Israel Rejects Iraq Study Group Proposals
PM Doesn't See Link Iraq War-Israel Link, Doesn't Want Talks With Syria
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks at to editors in Tel Aviv, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP)
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at his office in Ramallah, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP)
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White tents, portable latrines and water tanks erected by Hezbollah protesters block an intersection in front of the prime minister's complex in Beirut, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP)
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Olmert also rebuffed the group's recommendation that Israel open negotiations with Syria, but said Israelis want "with all our might" to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.
The Iraq Study Group report, released Wednesday in Washington, calls for direct talks between Israel and its neighbors, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians and says resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict would improve conditions in Iraq.
Olmert rejected that finding. "The attempt to create a linkage between the Iraqi issue and the Mideast issue — we have a different view," Olmert said during the prime minister's annual meeting with Israeli journalists. "To the best of my knowledge, President Bush, throughout the recent years, also had a different view on this."
Most Israelis oppose handing the Golan Heights back to a radical regime like Syria, as the study group recommends, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger. Israel is also concerned about the report's call for the U.S. to open a dialogue with Iran. Israeli officials say the best strategy to stop Iran's nuclear program is isolation, not dialogue.
In other developments:
recommended that the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas (right), dissolve the militant Hamas-led government and call new elections as early as March, an official close to the president said. Abbas sought the committee's recommendations after declaring last week that his efforts to form a more moderate coalition government with Hamas had reached a dead end. Hamas denounced the notion of early elections.Answering reporters' questions for more than an hour, Olmert said conditions were not ripe to reopen long-dormant talks with Syria and added that he received no indications from Mr. Bush during his recent visit to Washington that the U.S. would push Israel to start such talks.
Palestinian officials were more receptive to the panel's recommendations.
"We welcome the Hamilton-Baker report and hope the U.S. administration will translate it into deeds," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. "The region needs peace, the region needs dialogue and we have always stuck to dialogue toward a comprehensive peace."
Syrian President Bashar Assad has called in recent months for a new round of talks with Israel. Syria is a key backer of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese guerrilla group that battled Israel during an inconclusive month-long war last summer.
While some top Israeli officials have urged Olmert to accept Assad's offer, the prime minister said he didn't think talks would change Syria's close ties to radical anti-Israel groups.
"I don't think there is a Syrian desire for war with us. We certainly don't have a desire to fight with them. That doesn't mean conditions are ripe for us to negotiate with them," he said.
Olmert, however, said that Israel was deeply interested in restarting talks with the Palestinians and said Israel would work "with all our might" to make them happen.
He also welcomed a peace initiative put forward by Saudi Arabia, saying it contains "interesting innovations that should not be ignored." However, he did not fully endorse the plan, first floated in 2002, which called for Israel to withdraw from all of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, a stipulation Israel rejects.
Olmert also rejected suggestions that Israel's recent cease-fire with Palestinian militants in Gaza would allow the militants to rearm and regroup for another round of fighting, saying that Israel would not allow that to happen.
He said that despite occasional rocket attacks by Gaza militants at Israel, "we will continue to show restraint."
Olmert also addressed the controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions, reiterating Israel's position that it will not tolerate a nuclear Iran, but will not take unilateral action, preferring that the dispute should be settled by the international community as a whole.
He also reiterated his support for the U.S. war in Iraq, a position that caused some controversy during his U.S. trip last month.
"We always felt, like other nations in our region, that the removal of Saddam Hussein was a major, major contribution to stability in our part of the world," he said.
©MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 51 CommentsThe Iraq Study Group report is intended to USA, so who cares if Turtle-FaceOlmert rejects it.
More Americans need to become wise to the fact that the both groups of Semites over there have their own agenda that are deeply and insanely based in their religions.
It should be obvious by now that the Jews or so-called 'chosen people' aren't much concerned with what we gentiles call 'peace' and 'peaceful coexistence' with other humans.
The only 'peace' that is of interest to the so-called 'chosen people' is a 'piece' of land, a delusional 'promised land' in which they think that they can commune with their god.
For the Jews, wars, death, and ethnic cleansing are just par for the course. No problem.
What Americans need to do is to coax the the Israelis back to reality.
The Israelis need to be awaken in no uncertain manner to the fact that the 'chosen people' are 'chosen' by America!
The 'chosen people' has an Israeli existence as a state not because of some imagined god or jehovah; but by their god, Uncle Sam. LOL.
Americans want the mundane 'peace' on the planet and a reduction in the unwarranted body bags. As a result, some useful recommendations are being made, and the Israelis need to go along for the good of ALL including good for the Jewish people.
If Iran is attacked and they retaliate (as we can anticipate that they will) with rockets into the Israeli nuclear facilities, then the holey land could be inhabitable for ALL.
It is talking about Ishmael. Palestinians claim to be Ishmael. You can believe the Bible or not but this would indicate Ishmael has been fighting for a long time. Not only with Jews but with each other.
It's kind of like being a Hell's Angel. You can't say you are a Hell's Angel then say you don't like to fight.
These European Jews have not descended from the biblical Jews. Fact!
Two.
One to call in an airstrike, and one to bomb a bunch of innocent civilians.
Hey ! dont you dare to presumme that anyone is chosen in this world unless you include all of us. I get so dam sick of jews saying they are the chosen people because you are not. Furthermore you stole a country and it's leaders were terrorists, yes like the ones Bush and Blair are using as an excuse right now. Begin and Mayer killed British soldiers and don't you bloody well forget it.
P.S. Please check your anger at the door and pick it up when you leave the room! Thanks
As one psychologist once said, that if the world followed what the Ten commandments said through Moses, that even if they didn't believe in a god that the whole world would live in peace and harmony with each other.
Abraham followed Gods laws while others hated God and continued to sacrifice babies, children etc to their gods and slaughtering where ever they went. Imagine if you had a son who was very faithful to you, you would then also favour his children over those who hated you eh... I am not a Jew But I do understand... Israel is so very tiny now, so why should they have to give back any more land, land they won in war. Do we know of any other country who has ever had to give back land back they have won in war..nop.. so why Israel..
you say, It would also help if the world stop coddling the Arabs and playing to their self image of being victims...to large extent the Arabs are as much of victim of themselves than they are of outside influence, for example the west, Iran, Russia..
this you are dead right on...they are totally their own worst enemies. They are a pathetic nation even with all the tillion the world is pouring into them and the tillions that they get from oil..and the worst thing is that they are not told that we pour tillions into their country, and of the other help we give them, I wonder what the purpose is of not telling their people that..
Re: "Israel stands on its own doesnt it..."
No, it does not. In fact, billions upon billions of U.S. tax dollar welfare payments are donated to the failing-terror-State of Israel.
Not only is this a shocking waste of billion$ of U.S. treasure, but this dole is payed with money that we don't have.
What's more, the cost in U.S. blood exerted to prop-up Israel is well beyond what we can afford.
The illegal war of aggression against Iraq, is a good example of that toll.
"billions upon billions of U.S. tax dollar welfare payments are donated to the failing-terror-State of Israel.)
Should be:
{billions upon billions of U.S. tax dollar welfare payments are donated to the failing-terror-State of Israel- each year.)
Funny. So did Kagan and Kristol.
Who'da thunk it?
Billions are poured into Israel every year, much in the form of the latest military equipment, which gives Israel much superiority over it's advsersaries.
This must stop. As long as the U.S. supports Israel there will always be problems in the mid-east. This country (Israel) of about 6 million people, less than the population of New York has too much power over U.S. foreign policy. Time will tell, in the meantime, many people will die.
Not all Jews support Zionism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dSHl3C9kgY
Posted by FeelFree1 at 06:00 PM : Dec 07, 2006"
I'm well aware of that, Free; just as we are also aware that "not all" Americans support the AMERICAN WAR on Iraq, right? LOL
We all see its a fact; but what interests me is how they do it. Does anybody know? I used to have a Jewish friend who joked about it, like saying hey if Jews control the world where's my Mercedes. But the concidences are just too unlikely; how come American foreign policy in the MidEeast seems like only Israeli foreign policy and nothing less, even to our own terrible detriment.
The answer is simple:
6 Jews control the media and destroy anybody that goes against the Zionist company line.
Jews control and own the central banks of the world allowing easy access to money for Jews. It is easy to take control of the world when you have everyone elses money to work with.
Israel has the largest spy network in the world. Bribes are not the currency of trade in Washington, it is blackmail.
EXAMPLE George Bush's grandfather gave Hitler 100 million to build 5 labor camps. The Jews could sue his family for holocaust damages and take their money. Hence the Zionist sock puppet Bush boys.
Carl Roves grandfather was a media person for Hitler. Real name was Rovertine as I recall.
Make the federal reserve a government agency and break the media into a thousand pieces and you will be able to actually select who you get to vote for. Presently it is being done by Raum Emanual (A Jew) The Jews have used race and religion to further themselves. You have nothing to fear of Muslems, it is Jews right here and now that have made a mess of this country and the world.
Brief answer: The U.S is a Judeo-Christian country with an extremely powerful lobby representing the Jewish interests. Add to that the fact that we have a fundamentalist President and all things Jewish are good, all things Palestinian are bad.
Take the case of Jonathan Pollard. He was a sailor who the Israeli's turned into their spy. He was caught and sent to prison, but did that hurt Israeli-American relations? Of course not.
Also, I'll mention the U.S.S. Liberty which the Israeli's attacked in 1973 to stop it from advising Washington that Israel was "cooking" Egyptian messages, a clear violation of their agreement with the U.S.
If you need more, let me know.....
Posted by SharnCedar at 06:26 PM : Dec 07, 2006"
The Jews have much learning
The Jews have much wealth.
The Jews have a 4,000 year-old culture and a religion, to which a good number of American minds are enslaved.
What do Americans have to compare? LOL
Brain beats brawn every time, or most of the time.
And the Jews have sat down and developed good brains. That puts them clear in the driver's seat. LOL
Does that answer your question?
In the same way a vile vampire is repelled by the brilliant light of the Sun, your little mind likewise is repelled in disarray by the searing insights of my posts, right?
Isn't that the reason you are forced to make Agnim the topic? LOL
You are having as much time wrapping a warp mind about the truths spoken, as the Israelis are having a hard time wrapping their insecure and vengeful and non-peace minds around a recommendation for peace with her neighbors, and less body bags of Americans for nothing.
Olmert really DOES have a turtle-face.
Posted by Gaye5 at 10:23 PM : Dec 07, 2006"
My 'source' is the history on the ground independent of your 'media'.
The people are ethnically cleansed by the Jews to create their delusional 'promise land'. That IS NOT media story. The refugees are there as proof!
Is that how you would show that you 'care' for fellow humans by ethnically cleansing them and making them refugees in foreign camps?
One can clearly observe a certain Israeli pattern: Every time there it seems like there could be a bit of peace progress, there are some devilish groups in Israel who will ALWAYS do something to derail any progress, and why?
Because the only 'peace' the Jews have ALWAYS been interested in is 'piece' of delusional 'promise land'!
This Israeli leader is throwing cold water on the carefully thought out recommendations; because our mundane peace IS NOT of importance to Jews, 'piece' of 'promise land' IS! And the Jews want want it ALL and not to give any ground!
A FEW UNFASHIONABLE FACTS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem. Although Israel was a nation before 1312B.C, Israel became a nation-state in 1312 B.C, 2,000 years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
When the Jews started returning to their own country in 1948, the land was pretty devoid of permanant occupants, which consisted of some Jews (who had never left) and a few Arab nomads. It was only then that a few poor migrant workers from the surrounding Muslim countries began to flood in to work for the Jews. almost all of the people calling themselves "Palestinians" today are the descendants of those migrant workers.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 B.C., the Jews have had dominion over the land for 1,000 years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years and beyond.
4. The Arabs Muslims conquered Palestine in 635 AD, stealing it from its legitimate Jewish rulers, Palestine was stolen from the Jews by the Muslims and not the other way around. Arab sovereignty over Palestine ended in 1071 when the area was conquered by Seljuk Turks. Palestinian Arabs never held sovereignty over and cannot even pronounce the name of their supposed homeland.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Qur'an (Koran).
7. King David founded the Jewish city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Arab and Jewish Refugees: In 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.
9. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab Muslim lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
10. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be between 400,000 and 630,000, many of whom in fact were allowed to return after the Israeli war of Independence ended.. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands was much larger.
11. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, the Arabs are the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own peoples' lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country smaller than the state of New Jersey.
12. There is only one tiny Jewish nation. The 22 Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended herself each time and won.
13. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
14. The U.N. was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians. Kind of like its silence over the massacres of Algerians or Sudanese by Arab Muslim fascists.
15. The U.N are silent while Muslim terrorists blew up schools, mall's, bus's, and Synagogues killing babies, children and adults. The media reports are almost non existant in regards to the hundreds of families each year who cry for their dead as they hold their bloodied babies in their arms.. The world tells them to put up with the agression against them and condems Israel trying to protect itself.
America struck back when 3000 died in the Sep 11th disaster, Jews have disasters happen every day of their lives.
Posted by Gaye5 at 12:42 AM : Dec 08, 2006"
Who gives a rat's arse about the islamic insanity?
We are concerned about HUMANS, not idiotic ideology!
Hello!
And the Jewish own history tells of them ethnically cleansing the land of the HUMANS to build their first Jewrusalem on their way from Egypt.
And again coming out of Europe, the Jews are savagely repeating bad history by again ethnically cleansing the place of HUMANS to recreate their delusional 'promise land'.
The Jews don't care about fellow humans.
The Jews don't care about the cries of fellow humans.
And the Jews don't give a chit what the world maybe saying; because in their ignorance and arrogance, they think themselves some 'chosen people', special.
The Jews have blinders on!
They have one goal, a stupid piece of land, 'promise land'.
It is insanity to live that way.
The maniac muslims are not different.
Americans are making a huge mistake by fueling the fanaticism in the Middle East.
We shouldn't want to live with generations of vengeance and violence as 'normal living' as ALL the sick Semites have been doing.
That is worse than beastly living.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpB1x5Qzyg
DUMBYA has allowed the Jews to "KILL AT WILL" in Gaza, the West Bank and the complete destruction on Lebonon. He will do anything that Olmert wants, the same as he did for that fat pig, Ariel Sharron. He publically backed the Palastinian election, until Hamas won ... now all bets are off, he has financially strangled the Palastinians.
As far as I am concerned ... give all of that land back to the Arabs so anyone can go there and live/visit in peace ... the way it was prior to 1948.
The ONLY reason that the US invaded Iraq is ... to save the JEWS from having to do it. The US and our MORON PRESIDENT was the only country that could do that, because if the JEWS tried it, every Arab country in the middle-east would have destroyed the JEWS.
All of the jews on this planet are not worth even 1 of the 3000 dead GI's in Iraq.
Posted by ncolsens at 06:15 AM : Dec 08, 2006"
"weapons of war in the fight for peace"?
What a stupid and fantastic concept?
Only an adolescent mind or an overly brainwashed so-called 'military man' would talk such baby talk about 'peace'.
Unfortunate American minds like yours are precisely the reasons why the insecure and equally delusional Jews (and delusional Arabs too) are not about to give up their own 3,000 year-old fantasy about some 'promise land': The insecure and religiously fanatical Jews are at least smart enough to know that "weapons in the fight for peace" is an even more stupid a position than their own biblical bull position of 'promise land'.
The Jews are not about to give into such childish understanding of 'peace' and desert their tradition, as mindless and as laughable as the roots of those traditions may be.
And why should they?
We know the Jews are smart people.
Why give up one big load of krap about some delusional 'promise land' for an even bigger load of krap and misunderstanding about 'peace'? LOL
Re: "Many of the writers here are bigots."
It takes a lot of courage to admit that. I may have given you less credit than you deserve.
So what else is buried there???
And yes FeelFree, I knew that America poured some money into Israel, but it is only a drop in the bucket of what goes into Iraq, plus we Australians send billions into Iraq also, along with other countries and with all the sales from oil they still cant make it..
It is no better than many other very excellent letters on here...
Throughout history the nation who was the strongest and the better weapons always won... that is logical. And if you are a peaceful nation, then other nations will leave you alone if you have the best...hence peace....
The person who unleashed nuclear opened a can of worms, and I would far rather have America keeping a step ahead of other nations who are producing nuclear than being behind. America has had this capability for how many years now?? and they could have taken the world, and committed genicide of many natioins, but on the whole they only go into other countries when asked or if they are a threat to us...Yes America is a long way from Iraq, but the weapons dont discriminate distance when they can go great distances...
LOL
Good retort to the ridiculous. LOL
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