Demonstrator, Annapolis.
Ezra HaLevi
Ezra HaLevi
Posted on 11/27/2007 1:40:15 PM PST by SmithL
(IsraelNN.com) At the ceremonial opening of the international summit at Annapolis, United States President George W. Bush read out a joint statement agreed upon by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The statement included a commitment by both sides of the conflict over the Land of Israel to "make every effort" to strike a deal by late 2008.
According to Channel 1 reporter Ayala Hason, the PA side insisted that the statement not include the phrase "a Jewish state," and it was dropped. On the other hand, the word "Jerusalem" was also not mentioned.
Yishai: Nothing practical
Interviewed on IDF Radio after the opening statements, Shas chairman Eli Yishai said Shas would not be leaving the government as long as nothing "practical" is agreed upon.
In his speech at Annapolis, which was delivered in Hebrew, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "Negotiations will address all the issues which thus far have been evaded. We will not avoid any subject."
"While this will be an extremely difficult process for many of us," Olmert added, "it is nevertheless inevitable. I know it. Many of my people know it. We are ready for it. I believe that the post-1967 reality will be changed in a very significant manner."
The joint statement read out by President Bush said: "We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis."
We're prepared for painful, danger-fraught compromise
It went on to say: "We agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements. We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."
Olmert mentioned "the terrible terror by Palestinian terrorists [which has] hurt thousands of Israeli citizens, the destruction of families and the efforts to disrupt the lives of Israeli citizens." Despite these things, Olmert said, "we want peace. We demand a cessation of terror, incitement and hatred. We are prepared for a painful, danger-fraught compromise to achieve these aspirations."
Ezra HaLevi, Israel National News correspondent, reported that several hundred pro-Israel demonstrators held signs outside the venue of the summit, protesting the intentions to hand over parts of Jerusalem to the enemy. Most of the demonstrators were young people, some of whom played Zionist and Jewish songs on their guitars.
Anti-Zionist Neturei Karta Jews were on the scene too, as were demonstrators from One Voice and two or three "Jews for Jesus."
Sellout Alert: Before the conference, they were leaving the coalition if Jerusalem is touched. Now, after Olmert has put everything on the table, including Jerusalem, Shas is staying. $$$$$ makes the world go around.
(1970 or 2007 the goal remains identical)
Ping!
Also, check out the two pictures of pro-Israel demonstrators! Made my morning!
I read Eli Yisha’s statement and he’s right about one thing: nothing practical came out of Annapolis so nothing has changed. I say PM Olmert interviewed afterwards and his words then may be the most important: “If there is terror nothing will change.” Of course there will be terror. Qassam rockets continue to rain out of Gaza.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
There’s probably some logic in this somewhere but I missed it...It’s like the U.S. negotiating a peace deal over Iran with the Japanese...
Abbas and his Fatah group don’t represent the Palestinians, Hamas does...
To me, this is an answer to prayer....and that prayer was answered.....nothing negative for Israel is down in writing.
“:Abbas and his Fatah group don’t represent the Palestinians, Hamas does..”
And Olmert defintiely does not represent Israelis.
Olmert happened to be in Ariel Sharon’s cabinet, but Olmert was so very far down the party list that he would never have been able to be a position of national power.
Now no one in his right mind supports Olmert or the new Kadima party and practically none do. Olmert has no mandate from the Israeli people to represent them in Annapolis. Olmert’s ratings are in the low one digits.
Olmert has been an utter and scanalous failure in raising his children and is failing the citizens in his charge. Olmert is a corrupt politician. The Israeli people need to act in their own defense from the capitulation to terrorists that represents the Annapolis conference. Shame on George Bush and Condolezza Rice for hosting such an absurd gathering of Arab terrorist thugs and becoming allies of the very world terrorists whom they are supposed to be eliminating.
The Jewish people have a right to their own, historic holy homeland. Arab places are referred to as “holy” and so should the Jewish holyland. What tremendous bias in the double standard by the world. The totality of Israel is the size of New Jersey in a vast sea of 23 Arab countries. These countries are the architupe of hate and terror and should be treated as such. The last thing the world needs is another terrorist country and that’s the only thing a PIO state aims to be. Read the PA/PLO charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel; read their speeches in Arabic; read their hate-filled texbook books, newspapers, TV. Abbas was Arafat’s advisor for 30 years and is no different from Arafat, just looks more Western. The Arabist U.S. State Dept is yet again making a huge tactical error that endangers world safety, as they have for so many decades. Land for peace has only accelerated terrorism. What is the matter with the fools who would ask for yet more land to be carved out of this teeny, wonderful country of Israel?
According to Channel 1 reporter Ayala Hason, the PA side insisted that the statement not include the phrase "a Jewish state," and it was dropped. On the other hand, the word "Jerusalem" was also not mentioned. Interviewed on IDF Radio after the opening statements, Shas chairman Eli Yishai said Shas would not be leaving the government as long as nothing "practical" is agreed upon.Since the PA side insisted that "a Jewish state" not be referred to, I guess it's okay. ;')
The P.A. needs to kindly go and kiss a porcupine.
Shas has always been about the money.
“Shas has always been about the money.”
Sadly so.
Hopefully, the entire Annapolis scenario was just posturing on his part. You can be certain that posturing was exactly what Abbas was doing there.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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