Semaine 29 / 2011

           Israeli defense officials said in a recent analysis it's just a matter of time before Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime falls. This line echoes comments by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who last month told Haaretz he thought Assad's regime would fall within several months. Over the past three months, more than 2,000 soldiers unwilling to put down the anti-regime protests throughout the country have deserted the Syrian army, which has been showing major signs of fatigue.... [Lire la suite]

            The Quartet envoy to the Middle East and former UK prime minister Tony Blair told Channel 2 news Thursday that Monday's Quartet talks centering around renewing Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations were not a complete failure, and that in the face of "difficult issues" and agreement is more pressing than ever. Blair said that he understands why the Palestinian Authority is adamantly pursuing UN recognition of a Palestinian state, but said that he did not think this... [Lire la suite]

            An Arab League decision to ask the UN to recognize a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines would not serve the peace process, the US said on Thursday. “We’ve been clear in our conviction that unilateral approaches to try to seek statehood via the United Nations will not lead to a comprehensive settlement,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told The Jerusalem Post in a statement. “That will only come via the hard give and take of negotiations and mutual... [Lire la suite]

           After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Wednesday he stands behind the newly approved Boycott Law, the Palestinian Authority now threatens to boycott any Israeli company that will heed the law. The Palestinian Authority's Economic Minister Dr. Hassan Abu Libdeh said Wednesday that "Palestinians plan to boycott Israeli companies that will obey the Boycott Law." According to Abu Libdah, "The decision made by the Israeli government to approve this law proves Israel is... [Lire la suite]

            The European Union is concerned about the effect the "Boycott Bill" will have on Israeli freedom of speech, a spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday, according to AFP. "The EU recognizes Israel's sovereignty in the legislative process. Furthermore, the EU does not advocate boycotts," AFP quoted the spokesperson as saying. "However, as part of such fundamental values as free expression and speech that the EU cherishes and shares with... [Lire la suite]

           Cyprus has expressed its willingness to re-review its naval border agreement with Lebanon, the Lebanese NBN television reported Wednesday. According to the report, Cyprus sent a message on the matter to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. No other sources confirmed the report. On Monday, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman warned Israel against taking any unilateral decision regarding the naval borders which would violate international law "as it is accustomed to do."... [Lire la suite]

       The Palestinian leadership, in unusually harsh criticism of Washington, on Tuesday held the United States responsible for "racist" Israeli policies it said had sabotaged the peace process. The leadership said recent developments had confirmed the need for the Palestinians to go to the UN General Assembly in September to seek international recognition for a Palestinian state within the 1967. The Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee convened in the West Bank city of Ramallah,... [Lire la suite]

            Israel's UN ambassador, Ron Prosor, told the Security Council during a debate entitled "Children in armed conflict" that Hamas is using Palestinian children to carry out acts of terror against Israeli children. Prosor mentioned the Fogel family murder, in which three children were killed in the settlement of Itamar. "Terrorists in the Middle East continue to focus their attacks on children," he said, describing the murder of the Fogel children – aged 11, 14, and three... [Lire la suite]

        Iran is fulfilling all its "duties" towards the United Nations atomic watchdog and is open to more nuclear talks with major powers, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Monday. Salehi spoke a day before he was due to meet with UN nuclear agency chief Yukiya Amano, who has repeatedly urged Iran to step up cooperation with the Vienna-based agency and help address international concerns about Tehran's nuclear work. Western powers suspect Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapons... [Lire la suite]

            The United States on Monday formally protested an attack on the US embassy and the American ambassador's residence in Syria and said it will seek compensation for damage caused when a mob of what it described as about 300 "thugs" breached the wall of the embassy compound before being dispersed by US Marine guards. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton condemned the attacks, as well as another against the French Embassy in Damascus, and demanded that Syria uphold... [Lire la suite]