Netanyahu and Abbas, time for face-to-face talks.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening appealed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to drop pre-conditions for face-to-face talks and meet him for direct peace negotiations “Any time…today, tomorrow, the next day. In any place.”

Continue reading Netanyahu and Abbas, time for face-to-face talks?

Using their speeches at the American Ambassador’s Fourth of July party Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres took the opportunity in front of both national and international media to attempt to smooth over the recent tensions in American-Israeli relations. Peres spoke of America as “probably the greatest empire, the greatest defender of freedom”. In a similar fashion Netanyahu declared, “American power keeps the enemies of freedom at bay”. Relations have been strained over previous months due to what the Obama administration has seen as the increasingly intransigent nature of the Netanyahu government, especially in regards to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the future of Palestinian areas in East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu’s recent attempts at improving the American-Israeli relationship and his calls to Abbas come during uncertain times. President Obama will shortly be signing further sanctions upon Iran, an action viewed as being heavily influenced by Israel, and Netanyahu will be relying upon American support if Israel is to avoid war with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. Attempting to appear to the international community as a pro-active figure of the peace process, Netanyahu reiterated his call for open and direct peace talks at a time when many are questioning the governments desire for peace.

“The only way to complete peace negotiations are to begin them. And the only way to begin them are to have the two parties sit across from one another and directly negotiate these complex issues together”

Of interesting note was the absence of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Whilst many important military figures, Knesset members and diplomatic officials were present, the Foreign Minister’s whereabouts became a pointed topic of conversation. Many in attendance were left wondering if his absence at one of the most important diplomatic parties of the year was an intended affront to the Prime Minister in reaction to yesterdays news of official communication with Turkish officials without the knowledge of the Foreign Minister.