PM: Unilateral steps by PA will lead to unilateral Israeli moves

[Chris]

PM: Unilateral steps by PA will lead to unilateral Israeli moves
By JPOST.COM STAFF

"There is no substitute for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and any unilateral attempts outside that framework will unravel the existing agreements between us and could entail unilateral steps by Israel," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told a high level gathering of Israeli and American policy makers at the Saban Forum in Jerusalem on Sunday night. Netanyahu's statement came a day after chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that the PA may unilaterally ask the UN to recognize a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Netanyahu stressed that in order to achieve peace, "negotiations must resume immediately," adding Israel was prepared to begin talks "with a generous spirit." "I want to stress that we are willing to take steps that will help in advancing the peace process, but it must begin, there is no reason to waste time," said the prime minister. While negotiations were not easy, Netanyahu said, "there is no other way to bring about change." The prime minister stressed that economic growth in the PA was an important factor in achieving comprehensive peace in the region.

more..............Netanyahu: Israel will respond to unilateral moves | Israel Palestine-Gaza Conflict | Jerusalem Post

[Chris]

Fayad: PA 'getting ready for statehood'
By AP AND JPOST.COM STAFF

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad on Sunday told members of the Saban Forum in Ramallah he has begun a two-year development plan meant to lay the groundwork for an independent Palestinian state. His government's goal is "getting ready for statehood," Fayad said, while the Palestine Liberation Organization would decide when to declare independence. Fayad explained he was working to strengthen the Palestinian Authority's institutions and root out corruption so that the PA will get more support should it decide to unilaterally declare independence, Israel Radio reported.

US Senator Joseph Lieberman, who is in Israel for the Saban Forum, a parley devoted to the Middle East and sponsored by Israeli-born American billionaire Haim Saban, told Fayad that the PA would become a more likely partner for Israel in negotiations if its institutions were more robust.

more.............Salaam Fayad: PA 'getting ready for statehood' | Middle East Conflict

[Chris]

'Deal preferable to unilateral PA move'
By JPOST.COM STAFF

"Experience proves that actions taken in agreement are preferable to unilateral acts," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at the cabinet meeting Sunday morning. Barak was reacting to Palestinian Authority top negotiator Saeb Erekat's announcement that the PA may unilaterally ask the UN to recognize a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. "Whoever opts for unilateral action risks losing vital cooperation. There is a veritable improvement [of relations] vis-à-vis the United States on resuming negotiations with the Palestinians, but we need the other side as well," said Barak.

The defense minister explained that while "Israel is strong" and capable of deterrence, the Jewish state "has a strategic interest in achieving peace through negotiations." Barak added that Israel "must look soberly at the alternatives awaiting it if an agreement will not be reached." He said there were two options, first, an increase in support for the Palestinians' unilateral declaration of statehood or second, a gradual rise in the demand for a bi-national state.

more...............'With no agreement, support for unilateral PA act will grow' | Israel Palestine-Gaza Conflict | Jerusalem Post

[Chris]

Abbas: Palestinian independence has become a tangible reality | Headlines News | Jerusalem Post

Abbas: Palestinian independence has become a tangible reality
By JPOST.COM STAFF

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday said that "Palestinian independence has become a tangible reality," Army Radio reported. "All the states in favor of freedom, justice and peace support the Palestinian struggle," Abbas was quoted as saying at a Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) conference in Algeria to mark 21 years since the Palestinian announcement of independence. Abbas called on those states to double their efforts to "help end the occupation" so that the Palestinian people will have a sovereign state.

"A Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is coming soon, with God's help," said Abbas. "Today we are renewing our commitment to the entire Palestinian people - the martyrs, the wounded and the prisoners - to continue the path to victory, the path to a free and independent Palestine." The Palestinians declared independence unilaterally on November 15, 1988. The declaration was recognized by dozens of countries, but never implemented on the ground.

[Chris]

Netanyahu: If Palestinians act unilaterally, so will Israel
By Haaretz Service

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel would respond to any unilateral Palestinian steps - particularly declarations of statehood - with one-sided steps of its own. This was the prime minister's first response to a Palestinian initiative to ask the United Nations Security Council to endorse a Palestinian state, seen as an appeal for international backing. In his address to the Saban Forum in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that Israel wants negotiations toward a full peace accord. There is no substitute for negotiations, he said, and unilateral action would only unravel earlier agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

"There is no substitute for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and any unilateral path will only unravel the framework of agreements between us and will only bring unilateral steps from Israel's side," Netanyahu said. The path to peace in the Middle East was at the negotiating table, said Netanyahu, adding that he was not interested in "negotiating for the sake of negotiations."

more.................Netanyahu: If Palestinians act unilaterally, so will Israel - Haaretz - Israel News

[Timna]

Israel acting unilaterally? It seems that there is very little Israel could do or accomplish unilaterally. It is going to get tougher for Israel as they are increasingly going to face an unsympathetic world. So Israel, it appears, has few options when they threaten unilateral action.

[Chris]

Abbas advisor: All Netanyahu's actions unilateral - Israel News, Ynetnews

Abbas advisor: All Netanyahu's actions unilateral
Published: 11.15.09, 22:52 / Israel News

Nimar Hamad, political advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements regarding a Palestinian declaration of independence and stated that Netanyahu's government is already engaged in unilateral steps. "Netanyahu's actions are all unilateral, he and his government decide unilaterally about settlement construction in Jerusalem. In fact, from the day that we signed the agreements Israel has been engaging in a unilateral policy," Hamad told Ynet. (Ali Waked)

[Keith]

Israel acting unilaterally? It seems that there is very little Israel could do or accomplish unilaterally. It is going to get tougher for Israel as they are increasingly going to face an unsympathetic world. So Israel, it appears, has few options when they threaten unilateral action.

I read unilateral as military for some reason.

[Timna]

I read unilateral as military for some reason.

I think it might be a veiled suggestion that Israel will annex the so-called settlements (really communities) in the West Bank. Which raises the pertinent question of why Israel hasn't done this long ago, as they have done with the Golan and all of East Jerusalem. Probably has to do with the left-wing controlling Israeli politics recently. Of course it seems that Netanyahu should have done this when he was PM before. Since Israel hasn't annexed the communities before, that raises the second question of whether Israel will pull out of the communities, for the sake of peace of course, in the upcoming weeks or months.