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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
| Erekat says Mitchell failed to stop Israeli settlements | |
| 2009-09-23 | |
| Ma'an - Head Palestine Liberation Organization negotiator Dr Saeb Erekat lamented on Tuesday that US special envoy George Mitchell had not yet succeeded in convincing Israel to pause its settlement enterprise during talks in New York. "Senator Mitchell could not have the Israelis comply with their obligations, ie stopping settlement activities including natural growth," Erekat said after meeting Israeli leaders. "He could not get the Israeli government's acceptance to resume the permanent status negotiations." He said accepting US President Barack Obama's invitation to the trilateral meeting that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under the pretense that Israel might have been pressured to fulfill its agreements. "We thought that the invitation of President Obama was a personal invitation that reflected the commitment to achieve the two-state solution." While top Palestinian negotiator applauded Obama and Mitchell's efforts, he nevertheless lamented that since "the Americans cannot have the Israelis comply with stopping settlement activities," little more could be expected out of Israel on larger issues. "If the Israeli government believes that they want to make peace to maintain their coalition by saying Jerusalem is not going to be negotiated, refugees is not going to be negotiated, settlements will continue then they can make peace between themselves," he said. "It's time and high time for the Israeli government to realize that obligations are the essence of international law, international relations, interactions between nations," he added. "Responsible governments carry out their obligations."
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| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 What do you expect Saeb---people like Mitchell been trying to "solve the Jewish problem" for the last four thousand years. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-09-23 10:35 |