Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Lieberman: Peace talks with Palestinians at a 'dead end'

Apr. 7, 2009
Jpost.com staff and ap , THE JERUSALEM POST
Peace talks with the Palestinians have reached a "dead end," Foreign Minister Avidgor Lieberman said Tuesday evening.

Speaking at an Israel Beiteinu conference in Jerusalem, Lieberman said "there's a withdrawal from talks, and we have to understand and acknowledge that we're at a dead end."

"We definitely plan to develop new ideas," he added. Last week, on his first day in office, Lieberman essentially reversed Israeli diplomatic policy of the last two years, saying Jerusalem was not obligated by the Annapolis process.

'There is one document that obligates us - and that's not the Annapolis conference, it has no validity,' Lieberman told Foreign Ministry employees gathered in the ministry for a changing of the guard ceremony together with former foreign minister Tzipi Livni.

'The Israeli government never ratified Annapolis, nor did the Knesset,' Lieberman said. The one document that obligates Israel - and he stressed that Israel is bound by its ratified commitment - is the 2003 road map, officially called 'A performance-based road map to a permanent two- state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'

Following Lieberman's comments, the Foreign Ministry issued directives to its delegation abroad saying Israel was no longer pursuing the Annapolis process.

Seemingly in response to the foreign minister's comments, US President Barack Obama on Monday reiterated his country's commitment to previous understandings, including the process launched at Annapolis in 2007, in promoting a peace agreement between Israel and its neighbors.

Addressing the Turkish parliament, he also voiced unequivocal support for a two-state solution, saying, "Let me be clear, the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. That is a goal shared by Palestinians, Israelis, and people of good will around the world. That is a goal that the parties agreed to in the road map and at Annapolis. And that is a goal that I will actively pursue as president."

He emphasized the need for the two sides to take confidence-building measures while living up to "the commitments they have made."

Both Israel and the Palestinians, he said "must overcome longstanding passions and the politics of the moment to make progress toward a secure and lasting peace."

Herb Keinon and Elie Leshem contributed to this report

This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1238562940027&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

No comments: