Comments for CMEC.org.uk http://cmec.org.uk Conservative Middle East Council Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Missy http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-902 Missy Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-902 If annyhitg, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in. If annyhitg, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in.

]]> Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Edward Abington http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-731 Edward Abington Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:33:17 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-731 Former US Consul General in Jerusalem 1993-1997 and former advisor to the Palestinian Authority, 2000-2006. Former US Consul General in Jerusalem 1993-1997 and former advisor to the Palestinian Authority, 2000-2006.

]]> Comment on Is the bid for Palestinian statehood bad for peace? by Edward Abington http://cmec.org.uk/blog/is-the-bid-for-palestinian-statehood-bad-for/#comment-730 Edward Abington Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:23:04 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1787#comment-730 If anything, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement. The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood. The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington's role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game. I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in. If anything, Mr. Healy has understated the depth of Palestinian disillusionment with the current course of Israeli-Palestinian talks (to the extent there are any), as well as the policies of the Netanyahu government and the role (or lack thereof) of the US government in seeking a real settlement.

The Palestinian leadership is absolutely convinced, rightly so, that Netanyahu and his government have no intention of meaningful negotiations to settle outstanding permanent status issues. The Israeli call for a resumption of bilateral negotiations is, in their view, nothing more than a cynical PR ploy to try to put the onus on the Palestinians for the collapse of the process. The Palestinian leadership argues that it has had sufficient exchange of views with Netanyahu as well as negotiations, both direct and indirect, to conclude that there is simply no basis to believe that a settlement is possible meeting even minimal Palestinian requirements for statehood.

The Palestinian leadership has also totally given up on the belief that the United States is capable of playing a constructive role with Israel in order to moderate Israeli positions on final status issues. They believe that in the final analysis, the US will always side with Israel, whether Obama is reelected or a Republican becomes President. Washington’s role, in their view, has become toxic and they have stopped taking US views seriously. They also see the role of the Quartet as essentially meaningless, although they continue to play the game.

I believe the Palestinians see only two courses of action available to them: to continue their campaign for membership in the UN and associated international agencies and, secondly, to press ahead for meaningful reconciliation with Hamas. Whether the Palestinians will be successful in either of these tracks remains to be seen. Certainly they expect reprisals from Israel and the US, but they see little alternative if they want to break out of the dead-end that they find themselves in.

]]> Comment on The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins MEP visits Gaza by Anne Candlina http://cmec.org.uk/blog/the-rt-hon-sir-robert-atkins-mep-visits-gaza/#comment-585 Anne Candlina Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:21:26 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1713#comment-585 Well done for publicising and condemning the horrible plight of the Gazans, brought about deliberately by Israel. Why did you capitulate to the Board of Deputy for British Jews who are always on the hunt for anyone who criticises Israel? What you said was correct - "Diaspora Jews" (an incorrect phrase because there was no diaspora) are responsible, to some extent for what happens in Israel. BofDBJ's lobbied the government to change the law on universal jurisdiction so that the likes of Barak and Tzipi Livni can't get arrested for war crimes. They lobbied for the UK to abstain from the UN vote for Palestinian membership. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks spoke at the Chabad Conference in Brooklyn this year, praising the name of war-monger Rebbe Schneerson who can be seen on Youtube commending the Mayor of Ariel for stealing Palestine land, telling him to double it and not give an inch back to Palestine, invoking a fear of Iran. How can Sacks support a man like this and yet hypocritically say that Jews have no responsibility for what Israel does? They did not comment on the horrific content of your report -just sidetracked the issues by humiliating you into an apology which was actually not needed. Well done for publicising and condemning the horrible plight of the Gazans, brought about deliberately by Israel. Why did you capitulate to the Board of Deputy for British Jews who are always on the hunt for anyone who criticises Israel? What you said was correct – “Diaspora Jews” (an incorrect phrase because there was no diaspora) are responsible, to some extent for what happens in Israel. BofDBJ’s lobbied the government to change the law on universal jurisdiction so that the likes of Barak and Tzipi Livni can’t get arrested for war crimes. They lobbied for the UK to abstain from the UN vote for Palestinian membership. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks spoke at the Chabad Conference in Brooklyn this year, praising the name of war-monger Rebbe Schneerson who can be seen on Youtube commending the Mayor of Ariel for stealing Palestine land, telling him to double it and not give an inch back to Palestine, invoking a fear of Iran. How can Sacks support a man like this and yet hypocritically say that Jews have no responsibility for what Israel does? They did not comment on the horrific content of your report -just sidetracked the issues by humiliating you into an apology which was actually not needed.

]]> Comment on Gulf States: The Challenge of Reform by Phil B http://cmec.org.uk/blog/gulf-states-the-challenge-of-reform/#comment-583 Phil B Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:58:15 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1637#comment-583 An interesting article but it is a shame that it was written in a journalistic style. As one wary of the distortion and downright fabrication rife in the western press, I would find the article far more significant if it were correctly referenced. Expressions such as "persistent reports", "events elsewhere" and "as described by my colleague" are worthless soundbites of heresay without the references to the source material. It is not worthy of an organisation expecting international audiences and I suspect that an original, correctly attributed version exists already - why not post that? An interesting article but it is a shame that it was written in a journalistic style. As one wary of the distortion and downright fabrication rife in the western press, I would find the article far more significant if it were correctly referenced. Expressions such as “persistent reports”, “events elsewhere” and “as described by my colleague” are worthless soundbites of heresay without the references to the source material. It is not worthy of an organisation expecting international audiences and I suspect that an original, correctly attributed version exists already – why not post that?

]]> Comment on The dangers of UK abstention on Palestine bid by Eliza Gray http://cmec.org.uk/blog/the-dangers-of-uk-abstention-on-palestine-bid/#comment-580 Eliza Gray Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:16:41 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1661#comment-580 Hey guys, Could be the U.S. a lot better off staying with Syria's Assad? Hey guys, Could be the U.S. a lot better off staying with Syria’s Assad?

]]> Comment on Rt Hon Liam Fox MP addresses CMEC in Manchester by Wyatt Namonkre http://cmec.org.uk/2011/10/liam-fox-and-peter-oborne-discuss-middle-east-in-cmec-and-caabu-conservative-party-conference-event/#comment-572 Wyatt Namonkre Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:06:22 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?p=1432#comment-572 He also referred to some examples from the revolution and the prophet He also referred to some examples from the revolution and the prophet

]]> Comment on Rt Hon Liam Fox MP addresses CMEC in Manchester by Alyssa Terankaipivo http://cmec.org.uk/2011/10/liam-fox-and-peter-oborne-discuss-middle-east-in-cmec-and-caabu-conservative-party-conference-event/#comment-564 Alyssa Terankaipivo Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:24:20 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?p=1432#comment-564 Another crucial question is how one can say that God continues his covenantal relationship with the Jewish people while ignoring the practical implications of living out that relationship. Another crucial question is how one can say that God continues his covenantal relationship with the Jewish people while ignoring the practical implications of living out that relationship.

]]> Comment on CMEC Arab Spring Update in Parliament by Jason Braunkelce http://cmec.org.uk/2011/10/eugene-rogan-rosemary-hollis-and-rim-turkmani-analyse-arab-spring-for-cmec-event/#comment-530 Jason Braunkelce Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:11:38 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?p=1482#comment-530 meanwhile, no women, no peace will present an mp letter writing action and a petition in support of afghan women rsquo s participation in upcoming transition talks to the foreign secretary of state. meanwhile, no women, no peace will present an mp letter writing action and a petition in support of afghan women rsquo s participation in upcoming transition talks to the foreign secretary of state.

]]> Comment on Bahrain after the BICI by Hugo Ugli http://cmec.org.uk/blog/bahrain-after-the-bici/#comment-523 Hugo Ugli Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:39:12 +0000 http://cmec.org.uk/?post_type=blog_post&p=1743#comment-523 Sir Harold, I feel patronised by your article which makes little mention of the criticisms the report makes on the government and the Khalifa apparatus and serves as a puff piece instead. I know relations between Britain and Bahrain are longstanding, lucrative and comfortable. But please, as a senior, well-respected and credible member of the establishment, help me to be more aware at what price this comfort comes. You may want to defend the status quo, but you also have to acknowledge that things have changed and are still changing in Bahrain, more than you have in this 2D "blog". Unless you do this, you risk representing yourself, and the British establishment, as being way out of touch with Bahrain and the wider significance of the Spring. Sir Harold, I feel patronised by your article which makes little mention of the criticisms the report makes on the government and the Khalifa apparatus and serves as a puff piece instead.

I know relations between Britain and Bahrain are longstanding, lucrative and comfortable. But please, as a senior, well-respected and credible member of the establishment, help me to be more aware at what price this comfort comes.

You may want to defend the status quo, but you also have to acknowledge that things have changed and are still changing in Bahrain, more than you have in this 2D “blog”.

Unless you do this, you risk representing yourself, and the British establishment, as being way out of touch with Bahrain and the wider significance of the Spring.

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