This, of course, has many Israelis upset that the capital of Israel may be severed and handed over to a very unstable, radical and corrupt faction.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands after their joint news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 5, 2007. Rice took her diplomatic mission to the occupied West Bank on Monday for talks with Palestinian leaders seeking deadlines for future statehood negotiations with Israel. (Loay Abu Haykel/Reuters)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Palestinian President Abbas held a news conference today on dividing Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.
The State Department reported:
PRESIDENT ABBAS: (Via interpreter) In the name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate. I welcome Dr. Rice on her eighth visit during this year. And I would like to highly appreciate and commend her efforts and President Bush's efforts and their insistence on achieving peace and concluding a peace agreement within the term -- the presidential term of Mr. Bush. And there are also discussions about final status negotiations in Annapolis and also turning the Annapolis conference for a serious occasion to launch a genuine peace process that would achieve the vision of Mr. Bush for a two-state solution.Caroline Glick at The Jerusalem Post has more on the plans to divide Jerusalem and offer lands to the failed Palestinian Fatah Government.
In this context, I agree with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that there is a real opportunity to achieve peace. And I would like to add we are very serious in seizing this opportunity in order to reach this historical peace that would lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital East Jerusalem, that would live alongside the state of Israel.
One Jerusalem has more on the stunning announcement to divide the Israeli capital. The OJ blog is starting an email campaign to President Bush. Here is the letter:
Dear Mr. Bush,HERE is the White House email for you to forward that message.
For more than three decades, Jerusalem has once again been the united capital of the State of Israel. During this time, the Israeli government has acted as guardian of its holy sites - respecting the rights of all religious groups and guaranteeing access for all - Christians, Jews and Muslims. Israel's record in this regard speaks for itself.
It stands in sharp contrast to the situation that was created in 1948, at the time of Israel's founding, when Jerusalem was forcibly divided as a result of the invasion of Arab armies. From 1948-1967, Jews could not pray at the Western Wall and Israeli Arabs, both Christian and Muslim were denied access to their holy sites. Religious persecution led to desecration and destruction. This must never be allowed to recur.
Israel has upheld its moral and ethical obligations to the people of the world and has earned the right to retain sovereignty over all of Jerusalem, according to the present boundaries. Moreover, Israel's decision, as a free and democratic nation, to designate a united and undivided Jerusalem as its capital, should be respected and recognized by the entire international community.
Sincerely, A Very Concerned Friend of Jerusalem
Judith Apter Klinghoffer at History News Network has more on the developing situation.
Snapped Shot looks at the media's slam on "right wingers" in Israel.
Wow, just had a flash-back to the old Mickey Rooney musicals.....when the protagonists seemed to be at wits end ----- up jumped Mickey to exclaim, "Hey, kids, let's sell Israel down the (Jordan) river!" Never thought I'd see the day. The lessons of genocide apparently didn't last. This time there's a nuclear holocaust in the offing.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice these two got it all worked out as to what Israel will give up, this must some sort of new negotiating system where you only invite one party and have another party with no dog in this fight speak for you. Did they work out who gets China and all the diamond mines in Africa too?
ReplyDeleteLet me see if I have this straight:
ReplyDeleteAt a press conference, Abbas said that he looked forward to getting his grimy paws on East Jerusalem as the capital of his Palestinian fiefdom. Rice said nothing about it. No treaty was signed. No agreement was actually reached, even in principle. This was only a preliminary conference prior to the planned upcoming "peace conference."
Right?
Then why are you taking it as valid in any way? How many times before have you seen press articles that claimed this or that, that later turned out to have no basis in fact? How often have you seen Abbas or his minions lie through their teeth, or make demands they know have no chance of ever being granted? How often have you seen press accounts that intentionally twisted the facts in favor of the Palestinians and against Israel and America?
And now you trust this article enough to claim based on it that Condi Rice, President Bush's lead diplomat, supports the Palestinians to such an extent that she'll gladly sell Israel down the river?
Bah!