Report: Obama wants Israel to halt building in east Jerusalem for four months
01 April 2010
According to a report by the Israeli newspaper ‘Haaretz,’ US President Barack Obama has asked Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu to freeze construction in the eastern part of Jerusalem, beyond the 1967 Green Line, for a period of four months in order to renew peace talks with the Palestinians. Washington hopes such a deal could persuade Palestinians to accept direct negotiations rather than indirect talks, as had been planned, ‘Haaretz’ wrote, citing an unnamed Israeli political source. Netanyahu’s office made no official comment on the matter.
Nabil Abu Rdainah, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "What is required is firstly a freeze to settlement in Jerusalem and in the rest of the West Bank before a return to any negotiations, direct or indirect."
Officials said Obama had asked Netanyahu during their meeting at the White House last week to introduce some goodwill gestures to help persuade Palestinians to renew peace negotiations, which were suspended in December 2008.
Last weekend, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told the newspaper ‘Ma’ariv’ that Washington's main demand of Israel was "freezing construction in most of the Jewish neighborhoods," listing four in east Jerusalem. He called the demand "completely unreasonable" and said it had not been accepted by any senior cabinet ministers.
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Israel should start listening to BHO when and only when he starts listening to US citizens. BHO sees Satan when he looks in the mirror.
I don't understand why American Jews in such large numbers vote for Democrats, particularly Obama. I judge people on the company they keep, and he associated with so many radicals. A leopard never changes its spots. I'm a Jew, and yet if given a choice between voting for a far left Jew or a conservative Christian, I'd choose the latter. If I were Bibi, I would stand up to Obama.
I personally see no issue with the consolidation of Jerusalem into a single city as it was for thousands of years. The only drawback is the Dome on the Rock and access to its mosque by those Moslems who want to pray there.
There must be some accomodation to Moslems who wish to make a pilgrimage to the mosque but then return to the West Bank outside of the city proper. How to accomplish this will be a monumental task but needs to be considered if there is to bew any peace. Of course, there must be a similar mose by the Palestinians to permit Jews (and others) to safely make pilgrimages to their holy sites.
israel is the land of israel by the bible,on 1948 jordan take the east jerusalem from the jews/ jerusalem is the capital of israel by the bible, and we know that islam is the big lies.
and OBAMA freeze yours new york city ,becuase you take it from thr indian people.
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World Jewish Congress Secretary General Dan Diker speaks on the upcoming debate at the United Nations about the unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians.
Frances, over 2 years ago
As Jerusalem is the holy site for the world's three largest organized religions, it makes sense that it should be an "International City", not the capital of Palestine or Israel. All three factions - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, should make up the governing body in equal numbers. The original UN division did call for Jerusalem to be an independent city-state - not a part of either Palestine or Israel and, after 60+ years, we can understand fully why that was put in. On this weekend in particular, Easter, we must remember that the Christians hold many sites in this city as holy sites as well and all religions should have garauntee they can visit their sites in safety.