Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Israeli PM heads to Europe for talks on Mideast peace  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Israeli PM heads to Europe for talks on Mideast peace
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - Tuesday, August 25
JERUSALEM (AFP) - - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Europe on Monday facing international pressure over his settlement policies which are blocking efforts to revive Middle East peace talks.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
  
The hawkish Netanyahu will also discuss with his British and German hosts the campaign against archfoe Iran's nuclear drive, with the United States threatening new sanctions if Tehran fails to return to the negotiating table.
Netanyahu kicks off his trip in London where he will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell, before heading to Berlin on Wednesday for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He said on Sunday he hoped negotiations with the Palestinians, which have been on ice since the Gaza war at the turn of the year, can resume next month after the UN General Assembly.
"There is an assessment that we can (resume talks) by the end of September, depending on understandings between us, the Americans and the Palestinians," he said at a cabinet meeting, according to a senior official.
Mitchell has held intensive talks with Israeli officials in recent months amid a rare public row between the two staunch allies over Washington's demand that Israel halt all settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land.
Britain and Germany are among a chorus of states to back the US demand, seen as key for reviving the peace talks which were halted last December when Israel launched a deadly offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu agreed last week to stop issuing construction tenders in the occupied West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem until the beginning of 2010, in a move critics said fell short of the US call for a total freeze.
The issue of Israeli settlements, which the international community consider illegal, is one of the main obstacles in the peace process and the Palestinians have said they would not resume talks without a freeze.
Netanyahu's outspoken Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has described Obama's vision for regional peace as "unrealistic."
"Bringing President Obama's dream to fruition in two years, including an overall agreement and a (Palestinian) state, is an unrealistic goal," Lieberman said on Sunday.
The ultra-nationalist, who is known for his anti-Arab stance, said he did not see a peace agreement based on a two-state solution "even in another 16 years."
Mitchell, in a series of regional missions, has been urging Arab states to also make gestures towards Israel as a way of advancing efforts to forge a comprehensive peace deal.
King Abdullah II of Jordan -- which along with Egypt is the only Arab state to have a peace treaty with Israel -- held telephone talks with Netanyahu on Sunday and is due to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet his counterpart King Abdullah.
"King Abdullah stressed the need to intensify efforts to create circumstances conducive to launching serious and effective negotiations to solve the conflict and achieve peace as quickly as possible," Jordan's official news agency Petra reported.
Netanyahu's talks with the European leaders are also set to focus on efforts to halt Iran's sensitive nuclear work, which Israel and the West believe is aimed at developing an atomic bomb, a claim Tehran denies.
"Israel believes that the efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from going nuclear must be stepped up," said Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev.
Israel, considered the region's sole if undeclared nuclear armed state, refuses to rule out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities and has carried out a number of military exercises seen as a signal of its intentions.
Although Washington continues to seek a negotiated resolution of the nuclear standoff, the White House this month threatened tough new sanctions on the Islamic republic if it misses a September deadline for resuming talks.
Germany is also said to play a key role in Egyptian-led efforts to broker a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, which has held an Israeli soldier captive for more than three years.
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
     
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
 
Related Articles: World
In the red, US school districts cut yellow busesAP - Tuesday, August 25
Je t'aime: French text msgs now divorce evidenceAP - Tuesday, August 25
Reality show contestant found dead in Canada motelAP - 2 hours 16 minutes ago
Malawi child tobacco workers exposed to nicotineAP - Tuesday, August 25
Michael Jackson's mother praises Vienna tributeAP - Tuesday, August 25
 
 
 
 
 
 Enlarge Photo
 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on August 23. Netanyahu heads to Europe facing international pressure over his settlement policies which are blocking efforts to revive Middle East peace talks.
 
 
 
Most Popular – World
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Homes of former Porsche executives searched: report
 
 
Triple gold for Bolt as Kenya trump Ethiopia
 
 
Swiss size up hole in iconic banking secrecy
 
 
Ramadan begins on Saturday amid swine flu worries
 
 
Egypt warns pharaohs' tombs could disappear
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
   
 
Other News on Monday, 24 August 2009 Iraqi suspect: It cost $10,000 to pass checkpoints  
Hundreds evacuated as fire threatens Athens suburbs  
Five killed in light aircraft crash near French Riviera  
Iraq broadcasts truck bomber video confession  
Settlements seen clouding Netanyahu's Europe trip  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber
| International
|  
Eight dead in Ukraine mine blast: reports
| International
|  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber  
'Hezbollah' accused allege torture in Egypt jail  
Russia sees no threat to deals in new Mongolia leader
| International
|  
Iraq halts removal of Baghdad security barriers  
Iraq intelligence chief retired before major blasts  
Egypt tries 26 men seen with Hezbollah links  
England win fifth Test, regain Ashes  
No US puppet, recent Karzai decisions anger US  
Even in death, Kim Dae-jung unites Koreas  
Suicide bomb in Pakistani city of Peshawar kills 3  
As Calif. prison spending rises, so do concerns  
Plugging Australian oil leak could take weeks  
Obama facing hard choices on Afghanistan war plans  
Koreas hold talks amid funeral for Kim Dae-jung  
Scotland defends Lockerbie bomber release  
Israel PM hopes to resume peace talks in September  
Ponting steadies Australia in Ashes decider  
Attackers kill 2 soldiers in southern Thailand  
US military: American soldier killed in Iraq  
NASA clears shuttle for launch, weather improving  
Tarantino, Pitt put 'Basterds' on top with $37.6M  
AP Analysis: Martinez departure part of GOP schism  
US military leader concerned by Baghdad bombings  
Senator: Single health care bill a better approach  
Tarantino's Nazi movie slays at box office
| Entertainment
|  
Burglary reported at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home
| Entertainment
|  
Sinopec profit surges on higher retail prices  
Police probe burglary report at Lohan's LA home  
Attack on Obama riles Beck's advertisers  
Tarantino's Nazi movie slays at box office  
Tarantino, Pitt's 'Basterds' earns glorious $37.6M  
Italian village looks for its mystery lottery winner  
US brass plea for more toops in Afghanistan: report  
U.S. presses sanctions to end N.Korea atomic plans
| International
|  
Germany presses for news this week on Opel's fate  
Mass rigging in Afghan vote says leading contender  
Al-Qaeda 'very capable' of more attacks: US military chief  
Malaysia state says woman to be caned after Ramadan
| International
|  
China trials over Xinjiang riot likely this week
| International
|  
Israel presses Sweden to condemn 'anti-Semitic' report  
Singapore shoots down rumor of APEC attack plot
| International
|  
Fit-looking Fidel Castro appears on Cuban TV
| International
|  
Ahmadinejad rivals rise within conservative camp  
EU to draft new immigration policy by October
| International
|  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber
| International
|  
AP NewsAlert  
China legal activist freed, but may face tax case  
Malaysia woman spared caning for drinking beer  
Nepal's vice president ordered to retake oath  
Aussie pundits back Ponting to stay as skipper  
Steel beam slated to return Monday to ground zero  
Japan opposition party in lead: survey  
Teen trippin' on ADHD drugs can be a real downer  
Afghan vote fraud allegations mount  
Ponting vows to carry on after Ashes reverse  
Discovery gets the all-clear for Tuesday launch  
Sheriff: NC senator shoots intruder at his home  
Scotland defends Lockerbie bomber release  
Outed blogger who flamed model angry at Google  
Plane, 3 cars collide after SoCal freeway landing  
Weakened Hurricane Bill heads toward Canada  
Golf course groundskeeper finds mammoth tooth  
Police probe burglary at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home  
Seoul shares hit 13-mth high; Samsung Elec rallies  
Taiwan dollar firms on Bernanke, exporters  
S.Korean bonds slide on shares, auctions  
Venezuelan wins sixth Miss Universe crown
| Entertainment
|  
Seoul shares open up; Samsung Elec sets record  
Robin Williams accidental star of new indie comedy
| Entertainment
|  
China's Sinopec 1st-half net profit up more than fourfold  
Suspect in U.S. model murder found dead in Canada
| Entertainment
|  
Venezuela repeats at Miss Universe contest  
Suspect wanted in model killing found dead in Canada  
Venezuelan wins sixth Miss Universe crown  
Lockerbie bomber plans tell-all book: report  
Montag sings at Miss Universe, dismisses critics  
Police say fugitive reality TV star found dead  
Award-winning keyboardist Knechtel dead at 69  
Robin Williams accidental star of new indie comedy  
Police probe burglary at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home  
Contestants eye Miss Universe crown in the Bahamas  
Afghanistan awaits first election results  
U.N. urges calm in wait for Afghan poll result
| International
|  
Dam disaster shows Russia 'very far behind': Medvedev  
US-TECH Summary  
World stocks power higher on brighter outlook  
Eight dead in Ukraine coal mine blast: officials  
Britain's recession 'at an end': industry survey  
Shiite groups announce new alliance minus Iraqi PM  
Fires near Athens recede after 3-day inferno
| International
|  
Israeli PM heads to Europe for talks on Mideast peace  
Dam tragedy shows Russia lags behind: president  
Al-Qaeda 'very capable' of more attacks: US military  
Big Pharma races to get swine flu vaccines to market  
Israel PM expects no breakthroughs in London talks
| International
|  
Iran tells world states to stop countering nuke drive  
Sudan mulls immunity for aid workers' kidnappers
| International
|  
Iran says cooperating with IAEA, West skeptical
| International
|  
Ukraine leader hits back at Russia on anniversary
| International
|  
Pakistanis rally to support war-affected populations
| International
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Rebels blow up train track, mobile tower in India  
200 to face trial in China for Xinjiang unrest  
In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses  
Asian markets soar on renewed recovery hopes  
Nokia to enter PC industry with first netbook
| Technology
|  
Obama spokesman announces interrogation unit  
SKorea seeks jail for disgraced cloning scientist  
Facebook to boost staff by 50% in 2009: report
| Technology
|  
Officials say North Korea must scrap nukes  
SC judge to punish men in $9.8M armored car heist  
Aussie cricket selectors erred 'but not to blame'  
Hundreds to remain entombed in Taiwan village  
Taiwan Red Cross pledges 1,600 homes for typhoon victims  
Hurricane Bill peters out as it rolls over Newfoundland  
The Nation's Weather  
S.Korea prosecutors seek jail for clone expert  
Lead poisoning haunts Chinese smelter communities  
Analysis: Health overhaul tactics need overhaul  
Opening statements to begin in gang rape trial  
Social Security cost of living increases since '75  
3 Calif. fires contained after burning for weeks  
ADB to lend $500m stimulus to Philippines  
ADB approves $500M stimulus loan for Philippines  
Hong Kong tycoon makes Birmingham buyout bid  
Toyota to conduct biggest recall yet in China  
Taiwan's jobless rate hits record high  
Taiwan jobless rate hits record high  
Minister says Air India needs bailout: report  
China Mobile to develop smartphones with Taiwan  
Indonesia police dismiss Obama plot report  
Seoul shares end at 13-mth high, Samsung at record =2  
Qatar's Tribeca looks to create regional film hub
| Entertainment
|  
Goldthwait brands Williams `World's Greatest Dad'  
Spokeswoman: Lindsay Lohan's LA home broken into  
Malaysian Islamic party urges Ramadan ban on concert  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Suspect in U.S. model murder found dead in Canada  
African fashion has the look; not what you expect  
Ex-Soviet missile base offers a glimpse of Cold War  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights