ROME, June 23, 2009
Netanyahu Nixes Meeting With Obama Envoy
Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell Will Now Meet With Israeli Defense Minister Next Week
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his first trip to Europe since taking office meeting with leaders in Paris and Rome. But he cancelled a planned meeting with former Sen. George Mitchell, Preisdent Obama's Middle East peace envoy. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
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Photo Essay Pursuing Peace In Israel, secretary of state Hillary Clinton vows U.S. will "vigorously" promote peace efforts.
The meeting was scheduled to take place Thursday in Paris and was one of the highlights of the conservative prime minister's first European visit since being elected.
But Israeli officials accompanying Netanyahu during Tuesday's stop in Rome said that Defense Minister Ehud Barak will instead travel to Washington next week to hold talks with Mitchell.
In a statement read out to reporters, the prime minister's office said the Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting was being postponed until after the talks with Barak in order to "clarify issues."
Netanyahu arrived in Italy on Tuesday, part of a European jaunt that includes stops in Rome and Paris to sound out regional allies about his qualified endorsement of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu meets first with Premier Silvio Berlusconi, whom he described in a RAI state television interview Monday as "a great friend of Israel, committed to promoting peace and security."
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who was attending the meeting, said Italy would ask Netanyahu to quickly open talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said Italy would also appreciate the "gesture" of a moratorium on expanding existing settlements, the Apcom news agency reported.
Less than two weeks after the Israeli leader finally gave qualified endorsement to the concept of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu will likely be sounding out Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to see if they are on board with the caveats he placed on such a state. These include the demand that it be demilitarized and recognize Israel as a "Jewish state."
In his June 14 speech Netanyahu also said the Palestinians must give up any notion of refugees who left what is now Israel - or their millions of descendants - resettling in their former homes.
Berlusconi's pro-Israel stance has made Italy perhaps Israel's best friend in Europe.
The Italian leader has backed pro-Israel rallies and supported Israel's right to defend itself during its recent armed conflict with Hamas in Gaza - while other European leaders tended to view the hundreds of fatalities Israel caused in its retaliation for rocket attacks as disproportionate.
Foreign Ministry officials said the fact that Netanyahu was making his first stop in Rome was testament to the solid Italian-Israeli ties and Berlusconi's pro-Israel stance.
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- Wait till you see they turn the gun on America. Zionists are the most wicked and cunning people ever inhabited this earth. They suck the blood out of their host. After making sure they have built their power, they will throw the US like a dead corpse. Ding Dong!!!! I am waiting for the big time!!! Ding Dong!!!! Wait... may be non-jews will soon excel the jews population giving it a demise, and will save America from their "crying wounded and shooting."
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- by ephd June 23, 2009 3:54 PM PDT
First, it seems that you are saying that Berlusconi should be arrested if terrorists attack Italy for supporting Israel. Are you such a coward that you would say that a country should not stand up for its beliefs becase it may cause terrorists to attack it? Have you developed Stockholm syndrome since 9/11? If you want to say that Berlusconi should not support Israel because "X&Y" I would disagree with you but no more than I would normally. However, this remark advocates a country not taking a stance in support of another because it might **** off some wacko terrorists.
Second, I wonder if you read the article yesterday wherein one of the leaders of Al Qieda spelled out the terms of what would be necessary for a cease fire with America. The US would be required to adopt Islam and become a muslim country he said. If not, after Islam develops it caliphate (read spreads Islam around the world) America would at least be required to pay a tax as a non-muslim country. It does not seem unreasonable to me that Al Qieda has similar plans for Europe as well. Thus, even without supporting Israel Italy will eventually be attacked by these "Islamofacists" as they wish to spread Islam around the world.
No a country's leader SHOULD NOT stand up for a terrorist ridden nation, that uses nazi like tactics to brutalize half the population of it's nation, based strictly on an "ideological superiority complex", like most christian and jews share, as they stare down at the Palestinians like they are a subhuman species.
And if Berlesconi's "belief" in a god, (which is more than likely WHY he supports Israel), leads to Italy getting attacked, then yes - he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As president, he has an obligation to HIS NATION first - NOT his faith. And if his "faith" or "belief" leads to his nation getting attacked, then he IS NOT fulfilling his obligation as president.
Never once, has ANY terrorist EVER advocated spreading Islam around the world - NEVER. It has NEVER happened, and no one has EVER said it. That is a myth started and spread by christians and jews, attempting to portray the whole "struggle" as an ideological one, and that CLEARLY is NOT the case. - Reply to this comment
- Someone tell me why Israel is important for USA. Most people have it Axe backwards, USA is extremely important for Israel.
- Reply to this comment
- by despido June 23, 2009 3:09 PM PDT
I take it you support the rights of terrorists to kill, mame and mutilate in the name of Islam. Say Hungry, you must be one of those more liberal types that preaches 'tolerance', right?
"support the rights of terrorists to kill?"
What are you - 8 years old? - Reply to this comment
- Nothing suprises me more than to read all of the vitriol and hate on these boards, that us americans show towards each other...
Completely mind numbing... - Reply to this comment
- by hungry1968-15 June 23, 2009 1:59 PM PDT
Look for Italy to be attacked by terrorists soon, just like the US and England were for supporting Israel.
And when they ARE attacked, the people of Italy should see to it that Berlusconi is arrested, prosecuted, and then jailed or executed for bringing the terrorist problems on Italy, all for supporting Israel
First, it seems that you are saying that Berlusconi should be arrested if terrorists attack Italy for supporting Israel. Are you such a coward that you would say that a country should not stand up for its beliefs becase it may cause terrorists to attack it? Have you developed Stockholm syndrome since 9/11? If you want to say that Berlusconi should not support Israel because "X&Y" I would disagree with you but no more than I would normally. However, this remark advocates a country not taking a stance in support of another because it might **** off some wacko terrorists.
Second, I wonder if you read the article yesterday wherein one of the leaders of Al Qieda spelled out the terms of what would be necessary for a cease fire with America. The US would be required to adopt Islam and become a muslim country he said. If not, after Islam develops it caliphate (read spreads Islam around the world) America would at least be required to pay a tax as a non-muslim country. It does not seem unreasonable to me that Al Qieda has similar plans for Europe as well. Thus, even without supporting Israel Italy will eventually be attacked by these "Islamofacists" as they wish to spread Islam around the world. - Reply to this comment
- by Anti-Zionist_107 June 23, 2009 12:35 PM PDT
"IThoughtItWasFunnyAsIs, oh its you. This is coming all from a person who says israeli's are a far more superior race than us Americans. How nice, like a typical jew, unrational, uneducated, violent, and can not debate with out insults."
That comment has not a grain of truth in it. Jewish people are generally highly educated. For a small group (about .003% of the population) Jews have disproportionately contributed to advances in science, technology, philosophy, and the fields of medicine and psychology. Do some research you ignorant redneck! By the way, your comment was anti-semetic and shows your disgust at jews in general. Nevertheless, I bet you are one of those anti-zionists who gets offended when called and anti-semite and self-rightiously asks why Jews like to accuse anti-zionists of being anti-semites. The answer is that in the course of any debate, the anti-zionist usually allows his bigotry and hatred of jews to leak out. - Reply to this comment
- by hungry1968-15 June 23, 2009 1:59 PM PDT
Look for Italy to be attacked by terrorists soon, just like the US and England were for supporting Israel.
And when they ARE attacked, the people of Italy should see to it that Berlusconi is arrested, prosecuted, and then jailed or executed for bringing the terrorist problems on Italy, all for supporting Israel.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I take it you support the rights of terrorists to kill, mame and mutilate in the name of Islam. Say Hungry, you must be one of those more liberal types that preaches 'tolerance', right? - Reply to this comment
- Israel should have been added to the list of terrorist nations over twenty years ago!
The U.S. has tarnished itself with dishonor for helping this Zionist nation!
We should stop the foreign aid (money) AND military equipment, and step
away from these murderers! - Reply to this comment
- "Berlusconi's pro-Israel stance has made Italy perhaps Israel's best friend in Europe.
The Italian leader has backed pro-Israel rallies and supported Israel's right to defend itself during its recent armed conflict with Hamas in Gaza - while other European leaders tended to view the hundreds of fatalities Israel caused in its retaliation for rocket attacks as disproportionate.
Foreign Ministry officials said the fact that Netanyahu was making his first stop in Rome was testament to the solid Italian-Israeli ties and Berlusconi's pro-Israel stance."
Look for Italy to be attacked by terrorists soon, just like the US and England were for supporting Israel.
And when they ARE attacked, the people of Italy should see to it that Berlusconi is arrested, prosecuted, and then jailed or executed for bringing the terrorist problems on Italy, all for supporting Israel. - Reply to this comment
- Why should I care about Israel?
They spy on the USA, they have attacked our ships in the Middle East (Google the USS Liberty incident if you don't believe me...), they exercise state-sponsored apartheid, and more.
Please cut this welfare state's allowance...they'll behave like global citizens when the cash dries up. - Reply to this comment
- I would hope that Ehud Barak's self invited visit to talk with Mitchell in DC will be rejected. Evidently our Presidential envoy is too lowly to talk with with PM Netanyahu. The term "clarifying issues" is smply a tried and true code-word for massing AIPAC, JDL, ZOA and associated organizations to crank up their presses and propaganda machines to apply pressure on our Congressmen to make some crazy vote that indemnifies Israel from any future malfeasance and not to bother Israel with any sense of justice concerning the Palestinians.
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