Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated publicly that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have reached a secret agreement.
In an interview with the leading Palestinian daily Al Quds, Blair stated that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have resolved differences between them, although he was careful to note that this agreement has not been signed. When pressed by the Palestinian reporter about the failure of the Annapolis process which began last year, Blair stated the following: "The continuous meetings between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and [Israeli leader] Olmert as well as the continuous negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli teams has produced an agreement." Blair said that he respects the choice of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders not to divulge details and therefore he would not give any further details.
Tony Blair who represents the Quartet Committee for Peace in the Middle East praised the courage of US President George Bush for his public pursuit for an agreement on a Palestinian state before the end of his term. Leaders of the US, Israel and the Palestinian Authority are in the last months of their terms in office. President Bush's last days in office is January 20th, Olmert has resigned and new elections are slated for February 2009, and the legal term of Mahmoud Abbas is due to expire January 9th. Blair praised President Elect Obama saying that he worked closely with General Jones who Obama choose as national security advisor.
On Iraq, Blair refused to admit that the decision he took as prime minister of the United Kingdom in 2003 to invade Iraq was wrong saying that Iran and Al Qaeeda were a threat to the national security of Iraq. Blair blamed the thousands of Iraqis killed in Iraq on Al Qaeeda and other militias. The interview in Al Quds can be read in Arabic here.
Politico's Mike Allen is previewing an article set to appear in Sunday's Las...
As was reported this week, George Bush...
***UPDATE*** 12/7 12:31PM -- SCROLL...
I sent the following letter to Sean Hannity recently in response to his...
Five short weeks ago, Barack Obama won a decisive victory against John McCain...
Florida resident Patrick Donovan, 53, died over $393 in Wal-Mart merchandise, lying face down in...
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has turned down an emergency appeal from...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Nobel economics prize winner Paul Krugman said...
John Malkovich hosted a new "Saturday...
This week Letterman and Conan were off, but the other shows filled the late-night joke void. Thanks to...
I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have...
Usually this column is dedicated to just one item or idea that is...
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
The chances of any kind of agreement in the foreseeable future are slim to none. With Abass' term expiring in early January, Israeli elections in early February, a breakdown in the truce with Hamas and all the settler violence, nothing can happen anytime soon.
Iz-ra.el and all their extremist groups will never accept any peace with the Palestinians no matter what compromises are made.
They will make sure no deal is ever made.
Assumes facts not in evidence.
Clearly, it's the terrorists groups of Hamas and Hezbollah that are the impediments to the peace process..
Michale....
FYI Hamas and Hezbolla did not even exist before the '67 occupation.
Israel could not be happier with the status quo. No Israelis are being killed (while the Israeli killing machine just keeps going and going). Settlements are expanding nicely in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The economy is booming. Most importantly, nobody, including the Arab world, gives a damn about the fate of the Palestinians.
Nothing succeeds like illegal occupation and oppression. 41 years and counting.
I think it's less the "public pursuit for an agreement" by George Bush and more that fact this is one part of the world that he's left alone.
Hamas and all the islamist groups will never accept any peace with Jews no matter what compromises are made.
They will make sure no deal is ever made
Assumes facts not in evidence.
Clearly, it's the Israelis that are impediments to the peace process..
My point..... any regional conflict requires two or more participants. See above.
That's like claiming that the Allies were "impediments to the peace process" because they fought back against the Axis in WWII...
The Israelis have always shown that they are willing to live in peace..
They simply have one request. That Palestinian terrorists quit killing Israelis...
Until the Palestinians reign in their extremist elements, they will always be as they are today...
Michale.....
Ding, Ding, Ding!! We HAVE a winner!! :D
If I had read your post first, I wouldn't have had to answer Mr SuperSam above.
Michale.....
You must be logged in to reply to this comment. Log in