European, Arab ministers hold talks on Middle East peace

[SAT]

Ireland was chosen because things tend to stay secret in Ireland. So odds are we aren't going to hear a lot from this meeting.

"how best to move forward" in the Middle East peace process, the Irish foreign ministry said.

"The intention was not to launch any new process but to consider ways to support and shape engagement on this issue in other fora."
The "confidential discussion on the present state of the Middle East peace process and how best to move forward" was held at Farmleigh, a manor house in Dublin used for visiting dignitaries.

Tuesday's meeting comes ahead of the first ever summit EU-Arab League summit in Egypt on February 24-25.

https://www.arabianbusiness.com/poli...dle-east-peace

[SAT]

At first this may seem a little off topic but …
I noticed a lot of articles like....

Netanyahu boosts racist far-right party with pre-election deal
https://www.axios.com/netanyahu-deal...bb68a5cbc.html

and

Jewish Home leader urges party to back far-right merger

this is why...

Party leader says he opposes joint ticket with far-right, but urges nationalist religious party to back Netanyahu deal because there is ‘danger to our home’

Peretz says he opposes the merger on principle, but says that “when my house is on fire, I don’t check the tzitzit of who’s helping me put it out.”
“There is a danger to our home,” Peretz says, referring to Israel Resilience, as well as the Trump administration’s peace plan “that will seek to uproot communities.”
“Our answer to those who want to destroy our home is unity.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/livebl...-right-merger/

Reminder re Jerusalem is VP Pence's comments
https://wedg.millenniumweekend.org/f...p-s-peace-plan

It all seems to be confirmation of each other.

[SAT]

side note??
Jewish Home votes overwhelmingly to back merger with extremist party
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish...tremist-party/

[SAT]

AIPAC slams ‘racist and reprehensible’ extremist party wooed by Netanyahu

In a rare comment on internal Israeli politics, AIPAC and the AJC, two mainstream US Jewish organizations, condemned the recent merger deal between the Jewish Home party with the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, a move that was midwifed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a statement late Thursday the American Jewish Committee said the “views of Otzma Yehudit are reprehensible. They do not reflect the core values that are the very foundation of the State of Israel.”
AJC said that while it did not “normally comment on political parties and candidates during an election” after the union it felt “compelled to speak out.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/major-...israeli-party/



JP

AIPAC, considered one of the most influential lobbies in the corridors of the American administration, said that "the committee has for many years been careful not to meet members of this racist and despicable party."


Jewish organizations in Britain also opposed Otzma Yehudit's intentions to run in the upcoming Knesset elections together with the Bayit Yehudi and the National Union. Paul Charney, chairman of the Jewish Federation, said that although he expected unusual political moves ahead of the elections, "such political deals do not last. Netanyahu must know that cooperation with the wrong people will be his downfall."

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Electio...Yehudit-581496

The usual support system from around the world are not happy at all.

[SAT]

All this with Jared Kushner and friends on their way to the Arab countries, and the EU/Arab summit this weekend. A summit the Arab and EU countries were hoping they would convince Abbas to cooperate with the peace deal.

Abbas pleas for international troops may find more listening ears.

ps
Abbas was already angry as Netanyahu had picked Katz as FM. He is staunchly anti two state.

[Guest]

Abbas arrives..

http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=...6960367a4txNVU

Starting on Sunday, leaders and government heads of 28 European countries and 21 Arab states will be convening a two-day summit in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss joint challenges and boost mutual cooperation opportunities.

This is the first ever platform that brings together the Arab and European heads of state and government to tackle the pressing issues, atop of which terrorism, organized crime and illegal immigration.

[SAT]

Abbas urges Europeans to play greater role in peace process, recognize Palestine

“Has the time not come for European states that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so, especially in light of your belief in the two-state solution?” Abbas said in a short speech at a two-day summit of Arab and European leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, an Egyptian resort city
“You have recognized Israel, supported it since its establishment and defended its security. That is your right. But if you’ll allow me to say this: Your not recognizing the Palestinian right to self-determination in its state is a move that contradicts your values and your European principles

https://www.timesofisrael.com/abbas-...ize-palestine/

[Guest]

Abbas: Trump's peace plan will fail

PA chairman urges EU to recognize "Palestine" and pressure Israel to agree to a withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders.


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259537

[SAT]

EU-Arab summit: EU bid to bolster Arab links as US leaves HUGE vacuum for Russia and China

Sharm El-Sheik has set the stage for EU-Arab relations as international leaders descended on the region for vital talks. Theresa May joined statespeople from 40 countries to discuss diplomatic, economic and security interests, at the summit hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. The talks come as the US has ‘disengaged’ from the region and left a power vacuum behind which China and Russia are both vying to fill. European Council President Donald Tusk has stated the talks mark a time to focus on self-governance and avoid leaving politics to “powers far from our region”.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...na-Middle-East

[SAT]

Britain to blacklist Hezbollah in its entirety as a terror group

UK home secretary says Shiite militia’s political arm is no longer distinguishable from its already-banned military wing

https://www.timesofisrael.com/britai...-terror-group/

[SAT]

Israeli-Palestinian conflict steals limelight at first ever EU-Arab League Summit

Although the gathering of 50 nations in the Sinai Peninsula was also geared towards combating terrorism and illegal immigration, the Mideast conflict dominated the summit's agenda, which was set to end with a statement backing the two-state solution.

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,...469745,00.html

[SAT]

US Jewish umbrella group urges Netanyahu to denounce Otzma Yehudit

Jewish Council for Public Affairs joins AIPAC in rare move to weigh in on Israeli politics

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jew...otzma-yehudit/


Under deal, extremest party promised spot on key panel that appoints judges

https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-...points-judges/


Deborah Lipstadt resigns from synagogue over defense of Israeli extreme right

Deborah Lipstadt, the prominent Holocaust historian, is resigning her membership in her local synagogue because it belongs to a movement that defended an Israeli political deal with the extremist right wing.
Lipstadt belonged to Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta, an Orthodox congregation. The broader Young Israel movement, in a statement Monday to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, defended an agreement between the Jewish Home party and Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power,) a far-right political party. Jewish Power is led by followers of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated the expulsion of Arabs from Israel.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/debora...extreme-right/


Now add... Nation State Laws that would only Jews to have full rights in Israel. Plus Kushner's comments on the WH's vision of Israel, the peace deal and VP Pence's comments.....

[SAT]

Israel’s coalition system is crucial check on Netanyahu’s populism, expert says

As Israel heads toward national elections next month, some fear the country is in danger of losing its democratic character. More than half of Israelis surveyed by the Israel Democracy Institute perceive the country’s democracy to be in “grave danger,” although the survey also found that these worriers tend to fall on the left of the political spectrum.

Once populists hold office, they increasingly direct their ire against a second target: all institutions, formal or informal, that dare to contest their claim to a moral monopoly of representation.”
These include a free press, foundations, trade unions, think tanks, religious association, and NGOs. Populist governments often introduce laws limiting foreign funding of NGOs. Once they have weakened the press and civil society, populist governments attack those government institutions that are independent or serve as a watchdog or check on their power.

Once populists hold office, they increasingly direct their ire against a second target: all institutions, formal or informal, that dare to contest their claim to a moral monopoly of representation.”

These include a free press, foundations, trade unions, think tanks, religious association, and NGOs. Populist governments often introduce laws limiting foreign funding of NGOs. Once they have weakened the press and civil society, populist governments attack those government institutions that are independent or serve as a watchdog or check on their power.

What may save Israel...

in its usually maligned multi-party leadership

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel...m-expert-says/