US slams PA efforts against Israel

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/161198.html


US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticized the Palestinian Authority (PA) for trying to condemn Israeli settlement projects at the UN Security Council.

"The only way that there will be a resolution of the conflict... is through a negotiated settlement," she told reporters at the State Department on Thursday.

"We don't see action at the UN or any other forum as being helpful in bringing about this desired outcome," AFP quoted the top US diplomat as saying.

On Tuesday, Palestinian resolution against illegal Israeli settlement buildings in the occupied Palestinian territories was formally put to the Security Council.

The resolution would condemn Israel's settlement activities and reiterate an existing UN demand for all building work in the occupied territories to stop.

Clinton did not comment on whether the United States will veto the resolution or not.

Meanwhile, a group of US cabinet officials, diplomats, journalists and pundits released an open letter, urging the US to ratify the resolution.

"If the proposed resolution is consistent with existing and established US policies, then deploying a veto would severely undermine US credibility and interests, placing us firmly outside of the international consensus, and further diminishing our ability to mediate this conflict," said the letter.

Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority once again reached a deadlock in September after Tel Aviv refused to extend a partial moratorium on settlement constructions in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinians argue that the continuation of settlement activities reduces the chance of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

US House against Palestinian State

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution opposing the declaration of a Palestinian state.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/155697.html


The US House of Representatives has declared its opposition to the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, urging Palestinians to stop their efforts to push for such a move.

The House unanimously approved a resolution opposing unilateral declaration of Palestinian state on Thursday, Ha'aretz reported.

Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Howard Berman, who introduced the resolution, criticized Palestinian efforts to push the international community to recognize a Palestinian state.

The remarks came after Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay recognized the Palestinian state to support the rights of Palestinian people, whose land has been occupied by Israel.

The Latin American states announced that they recognize a free and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

On Monday, the European Union also said in a statement that it "reiterates its readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state."

The resolution also urged the White House to "deny recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state and veto any resolution by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to establish or recognize a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties."

According to the resolution, Palestinian leaders should cease all efforts to gain recognition of a Palestinian state from other nations, within the United Nations. It also called upon foreign governments not to extend such recognitions.

Washington, which brought the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to the negotiation table once again in September, failed to persuade Tel Aviv to extend its partial settlement slowdown, which expired late September.

The ongoing Israeli settlement projects stalled the US-sponsored direct talks.

The United States agreed to provide fighter jets to Israel and veto any anti-Israeli resolutions in the UNSC instead of an extended three-month freeze, but last week the Obama administration said it would not continue to ask Israel for the move.

Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas has said he would not return to the negotiations as long as Tel Aviv continues its illegal settlement projects, adding that he would push for recognition of Palestine in the United Nations should Israel not cooperate over its settlement activities.

Palestinians say that the settlement activities are being carried out to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The international community backs Palestinian demands for a state in most of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem), all territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Lebanon 'ready to counter Israeli threat'

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136999§ionid=351020203


Lebanese President Michel Sleiman says that his country's military forces are ready to confront any threat posed by the Israeli regime.

Speaking at a ceremony marking Lebanon's Army Day on Sunday, the president also called on all the political groups to maintain unity against the enemy.

Meanwhile, he said that Beirut would always defend the rights of Palestinians, specially their refugees to return to their homeland.

He made the remarks after Israeli reconnaissance warplanes violated Lebanon's airspace during the last weeks.

The Tel Aviv regime has launched two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The 33-day war claimed the lives of about 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians -- four years ago.

However, Israel on both occasions fell short of achieving any of its objectives and the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah forced the Israeli military into retreating.

Tension between Lebanon and Israel has increased in recent months after Beirut arrested several people on suspicion of spying for Tel Aviv.

The Lebanese president noted that the suspected spies working for Israel inside Lebanon would be charged.

Dozens of people, including members of Lebanon's telecommunications personnel, were detained since last year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, cabinet members and other diplomatic figures attended the 65th anniversary of the Lebanese army.

French Christians: End Israel's impunity

This file photo shows Palestinians and Arab-Israeli
Christians holding a protest against Israel.


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136638§ionid=351020603


A number of Christian organizations in France have called on the government to hold Israel accountable for its violation of Palestinians' rights.

Five institutions including Secours Catholique, Cimade, Acat-France, Defap and les Amis de Sabeel-France wrote a letter to the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Wednesday, calling for action against Israeli crimes in Palestinian territories.

The letter urged the "French government to act, to put an end to the impunity accorded to ... Israel as regards the violation of international law," AFP quoted the letter as saying.

The move came after Palestinian Christians approached the organizations, asking for help against an Israeli military decree aimed at expulsion of thousand of Palestinians from the West Bank, the groups said.

The only way for achieving a "just and fair" peace in the Middle East is observance of international laws by Israel, the letter went on to say.

The Christian institutions also urged for the suspension of the European Union-Israel Association Agreement which constitutes legal grounds for relations between the European bloc and Tel Aviv.

Israel threatens Lebanon with invasion

Israeli Defense Minister and War criminal Ehud Barak


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136317§ionid=351020203


Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has warned that Tel Aviv would strike directly at the Lebanese government, should violence break out the next time.

In an interview with the Washington Post published Monday, the minister said, "if it happens that Hezbollah will shoot into Tel Aviv, we will not run after each…launcher of some rocket in all Lebanon. We'll see the government of Lebanon responsible."

"We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to Hezbollah," said Barak.

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, however, has repeatedly dismissed the accusations that it fires rockets into Israel.

The movement says such allegations are part of Israeli propaganda which aims to justify another invasion.

The Israeli regime has launched two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The second round of the all-out offensives killed about 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians.

However, Tel Aviv on both occasions fell short of achieving any of its objectives and Hezbollah forced the Israeli military into retreating.

Tension between Lebanon and Israel has increased in recent months as Beirut arrested several people on suspicion of spying for Tel Aviv.

Dozens of people, including members of Lebanon's telecommunications personnel, have been arrested since last year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad

'US Psy-war plan includes 2 hot wars'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136359§ionid=351020101


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the United States and Israel plan to attack two countries in the Middle East as part of a conspiracy to apply pressure on Iran.

"We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot, according to which they seek to launch a psychological war on Iran," Ahmadinejad stated in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Monday.

"They plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months," he added.

He said the US seeks to achieve two main objectives with the scheme.

"First of all, they want to hamper Iran's progress and development since they are opposed to our growth, and secondly they want to save the Zionist regime because it has reached a dead-end and the Zionists believe they can be saved through a military confrontation," Ahmadinejad explained.

He also advised US President Barack Obama not to follow the policies of George W. Bush.

In addition, he warned Russian officials to avoid playing into the hands of Washington because that would go against their national interests.

Commenting on the nuclear issue, Ahmadinejad said Iran will resume nuclear talks with the West in September, adding that Iran wants Turkey and Brazil to participate in the negotiations.