Here is Netanyahu slipping and sliding, in Haaretz, talking nonsense about his core issues, emphasis mine:
“To reach peace, we have to discuss the issues that are truly delaying peace…” Netanyahu said in a speech to an economic forum, hours before a U.S. envoy George Mitchell was due to arrive in Israel.
In the speech, Netanyahu cited issues such as his demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, security arrangements and the future of Palestinian refugees...
Mitchell is expected to make clear to Netanyahu that the Obama administration wants the prime minister to take a position in the coming weeks on the core issues, with an emphasis on borders.
Bronner and Kershner know that Netanyahu has put himself in a corner. The Times:
members of the Fatah Central Committee, the main decision-making body of Mr. Abbas’s party, said they opposed any negotiations with Israel, direct or indirect, in the absence of a settlement freeze. They added that there would have to be clear terms of reference for any further talks, namely a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines….
the Palestinians are pursuing other options, chiefly seeking international endorsement for the 1967 lines as the borders of their future state.
Reuters also brings this pressure:
EU foreign ministers “noted with regret” Israel’s failure to extend a moratorium on construction of Jewish settlements, and took a stand at odds with the decision by the United States to drop efforts to persuade Israel to freeze settlement building.
“Our views on settlements, including in East Jerusalem, are clear: they are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace,” the ministers said in their statement.
the Elders are taking the same position:
1. The occupation must end, and the aim of negotiations should be to define the boundaries of a future Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, including its capital in East Jerusalem. …
3. Israeli settlements are illegal and all settlement activity must halt throughout the occupied Palestinian territory including in East Jerusalem.
P.S. Max Blumenthal, who is arguing for boycott tomorrow night in Princeton, says that this language suggests that the Elders are headed toward Boycott Divestment and Sanctions:
As Elders, we will do all we can to persuade governments around the world to apply a rights-based approach to this terrible conflict and to turn the focus of initial negotiations to border and security issues.
