Peace talks israel

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has called for emergency regional talks to discuss mounting Gulf tensions, saying Sunday that it does not want war with Iran but is ready to defend itself. It comes days after mysterious sabotage attacks on several tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters and drone strikes on a Saudi crude pipeline by Yemen rebels who Riyadh claimed were acting on Iranian orders. The United States has also deployed an aircraft carrier and bombers to the Gulf over alleged threats from Iran. King Salman invited Gulf leaders and Arab League member states to two emergency summits in Mecca on May 30 to discuss recent “aggressions and their consequences”, the kingdom’s official SPA news agency reported late Saturday. Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said Sunday his country does not want to go to war with Iran but would defend itself. Saudi Arabia “does not want a war, is not looking for it and will do everything to prevent … [Read more...] about Saudi calls for urgent Arab talks over Iran tensions

WASHINGTON: The United States will host a conference in Bahrain next month focused on the economic aspects of the Middle East peace plan promised by President Donald Trump, which aims to achieve Palestinian prosperity. The workshop co-organised with Manama, running June 25-26, will bring together government, civil society and business leaders. “This workshop is a pivotal opportunity ... to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement,“ the two countries said in a joint statement read Sunday. The Trump administration is expected to unveil the long-awaited plan – after numerous failures by their predecessors – possibly as early as next month, but the Palestinians have already rejected it as heavily biased in favour of Israel. Washington has yet to commit to an exact timetable as concerns the political aspects of the plan. Trump’s son-in-law Jared … [Read more...] about US to launch economic workshop as part of Middle East peace plan

UNITED NATIONS: President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy berated the UN Security Council on Thursday (May 9) for "rehashing tired talking points" criticising Israeli settlements and said an upcoming US peace plan would provide a fresh approach.Jason Greenblatt told a council meeting that the United Nations was biased against Israel, choosing "the comfort of 700 paper resolutions" condemning Israel instead of confronting the "700 rockets" fired by Palestinian militants."It is time for a new approach," said Greenblatt, who is working with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner on an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that is expected to be unveiled soon.The council met for an informal meeting organized by Indonesia, a strong Palestinian supporter, about the expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, which the United Nations considers illegal.The Trump administration is expected to roll out the long-awaited plan, possibly as early as next month, but the Palestinians have … [Read more...] about Trump envoy slams UN over ‘tired talking points’ on Israel

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Israel carried out waves of retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday (May 5) after Palestinian rockets hit Israeli cities, in a deadly escalation that has shown no signs of slowing and raised fears of war.Gazan authorities reported 16 Palestinians killed, including at least six militants, by Israeli strikes in the fighting that began Saturday with massive rocket fire from the strip.Israel however disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant woman and a baby, blaming errant fire from Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the enclave.Three people were killed in Gaza rocket and missile strikes on southern Israel on Sunday. Two were confirmed as Israeli, the army said.The flare-up came as Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the blockaded enclave, sought further concessions from Israel under a fragile months-old ceasefire.The Palestinian dead included a commander for Hamas's armed wing who Israel said it targeted due to his role in … [Read more...] about Deadly escalation as Israel retaliates over Gaza rockets

WASHINGTON: Jared Kushner (pix) revealed new contours Thursday on the upcoming US peace plan for the Middle East, indicating that it will pull back from longstanding mentions of a two-state solution with the Palestinians and accept Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Kushner, the son-in-law and senior adviser to President Donald Trump, is expected next month to present a long-awaited deal on behalf of the US administration, which has closely aligned itself with Israel’s right wing. Vowing to take a fresh approach, Kushner gave the administration’s strongest indication yet that the plan will not propose two states for Israelis and Palestinians – for decades the US-backed goal of marathon peace talks. “If you say ‘two-state,‘ it means one thing to the Israelis, it means one thing to the Palestinians,“ Kushner said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “We said, you know, let’s just not say it. Let’s just say, … [Read more...] about Kushner: Mideast plan won’t say ‘two states’