Peace initiative welcomed
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry that agreement has been reached on a basis for direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Murray McCully
“New Zealand strongly supports the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry to move the peace process forward through direct negotiations on a two-state solution,” Mr McCully says.
“I have assured Secretary Kerry of New Zealand’s support for his initiative on a number of occasions, and emphasised this support in meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas during my visits to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory last month.
“My discussions in the region have confirmed that both sides have a mutual interest in pursuing progress. New Zealand urges both sides to use this opportunity to make meaningful and lasting progress towards a sustainable two-state solution.
“I also understand the reasons why Secretary Kerry intends to keep the elements of today’s agreement private. This will best allow the process to move forward.
“We place on record our strong support for Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas and the constructive and responsible leadership that has made today’s announcement possible.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last night: “”I view the resumption of the diplomatic process at this time as a vital strategic interest of the State of Israel. It is important in and of itself in order to try and bring about the conclusion of the conflict between us and the Palestinians, and it is important in light of the strategic challenges that are before us, mainly from Iran and Syria. With the resumption of the diplomatic process, we are faced with two main goals: Preventing the creation of a bi-national state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River that would endanger the future of the Jewish state and preventing the establishment of an additional Iranian-sponsored terrorist state on Israel’s borders, which would endanger us no less. I would like to thank US Secretary of State John Kerry for putting in the great efforts that have led to the resumption of the process. I expect that the talks will be conducted in a serious and responsible manner. As Prime Minister of Israel, I am committed, first and foremost, to the security of the citizens of Israel and I will strongly uphold the security demands of the State of Israel, as well as its vital interests.”
Pfresident of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Philip Chester, added: “”We welcome the resumption of negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and we are hopeful that progress will be made although we are aware that given the history of this process, that it is unlikely to lead to any immediate significant agreement. We call on the Palestinian leadership to approach these negotiations without insisting on any preconditions in order to attempt to give the negotiations the best chance of success.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has warmly welcomed the announcement of an agreement being reached for resuming direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We express our sincere hope that a just and enduring peace can be reached between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of the principle of two States for two peoples”, said ECAJ President, Dr Danny Lamm.
“We note with appreciation that the Australian Government’s policy statements have consistently affirmed this principle, and have urged the parties to return to direct negotiations without preconditions,” Dr Lamm said.
Dr Lamm was also highly critical of new guidelines published by the European Union concerning the eligibility of Israeli entities which operate beyond the Green Line to benefit from grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU.
“It is not the place of the EU or anyone else to try to pre-empt the resolution of final status issues such as borders and settlements which the parties themselves have previously agreed can only be resolved by them in direct negotiations”, Dr Lamm said. “The approach taken by the EU is ham-fisted and potentially counter- productive. It sends out the utterly unrealistic message that only the Israelis, and not the Palestinians, will need to make painful compromises to achieve peace”.
So the talks are entirely to suit Israel’s design of expanding settlements while using the smokescreen of talks. The US will probably bribe Abbas for participating in the charade. Preventing a bi-national state and Likud had often declared it will not permit the creation of a Palestinian state, nor stop expanding settlements. This is meant to further destroy the Palestinian nation.
Ben, rant as much as you like, reality disproves every comment you make.
There is no Palestinian nation, As Fathi Hamad of Hamas said in 2012, they are all from Egypt or Saudi Arabia; betweem 1933 and 1941, the Arab increase in the Brit Mandate was over 3% pa.
There are no settlements. The Jewish towns and villages are established as parts of national development and for security. At present they represent only 1.7% of Judea and Samaria and while those regions have not been annexed, they consititute a minor fraction of Area C under Isreali control. The Pals have no rights and have no genuine complaints as there has been no new development for over a decade.
The US cannot get abu Mazen out of his elaborate kennel in Ramallah because he is determined to have no peace and to have no state if it means that Israel is not destroyed. Besides, it is a stupid charade for Israel to deal with an enemy who needs its help to stay in power and who represents few in Judea and Samaria and cannot bark or growl for the jihadis in Gaza.
If it is not too difficult, try to connect with reality before your next rave.