Iran 'Hostile' to Israeli-Palestinian Talks
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Iran said it was "hostile" to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks brokered by the United States, hours before negotiations in Jerusalem were due to kick off on Wednesday.
"Iran is hostile to these negotiations and several Palestinian groups are hostile to them," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi told the ISNA news agency.
"The current context is not suitable for negotiations," said the spokesman, whose country is a backer of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas ruling Gaza that slammed the talks as a "national crime".
"In fact, the Zionist regime is continuing to build new (settlement) housing, which is condemned by the Europeans and the United States, but the Zionist regime does as it wants," said Araqchi.
The Jerusalem talks were to open late on Wednesday, just hours after Israel's housing minister insisted his country would build "thousands" of new Jewish settler homes in the occupied West Bank.
"These talks are unbalanced and the rights of the Palestinian people, like the right of return, self-determination and the question of Quds (Jerusalem) are ignored, and for this reason they will give no results," Araqchi said.
Iran does not recognize Israel, and the Islamic republic's new president, moderate Hasan Rowhani, has branded Israel a "wound" that "has for many years been sitting on the body of the Islamic world".
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged "increased pressure" on Iran, saying it was the "only thing" that would deter it from pursuing nuclear weapons capability.
Israel and other Western countries suspect the Islamic republic is using its nuclear program -- which Tehran insists is for peaceful purposes -- to develop an atomic bomb.
14 August 2013, 20:23
11
Kind of nice to see some 'balanced' rhetoric from Tehran instead of the usual 'jews are evil, dump them into the sea'.
""In fact, the Zionist regime is continuing to build new (settlement) housing, which is condemned by the Europeans and the United States, but the Zionist regime does as it wants," said Araqchi."
I agree with this a 100%, but it seems from many different news outlets that the case of settlements does have a solution. Israel will likely dismantle settlements or sell them if they are outside the borders of Israel that will be decided in the talks.
Netanyahu is correct in that these talks and deciding on borders and founding a Palestinian state is "a supreme national interest". Let's just hope nothing goes wrong this time...
14 August 2013, 21:05
11
Lebanon as an Israeli colony, where ninety percent of the people oppose the regime, has had its day in the sun. All for one, one for all.
15 August 2013, 09:35
02
Israel is interested in peace. Israel signed peace with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon (overturned by Syria) and Palestinians. It has withdrawn from Sinai, south Lebanon and Gaza. It is ready to withdraw from Shebaa farms if proven Lebanese.
Israel needs peace more than any country surrounding it as it is in a weak demographic situation. However Israelis have been disillusioned by Arabs. They moved out of Gaza but Hamas continued firing rockets refusing to recognize Israel right to exist. Since Israel moved out if Lebanon Hizbullah built a formidable arsenal and fortifications threatening Israel. In the 90's the majority of Israeli wanted peace with Arabs. Now the majority is against peace as they believe Arabs will never make truly peace with Israel.
Palestinians need to understand this on one hand and neighboring countries Syria, Iran, and its vassal HA need to stop exploiting the Palestinian cause (which they do for their own survival) to give peace a chance.
