|
Rice: New Palestinian Government Does Not Meet International Standards
 During a visit to Israel last week, Secretary of State Rice said the new Palestinian government "is not a government that meets the international standards and I think obviously if you were ever to talk about establishing a Palestinian state, you would have to do that with a government that does recognize the right of the other party to exist and renounces violence and so forth. The question here isn't speed; the question is trying to really move forward toward the establishment of a Palestinian state that uses all the tools that we have - the roadmap, if possible the Arab initiative...the Sharon Herzliya speech...and the desire I think now across a broad range of both polities for a two-state solution." (State Department)
Israeli and Palestinian Leaders to Hold Regular Talks
 The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to meet each other every fortnight as part of a mutual confidence-building plan, the U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said last week. Ms Rice said the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, would discuss day-to-day issues and the wider "political horizon" at their talks. (Guardian-UK)
Israel Warns of Hamas Military Buildup in Gaza
by Steven Erlanger
 Hamas, the dominant faction in the Palestinian government, is building its military capacity in the Gaza Strip, constructing tunnels and underground bunkers and smuggling in ground-to-air missiles and military-grade explosives, senior Israeli officials say. The officials said that Hamas had learned tactics from Hizbullah which brought in and stored thousands of rockets in bunkers near the northern Israeli border before its war withIsrael last summer. (New York Times)
Israel Tests Arrow Missile Interceptor
by Yaakov Katz
 The Israeli Air Force conducted its 16th test of the Arrow missile defense system last week, which officials said was capable of intercepting an Iranian nuclear missile. An improved Arrow missile, with modifications to its hardware and electronics, was successfully test-fired. (Jerusalem Post)
|
Arab League Refuses to Change Plan
by Herb Keinon
 The Arab League decided last week to relaunch without changes its land-and-refugee-for-peace initiative from March 2002. A senior Israeli official said Israel would not reject the document out of hand, but will likely hone in on its positive elements, overlooking the problematic aspects. "What we are hearing is that the Arab countries are openly talking about resolving the conflict through dialogue and through recognition of Israel," the official said. "That is positive." (Jerusalem Post)
Israel, U.S. Disagree on New Middle East Approach
by Herb Keinon
Jerusalem's objections to U.S. shuttle diplomacy between Israel and the Palestinians over final-status issues led to the postponement last week of a press conference at which U.S. Secretary of State Rice was expected to outline this new initiative, senior diplomatic officials said Monday. Rice was expected to announce that direct talks between Israel and the PA would be replaced by parallel discussions she would hold with both sides over "political horizon" issues dealing with the contours of a future Palestinian state. (Jerusalem Post)
'UN Is Human Rights Nightmare'
by Yaakov Lappin
  The UN's Human Rights Commission has been told it is a hypocritical and prejudiced body which does nothing to help millions of people in need, due to its obsessive focus on demonizing Israel. In a speech given during a session of the Human Rights Commission on March 23rd, Hillel Neuer, Director of UN Watch, delivered a scathing attack on the commission's track record, describing it as a "human rights nightmare. This council has, after all, done something. It has enacted one resolution after another, condemning one single state: Israel. In eight pronouncements, and there will be three more this session, Hamas and Hizbullah have been granted immunity. The entire rest of the world; millions upon millions of victims, in 191 countries continue to go ignored," Neuer said. (Ynet News)
See also Jewish Group Calls for Dismissal of UN Human Rights Rapporteur by Jeremy Last (European Jewish Press)
See also Speech at UN By UN Watch (YouTube)
See also Speeches Made at the UN Human Rights Council That Were NOT Banned (YouTube)
|