US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

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A Palestinian negotiator says the White House Mideast envoy has failed to secure Palestinian agreement for going to direct talks with Israel.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...933476,00.html

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

AP article with more details but it is AP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100810/...l_palestinians

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Mitchell referred to a “defined timeline” and “agenda” for talks, according to Crowley, which is something else the Palestinians are seeking as a condition of direct negotiations.

Crowley also indicated that there might be movement on another Palestinian demand, that the Quartet re-issue its statement calling on Israel to halt settlements, noting that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been consulting with her counterparts on the international body comprising the US, EU, UN and Russia.

“If a Quartet statement can be helpful in encouraging the parties to move forward, obviously I think that’s something the United States supports,” Crowley said.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=184342

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

The AP article has been updated. One of the updates after only seeing Abbas and not Bibi, is that the US is seeing a possible solution.

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Abbas was seeking a reiteration of a March 19 statement by the major "quartet" of powers involved in Middle East diplomacy -- the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- calling on Israel to halt settlement activities in the West Bank and reach a full peace agreement with the Palestinians within 24 months.

If that happens, he said this week, "I will immediately go to direct talks, because it includes everything I am asking for."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100811/...srael_movement

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

jmveryho (from articles) lol
Bibi is basing his theory on the idea that he knows direct talks will fail. And he is right.
Abbas is basing his theory on the idea if the Quartet comes out totally supporting him and what he wants, when the talks collapse, the Quartet will be publicly, worldwide, on the hook to take charge and push it through exactly as they state.
The declaration the Quartet is about to make...

In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had discussed the matter with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Quartet's Middle East envoy.

"If a Quartet statement can be helpful in encouraging the parties to move forward, obviously, I think that's something that we the United States support," Crowley said.

Sources involved with efforts to bring the sides together said Abbas would tell Mitchell this Sunday whether he was willing to return to direct talks, and that if his decision was positive, the Quartet would issue its statement on Monday or Tuesday, giving Abbas the international backing he seeks.

could be a spiritual turning point. One the Quartet will not be able to pause or reverse.
Worse??? They know exactly what they are getting into and have no problem with it.

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

"The United States is studying our proposal that the Quartet convenes to discuss the guarantees we demanded before going to direct talks with Israel," Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Radio of Palestine Radio.

He said the Quartet would play the role of "a trusted peace reference" and an arbitrator when the direct talks kick off.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90...4/7101559.html
The Quartet will guaranteeing the results before the talks begin????


Remember post 3?

Quote:
Mitchell referred to a “defined timeline” and “agenda” for talks, according to Crowley, which is something else the Palestinians are seeking as a condition of direct negotiations.

Quote:
Crowley also indicated that there might be movement on another Palestinian demand, that the Quartet re-issue its statement calling on Israel to halt settlements, noting that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been consulting with her counterparts on the international body comprising the US, EU, UN and Russia.

“If a Quartet statement can be helpful in encouraging the parties to move forward, obviously I think that’s something the United States supports,” Crowley said.

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Imvho this is not just another one of those events we have all seen over years but a major move if the Quartet agrees and comes out with a statement.
They are giving their total commitment to a Palestine as projected in the Roadmap.
They are in a corner with all the commitments they have made to the Arab League, the Palestinians and the OWG that wants the MU by November.

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Just thinking of the MU summit being postponed until November


Eid Al-Adha The Feast of Sacrifice (Ishmael) is in November (16) too!

2010 dates


http://islam.about.com/od/calendar/f/2010eidaladha.htm

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Yep this being the holiday of Ramadan and the opportunity of sitting at the table with the leaders of Islam announcing their decision must be very tempting.
I some how can't see them saying ,"No".
When you add up the pros and cons the list is very one sided for the Quartet.

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Re: US envoy George Mitchell falls short in latest Mideast mission

Side note????
It is exactly what the Arab League demanded for direct talks to starts in their letter to Obama.