Anapolis Agreement NOT Valid. "Two-State Solution" Not A Solution

B”H

Not only was the Anapolis agreement never ratified, not only has the agreement expired without the arabs doing one thing, but there is the added issue that the facts-on-the-ground have completely changed.

First, Omert, who often confused his position as PM with that of a totalitarian dictator or absolute monarch, had no right to sign Israel's name to anything that wasn't agreed to by the Knesset. (That's what a democracy means, Mr. Olmert.)

Anapolis was all about getting an agreement for a “two state” solution. Now, unless my count is wrong, I think there are now TWO groups of arabs where there used to be one.

So, even if we were to participate in this imaginary "two state solution," it appears that there would be an odd-man out. Who would that odd-man be?

Well, when I read the charters of Hamas and Fatah, it is clear that, by a "two state solution" they mean "Hamas and Fatah."

Now, wouldn't that make Blair and President Hussein happy?

M
-----

Annapolis not valid, Israel says
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=1453989
Peace process in 'great jeopardy,' envoy Blair says

Israel's new ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister repudiated a key accord meant to herald the establishment of a separate Palestinian state, igniting an international row on his first day in office yesterday.

Avigdor Lieberman said a declaration adopted by the previous government in Annapolis, Md., in 2007 would not be upheld by the new coalition government.

"It has no validity," he said. "The Israeli government never ratified Annapolis, nor did parliament."

Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli premier, committed Israel to efforts to pursue "the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine" within a fixed timetable at the Annapolis conference convened by George W Bush. Its deadline expired last year, while Israel was fighting Hamas in Gaza.

Tony Blair, the international envoy to the Middle East peace process, said the accord was in "very great jeopardy," given the signals from the new Israeli government. "There is no alternative to a two-state solution, other than a lone-state solution, and if there is a one-state solution there will be a big fight," he said.

Yesterday, Israel's parliament affirmed the establishment of the new government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud leader. The new administration is one of the most unwieldy in Israel's history, with a Cabinet of 30 members drawn from a host of coalition members.

An aide close to Mr. Netanyahu said the Prime Minister shared Mr. Lieberman's refusal to make an official commitment to a Palestinian state.

In his acceptance address to the Knesset, Mr. Netanyahu referred only to a final accord for Palestinian self-governance.

"Under the final accord, the Palestinians will have all the rights to govern themselves except those that can put in danger the security and existence of the state of Israel," he said.

Diplomats believe he is unwilling to grant Palestinians sovereign rights over their territorial defence or air space.

Mr. Lieberman emphasized security would be paramount for the new government.

"Whoever thinks that through concessions he will bring something, no, he will only invite more pressure and more wars," he said. "If you want peace, prepare for war. We yearn for peace and we want peace. We've proven that more than any other country in the world."

Yisrael Beiteinu, Mr. Lieberman's party, was the big beneficiary of the election, winning 15 seats on the back of Israel's expanding community of immigrants from the former Russian bloc.

His radical policies include a loyalty test that would deprive Israel's Arabs of citizens' rights. He has also been condemned for advocating the wholesale transfer of Arabdominated cities to the West Bank in return for annexing Jewish settlements.

Palestinians leaders condemned a statement from a man who has become a figure of hate among Arabs, and called on Washington to intervene.

"This Minister is an obstacle to peace," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader. "He will cause harm to Israel first. Nothing obliges us to deal with a racist persoMn hostile to peace."

Tzipi Livni, the Israeli opposition leader and former foreign minister, told Mr. Lieberman, "In spite of everything that you said, there will be a two-state solution."

Barack Obama, the U. S. President, congratulated Mr. Netanyahu yesterday, and pledged to work with him on issues including Iran and Middle East peace, the White House said.

"The President said he looked forward to working closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to address issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Arab-Israeli peace," the White House said in a statement.

The statement was issued from London, where Mr. Obama held talks with the leaders of Britain, China and Russia, before today's Group of 20 summit.

Last week, the U. S. President said the imminent confirmation of the hardline Mr. Netanyahu had not made his vow to work for Middle East peace any "easier."

"It is critical for us to advance a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own states with peace and security," he said.

"The status quo is unsustainable."

The Daily Telegraph, with files from Agence France-Presse