Israeli FM rules out any immediate agreement on Palestine issue
Thursday, 1 July 2010
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, June 30: Let this piece be a break from the usual exercise on the global economy. There have been developments on the international plane bearing importance of far reaching significance. The US economy was not bereft of news either. The Congress yesterday removed from the new financial reforms bill the provision of levying tax on big banks and hedge funds.
On the global political front, Israel's Foreign Minister Avicdor Liberman ignited the dormant Middle-East peace process, stating with all the force in his command that there is no chance of a Palestinian state being established within two years. There is absolutely no chance of reaching an agreement on Palestinian state by 2012. In an indirected hint to President Obama's oft-repeated pledge of two-state theory to end the Middle East (ME) crisis, Israel's Foreign Minister said "One can dream and imagine, but we are far from reaching understanding and an agreement"
Israeli foreign minister made the remarks after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The United States, European Union, the United Nations and Russia in a grouping called the quartet have called for a peace accord between Israel and Palestine by 2012.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded indirectly to Liberman, saying he believed in the peace process and hoped that a deal would emerge as soon as possible, The New York Times (NYT) quoted him saying. Achieving peace is in the best interest of Israel, Palestine and the world, the Russian foreign minister said.
On the Afghan front, Gen. David Petraeus, the new Commander of the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, in his first reaction, said "protection of his troops is a moral responsibility". He promised to review the restrictions on the US airstrikes and artillery in Afghanistan which have cut down civilian casualties but have been bitterly criticised by the American troops who say restrictions have made the fight more dangerous.
"I want to assure the mothers and fathers of those fighting in Afghanistan that I see it as a moral imperative to bring all assets to protect our men and women in uniform," the General said this in his Senate confirmation hearing. Gen. Petraeus will go to Kabul on Friday. The General has already discussed the issue with Afghan president Karzai. The issue is a double-edged sword. Airstrikes and use of artillery will give rise to civilian casualties and these remaining dormant increases the US death toll.
In a separate development, Turkey stated that it would not appoint a new Ambassador to Israel, unless the Israeli government formally tender apology for the killing of nine Turkish citizens including one Turkish-American. Turkey is demanding compensation for the relatives of the dead and formation of an independent commission to investigate the Israeli military operation against the flotilla that tried to break the blockade. Israel has agreed to form an internal investigation team with three foreign observers.
NEW YORK, June 30: Let this piece be a break from the usual exercise on the global economy. There have been developments on the international plane bearing importance of far reaching significance. The US economy was not bereft of news either. The Congress yesterday removed from the new financial reforms bill the provision of levying tax on big banks and hedge funds.
On the global political front, Israel's Foreign Minister Avicdor Liberman ignited the dormant Middle-East peace process, stating with all the force in his command that there is no chance of a Palestinian state being established within two years. There is absolutely no chance of reaching an agreement on Palestinian state by 2012. In an indirected hint to President Obama's oft-repeated pledge of two-state theory to end the Middle East (ME) crisis, Israel's Foreign Minister said "One can dream and imagine, but we are far from reaching understanding and an agreement"
Israeli foreign minister made the remarks after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The United States, European Union, the United Nations and Russia in a grouping called the quartet have called for a peace accord between Israel and Palestine by 2012.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded indirectly to Liberman, saying he believed in the peace process and hoped that a deal would emerge as soon as possible, The New York Times (NYT) quoted him saying. Achieving peace is in the best interest of Israel, Palestine and the world, the Russian foreign minister said.
On the Afghan front, Gen. David Petraeus, the new Commander of the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, in his first reaction, said "protection of his troops is a moral responsibility". He promised to review the restrictions on the US airstrikes and artillery in Afghanistan which have cut down civilian casualties but have been bitterly criticised by the American troops who say restrictions have made the fight more dangerous.
"I want to assure the mothers and fathers of those fighting in Afghanistan that I see it as a moral imperative to bring all assets to protect our men and women in uniform," the General said this in his Senate confirmation hearing. Gen. Petraeus will go to Kabul on Friday. The General has already discussed the issue with Afghan president Karzai. The issue is a double-edged sword. Airstrikes and use of artillery will give rise to civilian casualties and these remaining dormant increases the US death toll.
In a separate development, Turkey stated that it would not appoint a new Ambassador to Israel, unless the Israeli government formally tender apology for the killing of nine Turkish citizens including one Turkish-American. Turkey is demanding compensation for the relatives of the dead and formation of an independent commission to investigate the Israeli military operation against the flotilla that tried to break the blockade. Israel has agreed to form an internal investigation team with three foreign observers.