Middle East Politics.Net » Peace http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Palestinians Downplay Clinton’s Attempts http://middleeastpolitics.net/2010/01/10/palestinians-downplay-clintons-attempts/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2010/01/10/palestinians-downplay-clintons-attempts/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:34:41 +0000 davidhulme http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=4104 Hillary Clinton’s latest efforts to restart peace talks met with a rebuff from the veteran Palestinian negotiator over the weekend. According to Saeb Erekat “You cannot have discussions on borders while the territory you want to set up your state on is being eaten up by the settlements.”

David Hulme

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2010/01/10/palestinians-downplay-clintons-attempts/feed/ 0 Middle East Peace Through Jerusalem or Tehran? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/01/16/middle-east-peace-through-jerusalem-or-teheran/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/01/16/middle-east-peace-through-jerusalem-or-teheran/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:00:15 +0000 davidhulme http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=4026 Ethan Bronner is Jerusalem bureau chief for the The Times. Here he reviews a new collection of scholarly essays on how to resolve the ME’s various critical problems. The authors, who work in two ME think tanks deal in “nuance and realism, despite small lapses.” The two policy research groups also have close relations to the incoming Obama administration. The road to peace may lie not so much through Jerusalem, but through Tehran.

David Hulme

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Religious leaders from all around Africa began a 4-day conference in Libya’s capital, Tripoli. The conference is being held in order to discuss the role of religion in creating a more peaceful Africa. Simultaneously, the African Council of Religious Leaders is holding its second general assembly.

Expected to open the event were past African state leaders. These included Olusegun Obasanjo from Nigeria and Ahmad Teejan from Sierra Leone.

This conference is “an opportunity for religious leaders representing all historic faith traditions to share the experiences of their religious communities transforming conflict, building peace and advancing sustainable development.”

The African Council of Religious Leaders has been watching over and has become increasingly concerned with the many conflicts taking place in African countries today. They are hoping this conference will help bring about dialogue on how to peacefully resolve conflicts.

Sarah Dada

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/religious-leaders-meet-in-libya/feed/ 0 Jordan, Israel and Gaza http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/king-abdullah-on-israel/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/king-abdullah-on-israel/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:46:57 +0000 malcoun http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2760 King Abdullah II of Jordan has strongly recommended that Israel stop its raids on the Gaza Strip to prevent an escalating military operation. This was discussed when the King spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Abdullah is concerned that any major action or operation taking place in Gaza will have significant effects on Jordan. The Israeli side has made it clear that if there are attacks on communities near Gaza, Israel would have no choice but to respond.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported that King Abdullah discussed the need to continue in the effort for a two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The King also said, “The establishment of a Palestinian state is a strategic interest of Jordan and a precondition for regional peace.”

Kasey Malcoun

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/king-abdullah-on-israel/feed/ 0 Red Cross to Maintain Presence in Lebanon http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/13/red-cross-to-maintain-presence-in-lebanon/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/13/red-cross-to-maintain-presence-in-lebanon/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:08:13 +0000 vvahedi http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2358 The International Red Cross has announced that it expects to maintain its current presence in Lebanon for at least another year. “We have reached a level which permits us to intervene quickly in the case of a crisis,” stated incoming International Committee Red Cross head, Georges Comninos to the Daily Star of Lebanon. ”We have taken the decision to maintain that presence to guarantee us the right access and capacity to react in the worst moments,” he said.

The Red Cross had reduced its presence in Lebanon after the 1975-1990 Civil War, but then increased it following the 2006 conflict with Israel. Comninos said that the organization was overwhelmed in 2006 because they had no staff in the country and had to react immediately to the humanitarian crisis. Now that the situation with Israel has improved, the ICRC has been able to consolidate its staff and activities within Lebanon.

However, the ICRC maintains that it wants to remain prepared in the event of any future crisis. ”Lebanon is a country that can go from peace to war and back to peace again in one day,” stated outgoing ICRC head Jordi Raich. “One of our lessons learned is that we need to keep our readiness to respond to emergencies.” This could be relevant in the near future considering the hostile environment in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps and the recent conflicts with Syria.

Venus Vahedi

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/13/red-cross-to-maintain-presence-in-lebanon/feed/ 0 Turkey Signs Peace Accord with Lebanon http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/07/turkey-signs-peace-accord-with-lebanon/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/07/turkey-signs-peace-accord-with-lebanon/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:56:44 +0000 hambolu http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2100 Turkey is beginning to play a significant role in the Middle East. One of the many ways this has been demonstrated recently is the signing of a peace accord with Lebanon. The two countries are to work together against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. Turkey is also one of the main proponents of a peace agreement between Lebanon and Syria.

Olorunbunmi Hambolu

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/07/turkey-signs-peace-accord-with-lebanon/feed/ 0 Will Saudis Bring Peace between Israel and Palestine? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/will-the-saudis-bring-peace-between-israel-and-palestine/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/will-the-saudis-bring-peace-between-israel-and-palestine/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:22:49 +0000 flor http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1512 Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israeli leaders are giving serious thought to the 2002 Saudi peace plan. Because individual diplomatic negotiations with both Syria and Palestine have had little success, Barak says that perhaps a regional peace plan may be the best solution. Outgoing Prime Minister Olmert still wants to keep some of the lands won in the 1967 war, and Israel opposes massive Palestinian migration, claiming this would deprive Israel of its Jewish character. The Saudi proposal provides for full Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for the return of lands occupied in the 1967 war.

Ashley Flor

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/will-the-saudis-bring-peace-between-israel-and-palestine/feed/ 0 Non-Aggression between Israel and Lebanon? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/non-aggression-between-israel-and-lebanon/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/non-aggression-between-israel-and-lebanon/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:15:41 +0000 flor http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1509 The Israeli Foreign Ministry is looking into a possible treaty of ‘non-belligerence’ with Lebanon to prevent further fighting along the border. The agreement would also resolve some territorial conflicts including the Shaba Farms border area and Ghajar, a divided village. In exchange for fewer Israeli fly-overs into Lebanese air space, Israel is expected to ask Lebanon to increase its military presence and decrease Hizbollah’s weapon storage. There would also be greater coordination between the Israeli Defense Forces, the Lebanese Army, and United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon ((UNIFIL).

Ashley Flor

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/20/non-aggression-between-israel-and-lebanon/feed/ 0 Peace Between Lebanon and Syria…For Now http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/peace-between-lebanon-and-syriafor-now/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/peace-between-lebanon-and-syriafor-now/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:45:15 +0000 sanene http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1395 October 15, 2008 was a historic day in Syrian and Lebanese history. Both nations enacted a statement of mutual sovereignty and independence. This momentous day was unexpected because of the history of mistrust and animosity over state boundary issues. One of the main points of discontent was the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many Lebanese condemned Syria for their alleged involvement with the assassination ultimately forcing that nation to withdraw from Lebanon despite vehement denial of any association with the assassination.

Ironically, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the leader of the anti-Syrian Future movement, called it an “historic step forward on the road to affirm and solidify Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and free decision-making.” Because of the posturing done by Syria in its unwillingness to have an embassy in Beirut and its stationing of troops on the northern border of Lebanon, Syria is seen as unwilling to acknowledge the sovereignty of Lebanon.  Recently however, relations have improved between the two, mainly encouraged by the West and especially France. With Damascus still wielding considerable powers over the government in Lebanon and Hezbollah, a Syrian ally, operating in the inner workings of the Lebanese government, the international community can only hope this deal can bring peace in one of the Middle East’s most longstanding conflicts.

Samuel Anene

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/peace-between-lebanon-and-syriafor-now/feed/ 0 King Abdullah II Emphasizes Importance of EU in Middle East http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/17/king-abdullah-ii-emphasized-importance-of-eu-the-middle-east/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/17/king-abdullah-ii-emphasized-importance-of-eu-the-middle-east/#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:57:56 +0000 mmunguia http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=580 On September 14, King Abdullah II met with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana to discuss Middle East peace. The king expressed his belief in the importance of involvement by the EU in order for peace and stability to be achieved.

The focus was on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Kind Abdullah suggested that the EU support the Palestinian effort to achieve some sort of state. He also expressed concern about current Palestinian living conditions and asked for the EU’s collaboration in improving them.

Solana thanked King Abdullah II for his efforts in respect of peace in the Middle East and added that the EU would be interested in helping this goal to be reached.

Mayra Munguia

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