Sec. State Clinton: Palestinians must renounce violence and recognize Israel, pledges $900mil in U.S. aid

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/02/18574594.php

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton concludes Palestinians must renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by Arab Peace Initiative

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By Edward Campbell

Missoula, March 2 (Al-Masakin)—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speech at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, after thanking those responsible for the meeting, including the Egyptian Government, and to personally thank the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak “for his personal efforts to bridge divides and end conflict,” the Quartet, and the Norwegian co-chair, for their hospitality and commitment to global and regional peace, said she was proud to bring a message for America’s new President Barak Obama:

“The United States is committed to a comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors and we will pursue it on many fronts. So too will we vigorously pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a sign of our seriousness, President Obama and I have appointed Special Envoy George Mitchell to lead this effort.”

The Secretary went on to commend former Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who by fiat extended his presidential term for at least one year after it expired Jan. 9, 2009, Palestinian Authority Prime Salam Fayyad, appointed by Abbas June 15, 2007.

Mrs. Clinton said that the President, along with herself, are inspired by the Arab Peace Initiative proposed by Saudi tyrant King Abdullah whom she called “His Majesty,” and endorsed by the Arab League

“Time is of the essence. We cannot afford more setbacks and delays, or regrets about what might have been had different decisions been made. And now is not the time for recriminations. It is time to look ahead,” the Secretary said today.

The Secretary went on to pledge, upon the approval of Congress, more than $900 million in humanitarian aid.

“All of us recognize that human progress depends on the human spirit. That a child growing up in Gaza without shelter, health care, or an education has the same right to go to school, see a doctor, and live with a roof over her head as a child growing up in your country or mine. That a mother and father in the West Bank struggling to fulfill their dreams for their children have the same right as parents anywhere else in the world to a good job, a decent home, and the tools to achieve greater prosperity and peace. That progress toward the goals we seek here today is more likely to grow out of opportunity, than futility; out of hope, than out of misery,” Mrs. Clinton said.

Without going into detail she said that while working with Abbas and Fayyad to “address critical humanitarian, budgetary, security, and infrastructure needs” the United States plans to install safeguards to prevent that aid from ending up in the “wrong hands.”

She said that the new American administration seeks not only to address the short term needs of the Palestinian people, but also has long term goal of achieving “comprehensive peace.”

“By providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, we also aim to foster conditions in which a Palestinian state can be fully realized – a state that is a responsible partner, is at peace with Israel and its Arab neighbors, and is accountable to its people; a state that Palestinians everywhere can be proud of and is respected worldwide.

“This is the Palestinian state we all envision. This is the Palestinian state that we have an obligation to help create,” she said.

The Secretary of State went on to say that Israel needed to show the Palestinian people that there are benefits to negotiating “if their goal is to control their own destiny and live in peace and dignity in an economically viable state.”
With respect to Arab states in the region “it means signaling through words and deeds that the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative can begin to govern attitudes toward Israel now. For all of us – the Arab states and the wider international community – it means working with the government of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, to help build a state that can meet international expectations and obligations.

“And for the Palestinians, it means that it is time to break the cycle of rejection and resistance, to cut the strings pulled by those who exploit the suffering of innocent people, and show the world what the talent and skills of an exceptional people can build and create.

“That is why we’re here today – not only to address Gaza’s urgent needs, but to move ahead toward genuine Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli peace.

“Our aid package is meant to accelerate, not hinder, that effort,” Mrs. Clinton said on Monday.

She went on to say that Mr. Abbas through commitment to negotiations has shown the “hallmarks of leadership” and that Mr. Fayyad has “bolstered the credibility of his government by instituting a national budget process.”

“They are offering their people the option of a peaceful, independent, and more prosperous future, not the violence and false choices of extremists whose tactics – including rocket attacks that continue to this day – only will lead to more hardship and suffering. These attacks must stop.”

Mrs. Clinton continued by asserting that the Palestinian resistance must “renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist.” And that this is the only path for the Palestinians to a “viable state of their own.”

She reaffirmed President Obama’s commitment to this and concluded: “Assistance for the Palestinians is one step up the ladder to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace. We must be willing to take this step – and many more together – until we fulfill that promise.”

EHC / EHC
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Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/

Secretary of State Clinton will attend and participate in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery hosted by Egypt on March 2, to meet with Palestinian officials in W. Bank thereafter

Missoula, Feb. 26 (Al-Masakin)–U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton arriving in Egypt March 1 will meet with Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell and other high-level representatives and will attend and participate in the donor’s conference for Gaza recovery at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on March 2. 

Thereafter the Secretary will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Israel and in the West Bank respectively.  The Secretary is not expected to visit Gaza.

On March 5 Mrs. Clinton will meet with NATO officals in Brussels to discuss the upcoming NATO summit where the allies will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the organization.  The date of that summit has not been announced.  While in Brussels the Secretary will meet separately with EU officials.  She will then travel to Geneva.

After meeting with Swiss officials to discuss U.S.- Swiss cooperation the Secretary will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, including possibilities for a follow-on agreement to START, and U.S.-Russian cooperation in areas such as Afghanistan.

After that the Secretary will meet with Turkish officials in Ankara.  The tour will end March 7.

EHC / EHC

U.S. State Department’s morning Press Briefing on Middle East affairs, Feb. 4

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/04/18568366.php

U.S. State Department’s morning Press Briefing on Middle East affairs

by al-masakin
Wednesday Feb 4th, 2009 6:24 PM

George Mitchell’s may establish an office in Jerusalem

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By Edward Campbell

Missoula, Feb. 4 (Al-Masakin)—Acting Press Secretary for the U.S. State Department at the morning press briefing, a transcript of which was made available to Al-Masakin News Agency via e-mail, said that the U.S. Ambassador to the Middle East, former Senator George Mitchell (D-Maine) may meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah Feb. 26, but did not give any further details.

Mr. Wood confirmed that the U.S. State Department is considering a long-term presence for Ambassador Mitchell in West Bank city of Jerusalem, or possibly elsewhere at a location as yet to be determined.

The State Department vague on details, but said that George Mitchell will be visiting the Middle East “as frequently as he can.”

Senator Mitchell met with President Obama and the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today at noon in the Oval Office to discuss the Ambassador’s findings and his diplomacy during his recent Middle East tour.

State Department has not confirmed that Senator Mitchell is as yet on salary, but Mr. Wood suggested that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) is the likely to fund the Ambassador’s presence in the Middle East.

The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform.

At the morning briefing Mr. said that the State Department does not know whether the Iranian aid ship bound for Gaza is being held at port in Cyprus. He was uncertain as to whether or not Iran was attempting to off-load its cargo to Syria and did not know whether or not the ship was carrying aid to the Palestinian people or arms bound for Hamas, or that there was any international authority to turn the ship away from its intended destination.

“Well, look, in terms of the ship and where it is and all of that, I really just don’t have that kind of information available at this point. But there are obviously some concerns about what was being carried on this ship. I’d have to refer you to Pentagon for more details of it,” acting Press Secretary Robert Wood said today.

State Department / EHC
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Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/