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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Obama Warns Abbas: ‘Start Talks Or Else’

A secret 36-page memo based on Obama administration statements indicates that the president warned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to start direct talks with Israel or risk losing American support for the recognition of the PA as a country.

The Associated Press reported it has possession of the document, under the letterhead of the Palestinian Negotiations Department and which indicates the warning came from President Barack Obama via U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell.

It shows that the Obama administration has resigned itself to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remaining head of Israel's coalition government. “Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is not in political danger of being replaced,” the document states.

It adds that Abbas is under pressure from both the Arab world and within the PA, whereby his consent to direct talks with Israel would be “political suicide” for him. However, the document warns, “Abbas needs to accept direct talks now if he wants President Obama’s help in facilitating statehood.” The memo says that PA advisors are in favor of rejecting the American ultimatum.

Abbas told PA media on Sunday that he is resisting pressure from “the entire world” to concede his long-stated condition that Netanyahu extend the 10-month building freeze that expires in late September.

Senior Cabinet ministers as well as the Prime Minister have clearly stated they will not extend the freeze. Political support for the coalition is strong, with even the center-left Israeli media generally recognizing that the PA keeps adding on new condition for direct talks.

Abbas has in effect insisted on acceptance of a proposed PA state without negotiations on any substantial issues, such as the status of Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Netanyahu repeated on Monday his oft-stated declaration that he is ready meet Abbas immediately without pre-conditions. "We have an understanding with the Americans that we need to move now, without any delay, to direct negotiations, but in response, we have a clear Palestinian attempt to avoid this process," Netanyahu said. "They are trying to stall and to sneak away from direct negotiations and to cause the Arab League to shackle the talks."

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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

This just shows the how educated on PA that Obama is. Experience or the lack of, has proved his ignorance.These guys will never be friends , it's been going on for thousands of years.

Anonymous said...

He said, start talks, or else.
We heard, or I'll play more golf, take alot of vacations and act like the complete idiot that I am!

Alex said...

So the President does something that should be perceived favorably in the eyes of most conservatives, and you still find a way to bash him. This is just another example that you can’t argue issues.
Let me guess, a TEA party member?

Anonymous said...

"or else"... isn't that the same threat that got BP to handle the Gulf oil spill so quickly and thoroughly

Anonymous said...

Get tough with the Isrealis, you guys complain. Get tough with the Palestinians, you guys complain. If the same story was under Bush or any other Republican, you would be cheerleading.

Anonymous said...

That's right Alex. They're conservatives so they don't think, they react. Obama = bad! No matter what happens.

Anonymous said...

That's right 11:54. Given this clowns record, people do automatically think obama=bad. The proof is in the pudding. Everything he has done so far has proven detrimental, so why would anyone expect anything else from the "president" who hates America?

Alex said...

What is it that he has done that has alredy proven detrimental?

Of course, besides him being socialist/muslim/communist/zionist

Anonymous said...

Ask any small business man, almost any doctor, any economist, or anybody who lives (legally) in Arizona, Texas or New Mexico, Alex. They'll tell you.
He's wrecking this country's economy with the full assistance of Pelosi/Reid, et al., and it's intentional.
Crash the economy, declare an 'emergency', then take over.

Anonymous said...

All of you. The time for talking is over. The Palestinians will NEVER negotiate peace with the Israelis. They've said as much and they prove it time and again. Bush or Obama or any American politician keeps going along like it all will change BUT it never will.

We need a policy that will allow us to support Israel and move past the Palestinian people.

Anonymous said...

hey ALEX tell me what he has done so far that is that GREAT!

Alex said...

7:57
Obama is concentrating in Afghanistan instead of Iraq, when did you hear about American casualty in Iraq?

He prevented the collapse of automative industry.

He slowed down the recession by passing a stimulus package.

He allowed federal funding for stem cell research.

Froze salaries for top executives in the White House.

Lifted American image in the eyes of the world. Finally nice to see a Harvard educated, Nobel prize winning President instead of a cowboy from Toy Story.
Passed the healthcare reform.

Passed the financial reform (with republican support)