With American Nudging, Israel/Palestinian Peace Talks Are Set to Begin Again

Written by Marty Roberts on March 10, 2010 – 5:04 pm -

What a bunch of phoney-baloney…As former head of Israel’s Mossad Ben-Levy just said on the radio…Obama and the US certainly know that there is not a snowball’s chance in Florida of successful peace talks with the palestinians. They know that the palestinians are not at all serious about making peace with Israel. But Obama has another agenda, which he clearly stated at the beginning of his term. He does NOT want to be perceived as an enemy of Islam and the Moslem countries, which by definition makes friendship with America’s best friend, Israel, problematic. So Obama MUST be seen as furthering the palestinians’ alleged goal of carving a state out of Israel’s territory, which means peace talks, however futile they may be.
I would assume that Israel’s leadership is also well aware of this. At least Netanyahu is…Coalition member Labor Party head and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak might be another story…
Biden and Fayyad

Biden holds Palestinian talks after condemning Israel

The US vice-president Joe Biden is holding talks with Palestinian leaders, a day after condemning Israel’s announcement of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem.

Reprinted from ABC News Australia Anne Barker

Israel’s announcement coincided with Mr Biden’s arrival and came days after Palestinians agreed to re-enter indirect peace talks with Israel.

The vice-president condemned the decision, saying it undermined the trust needed on both sides. He displayed his anger by turning up 90 minutes late to a dinner with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s own defence ministry also blasted the move, saying it would affect peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Mr Biden has since held talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, who say Israel’s decision is dangerous because it will hinder negotiations.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their capital in a future state.