What citizens of other countries are reading about the Middle East
By COMPILEDTHE MEDIA LINEFC Barcelona trip to the Middle East370(photo credit: Reuters)Will Israel Boycott Europe? Al Jazeera, Doha, August 6 The decision that the European Union took to boycott the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the areas Israel captured in 1967 is concerning Israel. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon responded by announcing that Israel will not cooperate with EU representatives in the areas known [per the 1993 Oslo Accords] as Area C in the West Bank, where Israel has administrative and security control. Although this Israeli announcement was not translated into action yet, this decision has great dangers vis-à-vis the Palestinians – especially considering that Israel preceded the declaration with actual steps on the ground. Palestinian activists say Israel blocked European-funded projects long ago. The EU’s decision is not related to products made by Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as they are already considered illegal, but aims to halt any joint cooperation or grants to institutions that will benefit settlements. Whether Israel boycotts the EU or not, it loses either way, in the opinion of Palestinian parliament member Mustafa Barghouti.Peace and asking for the impossible Al-Hayat, London, August 5 US Secretary of State John Kerry wants Palestinians and Israelis to start a new negotiating process discussing final status issues within nine months’ time, wrote Jihan al-Khazen, a prominent Arabic writer, in an editorial: As an Arabic citizen, I say Palestine extends from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. But I accept a Palestinian state on only 22 percent of the land of Palestine, in order to stop the violence and destruction.The future state should be free of any Israeli settlements or soldiers, and east Jerusalem should be its capital. I refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. I have known Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for decades, and I have great confidence that he will not sign any agreement that is not based on a state within the pre-1967 borders.Israel has a right-wing extremist government led by neo- Nazis, and their daily statements make one believe that an agreement is one of the world’s great impossibilities.Despite the good intentions of US President Barack Obama and his aides, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. In every confrontation between Obama and Israel, the fascist government has insisted on its position.Maybe Obama knows that peace talks will fail, and plans to use this failure after the midterm elections when all restraints on the president are gone.Barcelona in Israel... FOULAl-Akhbar, Beirut, August 5 Between the Church of the Nativity and the Western Wall, many pictures were published of the visit of the Barcelona soccer team players in what was known as “a peace tour” last week. Photos of the Barca stars in Bethlehem’s Nativity Church may seem standard, but there is no doubt the photos at the Western Wall trigger the audience. Why wouldn’t they, when the intense emotions were obvious on the face of Lionel Messi and his comrades while they were standing against the Wall and wearing their kippot? What Barcelona did is unfortunate, as it is a mistake. Do the Barca players know that Arab players who play with the Israeli team refuse to sing the Israeli national anthem of “Hatikva”? Did these stars hear of a fellow player named Mahmoud Sarsak, who was detained by the Israeli authorities and lost his career? Before they went to Tel Aviv to train the Israeli children, did they know how Israeli missiles killed the child Hamid Younis Abu Daqa, who died in a Gaza playground wearing a Real Madrid shirt and playing football? Did they know that the Israeli army arrested a five-year-old child for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers? FIVE Reasons for Peace Talks Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, August 5 High-level Palestinians explained to that there are five reasons that led Abbas to accept a return to negotiations with Israel, without the pre-1967 borders a s a basis and without a commitment to halt sett lement building. The source referred to the weakness o f the Arab position as the main reason.Abbas saw that this weakness, as the Arabs told him that the decision to resume the negotiations is solely up to the Palestinians leading Abbas, and the feeling he was le f t alone in the face of the US pressure, according to the source. The second reason was that Abbas is absolutely convinced that Israel will not halt settlement activity in order to resume negotiations.Thirdly, A bbas is unable to handle the costs and consequen c es of saying “No” to Washington. The fourth reason is that Palestinians can’t bear the cost of a new uprising against the Israeli occupation. Finally, the internal Palestinian split and the absence of unity between the West Bank and Gaza was the fifth reason for Abbas’s return to peace talks.Jordanians opt for sweets instead of clothes in id AL-FITRAl-Arabiya, Dubai, August 4 The difficult economic situation in Jordan has led many citizens to prioritize their needs for celebrating Id al-Fi t r. Making sweets and buying new clothes is one of t he traditional aspects of the holy feast that marks the end of Ramadan. “Al-Fitr” literally means to break the fast; devoted Muslims all over the world fasted from eating from sunrise to sunset. While this time of t he year is usually considered a high season for merchants, clothes shop owners say that business has cons i derably declined over the past few weeks.However, sweet shop vendors seemed to be less worried. The demand for mamoul (traditional datestuffed cookies served during Id) remained very high.While families can cut down on clothes, sweets and coffee are of an important necessity, “We must serve coffee and sweets for people who come to greet us on the Id. It’s not a negotiable topic,” one shopper at the popular market in Amman said.
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