M-E peace talks run into rough weather
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, Dec 08: Middle-East peace talks have run into rough weather with the White House announcing it has given up hope of persuading Israel to freeze Jewish settlements in the occupied areas.
The decision leaves the on-going Middle-East talks in a flux. Palestine has refused to resume talks and the US is trying another formula to bring back the Palestinians to the conference table.
The peace talks has run into snags because Prime Minister Netanyahua failed to sell to his cabinet the idea of 90-day freeze without written security assurance from the United States. Israel demands supply of 20 F-35 stealth airplanes and American pledge to veto all anti-Israel resolutions in the UN. President Obama began the direct negotiations in early September but it soon ground to a halt over the settlement issue. Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas have not met after three meetings.
Meanwhile, China has been able to persuade 19 countries to boycott the upcoming ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to gaoled Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. China at the same time announced its own Peace Award, named after philosopher Confucius.
The award to be given tomorrow goes to Taiwanese leader Lien Chan former vice-president of Taiwan who opened up the doors to mainland. Nobel Committee in Oslo said more than 44 embassies have agreed to send their ambassadors to the prize giving ceremony. The countries that are heeding Chinese request to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize award giving ceremony include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Saudi Arabia, all trusted US allies. China has been incensed by Nobel Committee's choice of Liu Xiaobo who demanded political reforms, human rights guarantee and an independent judicial system.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Aslam, Chief Minister of Pakistan's Baluchistan Province escaped an assassination bid when a suicide bomber rocked his convoy. The Chief Minister was not hurt but his chief security staff and several policemen were wounded. And in India authorities issued security alerts in several major cities after a bomb went off in Beneras. The explosion took place with thousands of worshippers and tourists assembled for prayers. Indian Mujaheeden have claimed responsibility.
NEW YORK, Dec 08: Middle-East peace talks have run into rough weather with the White House announcing it has given up hope of persuading Israel to freeze Jewish settlements in the occupied areas.
The decision leaves the on-going Middle-East talks in a flux. Palestine has refused to resume talks and the US is trying another formula to bring back the Palestinians to the conference table.
The peace talks has run into snags because Prime Minister Netanyahua failed to sell to his cabinet the idea of 90-day freeze without written security assurance from the United States. Israel demands supply of 20 F-35 stealth airplanes and American pledge to veto all anti-Israel resolutions in the UN. President Obama began the direct negotiations in early September but it soon ground to a halt over the settlement issue. Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas have not met after three meetings.
Meanwhile, China has been able to persuade 19 countries to boycott the upcoming ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to gaoled Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. China at the same time announced its own Peace Award, named after philosopher Confucius.
The award to be given tomorrow goes to Taiwanese leader Lien Chan former vice-president of Taiwan who opened up the doors to mainland. Nobel Committee in Oslo said more than 44 embassies have agreed to send their ambassadors to the prize giving ceremony. The countries that are heeding Chinese request to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize award giving ceremony include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Saudi Arabia, all trusted US allies. China has been incensed by Nobel Committee's choice of Liu Xiaobo who demanded political reforms, human rights guarantee and an independent judicial system.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Aslam, Chief Minister of Pakistan's Baluchistan Province escaped an assassination bid when a suicide bomber rocked his convoy. The Chief Minister was not hurt but his chief security staff and several policemen were wounded. And in India authorities issued security alerts in several major cities after a bomb went off in Beneras. The explosion took place with thousands of worshippers and tourists assembled for prayers. Indian Mujaheeden have claimed responsibility.