The Jerusalem Post reported Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has come to the conclusion that peace talks have failed.
Prior to his departure from Sharm el-Sheikh, Abbas was informed that the United States intended to backtrack on efforts to achieve progress in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The report was given to Abbas from a European source, who claimed that the Americans were not interested in exerting pressure or confronting Israel, and that the US was "allowing Israel full freedom to take a stance which would serve its policies, its security, and its interests alone."
Another diplomatic source told the paper that the PA president received reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shas chairman Eli Yishai had come to an understanding in which the former has promised the latter that plans to build thousands of apartment units around Jerusalem and in the West Bank would be approved - this in an attempt to reinforce the premier's foundering coalition.
Given these reports, the source told the paper that Abbas planned to give a speech in Ramallah, during which he would announce that negotiations had failed and blame Israel for the failure. The source added that the PA president would also blame the US for its lack of commitment to the peace process.
However, the U.S. does know how to invest in violence. There's an Iran to attack and Democrats to squash. George W.'s checklist is pretty full, even without an Annapolis peace initiative. It seems to have been process after all. (Israeli Foreign Minister and rumored future Prime Minister Tzipi Livni sandbagged with her revelation, "Israel and the Palestinians are not likely to reach agreement on the core issues during 2008.")
Prior to his departure from Sharm el-Sheikh, Abbas was informed that the United States intended to backtrack on efforts to achieve progress in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The report was given to Abbas from a European source, who claimed that the Americans were not interested in exerting pressure or confronting Israel, and that the US was "allowing Israel full freedom to take a stance which would serve its policies, its security, and its interests alone."
Another diplomatic source told the paper that the PA president received reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shas chairman Eli Yishai had come to an understanding in which the former has promised the latter that plans to build thousands of apartment units around Jerusalem and in the West Bank would be approved - this in an attempt to reinforce the premier's foundering coalition.
Given these reports, the source told the paper that Abbas planned to give a speech in Ramallah, during which he would announce that negotiations had failed and blame Israel for the failure. The source added that the PA president would also blame the US for its lack of commitment to the peace process.
However, the U.S. does know how to invest in violence. There's an Iran to attack and Democrats to squash. George W.'s checklist is pretty full, even without an Annapolis peace initiative. It seems to have been process after all. (Israeli Foreign Minister and rumored future Prime Minister Tzipi Livni sandbagged with her revelation, "Israel and the Palestinians are not likely to reach agreement on the core issues during 2008.")
