Well we had a sort of contentious weekend here at DKos so I figured I would start the week off with a Kumbaya M.E. Diary. This week the Global Elders for Peace are making their way to Israel to listen to Israelis and Palestinians and to.... well I will let you all see what they are attempting over the fold
ALSO -
Benjamin Netanyahu wants to meet with his counter part Mahmoud Abbas at the U.N. Standing in his way is resident wingnut Avigdor Lieberman who says that he does not see peace at all happening in the next 16 years.
<snark> The Wingnuts on each side threw a party to hear Liebermans pronouncment while everyone else followed the news</snark>
Ok I made that last sentence up but, after this weekend Follow me beyond the fold.
First up - The Global Elders are going to the region to discuss peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Now, as many here know I am no fan of Hamas and/or the rhetoric that some of the EFP have used in the past. That said I am quite happy to see what is happening. Opening up dialogue - no matter who does it (well almost) does the region good. At some time the fighting has to end, the parents have to stop suffering to see their children fighting and the children need to have childhoods. Anyhow going to promote peace is a great thing. As Ha'aretz reports:
The one thing common to members of the Global Elders, a forum of elder statesman, businessmen and peace activists, is that their future is behind them. Three of them have Nobel peace prizes in their cupboards. They are coming here, today, in the height of the summer heat, to listen to what plagues Israelis and Palestinians, and to try to convince them that there is another way.
http://www.haaretz.com/...
The Elders consist of:
Former US president Jimmy Carter has become of late a regular visitor to Jerusalem and Ramallah. The last time Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa came to the region, he protested from Gaza Strip that he was not allowed to break the siege and pass from there into Israel. Their colleagues in the delegation include former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former Norwegian prime minister Gro Brundtland, former Irish president and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Indian human rights activist Ela Bhatt, and renowned businessmen Richard Branson and Jeff Skoll who co-founded the organization in 2007 and have supported it ever since.
and they are going to meet with Israeli President Peres and PA Prime Minister Fayyad. Read the article for a short interview.
In a very interesting turn of events:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would like to resume direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority following the United Nations General Assembly meeting in late September.
A senior political source in Jerusalem told Haaretz Sunday that the U.S. has informed Israel that it is interested in assuming the role of "active mediator" during the talks, and "have a place at the negotiating table."
http://www.haaretz.com/...
Of course "Little Mister Sunshine" Avigdor "Loyalty Oaths" Lieberman chimes in with:
"In the 16 years since the Oslo Accords, we haven't managed to bring peace to the region, and I'm willing to bet that there won't be peace in another 16 years, either. Certainly not on the basis of the two-state solution," Lieberman said
All one can say is "OY".
However the U.S. and President Obama continue to push the Israelis for a settlement freeze and for the Arab nations to begin normalization immediately.
The U.S. is demanding that Israel freeze temporarily construction in the settlements, and is asking the Arab world to begin normalizing ties with Israel immediately.
See the article for the split between the "Hawks camp" and the "Doves"
Also, Netanyahu met with King Abdullah on Sunday, where the King pushed the idea that negotiations need to get back on track. The head of Egyptian Intelligence Omar Sulieman comes to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli leaders next week. Could he be coming with a deal for Shalit.
All in all it is possibly shaping up to be an interesting week. Let's see what will happen and discuss.