Netanyahu’s Secret Talks With The Palestinians

Revealed: Netanyahu’s Secret Talks With The Palestinians -- Avi Issacharoff, Times of Israel

More than two years ago, the Times of Israel reports here for the first time, top PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo held a series of meetings with the PM’s peace envoy, Yitzhak Molcho, and ultimately met at length with Netanyahu himself, to discuss new negotiations. The prime minister seemed ready to restart talks on the basis of pre-1967 lines, but then discontinued the contacts.


RAMALLAH — Israel and the Palestinian Authority tried to conduct backchannel negotiations, or at least initiate them, in late 2010 and early 2011 in a series of secret meetings between the prime minister’s envoy, attorney Yitzhak Molcho, and the head of PLO Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo. Abed Rabbo revealed these contacts in an interview with this correspondent here last week.

According to Abed Rabbo, during the conversations, which culminated in a meeting between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Molcho’s house in central Israel, Netanyahu seemed ready to renew negotiations within the framework of two states based on the June 4, 1967, lines. But the prime minister subsequently backed away from the contacts and the channel was discontinued.

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My Comment: There is no motivation for the Israelis to have peace talks .... and the Palestinians have not changed their position of not recognizing Israel .... a non-starter if you ask me. My prediction .... for the foreseeable future any talk of Israeli - Palestinian talks is just that .... talk.

A New Israeli - Palestinian Peace Agreement In The Works?

Barack Obama, left, speaking to Benjamin Netanyahu outside the White House in 2011. (photo credit: Pete Souza/White House)

Obama, In Israel, Will Present ‘General Framework’ For Peace, Israel TV Claims -- Times of Israel

US source denies story, and rejects report that president told US Jewish leaders he may unveil specific plan in next 6-12 months for comprehensive accord

President Barack Obama will present a “general framework” for Israeli-Palestinian peace during his visit to Israel and the West Bank in two weeks’ time, Israel’s Channel 10 news reported Thursday night, quoting what it said were remarks made by the president in a pre-visit White House briefing for US Jewish leaders.

He will not unveil a “comprehensive Middle East peace plan” during the trip, the report said, but told the leaders Thursday they should not rule out him doing so “sometime in the next six, nine or 12 months.”

A US source close to the issue, however, described the Channel 10 report as “absolutely false.”

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My Comment: I am skeptical that such a "general framework" is being developed. President Obama does not appear to be engaged, and the Israelis and Palestinians are not interested in talking.

Is There An Opening For Revived Mideast Peace Talks?

Clinton Sees Opening For Revived Mideast Peace Talks -- Voice of America

WASHINGTON — Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says a new coalition government in Israel could lead to resumption of talks toward a two-state peace accord with Palestinians.

During a "townhall" interview in Washington where she fielded questions from young people from around the world, Clinton said Israel's election "opens doors, not nails them shut."

"I think the outcome of the election in which a significant percentage of the Israeli electorate chose to express themselves by saying 'We need a different path than the one we have been pursuing, internally and with respect to the Middle East peace process,'" Clinton said.

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My Comment: I an not seeing what Sec. of State Clinton is seeing. The Middle East's focus right now is on the Syrian civil war and the political unrest (Arab Spring) in countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Jordan, etc.. The Palestinians themselves are deeply divided, and Netanyahu has shown zero interest to be involved in peace talks. And while a significant part of the Israeli electorate voted for some type of change .... the majority did not.

Binyamin Netanyahu: Israel Will Not Return To The 1967 Borders

Binyamin Netanyahu Rejects Calls For Palestinian State Within 1967 Lines -- The Guardian

Israeli prime minister says border would be impossible to defend and allow 'Hamas 400 metres from my home'

Binyamin Netanyahu has vowed to rebuff international demands to allow a Palestinian state with a border based on the pre-1967 Green Line and its capital in East Jerusalem, as hardline pro-settler parties and factions are expected to make unprecedented gains in Tuesday's election.

"When they say, 'Go back to the 67 lines,' I stand against. When they say, 'Don't build in Jerusalem,' I stand against," the Israeli prime minister told Channel 2 in a television interview.

"It's very easy to capitulate. I could go back to the impossible-to-defend 67 lines, and divide Jerusalem, and we would get Hamas 400 metres from my home." He would not allow that to happen under his leadership, he said.

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My Comment: Never say never.

So Much For Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat during their meeting in Jerusalem April 17, in this picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO). A Palestinian delegation met Netanyahu on Tuesday, delivering a letter that detailed Palestinian grievances on the prospects for peace and reiterating a call to halt settlement building. Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/REUTERS

Restart Of Talks Uncertain As Palestinian Prime Minister Skips Israeli Meeting -- Christian Science Monitor

Salam Fayyad did not attend a scheduled meeting Tuesday with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other senior Palestinian officials delivered a letter to Netanyahu with a list of demands before talks can resume.

The Palestinian prime minister pulled out of a planned meeting with Israel's leader on Tuesday, torpedoing what was set to be the highest-level talks between the sides in nearly two years.

The meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attended by two lower level Palestinian officials, lasted less than an hour and ended with a brief joint statement pledging to seek peace. It signaled little progress was made.

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My Comment: At least Israeli PM Netanyahu got a letter. Bottom line .... Syrian civil war, Iran's nuclear program, political unrest in Egypt, Yemen's continuous war against Al Qaeda, Iraqi sectarian strife, Arab Spring in Bahrain, Libya, Tunisia, etc. .... yup .... lets face it .... Palestinian causes are not in the international (or Arab) spotlight right now.

Middle East Peace Process Encounters More Obstacles

A Palestinian protester runs holding a Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli border police in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan October 15, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner

Israel OKs New Homes In East Jerusalem, Raising Doubts About Peace Talks -- L.A. Times

The planned 238 houses on disputed land end a de facto construction freeze and lead Palestinian officials to accuse Israeli leaders of trying to sabotage negotiations.

Reporting from Jerusalem — Defying U.S. and international calls to restrain home-building on disputed land, Israel said Friday it would construct another 238 homes in Jerusalem neighborhoods that sit atop territory seized during the 1967 Middle East War.

The decision threw U.S.-sponsored peace talks into further doubt and ended a de facto construction freeze in East Jerusalem that had been quietly observed – though never formally declared – since March.

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More News On The Middle East Peace Process

Israeli settlement building surges as US pushes for a new freeze -- Christian Science Monitor
Israel wants to build more housing on disputed land -- CNN
Palestinians protest new Jerusalem housing plan -- Reuters
Palestinians Say Planned Israel Building in East Jerusalem Threatens Talks -- Bloomberg
Palestinians furious at Israeli plan to build more homes in east Jerusalem -- The Telegraph
Palestinians Criticize New Jewish Settlement Construction -- Voice of America
'Israel killing every opportunity to resume talks' -- Jerusalem Post
Abbas: We'll never sign deal demanding recognition of Israel as Jewish state -- Haaretz
Dismay, Disillusionment Prevail In Palestinian Camp -- New York Times/Reuters
Abbas urges the Quartet to realize Palestinian statehood -- Xinhuanet
Israel, Palestinians offer proposals -- UPI
Jordanian Foreign Minister Hopeful about Peace Talks -- Voice of America
Middle East peace talks dying on the vine -- The Periscope

Israeli - Palestinian Peace Process Continues (Somewhat)

A New Israeli Settlement Freeze? What's Behind Netanyahu's Offer. -- Christian Science Monitor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a new Israeli settlement freeze, as ally Obama eagerly seeks progress toward peace before US elections next month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revived a previous offer Monday, saying he would support a new settlement freeze if Palestinians would recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

The offer is consistent with a demand Mr. Netanyahu made when he first endorsed a Palestinian state a year ago. But Israeli analysts and former diplomats disagree as to what the prime minister, who acknowledged that the offer had already been turned down in private negotiations with Palestinians, sought to achieve by raising the issue in parliament's opening day of winter session Monday.

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More News On The Peace Process In the Middle East

US tells Palestinians to make counter-offer to Israel -- Khaleej Times/AFP
Deputy PM: Israel officials doubt peace reachable -- AP
Deputy PM: Israel officials doubt peace reachable -- AJC
Vice Premier: No chance of peace with Palestinians in near future -- Haaretz
Olmert: Netanyahu leading Israel to political isolation -- Haaretz

Israel Ends West Bank Building Ban. Peace Talks In Peril

West Bank Construction Freeze Ends -- L.A. Times

Jewish settlers celebrate, but Palestinians have not indicated they will walk out of intense peace talks.

Reporting from Jerusalem — Israel's partial moratorium on West Bank construction expired late Sunday without a compromise aimed at keeping Palestinians from quitting recently relaunched Mideast peace talks.

But intense negotiations under American mediation continued Sunday night and Palestinians gave no sign that a walkout was imminent.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

Netanyahu urges talks as Israel settlement freeze ends -- BBC News
Israeli building ban ends -- Washington Post
Israel ends West Bank building ban -- ABC News (Australia)
West Bank settlement slowdown expires -- CBC
U.S. keeps pushing for direct Israeli-Palestinian talks after construction ban -- RIA Novosti
Peace talks in peril as Israeli settlement freeze expires -- Globe And Mail
Moratorium ends, but major building not expected -- Jerusalem Post

My Comment: This peace process is going nowhere .... both sides have staked their position, but with an ineffective mediator (i.e. the U.S.), I predict that these talks (like all others before) will collapse by the end of this year.

Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks About To Collapse

Mahmoud Abbas. © REUTERS/ Chip East

Tensions Rise As Israel's Settlement Deadline Looms -- Time Magazine

On Sunday, the diesel roar of bulldozers will announce the resumption of construction on Israeli settlements in the ancient terraced hills of the West Bank. In the metaphorical silence said to typically follow a traumatic event, it might just be possible to hear the chair of Mahmoud Abbas scraping the floor as he pushes away from the negotiating table. The president of the Palestinian Authority says he cannot possibly continue talking about a two-state solution with an Israeli government allows the building houses for its own people on the land that's supposed to make up the other state. If Abbas stands by his ultimatum, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains true to the promises he made to his right-wing coalition, President Obama's quest for a "framework agreement" between Israelis and Palestinians to divide the land they both claim could end less than a month after it began.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

U.S. Tries to Breathe Life Back Into Mideast Talks -- New York Times
U.S. seeks settlements compromise to save peace talks -- Reuters
With freeze set to end, Abbas tells UN: Israel must choose settlements or peace -- Haaretz
Abbas Says No Peace Without Moratorium on Settlement Construction -- Voice of America
Jewish Settlers Ready to Build as Israel Under Pressure to Extend Freeze -- Bloomberg
Israel: Settlers brace for end of building freeze -- AP
Clinton meets Abbas as Mideast peace deadline looms -- Yahoo News/Reuters
PM’s associates: He’ll never give up Western Wall -- Jerusalem Post

Israel To Decide This Weekend To Continue (Or Drop) Its 10-Month Freeze On Settlement Construction

End Of Israeli Settlement Freeze Looms Over Peace Talks -- Voice of America

Middle East peace talks are facing their first major challenge just three weeks after they began.

A showdown is looming in the Middle East with a 10-month freeze on Israeli settlement construction due to expire on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from his hawkish coalition partners to resume building in the West Bank on schedule, despite opposition from the United States and the Palestinians.

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More News On The Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

Arabs: No peace talks if Israel continues building -- AP
Israel nears breakthrough deal on settlements -- The Telegraph
Compromise may allow Mideast talks to proceed -- CNN
Israel, Palestinians look to salvage Mideast talks -- AP
Obama Urges Global Support for Mideast Peace Efforts -- Voice of America
Obama calls on Arab nations to support peace talks -- L.A. Times

Framework For Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks Agreed Upon

Rivals in Middle East Fast-Track Talks -- Wall Street Journal

U.S. Brokers Deal for Twice-Monthly Israel-Palestinian Meetings, Raising Commitment Level, Stakes.

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration moved to fast-track the Middle East peace process, gaining Arab and Israeli support for twice-monthly negotiations aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state within a year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed Thursday to convene a second round of direct talks in two weeks, culminating two days of meetings hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington that also included the leaders of Jordan and Egypt.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

Mideast leaders to hold bimonthly peace talks -- Yahoo News/AFP
Regular Follow-up Meetings For Middle East Peace Framework Deal -- RTT News
Parties slate more peace talks in two weeks -- International Business Times
Framework for Middle East peace agreed -- ABC.net
Fast start: Netanyahu, Abbas meet alone for 90 minutes -- McClatchy News
Middle East talks begin with work plan -- L.A. Times
Netanyahu, Abbas seek 'framework' -- Washington Times
Hamas among intractable issues in Mideast talks -- Yahoo News/AP

Arab League chief wants to give peace talks a chance -- Yahoo News/AFP
Scepticism abounds in Middle East after peace talks 'show' -- AFP
Israeli, Palestinian leaders face critics of talks -- AP
Palestinian Militants Protest Peace Talks -- Voice of America
Int'l community applauds Palestine-Israel talks, but armed groups resent -- Xinhuanet

West Bank city of Hebron could be powder keg as Mideast peace talks begin -- L.A. Times
Israel and Palestine: A true one-state solution -- George Bisharat, Washington Post
Experts Fear Mideast Talks Are Too Ambitious -- New York Times
Mid-East talks: Regional voices -- BBC

Israel And the Palestinians Agree To Direct Peace Talks

Israel And Palestinians Agree To Direct Peace Talks -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Israel and the Palestinians accepted on Friday an invitation by the United States and other powers to restart direct talks on September 2 in a modest step toward forging a deal within 12 months to create a Palestinian state and peacefully end one of the world's most intractable conflicts.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with President Barack Obama on September 1, before formally resuming direct negotiations the following day at the State Department in Washington.

"There have been difficulties in the past, there will be difficulties ahead," Clinton said in a statement.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

PA: Direct talks to resume according to Quartet's statement -- Jerusalem Post
Israel, Palestinians agree to resume Mideast talks -- CNN
Israeli, Palestinian leaders agree to meet in Washington -- L.A. Times
Israelis and Palestinians Plan Direct Peace Talks -- PBS News Hour
PLO agrees to direct talks with Israel -- Xinhuanet
Settlements 'may halt' direct talks -- Al Jazeera
Israel, Palestinians to Resume Direct Talks With U.S. Deadline of One Year -- Bloomberg
U.S. sets a one-year deadline for a Middle East peace deal -- The Daily Mail
Palestinians Resuming Talks Under Pressure -- New York Times
Analysis: How Are These Mideast Talks Different? -- CBS News
Expectations low for Mideast peace breakthrough -- L.A. Times
Promise, and risk, in new talks -- Politico
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks: Why are they resuming now? -- Christian Science Monitor

Was The U.S. Citizen Furkan Executed By Israeli Commandos Aboard The Gaza Aid Ship, And Was It Caught On Video?

An Execution-Style Shooting On The Mavi Marmara? -- War In Context

A video started making the rounds yesterday with the title, “THE 19 YEAR OLD FURKAN’S MOMENT OF DEATH.” It shows Israeli soldiers who appear to be kicking and then shooting someone on the upper deck of the Mavi Marmara.

I have now located earlier footage from Turkey’s Cihan News Agency from which the Furkan video was compiled. It is now apparent that due to some “creative” editing, the sequence of actions in the Furkan video are not those of the actual timeline. Still, we do know from autopsy results that several of those who died were shot at close range and such a killing may indeed be shown in this video.

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My Comment: Many on the left have been circulating the above video that depicts a violent altercation between Israeli commandos and Palestinian activists aboard the Mavi Marmara. I watched the video, and while it shows a violent altercation, it is too blurry and distant to make a positive ID on who was involved, and what led to this violent incident.

The best course of action is to have an independent investigation on the incident, and to understand what led to the sequence of events that resulted in 9 Palestinian activists being killed. In an ideal world this would be happening, but in the Middle East everything is political .... and everyone knows that a serious investigation will not happen.

What we will have in the end will be bits and pieces .... pictures and videos .... and the deaths of a few activists that will be used as a rallying cry by one side, and a signal by the other on what would happen if such an incident was repeated again.

Are Israeli - Palestinian Talks On .... Or Off?

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday. Khaled Desouki/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Confusion Continues As Israelis And Palestinians Talk About Talks -- Times Online

Israel and the Palestinians are expected to renew peace talks this week for the first time since negotiations broke down 16 months ago — but exactly when and where the indirect exchanges will take place is likely to be a last-minute decision.

“The truth is, everybody is talking about these proximity talks, from the Arab League to the Prime Minister to Hillary Clinton, but nobody knows when exactly it’s going to begin, and exactly how they’re going to do it,” an Israeli official said.

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More News On Israeli -- Palestinian Talks

Obama, Netanyahu want direct peace talks soon: White House -- Reuters
US Mideast Envoy in Region for Start of Indirect Talks -- Voice of America
U.S. envoy arrives for Israeli-Palestinian talks -- Washington Post
US envoy seeks to launch Israeli-Palestinian talks -- AP
Obama, Netanyahu speak by phone -- USA Today
Israeli Leaders Prepare to Start Indirect Talks -- New York Times
Abbas wary over planned talks with Israel -- CNN
What Comes After Mideast Talks Draw a Blank? -- Time Magazine

My Comment: The problem with these discussions is that everyone talks about the process .... but no one is talking about the details on what a peace agreement must contain. As long as this continues .... future discussions about peace talks will only be received with even greater contempt and/or ridicule from both Palestinians and Israelis.

Accepting The Possibility That Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks May Completely Fail

The Old City was occupied by Israel in 1967. It contains sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Photo from Al Jazeera

Arab League Chief: Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process May Fail -- Voice of America

The Arab League chief says Arab states must prepare for the possibility that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians may be a complete failure.

The league's secretary-general, Amr Moussa, made the remarks during his opening address at a summit of Arab nations in the Libyan city of Sirte Saturday.

The Israeli-Palestinian crisis tops the agenda for the two-day summit.

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My Comment: The Israelis have a great reluctance to give up land .... the Palestinians have a great reluctance to accept the state of Israel. Both sides on an intellectual level know that some compromise will need to be reached, but in their hearts both sides do not want to take the first step.

Trying To Save The Middle East Peace Process

US Vice President Joe Biden is greeted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (r.) upon Biden's arrival in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday. Abbas said he would not move forward with proposed Israel-Palestinian peace talks. Mohamad Torokman/Reuters

Joe Biden Attempts To Salvage Middle East Peace Talks -- The Guardian

US vice-president appeals to Israel after Palestinians walk out over decision to build new homes in Jewish settlement.

The US vice-president, Joe Biden, today attempted to salvage the Middle East peace talks after the Palestinians announced they were pulling out of a new round of indirect negotiations before they had begun.

The Palestinian move was in protest against Israel's decision to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem.

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More News On The Israeli - Palestinian Peace Process

Mahmoud Abbas: Israel-Palestinian peace talks off unless new settlements canceled -- Christian Science Monitor
Abbas: Freeze construction or no talks -- UPI
Palestinians say no talks until housing project axed -- JTA
Palestinians Hold to Plan for New Talks -- New York Times
End of the line: Abbas set to pull out of talks -- Sydney Morning Herald
Peace talks 'difficult' for Abbas amid settlement row -- BBC
Biden tells Palestinians U.S. won't be deterred -- L.A. Times
Biden assures Palestinians of statehood backing -- Washington Times

Joe Biden rebukes Israel over settlement plans -- BBC
Biden's rebuke on new housing comes as Israel seeks to reaffirm U.S. relations -- Washington Post
Biden 'appreciates' Israeli response to settlement row -- AFP
Biden: US has 'no better friend' than Israel -- AP
Israeli construction plans irk Biden, Palestinians -- CNN

Netanyahu Expresses 'Regret' About Timing of Housing Plan -- Voice of America
Analysis: US hamstrung on Israeli settlements -- AP
Tensions Escalate Over West Bank Holy Sites -- Voice of America
Diplomacy 102 -- New York Times editorial

Getting Ready For The Middle East Peace Talks

Exclusive: U.S. Vows To Assign Blame If Israel-PA Talks Fail -- Haaretz

The United States government has committed to playing a role in indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and promised that if the talks were to fail, the U.S. will assign blame and take action, according to a document sent by the U.S. to the Palestinian Authority, which Haaretz obtained on Friday.

The U.S. government sent the document to the Palestinians responding to their inquires regarding the U.S. initiative to launch indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Peace Talks

US under pressure to deliver on Mideast peace -- APP
Talks won’t start where they left off -- Jerusalem Post
Senators knock US policy on ME conflict -- Jerusalem Post
Fatah: US-backed talks with Israel waste of time -- Press TV (Iran)

My Comment: Proclaiming that you are going to point fingers if the talks fail is not my way of starting the discussion .... but it appears that this is the U.S. position.

Middle East Peace Process Is Going Nowhere

Photo: Mrs Clinton was speaking after meeting the Jordanian foreign minister. Image from the BBC

Clinton Urges Mideast Peace Talks Without Preconditions -- Voice of America

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday met the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt and urged a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations as soon as possible and without preconditions. U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell, preparing for a new diplomatic push on the issue, says he wants to see a peace accord concluded within two years, if not sooner.

Clinton's meetings with her Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts signaled the start of a new U.S. push on the Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking front that for the first-time includes a specific time-frame.

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More News On US Attempts To Restart The Middle East Process

Hillary Clinton sets out US plan for Middle East peace -- BBC
Middle East conflict: US tries new approach for peace -- Christian Science Monitor
U.S. Seeks a New Path to Peace in Middle East -- Wall Street Journal
Clinton urges Israel, Palestinians to plunge into talks -- L.A. Times
Palestinians reject U.S. call for resuming peace talks -- China View
Palestinians downplay Hillary Clinton push for peace -- BBC
Palestinians demand full settlement freeze -- AFP
Hamas snubs U.S., Arab efforts to restart Mideast peace -- China View
Egypt's Role In Renewed Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks -- NPR (Audio)
US, Jordan pressure Israel, PA on peace -- Jerusalem Post/AP

Palestinian President Abbas Threatens To Dismantle PA

From Jerusalem Post:

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is considering dissolving the PA and declaring the failure of the peace process with Israel, PA officials in Ramallah said over the weekend.

Abbas was now waiting to see if the US and other parties would exert enough pressure on Israel to stop settlement construction and recognize the two-state solution before he makes any decision, the officials said.

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My Comment: Palestinian President Abbas has thrown in the towel. After Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks last week in support of Israel's settlement policy in the West Bank (which was later changed to not supporting any new construction), President Abbas now realizes that he does not have the support that he needs from Washington on this issue.

I can understand his position. After years of talking and negotiating .... you have nothing to show for it. Why continue? For President Abbas, he is now at the Rubicon, and he is wondering if he should cross it. My bet is that he will.

Israel And Palestinian Conflict -- News Updates September 3, 2009

Shalom and Khoury, to meet again (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)

Israelis And Palestinians Talking Again After Months-Long Freeze -- L.A. Times

The two sides discuss the West Bank's promising economic recovery, and aides to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas say he's willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Reporting from Jerusalem - In a limited thaw of a frosty relationship, Israeli and Palestinian officials held their first high-level meeting in months Wednesday and discussed ways to bolster a promising economic recovery in the West Bank.

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More News On Israeli - Palestinian Relations

Israelis, Palestinians Hold High-Level Talks -- Washington Post
Shalom holds official meeting with PA minister -- YNET News
Israel, Palestinians hold first talks for six months -- RIA Novosti
Low Expectations May Be Helpful for Mideast Talks -- New York Times
Barack Obama 'to host Israel-Palestinian talks at UN' -- The Telegraph
Mitchell meets with Israelis as settlement issue looms -- Christian Science Monitor
Israelis meet US Mideast envoy -- AFP
Obama envoy to resume talks in Mideast next week -- AP
Israel frees nine Hamas lawmakers -- BBC
Building of new West Bank housing drops -- AP
Israel reports drop in new settlement construction -- AFP
Israel PM vowed not to freeze settlements: minister -- AFP
FACTBOX: Factors to watch from Israel, Palestinians -- Reuters