Dominique Strauss-Kahn rejects talks about plea Deal - ABC News

Lawyers for Dominique Strauss-Kahn say that the former Fund International Monetary Chief did not accept a plea agreement.

Prosecutors want to would have been Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a lesser charge.

"The investigation process is continuing, and no decisions have been taken," a spokesman for Attorney of District of Manhattan Cy Vance said Wednesday, according to the New York ABC affiliate News WABC.

Strauss-Kahn has been accused of attempting to rape a woman in household and forcing them to perform oral sex in a hotel in the city of New York in May. The next scheduled appearance is July 18.

"There is ample to suggest that this case is going nowhere and nowhere to go quickly", said lawyer Robin Sax. "But I think that because the public perception is essential here, we will see at least district prosecutor's Office closed the case properly and make sure that they have a complete package before they do the official dump."

The Office of the Attorney, said last week that questions about the credibility of the victim had paralyzed case of the Manhattan district attorney, which led to his release from house arrest.

Prosecutors described his lies and inconsistencies on the case in a three page letter. It includes details of an appeal of the servant of the hotel with her boyfriend in an immigration jail in Arizona, where she told him, "don't you worry." This guy has a lot of money. I know what I'm doing. »

Cheating on his taxes and lie on his income, the hotel maid also falsely claimed on his application for political asylum to the United States that she had been raped in her home country of Guinea. But, even after that she admitted to change his account of what happened after the meeting with Strauss-Kahn, prosecutors maintained there was still evidence suggesting a sexual assault took place.

But, Sax, a former Attorney with no connection to this case, is not convinced that the case is strong enough to proceed to trial. "A Prosecutor has the duty to bring charges that they may believe that they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt, Sax said."And at the end of the day, if you do not believe that your control, you do not have a case.

Strauss-Kahn defence team said last week that unless prosecutors presented strong evidence the former favorite to become the next President of the France be prepared to plead guilty to a crime.

If this is true, the only options for the district attorney would drop charges or take in the trial.

BofA in mortgage Setttlement talks (Wall Street Journal)

Bank of America Corp., after combat requests that he buy certain loans began to potential settlement discussions with some of its largest investors of the mortgage.

The Group of 17 members currently in talks with largest bank nation such as measured by assets includes the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a company owned by the Government mortgage Freddie Mac, BlackRock Inc. and Allianz are Pacific Investment Management Co. or Pimco.

Reuters CEO Brian Moynihan told BofA was engaging in "at par" combat on mortgage redemption requests.

Approach to the Bank with this group appears to signal a change in tone for Chief Executive Brian Moynihan, which, in November, is committed to participate in the "daily struggle, body to body" on requests for the investor to buy up bad mortgages made before U.S. housing collapse.

Spokesperson for the Bank James Mahoney said the decision to enter into talks with the Group of investors is not incompatible with the previous approach by Mr. Moynihan.

"Our strategy has not changed", he said. "Bank of America and investors, solve these problems quickly in the interests of all." If resolution is a long-term process, or it can be speeded up, say. »

Investors, some of which are acting on behalf of clients, sent a letter October alleging that a unit of Bank of America has not properly 115 trading link service consisting of residential mortgages. It gives the Bank 60 days to respond.

Disclosure of stock of the Bank of America tumbling 4.4% letter on 19 October, as investors grappled with door that the Bank could be overwhelmed with these demands of the investor. The Group has since expanded and now includes 17 investors and 167 treats binding.

Access thousands of non-available free web-based commercial sources. To learn more

"Our clients are of course very pleased that we were able to open this dialogue and we hope to move it in a positive direction," said Kathy Patrick, a lawyer for the holders of bonds. Mrs. Patrick said that initial extension in the period of negotiations will be January 30, but it can of course be extended if discussions are productive. »

The talks could disintegrate, but conversations are an attempt by the Bank to put the question behind him, people familiar with the situation said.

No American Bank is more vulnerable to an array of the policies and financial threat posed by the misfortunes of loans. Bank of America has repurchased requests more than any of his rivals. It services a mortgage every U.S. five, many of them for the acquisition of Bank of America lender program national Financial Corp. in 2008.

"The objective set out Brian is to put the issues behind us as quickly as possible and in the best interests of the shareholders"Bank spokesman, said Mr. Mahoney."Virgin"

Purchase loan mortgage new claims amounted to 12.8 billion at the end of the third quarter, up to 7.5 billion for the quarter of the year - ago in total. The Bank has set aside $ 4.4 billion in reserves for these restore attempts.

M. Moynihan said analysts on 19 October that he was not interested by a lump sum payment large obliterating the question of redemption.

"We want to put this behind us to make us feel that good", he said. "We will make sure we are going to pay when due, but not just to make a regulation to move the issue behind us."

-Ruth Simon
has contributed to this article.

Write toDan Fitzpatrick dan.fitzpatrick@wsj.com

Mitchell offers talks "parallel" but separate U.S. with Israel, Palestinians (Haaretz)

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var dclkSection = "news";var dclkChannel = "diplomacydefense"; var dclkArticleId = "1.330835";var dclkPage="article"; Mitchell proposes 'parallel' but separate U.S. talks with Israel, Palestinians - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News Subscribe to the print edition HAARETZ Store HAARETZ Toolbar Hebrew Site SEARCHAdvancedSearch Haaretz.comSearch the webBy title:By writer: Ofer Aderet Raphael Ahren Dov Alfon Gideon Alon Shulamit Aloni Nirit Anderman Moshe Arens Shaul Arieli Meirav Arlosoroff Ehud Asheri Eli Ashkenazi The Associated Press Shlomo Avineri Uri Avnery Reli Avrahami Eytan Avriel Yuval Azoulay Emily B. 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Yehoshua Nir Zalik Tomer Zarchin Benny Ziffer Avi Zilberberg Zvi Zrahiya From date:To date: Thu, December 16, 2010 Tevet 9, 5771 News Diplomacy & Defense National International TV Opinion Jewish World Jerusalem & Babylon TheMarker Oligarchs of Israel Culture Travel Books Food & Wine Arts & Leisure Weekend Magazine Anglo File Week's End Special Report / The Schlaff Saga Print Edition News Opinion Features Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Sports Travel Food & Wine Books Letters Blogs Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction A Special Place in Hell MESS Report Haaretz Store Car Rental initAutoScalingNav({menuId: "nav",sideClasses: true,liHovering: true,spacing: 3,constant: 2,minPaddings: 10}); BREAKING NEWS17:05EU urges Israel to do more on Gaza crossings (AP)16:56Lebanese villagers assault UN patrol (DPA) 16:52Iran detains family of imprisoned filmmaker after they inquire about his health (AP) 16:00IDF shoots down suspicious balloon over the south (Haaretz) 15:34More than 100 MKs sign letter to Obama calling for Pollard's release (Army Radio) 14:56Retired IDF general: Deterrence is our best option against Hezbollah 13:51Turkish trio jailed in Germany for supporting far-left terror group (DPA) 13:38Hezbollah: Resistance, not peace talks, only option against Israel (AP) 13:10Libyan charity wants to avoid angering Israel (AP) 13:06Rocks thrown at Israeli car near Hebron; none hurt (Ch.10) 12:50Iranian chairman of parliament blames Israel for mosque bomb attack (Ch.10) 12:18Roadside bomb kills 14 civilians in Afghan west (Reuters) 11:16Berlin to start drawing down force in Afghanistan in 2011 (DPA) 10:57Julian Assange back in court to fight for bail (AP) 09:42Official: NATO strike killed 4 Afghan soldiers (AP) More Breaking News > Home News Diplomacy & Defense Published 00:45 16.12.10 Latest update 00:45 16.12.10 Mitchell proposes 'parallel' but separate U.S. talks with Israel, Palestinians Palestinian source tells AFP news agency that the aim of the talks 'is for the U.S. administration to form an idea of what the two parties want.' ByBarak Ravid Tags: Israel news Middle East peace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to convene his inner forum of seven senior cabinet ministers on Thursday morning, to discuss a new proposal by the United States’ Middle East envoy George Mitchell aimed at restarting indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

According to the French news agency AFP, Mitchell suggested that the U.S. hold separate but "parallel" talks with both sides, for a period of six weeks. A Palestinian source told AFP Mitchell had proposed that the U.S. conduct bilateral talks with each side, rather than any direct peace negotiations.

Hillary Clinton, George Mitchell, Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas at talks in Washington D.C., September 2, 2010.

Photo by: AP

Representatives from both sides will, under the terms of the proposal, meet separately with officials from the Obama administration, to discuss security and borders, as well as other issues.

"What is discussed with each side will not be divulged to the other, but the aim is for the U.S. administration to form an idea of what the two parties want with a view to drawing up a strategy to relaunch direct negotiations at the time it deems appropriate,” AFP quoted the Palestinian official as saying.

Mitchell was in Cairo on Wednesday, where he met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, as he continues his drive to breathe new life into the moribund talks. The official Egyptian news agency MENA said Wednesday that Mubarak and Netanyahu had spoken by phone, and had discussed the stagnant peace process. Mubarak also met Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian capital.

Netanyahu was expected to hash out with his ministers Israel’s positions on a variety of issues considered to be at the core of the negotiations for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Arab nations came out out Wednesday against any talks between Israel and the Palestinians, direct or indirect, unless the United States takes a firm stance on the future borders of a Palestinian state. 

The Palestinian Authority is also demanding that Israel reinstate its freeze on settlement construction in order for talks to go ahead, while Netanyahu has said that such a move would bring down his coalition government. His coalition comprises of right-wing parties who are staunchly opposed to any new moratorium on settlement construction, as are key members within the prime minister’s own center-right Likud party.
 

More on this topic Arab FMs oppose Mideast talks without U.S. stance on borders Mitchell: U.S. remains committed to pursue substantive Mideast talks Palestinians to Mitchell: U.S. must demand talks based on 1967 borders Barak blocks army brass from meeting with U.S. envoy Print PageSend to a friendCommentsShareText Size +|-Follow us on TwitterBecome a Haaretz.com Facebook friend   Send to a friend close Recipient's e-mail Your e-mail Message Send me a copy Mandatory field alert.

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Reply again LatestMost ViewedMost RatedOpen all 21.262View >Mitchell - offers Florida for the new Palestinian state fredrich de goy 16.12.10 06:24

Who do these people - all of them - think they are fooling any more?

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20.278View >What They Want????????? Polo 16.12.10 06:03

It just shows you that the USA hasn't been listening for 60 years! Howin the world could they not know what the two sides want? It's no wonderpeace is unachievable with the USA as an "honest broker"!

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19.1831View >what the two parties want... e l pratt 16.12.10 04:33

All the Israelis want is to have their country back. All the arabs wantis to have some place to dump the so-called palesitians who areapparently unwelcome in Jordan or Egypt which are the two countries fromwhich they come. All the muslims want is to take over another countryfor the glory of islam (they are the third group that nobody wants totalk about). So, what good will six weeks of talks do? No good at all.By the end of January, we will be still on first base with two outs andtwo strikes and two balls in an otherwise scoreless game. In themeantime, Gilad Shalit still needs to be rescued.

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18.2439View >The ugly truth BEAR JEW 16.12.10 04:04

All the players know what each side wants. The trouble is no one wantsto admit the ugly truth that the arabs just don't want to have truepeace for 2 peoples, They want oeace on their terms, which doesn'tinvolve israel long term and no one will admit it publicly...the"west" knows what a problem this is and rather than confrontit, they are just trying to appease the arabs....KNOWING it won'twork...does anyone really think a palestinian state next door is neveragain going to be a problem for israel? come onnnnnnnn...stop the charade.

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157View >The Palestinians - your so-called Arabs - have already submitted theircore issues for discussion yo'duh 16.12.10 06:51

THIS fiasco is happening because Netanyahu has refused to discussanything but inane demands and issues that can only be determined bythose he refuses to address.

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17.1112View >If US doesn't know by now, they will never know steve.benassi@gmail.com 16.12.10 03:57

..what both sides want, they both want it all.

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16.258View >Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Arab nations came out out Wednesdayagainst any talks between Israel and the Palestinians, direct orindirect, unless the United States takes a firm stance on the futureborders of a Palestinian state jake 16.12.10 02:42

All that is of importance in these peace talks as the rest will thenfall into place. Fortunately due to guaranteed Israeli intractability itseems a certainty that the U.S. for all its known to be doomedinitiatives shall shortly be joining the entire international communityand this matter will be addressed where it properly should. That ofcourse being the UN. The Palestinians will most definitely not bedisappointed with the results.

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15.364View >Another ploy to waste time. li 16.12.10 02:30

Everybody is having fun pretending to negotiate. Good food at thehotels. Sightseeing trip after a day of negotiating. All over the regionare signs violence is going to flair up but it's okay. So long asHillary and Bibi get some nice photos.

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14.256View >despondency Fortuna Benmayor 16.12.10 02:26

Whatever outcome this has, Mitchell's patience has to be commended. Itseems so remote at this point that these parallel talks, between thesides and the USA will be effective to bridge the moribund process.Probably, both sides will be maximalist in their demands, so as to putany negotiations starting as close to their positions as possible. Tothe USA, Obama, Clinton and Mitchell, these positions will appear asirreconcilable, with no point in common. And moreover, there is a gapbetween words and deeds. The fact the USA doesn't give up out of totalexasperation is in itself something both sides will have to thankforever.

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13.1528View >Pre-conditions Arie 16.12.10 02:22

If the palis can have all those preconditions, so can we: openrecognition of the State of Israel; compensation for Jews displaced byArab aggression

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12.1532View >Arabs would never recognize Jewish state in Palestina. End of story. 17 16.12.10 02:14

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319View >Enough with these shibboliths Billclock 16.12.10 04:07

Of course the Palestinians will recognize Israel as a Jewish state butnot until negotiations are complete with Israel recognizing a viablePalestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, the end of theoccupation and fair division of water and other rights. It all isdoable but it requires the crazies to just shut up!

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255View >And..... so? Johnboy 16.12.10 04:33

The PLO recognizes the state of Israel, and it recognizes that Israel issovereign. Which means that as far as they are concerned"Israel" can do whatever it wants inside its own borders, andwhatever is done there is of no concern to them. Why should you even*want* anything more than that, 17?

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85View >so 17 16.12.10 05:30

Both Abbas and PM differentiate between recognition of Israel and Jewishstate in Palestina. If it is the same there should be any problem withthe matter. Would you recognize Jewish state in Palestina? Partition wasbetween Jewish state and Arab state.

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11.720View >Land or Peace... John 16.12.10 01:51

George, "Location. Location. Location. With an army like this,who needs peace?" - Ben

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10.3714View >US has no power anymore to influence Israel Jenny 16.12.10 01:50

The PA knows this, so they won't agree because they can't rely on the USto enforce anything that is agreed to.

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9.312View >Wants Philemon 16.12.10 01:50

Abbas wants 1967 lines for a Palestinian state. Netski wants EretzIsrael at the very least. The world is at last wising up.

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8.3719View >This is bad news for Bibi.... Johnboy 16.12.10 01:48

Very bad news indeed, because it means the USA isn't planning on beingmerely the messenger-boy between Abbas and Netanyahu. Rather, theAmericans will listen to each in turn and then make up its own mindwhich side is making reasonable proposals, and which side wants theEarth and the Moon and the Stars. The only reason for doing that is sothat the Americans can THEN come up with their own proposal, and thereis no doubt that this will be much, much closer to the Palestiniandemands than it will be to the Israeli demands. Indeed, dare I suggestthat it will look very, very much like a fleshed-out version of theSaudi Plan.....

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716View >Undoubtly any American proposal will include recognition of Jewish statein Palestina... 17 16.12.10 02:27

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615View >Really? Try to rfemember that the US Congress passed a 1994 lawdirecting the President to regard unified Jerusalem as the capital ofIsrael, and only of Israel Dr. L. Brnd 16.12.10 02:41

In our system, the President conducts foreign policy "with theadvice and consent of the Congress". There won't be any US embassyin "Palestine" if Congress refuses to fund it. And Congressthis week is now close to cutting off all funds to Abbas if hecontinuesto refuse to negotiate, because PLO talking to Israel andrecognizing Israel is the only basis in US law that the President getsmoney to give them in the first place. Not a damn thing Obama can doabout it if Congress says "NO", unless he wants to get himselfimpeached.

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17View >Of course, TC, California 16.12.10 05:01

but not in the W. Bank nor sovereignty over E. Jerusalem.

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112View >I hope you are right, TC, California 16.12.10 05:03

otherwise this is another waste of time. The Pals have already statedpositions on the major issues, only Bibi has refuse to state Israel'sposition on borders, refugees, or Jerusalem.

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143View >LOL...yup Giggles 16.12.10 05:07

Obama has always been partial to the pragmatism of the Saudi Initiative- as are most objective observers.

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7.3733View >parallel universe Martin Jeffrey 16.12.10 01:32

these parallel talks .......lines will never meet....the gap is too widebetween the two sides...but unlike the other comments I've read, thepressure should be applied to the Arab side for compromise....a wordapparently not in their dictionary.......they are still after 60 yearsunable to accept the fact of a Jewish State............

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114View >Think about it, Martin Johnboy 16.12.10 02:37

"these parallel talks .......lines will never meet....the gap istoo wide between the two sides..." Yeah, agreed, and that's whythe Americans want PARALLEL talks i.e. the USA is going to listen to thePalestinians, and the USA is going to listen to the Israelis, and***then*** the USA is going to come up with its own proposal that itwill ram down the throat of both of these recalcitrants.

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30View >talks - the us now plays psychiatrist fredrich de goy 16.12.10 06:30

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6.120View >we all can relax not the magnificent seven is to convene. to cry or to laugh? 16.12.10 01:25

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5.4615View >Bibi's government represents the Israeli side, but Abbas and the PLO donot represent the Palestinian Arab side... Dr. L. Brnd 16.12.10 01:21

Abbas does not represent the 50% of his "people" ruled byHamas (which rejects and peace treaty or recognition of Israel), andAbbas can not even agree to anything Israel roposes, because he has toget permission from the Arab League Foreign Ministers for everything.Mitchell talking to Abbas is just one messenger boy talking to anothermessenger boy. Israel does not have a "peace partner" tonegotiate with. Arab League won't talk to Israel because this motleycollection of potentates and military dictators also reject everrecognizing the Jewish State of Israel, as Egypt and Jordan have bothdone. Israel needs to talk to actual decision makers who represent theirpeople, for there to ever be peace negotiations that can go anywhere.I'm trying to figure out what the point is of a "Palestinian ArabState of their own" if the Arab League is going to run it and callthe shots.

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1211View >Ever look at the polls, Doc? yo'duh 16.12.10 02:10

Poll after poll after poll?

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203View >Dear Dr Brnd JJ 16.12.10 02:24

Israel signed peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt and the governmentsof these two countries hardly represent the people. Yours is a lame excuse!

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76View >Arab League won't talk to Israel because this motley collection ofpotentates and military dictators also reject ever recognizing theJewish State of Israel jake 16.12.10 03:36

My how often this mendacity is repeated. The Arab peace initiative of2002 contained provisions such as considering the Arab-Israeli conflictover, signing a peace agreement with Israel, and establishing normalrelations with Israel. One wearies of having his intelligence insultedparticularly so from a supposed Dr.

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4.3112View >above moishe 16.12.10 01:16

parallel, single, converging, diverging....'vots the difference'... theyall seem to go nowhere! all talk...no action. you cant deal with apeople that want to eradicate you. look at surrounding States and youwill see what happened when they got rid of the Jews. now they hate andkill themselves. they should be thankfull that there are Jews around tohate and kill! one GOD; lots of crazy people. go figure!

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3.7654View >Parallel PATHETIC - What a Joke! Baloney 16.12.10 01:15

This is not funny. Anyone who is involved in these peace talks needs towake up and stop deluding themselves into thinking they are actuallydoing something important. Because they are NOT! The US needs to applyreal pressure on Israel to start acting like the Democracy it claims tobe.

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2725View >Nobody is doing this to you, your doing this to yourselves. What a bunchof pathetic losers. Keep listening to The Arab League; Moussa.. No4fit 16.12.10 01:41

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2.6048View >How many F-35s does it cost the American taxpayers Momo 16.12.10 01:05

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2019View >Momo None ! Israel refused them after the Pals wasted the last ( 10months) freeze,evading negotiations.How much US /EU aid PETER SM 16.12.10 02:27

to Arabs sits in Switzerland? How much EU aid is given under the table?How much US/EU taxpayer funds go to maintain Sister Suha Arafats lifestyle?

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1.6858View >Palestinians have already given a core list Rose 16.12.10 00:54

Netanyahu is the obstacle to peace.

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3132View >Nonsense SDHD 16.12.10 01:55

Netanyahu enacted a 10-month moratorium. The Palestinians refused tojoin direct negotiations until the 10th month. They refuse to rejoinsuch negotiations even if the moratorium is put back into place. ThePalestinians have rejected every peace offer evre made to them. ThePalestinians are the obstacle to peace.

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1524View >Core Palestinian Demand Arie 16.12.10 02:23

The demise of the Jews. They insist no peace unless that is achieved

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1013View >Rubbish Rose..The Palestinians merely are regurgitating the samedemands. The whole thing has become a big charade.Why? Stephen A.A 16.12.10 02:27

Because Abbas has not changed one iota he is still asking for RoR,Jerusalem while his chum Haniyeh is adamant on NEVER recognizingIsrael,what is more he is saying the whole of Palestine (fakenomeclature)To be theirs from the river to sea and beyond.Twocontradictory statements. Those smiles must be hurting their jaws forsure.As SDHD pointed out during the ten month moratorium Abbas did notbother to discuss by sitting down round the table twiddling his thumbsthinking his wishes will come down from the sky and all will be hunkydorey. As a friend called Khaduri said on another forum: On Abba Eban'sthe pals will not miss an opportunity to MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.(incidentlyif I am not mistaken the Jewish Khaduries from Hong Kong were one ofthe families who donated to several charitables organizations)know itthrough a family connection.thought I'd inform you in case you were not aware.

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1919View >Israel had 10 months to produce a position paper and never did it. 005veiK 16.12.10 06:29

So... for all you pro-Settlement fellas posting tripe in this string,what exactly stopped Israel from presenting a paper on it's positionsduring that 10 month term? Anyone want to answer that? The Palestiniansonly needed 1 month to present a detailed paper, yet no one involved inthis process has anything on paper regarding core issues from Netanyahuand the rest of the pro-Settlement crowd. WHY? The answer seems to bethey are not serious about negotiation, and only wish to delay and drawout the process forever so that the end goal is never reached. I dareyou to prove otherwise.

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Assad says peace talks should not focus on institutions (Jerusalem Post)

 
Photo: Associated press by BLOOMBERG NEWS
12/09/2010 19 H 35, Syrian President Bashar Assad Thursday said that between Israel and Palestinian peace talks should not focus on the issue of settlements, echoing the position of the United States adding Israel was not a partner for peace "."

Assad, who met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss stalled the process of peace in the Middle East along Iraq and Lebanon, made his comments journalists in Paris.

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"We are against putting colonies at the peace talks" Assad said. "If we want to talk about peace, we speak of legal rights, on the land restitution and doesn't talk about colonies".

The direct talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed on the refusal of Israel freezing the construction of the colony, which Palestinian say must be frozen before may resume negotiations. Philip j. Crowley, the u.s. Department of State spokesman said Thursday that the United States had recognized that persuade Israel to stop Jewish settlements on the disputed West Bank territory had become "an end in itself rather than a means to end."

Sarkozy and Assad discussed tensions in the Lebanon which grew in a probe of the United Nations on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, in the middle of the possibility that members of the group Hezbollah Muslim Shia the Lebanon can be put in charge, 2005. The movement, supported by the Syria is a partner in the Government of national unity of the Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

"Nobody wants to a confrontation between the Lebanese people," said Assad. "Nobody wants to troubled civilians."

Assad said that he "didn't intrusion with the Lebanon national issues" and refused to make any other comments.

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