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Omaha Steve

(99,654 posts) Sun Jan 5, 2014, 07:12 PM Jan 2014

Israeli hardliners object to Kerry pressure

Source: AP-Excite

By JOSEF FEDERMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) - Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners on Sunday stepped up pressure on the Israeli prime minister, threatening to topple the government if he caves in to American pressure to accept a key Palestinian territorial demand in U.S.-backed peace talks.

The warnings came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry took a brief break after three days of talks with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, jetting off to the Arab world to discuss his efforts before an expected return to Jerusalem later Sunday.

In a sign that Kerry is intensifying the pressure, a Palestinian official confirmed that the secretary asked Abbas to recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland. Abbas has repeatedly rejected this Israeli demand, saying it would compromise the rights of Palestinian refugees and Israel's Arab minority. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Kerry has barred the sides from discussing the negotiations in public.

Kerry was meeting with the leaders of Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday, possibly to win Arab backing for any Palestinian concessions.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140105/DAB4MGUG1.html

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's motorcade is parked near al-Hussein mosque while Kerry meets with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Al-Hummar Palace in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. America's top diplomat is trying to nudge Israel and the Palestinians closer to signing an accord, setting up a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Kerry said Saturday that progress is being made, yet key hurdles are yet to be overcome. Kerry's talks on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah are likely to also touch on the war in Syria, rising violence in Iraq, and Iran's nuclear program. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)

11 replies

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Israeli hardliners object to Kerry pressure (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jan 2014 OP

No problem - if that happens, Netanyahu could replace them with Labor and other left karynnj Jan 2014 #1

If peace is the goal, it is reasonable to ask Israel to give up certain of the areas it recently JDPriestly Jan 2014 #6

I agree completely n/t YvonneCa Jan 2014 #7

I completely agree karynnj Jan 2014 #9

Palestine cannot be a vaiable state with Israeli settlements, illegal settlements, abusive R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2014 #11

Poor babies 1000words Jan 2014 #2

They are used to US reps jumping when they say, "Jump!" blm Jan 2014 #3

That's one hell of a motorcade. TwilightGardener Jan 2014 #4

Kerry is a war hero. He has put his life on the line for the US. kelliekat44 Jan 2014 #5

Yes, we DO! n/t YvonneCa Jan 2014 #8

+10000 karynnj Jan 2014 #10

karynnj

(59,503 posts)

1. No problem - if that happens, Netanyahu could replace them with Labor and other left

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jan 5, 2014, 07:23 PM

Jan 2014

Last edited Sun Jan 5, 2014, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

replacements. The head of the Labor party already spoke of that.

The fact is that if the extremes on either side were happy, it would be worse - it would mean that Kerry's ideas (he is NOT giving more than parameters) are too unbalanced. As to where some on the extreme are can be seen by following their comments - one deputy defense minister has said that we should not even speak of the West Bank and settlements, but greater Israel and Palestinian enclaves! There is no reasonable compromise that people like him will ever accept.

In the last election Netanyahu's Likkud created a joint list with Avidor Lieberman's RW party - these extremists are actually to the right of Lieberman -- and their Lieberman is worse than ours!

Note that Netanyahu just released more prisoners - if he saw no promise in the talks there is no way in Hell he would have done that.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

6. If peace is the goal, it is reasonable to ask Israel to give up certain of the areas it recently

Reply to karynnj (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 5, 2014, 09:47 PM

Jan 2014

occupied and recognize a separate Palestinian state in exchange for a renunciation of the "right of return" and the guarantee of safe borders for Israel and Palestinian recognition of Israel within the agreed borders.

Kerry is right in my view.

In fact, Kerry is doing a great job as Secretary of State. I really didn't want to see him leave the Senate for any post other than the presidency itself, but I'm beginning to think that we could not have a better Secretary of State.

YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)

7. I agree completely n/t

Reply to JDPriestly (Reply #6)

Sun Jan 5, 2014, 11:00 PM

Jan 2014

karynnj

(59,503 posts)

9. I completely agree

Reply to JDPriestly (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 6, 2014, 12:12 AM

Jan 2014

I think Kerry has done an incredible job as SoS. In less than a year, he already has more significant achievements than many over their entire time.

(I hope I did not write so poorly that I seemed to agree with those arguing on the far right in Israel.)

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)

11. Palestine cannot be a vaiable state with Israeli settlements, illegal settlements, abusive

Reply to JDPriestly (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 6, 2014, 07:49 PM

Jan 2014

settlers with the IDF there to guard them scattered throughout its territory.

The settlers won't leave, and Israel doesn't presently care (See Bibi Netanyahu) to remove them. Doing so would be political suicide.

The Palestinians insist on RoR since 700,000 thousand of them were chased off of their lands and villages...which were effectively erased from existence.

Good luck to Kerry, but I doubt that anything will come out of this. The Palestinians should just take their efforts for full UN statehood to the UN.