Israel: Peace Is Closer Than Ever

Palestinian Leader Abbas Describes Talks With Prime Minister Olmert As "Serious"

(AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel and the Palestinians have never been as close to a peace deal than now.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, standing with Olmert at the French presidential palace, said both sides are "serious and want to achieve peace."

Both men held talks Sunday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of a sweeping summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean, bringing together leaders of some 40 nations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"We have never been as close to a possible (peace) agreement as today," Olmert told reporters.

Repeated rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks since a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last year have produced little movement.

Olmert's domestic troubles, meanwhile, have clouded peace efforts. Law enforcement officials announced the widening of the corruption investigation against Olmert. The ongoing investigations threaten his political survival and will make it more difficult at least in the short term to make major steps toward peace.

But the atmosphere was friendly when Olmert and Abbas posed on the steps of the Elysee Palace with Sarkozy in the center, arms linked.

Palestinian negotiator Saeed Erekat said Sunday that Olmert's troubles were not affecting current discussions. He said Israeli and Palestinian officials would review the status of negotiations on the sidelines of the Paris summit, discussing Israel settlement activity, the Gaza border and Palestinian prisoner releases.

Later, the Associate Press reported an Israeli official said Olmert agreed to another Palestinian prisoner release.

Foreign ministers and others arriving at the grandiose Grand Palais for a meeting ahead of the summit expressed hopes that the conditions at the Paris meeting would be favorable for peace efforts.

"No doubt meetings of this nature in which people from all avenues of the Mediterranean get together, it will be also important to create the atmosphere and give it the sense of momentum, for the peace process also," Javier Solana, European Union foreign policy chief, told reporters.

(Left: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, puts his hands between the hands of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, July 13, 2008.)

Swedish Minister Carl Bildt said that there has already been "positive developments" on the Lebanon-Syria front.

On Saturday, Sarkozy played super-envoy, securing a preliminary agreement between the Syrian and Lebanese presidents that they would open embassies in each others' countries for the first time.

"There is a less good development so far on the Israel-Palestinian track. That needs to be accelerated," said Bildt.

Later Sunday, presidents or prime ministers of 43 countries were to hold the summit, presided by Sarkozy and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The Union for the Mediterranean is Sarkozy's brainchild, originally devised as a pillar of his presidency and of France's leadership of the European Union.

France holds the rotating E.U. post until the end of this year.

But Sarkozy's ambitious plan overlapped with European Union projects already in progress, and it was melded into EU efforts and expanded to include 27 members of the European Union, not just those on the Mediterranean coast.

Sunday's meeting was seen as more significant for the bodies gathered - the Israeli and Syrian leaders, for example, have never before sat at the same table - than for any immediate progress it is expected to achieve.

The modest measures on the table include a region-wide solar energy project, a cross-Mediterranean student exchange program, and a plan to clean up the polluted sea.


Nations Agree To Work Toward WMD-Free Zone In Middle East

At the summit today, 43 nations, including Israel and Arab states, agreed to work for a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

A final declaration from a summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean says the members will "pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

That includes nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their delivery systems, the statement says. The countries will "consider practical steps to prevent the proliferation" of such weapons, it says.

Israel is widely believed to have a stockpile of nuclear weapons. But Israel's official policy is called "nuclear ambiguity," neither confirming nor denying it has nuclear bombs.

The question of nuclear weapons in the region is particularly sensitive lately, given rising tensions between Israel and Iran, which the United States and its allies believe is seeking nuclear arms.

Tehran maintains its uranium enrichment activities are aimed at producing nuclear energy, and has defied U.N. Security Council demands that it suspend enrichment.

[underdogus01]

shenanagens!! ISRAEL, DONT give up one inch of land!

[nssherlock1]

Never will happen. Palestinians love to kill Jews, Jews love to steal land. They deserve each other. If one side eventually wins, the world will be a better place.

[ponco seno]

ISRAEL - the land was never yours - pay rent...

[shoebox119]

Notice how real progress can be made between the two parties when George W. Doofus, the "peace" president, is no where in sight.

I can''t wait until January 20, 2009, rolls around.

[smurfcrusher]

I''ll believe it when I see it.

Besides, I thought Hamas was in charge, not Abbas.

[smurfcrusher]

Perhaps Israel can make their notorious wall dig ten miles into Palestinian land, and then bring it back five miles to show their good will.

[ciitzenusa]

HA HA LOL!!!
Peace is "close"? Gee, how many times have we all heard this during the last 40 years of on-again off-again never-ending peace talks and the "Peace process"?
Both these sides hate each worse than any of you can imagine. My perception is that the Palestinians hate the Israel%u2019s quite a bit more than the other way around.

Trusting the Palestinian side to be able to have the willpower to stop firing rockets at Israel is like leaving an obese person alone in a house with 20 boxes of Dunkin donuts: it''s not going to work.

What a waste of time. Israel needs to resign itself to two choices: tolerate the violence from Palestinians, or forcibly kick them out of the Middle East.

[lochlan-2009]

Well, I don''t believe it at all, but it sure would be nice.

[ringading3]

Thank You Senator Charles Schumer for the RUN on IndyMac!

[cbs_monitor1]

It appears the anti-Christ will be here before we know it. He will usher in a false peace for 7 years between Israel and the surrounding Muslim Arab nations. Watch and learn folks.

[dogsoul]

What do you mean ''stolen land''? Who do you think the Arabs stole it from in the first place? Depending upon how far you want to go back, you can make a case for a variety of people to lay claim to that land - then again, by what measure do you even MAKE that determination - by who settled it first? The Israeli people do have some claim to that land AND they''re willing to share it - Palestinians (and invented term btw, they''re simply Jordanians & Syrians) also have claims to that land, but are NOT willing to share it on the basis of racial & religious intolerance of the Jews. In fact, among their favorite mantras is ''Victory or Martyrdom!'' - which basically means, kill all the Jews or die trying....

The bottom line is - where are we today, and how can we move forward peacefully - which is a concept everyone seems to share except for the Muslims....

[johngoodnews]

In the end, peace will come only when there is a confluence of interest among Israeli and Palestinian peoples: both are there to stay and harboring animus for each other because of a disputed belief in some deity-derived deed to a homeland is not only insane but clearly a subterfuge for justifying ancient racial (dare I say Tribal?) hatreds.

[pvperson]

"Israel needs to resign itself to two choices: tolerate the violence from Palestinians, or forcibly kick them out of the Middle East"

In reality the two choices are, continue the killing and subjudication of Palestinians or escalate to full genocide.

[dogsoul]

Keep in mind folks, that whether or not they''re actually close to a peace deal is certainly up for debate.... but the real point to THIS story is the liberal mass media trying, yet again, to shove their socialist appeasement prone French style b.s. in America''s face. If this comment were made while Bush was trying to forge some kind of agreement - believe me - you''d not hear ANY kind of positive reporting on it.... But since it''s tied to the world capital of liberalism, France - then it''s something to be hopeful about.... don''t get me wrong, unlike liberals - I wouldn''t begrudge them a victory if it were good for America - I wouldn''t WANT failure because I couldn''t stand the thought of having to give liberals credit for something... but I''ve got my doubts here....

On the other hand, despite liberals'' claims to the contrary - most of these European nations that supposedly no longer ''respect us'' (as though they once did) have elected far more conservative leaders than liberal ones during Bush''s term - heck, even the French refer to their President as ''The American'' - liberals claim that the Euro definition of ''conservative'' is different & it''s actually liberal - more bizzaro thinking from liberals.... God do I hate them....

[dogsoul]

"In reality the two choices are, continue the killing and subjudication of Palestinians or escalate to full genocide. "

Oh please, if the Palestinians put their guns down today there would be no more violence... if the Israelis put their guns down today there would be no more Israel...

But don''t take MY word for it - that''s right out of the mouths of the Palestinians....

[floydzepp2]

Posted by dogsoul at 10:52 AM : Jul 13, 2008
----------

Another RINO that loves Israel more than America. Probably Freakvangelical waiting for the Rapture too.

[obamaisaho]

Floydzep,

How''s Hitler these days. Kindly take Olmert and Obama with you - and join him.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 10:55 AM : Jul 13, 2008
-------

Ooo, yet another RINOVangelical sending red cows to Jerusalem and reading Left Behind books.

[obamaisaho]

Glad to see the brain dead Nazis, those who support Obama on the surface yet despise him for being Black doing their usual Sieg Heil routine. Nice to have the roaches like Pointbreak, FloydZep, and Pvperson out of the bar spewing their Jew-hate.

Of course none of these foul-mouthed, brain dead roaches ever serve this country. Only Adolf and Yasser, if even them at all.

Since pointdope says its stolen land, I would suggest to him if he is NOT a Native American to get his girlieboy butt back to Europe. Same for Floydcr&p. We true Americans don''t want nor need you and your intolerance here either.

[obamaisaho]

Floydope,

No RINO here, but glad to see you took a cr&p. Now go back to the bottle and your copy of Mein Kampf, girlieboy.

[krotec54]

Another prisoner exchange in the works.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 10:58 AM : Jul 13, 2008
--------

Shoo you fake Republican and fake America. I don''t hate Jews. I just want my government to stop sending the Illegal European Jewish Immigrants who stole Palestine $2 Billion a year is social welfare checks to prop up their sham enclave.

I wonder how many innocent Palestinian homes have been bulldozed today?

[neoconrcrazy]

israeli calls them *the occupied territories" -

the world since 1967 calls them "illegally occupied territories"

non-diplomats call them "stolen territories" strewn with illegal settlements built on the destroyed homes and towns of the palestinians - until they''re given back to their rightful owners, reparations are paid (out of israeli pockets, not American), and those who were forcibaly exiled are allowed to return.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 10:59 AM : Jul 13, 2008
------------

licker of Obama''sHole, you love foreigners more than your own Nation. You like sending them $2 Billion a year in US Tax Payer welfare checks?

What a hoot!

[chitown639]

It appears the anti-Christ will be here before we know it. He will usher in a false peace for 7 years between Israel and the surrounding Muslim Arab nations. Watch and learn folks.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by CBS_Monitor1

Leave it to the religious fanatics to turn the prospect of peace into the first steps toward Armageddon. These religious nuts arent as interested in peace as they are in the elimination on other religions. Peace is the last thing the religious fanatics want!!!!

[floydzepp2]

What needs to happen is that all of the illegal Jewish immigrants that stole Palestine from the rightful residents need to move back to Europe.

And they need to quit suckling off the American Tax Payer''s Teat.

[neoconrcrazy]

the last time the israelis were "close to peace", Rabin was assassinated -

oldmutt should watch what he says.....

[obamaisaho]

Floydcr&p,

Go back to Germany, or better yet Iran, you Muslim ''ho. And take the coward and soon-to-be jailed crook Olmert with you.

[floydzepp2]

It appears the anti-Christ will be here before we know it. He will usher in a false peace for 7 years between Israel and the surrounding Muslim Arab nations. Watch and learn folks.

Posted by CBS_Monitor1
-----------

America is really sick and tired of you psychos. How old are you 80?

I''m glad your Freakvangelical Religion is finally dying and America is returning to normal.

[obamaisaho]

Oh, Neo-NaziNut aka Neoconcrazy is on board. Looks like the rat, roach and rattler circus is in business now. All they need is Senator Byrd, David Duke, Uncle Jerry Wright, and Obama to complete the party.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 11:07 AM : Jul 13, 2008
--------

Aren''t you missing NASCAR? Go read a Left Behind book Make yourself useful. You Fake Americans are a hoot. You love foreigners more than your own Nation.

[obamaisaho]

You HATE Jews, zeppie, and you know it.

As far as bulldozing is concerned, Rachel Corrie, stupid Nazi ''ho what she was deserved it, and so do you and her parents. Go to Israel and get in front of a caterpillar. America would be much better off.

[underdogus01]

neoconRcrazy give ARIZONA,NEW MEXICO,CALIFORNIA,TEXAS,COLORADO,BACK TO MEXICO!! since it was "STOLEN" from the mexicans

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 11:08 AM : Jul 13, 2008
----------

My guess is you''re either a Freakvangelical or a Jew wanting another free handout from the American Taxpayer.

Welfare babies.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by obamaisaho at 11:09 AM : Jul 13, 2008
-------

Now I''m certain your Jewish. You want another free handout? Another US Tax Payer welfare check?

[obamaisaho]

LOL, Zeppie the trailer trash is telling me to go to NASCAR. Yep, I''m into Nascar all right. Maybe NFL too, or the local bar.

Well, Zeppie''s local bar is the Ga-ye one down the street, the one that appreciates Ernst Roehm and that rough Mein Kampf trade, like his other idol, David Duke.

Sieg Heil, Girlieboy. Now go find a bulldozer to put your scrawny a&& in front of.

LOL.

[floydzepp2]

neoconRcrazy give ARIZONA,NEW MEXICO,CALIFORNIA,TEXAS,COLORADO,BACK TO MEXICO!! since it was "STOLEN" from the mexicans

Posted by underdogus01 at 11:10 AM : Jul 13, 2008
----------

Texas fer sure. Let ''em have it.

[formrusmcsgt]

We can only hope that this process bears fruit.

Let it be a lesson to those who think that peace can be achieved by refusing to meet with your enemies.......

[floydzepp2]

My guess..actually my comfirmation is that your a clssified Moron

Posted by earth56 at 11:12 AM : Jul 13, 2008
--------------

I think John Hagee is waving the starter''s flag at the Corn Bumpkin 500. Pull yourself out of Ted Haggard long enough to watch the start of the race. Show us you''re a good vanny.

[floydzepp2]

Zeppo..collecting your 2 welfare checks this week so you can post here 24/7 ?

Posted by earth56 at 11:16 AM : Jul 13, 2008
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I couldn''t, you Freakvannies sent all the welfare checks to Jerusalem to help pay for more red cows.

[floydzepp2]

Once the ReligionNut Shrub is out of office and a sane person like Obama is President in January, then America can get back to normal and we can ween the Illegal Jewish Immigrants in Palestine off the American Taxpayer Teat.

[floydzepp2]

The Jews, I find are very, very selfish. They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as D[isplaced] P[ersons] as long as the Jews get special treatment. Yet when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment to the under dog. Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, Baptist he goes haywire. I''ve found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes.
--- Hary S. Truman, 1947

[sgtrds10-4]

neoconRcrazy give ARIZONA,NEW MEXICO,CALIFORNIA,TEXAS,COLORADO,BACK TO MEXICO!! since it was "STOLEN" from the mexicans

Posted by underdogus01 at 11:10 AM : Jul 13, 2008
----------

Texas fer sure. Let ''''em have it.

Posted by FloydZepp2 at 11:13 AM : Jul 13, 2008

As a resident of L.A. I''d say sure, give us back to Mexico, except then who would support and carry the weight of all of those old south red states? They need us too much.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by earth56 at 11:21 AM : Jul 13, 2008
--------

You sound like you''ve been banging your head on the wailing wall. All that rocking and moaning isn''t good for you.

[floydzepp2]

As a resident of L.A. I''''d say sure, give us back to Mexico, except then who would support and carry the weight of all of those old south red states? They need us too much.

Posted by SgtRDS10-4 at 11:23 AM : Jul 13, 2008
---------

tis'' true.

[floydzepp2]

hey dirt56, I didn''t change anything.

Go read his diary entries for yourself. And you pick out a typo? What a hoot!

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/diary/page21.htm


PS: I''ve spanked you yet again with facts and the truth.

[sgtrds10-4]

FloydZepp only wears a burka and and a G string

Posted by underdogus01 at 11:24 AM : Jul 13, 2008

Hey! Take your se*xual fantasies to a chat room! This is a political blog and not a fantasy room!

[floydzepp2]

July 21:

[The entry for this day is written on three loose pages, interleaved in the diary book.]

6:00 P. M. Monday July 21, 1947

Had ten minutes conversation with Henry Morgenthau about Jewish ship in Palistine [sic]. Told him I would talk to Gen[eral] Marshall about it.

He''d no business, whatever to call me. The Jews have no sense of proportion nor do they have any judgement on world affairs.

Henry brought a thousand Jews to New York on a supposedly temporary basis and they stayed. When the country went backward-and Republican in the election of 1946, this incident loomed large on the D[isplaced] P[ersons] program.
------- Harry S. Truman, 1947

He was right, the Jews are selfish and self-centered.

[floydzepp2]

Hey! Take your se*xual fantasies to a chat room! This is a political blog and not a fantasy room!

Posted by SgtRDS10-4 at 11:26 AM : Jul 13, 2008
---------

uberdoofus thinks I''m hot. Its a burden being me.

[sgtrds10-4]

underdogus01

You''re so EASY little troll! LOL!

But I don''t have time to play today. On the way out to breakfast with the wife, so someone else will have to slap you around. Sorry!