known for their integrity.
You could have held your breath. You know I've never heard anyone to the political right of Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy use "extremist" the way you do. I hear they teach that at PETA and ISM seminars. You should get a thesaurus, it's a giveaway.
Turtles young and old. Turtles live longer than humans, did you know? They lumber around and some will snap your finger off. Others just lumber around. They sleep all winter and come out in the summer to bask in the sun.
There came a turtle. The biggest one in the neighborhood. How can I say how old it was? Many years, many years. It moved ponderously slow. It was huge -- a few feet long.
Jody -- that was his name -- waited till the turtle was at his feet. The rest of us were marveling at it. Oh why did I just stand there and ignore the ax he had? I had no fear of Jody, I was fast and tough. Even with an ax Jody was no threat to me.
Suddenly his face lit up! He brutally swung the ax and reswung it, once twice -- each time into the turtle. He was quicker than the turtle -- he chopped off its head -- or rather sliced the head in half. He was happy!
I grabbed at the ax and screamed -- as I can do -- a blood-curdling scream. It stops people in their tracks. He let go the ax and ran. I flung the ax down and chased him.
He ran to his house, into his kitchen. He ran to his mom. I ran into his house after him. I tore him from his mother and pummeled him into the floor. His mother screamed -- her baby! In her eyes he could do no wrong.
She pulled me off of him and pushed me out of the house. But I had already bloodied his nose and lip -- she went back in to attend to him.
Did Jody change? Yes. He stayed out of my way, and his family moved out. Did Jody change beyond that?
I doubt it. A psychopath doesn't change.
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