Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Backtracks On His Refusal To Support A 'Two-State Solution'

Washington Post: Netanyahu steps back from full opposition to Palestinian state

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backtracked Thursday from a clear campaign statement that as long as he was the leader of Israel there would be no independent Palestinian state.

“I don’t want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution. But for that, circumstances have to change,” Netanyahu, who won reelection Tuesday, told MSNBC in an interview.

Earlier this week, in the heat of the Israeli campaign, with pre-election polls suggesting that he might lose, Netanyahu made the sensational promise that he would not support the creation of a Palestinian state on his watch, an open reversal of his earlier stance supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

More News On Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Backtracking On His Refusal To Support A 'Two-State Solution'

Israel’s Netanyahu Reverses Position on Palestinian State Again -- WSJ
Netanyahu backs off from pre-election stance ruling out Palestinian state -- The Guardian
Israel PM Netanyahu softens stance on Palestinian state -- BBC
Netanyahu tries to backtrack from controversial campaign remarks -- L.A. Times
Netanyahu insists no flip-flopping on Palestinian state -- FOX News
Netanyahu Changes Stance On Opposition To Two State Solution -- Forbes

Palestinian Poll reveals A Deep Divide Between Israelis And Palestinians

Palestinian Poll: Disturbing News for The ‘Peace Process’ -- Washington Post

I spent some time over the weekend going through a fascinating poll by the Democratic polling outfit Greenberg, Quinlan and Rosner that interviewed 1,009 Palestinian adults, 656 in the West Bank and 353 in Gaza. It is, to say the least, a mixed bag. I’d encourage readers to look through the entire poll, but I’ll highlight a few of the findings.

Large majorities favor the attempt to gain a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood by the United Nations. But interestingly, a plurality (44 percent) think it will make no difference in bringing about a Palestinian state.

Read more ....

My Comment: The hate is too deeply ingrained in the culture .... it is going to take generations to even think of making a dent in this conflict.

Riots Break Out In Jerusalem Again

More Than 100 Injured In 'Day of Rage' Israeli-Palestinian Clashes -- L.A. Times

Palestinians fueled by anger over what they see as Israeli expansions into Palestinian-dominated areas clash with police in East Jerusalem.

Rising political and religious tensions in Jerusalem spilled into the streets Tuesday with a string of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police that left more than 100 people injured.

In scenes reminiscent of past uprisings, dozens of Palestinian youths, some with scarves masking their faces, pelted police with rocks, blocked roads and burned tires in half a dozen neighborhoods around East Jerusalem.

Read more ....

More News On The Riots In Jerusalem

Jerusalem's flickering tinder-box -- BBC
Palestinians riot in Jerusalem over Israeli building plan -- Times Online
Palestinians and Israelis Clash in Jerusalem -- New York Times
Fatah's armed wing wants to resume struggle against Israel -- Ynet News
Can Israel tamp down Jerusalem clashes? -- Christian Science Monitor

Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks Are Going Nowhere

Palestinians Snub Peace Talks Because Of Israeli Homes Expansion -- The Guardian

Mahmoud Abbas 'not ready to negotiate' after Israel announces 1,600 new homes for East Jerusalem.

The Palestinians pulled out of a new round of indirect peace talks last night, even before they had begun, as a protest at Israel's decision to announce approval for hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem.

The decision to pull out, announced in Cairo by Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, represents a major setback to months of diplomacy by the US administration and comes after the US vice-president, Joe Biden, delivered an unusually strong rebuke to Israel.

Read more ....

More News On The Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

PA sources: Talks will happen -- Jerusalem Post
Arab League puts peace talks on the brink -- Times Online
Biden Warns Israel on Jerusalem Construction -- Wall Street Journal
Biden assures Palestinians of statehood backing -- Washington Times
Israel planning 50,000 housing units in East Jerusalem -- Haaretz
Netanyahu regrets 'timing' of E. J'lem housing announcement -- Haaretz
Biden: U.S. won't play favorites between Israelis, Palestinians -- CNN
US-Israel row highlights quandary over settlements -- AP
The Obama administration asked for the East Jerusalem fiasco -- Haaretz
The U.S. will no longer turn a blind eye to Israeli settlements -- Haaretz
Joe Biden and Obama 'humiliated' by Israel? Well, not exactly. -- Christian science Monitor

The Status Of Jerusalem Is Raising Tensions In The Area

Jerusalem: A Growing Powder Keg in Mideast Impasse -- Time Magazine

On the face of it, the project sounds innocent enough: Since the early 1990s, the Israeli organization Elad has been rehabilitating the City of David, a once neglected area nestled at the foot of the southern walls of Jerusalem's Old City. The site is believed to have been the seat of power of the kingdom of David, before King Solomon built his temple higher up on Mount Moriah. Until a few years ago, only a few thousand tourists a year visited the City of David, but Elad's efforts — digging tunnels, uncovering ruins and building a visitor's center — drew at least 460,000 people to the site last year. The organization hopes to make its project the flagship of a series of religious and historical theme parks in a loose ring around the Old City to boost its appeal as a tourist destination. But the enterprise also has a potentially explosive ideological purpose: to cement Israel's claim to all of Jerusalem — a claim that is hotly and often violently disputed by Palestinians and the wider Muslim world.

Read more ....

My Comment: A growing powder keg ?!?!?!? .... this keg blew up a long time ago.

Barack Obama Pledges Support For Palestinian Statehood

Barack Obama meets with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas Photo: BLOOMBERG

From The Telegraph:

Barack Obama has reassured Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, of Washington's support for Palestinian statehood during his first visit to the White House.

Following their Oval Office talks, Mr Obama said he was "confident" of moving the Middle East peace process forward and said freezing the expansion of settlements was now a public priority for the US.

Mr Obama said that "time is of the essence" in securing Arab Israeli peace and that it is "in US interests to do so quickly".

Read more ....

My Comment: Both sides (the Palestinians and Israelis) are diametrically opposed to each other, and while pledging support (from the U.S. President) for a Palestinian state is one thing .... outlining the steps that are necessary to get there is another. Unfortunately for the Palestinians, President Obama does not know what steps must be taken.

Palestinian Talks Collapse

The sun sets behind the main Palestinian electricity company, Al-Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, in January 2008. The Gaza Strip was hit by major power cuts late on Sunday, threatening a blackout throughout the territory within 24 hours, Palestinian officials said. (AFP/File/Said Khatib)

Palestinian Unity Plan Collapses -- Financial Times

Egypt has been forced to postpone a high-profile meeting aimed at ending a long-running conflict between the two largest Palestinian factions, after the Islamist Hamas group said it would not attend the talks.

The meetings were supposed to start in Cairo on Sunday, and lead to the formation of a new Palestinian unity government. Senior Hamas officials blamed the collapse on Fatah, which it said had refused to release Hamas followers from prison. Hamas itself last week released several Fatah prisoners in the Gaza Strip, which it took over last year. The Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority continues to govern the West Bank.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair, the former British prime minister and Middle East quartet peace envoy, urged Barack Obama, the US president-elect, to make the region's peace process a priority after he takes office on January 20.

Mr Blair said negotiations between Israel and Palestine required Mr Obama's "energy, commitment and dedication''. "There is a foundation on which a new American administration and a new Israeli prime minister, with the Palestinians . . . can build."

Read more ....

More News On Palestian Talks/Israeli Relations

Palestinian unity talks to resume 'within two weeks': Fatah -- AFP
Hamas Boycotts Reconciliation Talks With Fatah -- NPR
Listen to Hamas -- Haaretz
Egypt delays Palestinian unity talks after new feud -- Reuters
Middle East Negotiators Press Pursuit of a 2-State Solution -- New York Times
Hamas, Fatah reconciliation becomes impossible mission -- China View
Uncertainty Over Future of Israel-Palestinian Talks -- Los Angeles Times
Rice Fights Peace-process Inertia -- Christian Science Monitor

War News Updates For May 14, 2008

AFGHANISTAN

Report From Afghanistan: Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year -- Strategy Page

Taliban resisting southern Afghan operation: US Marines -- Yahoo News

13 Taliban, 2 police killed in clashes in southern Afghanistan -- International Herald Tribune

US helicopter 'downed by Taleban' -- BBC News

Afghans to ask for $50 bln aid at Paris conference -- Reuters

Afghan teacher killed after speech condemning suicide bombings -- International Herald Tribune

Suspected U.S. Missile Kills 7 In Pakistan: Taliban -- Reuters

NATO cites concern over Pakistan border deals -- Reuters

Taliban invite Pak govt, military, people to join hands against US -- Daily Times

Pakistan violates truce with India, fires at Indian troopers -- Kuna Times


IRAQ

Girl, 8, 'kills Iraqi officer in suicide mission' -- Telegraph

Girl carrying explosives blown up in Baghdad 'suicide attack' -- Guardian

Bombing at Iraq funeral kills 20 -- BBC News

Assessing the Risks of Turkish Raids in Northern Iraq -- Counter Terrorism Blog

In spite of truce, war over wall goes on in Sadr city -- International Herald Tribune

Updates On The War In Iraq 05_14_08, Sadr City Residents Battle The Iranian-Backed Mahdi Army -- Strata-Sphere

The Post-Basra Realities On Iraq -- Strata-Sphere

Al-Sadr ceasefire allows troops to enter Shia slum -- Independent

Iraq in new assault on Al-Qaeda in main northern city -- Yahoo News

'Ghost city' Mosul braces for assault on last bastion of al-Qa'ida in Iraq -- Independent

Iraq PM in Mosul for offensive against al Qaeda -- Reuters

HUSAYN'S STORY: A report from Iraq -- Arggghhh!!!

Commander Says al-Qaida ‘Virtually Destroyed’ in Kirkuk -- Operation Iraqi Freedom

A Commentary On Iraq -- Villainous Company


LEBANON

Lebanon officials reverse decisions that set off violence -- CNN News

Lebanon cancels anti-Hezbollah measures -- Reuters

Lebanon cancels anti-Hezbollah measures -- Yahoo News

Lebanon cabinet concedes key demand for end to clashes -- Yahoo News

Violence grips Lebanese city as peace talks loom -- Independent

Army ups Beirut presence -- Washington Times

Commentary On Lebanon: Another stupid "victory" -- From Beirut To The Beltway

Commentary: Hezbollah's Third Botched Coup Attempt -- Middle East Journal

Commentary: Iran Behind Beirut Takeover, Eyes Israel -- Cedars Revolution

Lebanon: Civil Strife -- Global Voices Online


ISRAEL

Rocket hits as Bush begins Israel visit -- International Herald Tribune

Gaza Rocket Rocks Bush's Israel Trip -- Time magazine

14 hurt as rocket hits Israeli shopping mall -- Guardian


CHAD / SUDAN / DARFUR

Chad urges world to make Sudan 'see reason' on Darfur -- yahoo News

Rebel raid prompts Sudan to break off Chad relations -- Independnet

UN evacuates staff amid clashes in Sudan flashpoint -- Yahoo News

Clashes break out in Sudan's Abyei region -- Reuters