Israel News Daily 02/09/2010

'You are my partner,' Netanyahu tells Abbas

A US-sponsored summit to launch renewed direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority opened in Washington yesterday. The talks are the first direct, official contacts between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in 20 months. The ceremony opening the summit featured a handshake between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. President Barack Obama, speaking after private meetings with Netanyahu and Abbas, said that he had encouraged the leaders not to let the opportunity for peace 'slip away', as it may not come again for many years.

In his statement at the White House, PM Netanyahu said that his goal is "a peace that will end the conflict between us once and for all. We seek a peace that will last for generations." Addressing the Palestinian president, Netanyahu added, "But every peace begins with leaders. President Abbas, you are my partner in peace. It is up to us to overcome the agonizing conflict between our peoples and to forge a new beginning."

The events in Washington are intended to launch a negotiation process that will achieve a peace agreement within one year. According to a briefing given by the US State Department to the media in Washington, the talks will consist of meetings every two weeks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, with US assistance where required.

Second attack on Israelis in West Bank

Two Israelis, a man and a woman, were wounded yesterday in a roadside attack in the West Bank. The man, who is reported to be in serious condition, was hit by gunfire aimed at his car, while the woman was injured in the subsequent crash of the vehicle. This is the second such attack this week. The shooting took place near the West Bank settlement of Kochav Yair, near the Rimonim junction, at around 11pm last night. A car was found overturned in the area, when police and security forces began a search. The car had been riddled with bullets. Responsibility for the attack was later claimed by the Izz a din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.

Roadside shootings in the West Bank were a common feature of the conflict which followed the collapse of earlier peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians in 2000. President Obama, speaking at the White House yesterday, described the murder of four Israelis in the Hebron area earlier this week as 'senseless slaughter.' The president said that this act would not be permitted to derail the peace talks. PA Chairman Abbas also condemned the attack. PA security forces have arrested a number of Hamas members in the West Bank following the attack.

The revival of Hamas terror in the West Bank in the last days comes as an uncomfortable reminder of the presence of a powerful, alternative Palestinian political force, opposed to the talks, unbound by any commitment made by the Palestinian Authority, and able to make its position felt. The final status issues likely to surface in the talks include the issue of Palestinian refugees of 1948 and their descendants, the future status of Jerusalem and the borders of a future Palestinian state.

Settlers resume West Bank construction

Right wing activists began to build a number of structures in the West Bank yesterday, including one close to Hill 16 at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, where the terror attack that killed four Israelis took place earlier this week. Approximately 200 settlers, according to Israeli media reports, took part in a ceremony outside Kiryat Arba to mark the commencement of building. The settlers reportedly brought a water tank and construction equipment to the area, with the intention of constructing an outpost. Other areas in which construction on new projects has begun included Adam and Kdumim. Settler leaders stressed that the building was not a response to the attack this week, but was rather part of a larger plan for recommencing construction after the end of the settlement moratorium later this month. The issue of the settlement freeze and its future is likely to form the first major obstacle to the renewed diplomatic process between Israelis and Palestinians.

The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today is the opening of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington yesterday. The Guardian also notes the partial closure of the West Bank following the murder of four Israelis earlier this week, and, together with the Times, the determination of West Bank settlers to resume construction. The Daily Telegraph reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ruling out an extension of the settlement freeze. The Times notes Hamas opposition to the talks. The Independent has a comment piece contrasting what the writer holds to be Obama's 'realism' in contrast to the 'fantasies' of Tony Blair regarding the Middle East. Several news sources note that in his memoirs, former prime minister Tony Blair said that the West should be prepared to use force against Iran if necessary to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon. Metro-London notes that the terror attack earlier this week will 'haunt' the peace talks. The Guardian has a comment piece by a Palestinian academic who is opposed to the peace talks. The Financial Times notes a call from a number of Israeli writers for a boycott of West Bank settlements. The Scotsman and Reuters report the PA's arrest of 150 Hamas members following the attack earlier this week. The Scotsman also quotes Defence Minister Ehud Barak on the possibility that Israel will make concessions on Jerusalem in the framework of a final status accord.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the launching of the talks yesterday. All papers also report on a second Hamas terror attack in the West Bank yesterday. Haaretz has an additional piece revealing that a famed Nazi hunter was connected to the Israeli intelligence services. The Jerusalem Post and Maariv quote PM Netanyahu's speech in which he said he was committed to 'historic compromise' with the Palestinians. Ynetnews notes the resumption of construction by West Bank settlers.

In the Shadow of Attack

Nahum Barnea, (Ynetnews)

"Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu experienced something that happened to many of his predecessors before, and to him too in his previous term as prime minister: He boarded a plane in a relatively peaceful state, but when he landed, the news of a murderous terror attack landed along with him. He boarded the plane in a certain mood, and disembarked from it in a wholly different mood.

The terror attack in Hebron does not change the essence of the summit much. It merely reinforces Netanyahu's security demands, which he intended to present at the core of his statements here in any case.

Of course, the attack boosts his bargaining power in respect to the construction freeze. He would be able to explain to the Americans that when the settlers are victims of terror, the Israeli public has trouble reconciling itself to a decision on a continued freeze."

Hamas claims responsibility for W.Bank terror attack - (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186765

Abbas condemns attacks, Netanyahu to continue talks - (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/SpecialSection/Article.aspx?id=186773

Netanyahu: Israel committed to 'secure, durable peace' - (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186754

Obama warns Middle East leaders 'chance may not come again soon' - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/02/middle-east-peace-talks-israel-palestine

A Middle East peace that wreaks havoc - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/sep/01/washington-middle-east-talks-palestinian-fears

Israeli settlers to resume building on West Bank after Hebron killings - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/israel-west-bank-settlers-building

Middle East talks: no real desire for change spells little hope of success - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/middle-east-talks-analysis

Tony Blair: West should use force if Iran 'continues to develop nuclear weapons' - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/01/tony-blair-west-use-force-iran-nuclear-weapons

Middle East talks: key issues for Israel, the Palestinians and the US - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/middle-east-talks-key-issues

Barack Obama begins talks with Middle East leaders - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/obama-middle-east-talks-begin

West Bank partially sealed off after Israeli settler killings - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/west-bank-israeli-settler-killings

Obama vows Hebron killings will not deflect pursuit of peace - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/01/obama-hebron-killings-peace-talks

Middle East peace talks: Back to the future - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/02/editorial-middle-east-peace-talks

Netanyahu calls Abbas 'my partner in peace' as Middle East talks begin - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/sep/01/barack-obama-peace-talks-palestine-israel

Tony Blair interview: the full transcript - (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/01/tony-blair-interview-full-transcript

Peace talks begin with both sides heading for collision over settlements - (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7976150/Peace-talks-begin-with-both-sides-heading-for-collision-over-settlements.html

Benjamin Netanyahu rules out extenson on settlement freeze - (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7975655/Benjamin-Netanyahu-rules-out-extension-on-settlement-freeze.html

Barack Obama: donet let the opportunity for peace slip away - (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7976576/Barack-Obama-dont-let-the-opportunity-for-peace-slip-away.html

Tony Blair memoirs: we must be prepared for attack on Iran - (Daily Telegraph)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/tony-blair/7974819/Tony-Blair-memoirs-we-must-be-prepared-for-attack-on-Iran.html

Obama: Now is the opportunity for peace - (Times)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2711115.ece

West Bank settlers defiant on eve of fresh peace talks - (Times)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2710639.ece

Behind the story: Hamas waiting in the wings for talks to fail - (Times)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2710693.ece

Israeli settlers vow to resume building work - (Times)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2709639.ece

A struggle for peace that starts with a handshake - (Times)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2711128.ece

Obama's high-stakes gamble on peace deal that eluded predecessors - (Independent)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/obamas-highstakes-gamble-on-peace-deal-that-eluded-predecessors-2068103.html

Donald Macintyre: Settlements still occupying minds in the West Bank - (Independent)

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/donald-macintyre/donald-macintyre-settlements-still-occupying-minds-in-the-west-bank-2068102.html

Adrian Hamilton: Obama the realist, Blair the fantasist - (Independent)

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/adrian-hamilton/adrian-hamilton-obama-the-realist-blair-the-fantasist-2067884.html

Obama makes big push on Mid-East talks - (Financial Times)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/79da95b4-b5ed-11df-a048-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F79da95b4-b5ed-11df-a048-00144feabdc0.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fhome%2Fmiddleeast

The Middle East peace process - (Financial Times)

http://blogs.ft.com/rachmanblog/2010/09/the-middle-east-peace-process-once-more-into-the-breach/#more-9611

Israeli settlement timebomb threatens talks - (Financial Times)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/559d140a-b607-11df-a048-00144feabdc0.html

Israeli settlers threaten to restart building - (Financial Times)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3ba560ae-b5b0-11df-a65e-00144feabdc0.html

Israeli writers appeal for settlements boycott - (Financial Times)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dd3ac7b8-b517-11df-9af8-00144feabdc0.html

Palestinians seize 150 Hamas members after Israeli deaths - (Scotsman)

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Palestinians-seize-150-Hamas-members.6507989.jp

Israel 'prepared to cede parts of Jerusalem in deal' - (Scotsman)

http://news.scotsman.com/world/Israel-39prepared-to-cede-.6507991.jp

'Baptism' of WW2 Jews to be halted - (Scotsman)

http://news.scotsman.com/world/39Baptism39-of-WW2-Jews-to.6508008.jp

Obama brings Mideast leaders together for peace push - (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE68000920100902

Palestinian forces arrest dozens of Hamas activists - (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6801ZT20100901

Obama calls for Mid-East progress - (BBC Online)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11160288

Mid-East talks: Where they stand - (BBC Online)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11138790

Obama condemns 'slaughter' as Mid-East talks open in US - (BBC Online)

http://search.bbc.co.uk/click/p/2/ds/main/t/Obama%2520condemns%2520%2527slaughter%2527%2520as%2520Mid%252dEast%2520talks%2520open%2520in%2520US/id/17231391110921128340239921188264000/sp/42fb5d71cc5acb799598114efd225a9a/-/http%253a%252f%252fwww%252ebbc%252eco%252euk%252fnews%252fworld%252dus%252dcanada%252d11155313

West Bank attack overshadows new Middle East talks - (BBC Online)

http://search.bbc.co.uk/click/p/3/ds/main/t/West%2520Bank%2520attack%2520overshadows%2520new%2520Middle%2520East%2520talks/id/17231391110921128340239921188264000/sp/ba4209d650173b0d34c24016db63c5cb/-/http%253a%252f%252fwww%252ebbc%252eco%252euk%252fnews%252fworld%252dmiddle%252deast%252d11154776

Ex-PM warns of Iran war threat - (Sky News Online)

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Tony-Blair-Attacks-Gordon-Brown-In-His-Memoirs-And-Warns-Of-Iran-Threat-In-His-Book-A-Journey/Article/201008415710093?lpos=Politics_Right_Promo_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15710093_Tony_Blair_Attacks_Gordon_Brown_In_His_M

Obama 'cautiously hopeful' about peace talks as new peace process begins - (Sky News Online)

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/President-Obama-Cautiously-Hopeful-About-Peace-Talks-As-New-Peace-Process-Begins-In-Washington/Article/201009115711165?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15711165_President_Obama

2 Israelis wounded in second West Bank shooting attack in two days - (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/2-israelis-wounded-in-second-west-bank-shooting-attack-in-two-days-1.311583

Obama to Netanyahu, Abbas: Don't let the chance for peace slip away - (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-to-netanyahu-abbas-don-t-let-the-chance-for-peace-slip-away-1.311654

Famous Nazi-hunter was a Mossad agent, new book reveals - (Haaretz)

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/famous-nazi-hunter-was-a-mossad-agent-new-book-reveals-1.311612

2 wounded in shooting attack - (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3947832,00.html

'I seek historic compromise' - (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3947861,00.html

Settlers resume construction - (Ynetnews)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3947776,00.html

PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Jerusalem Post)

The Jewish people are not strangers in our homeland, the land of our forefathers...But we recognize that another people shares this land with us. And I came here today to find a historic compromise that will enable both people to live in peace, security and dignity.