John Kerry in fresh push to kickstart Israel-Palestine talks

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Guardian UK

John Kerry is to make yet another personal push for movement in the stagnating peace talks between Israel and Palestine amid indications that the EU is considering cutting funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) if there is no breakthrough.

The US secretary of state is due to arrive in the region late on Wednesday for separate discussions with the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah on Thursday. The talks are widely acknowledged to have made almost no progress since opening in July.

Mohammed Shtayyeh, who left the Palestinian negotiating team last month in protest at Israel's continued settlement expansion, said wide gaps between the two sides were "block(ing) any possibility of a peace deal", and that he believed Israel wanted to annex swaths of the West Bank.

The US, which is mediating the talks, was "unbalanced" in favour of Israel, he added.



Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/john-kerry-israel-palestine-talks-us-settlement

[Jesus Malverde]

1. U.S., Stepping Up Role, Will Present West Bank Security Proposal to Israel

American officials plan to present the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with detailed ideas about security arrangements on the West Bank under a possible peace agreement with the Palestinians, senior State Department officials said on Wednesday.

The presentation is to be made to Mr. Netanyahu on Thursday by John R. Allen, the former American commander in Afghanistan and a retired Marine general who serves as an adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry on the Middle East peace talks.

It will be General Allen’s first briefing to the Israeli prime minister, and will be provided when Mr. Kerry meets with Mr. Netanyahu, officials said. General Allen has made several trips to Israel and developed his ideas in consultation with Israeli officials.

“It will include many details and specifics,” said a State Department official who asked not to be identified under diplomatic protocol established by the agency. “He will be presenting a piece of what will be a larger whole.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/world/middleeast/us-stepping-up-role-will-present-west-bank-security-proposal-to-israel.html?_r=0

[L0oniX]

2. YAwn

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Netanyahu = Idiot Son

.
.
.

He wants war - plain and simple.

I can still see the smirk on Dimson's face the times he says "I'm a War President".

That he was alright,

that he was.

(sigh)

CC