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EU official: Peace talks must include right of return
Ronny Sofer
Published: 10.10.07, 15:53
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1. right of return
israeli ,   israel   (10.10.07)
the EU is free to offer any Arab, refugee or not, Palestinian or not, full right of return in the EU. But wait, they have already done so. EUrabia, stop meddling into other people's affairs! Mind your own business!
2. Right of Return to Abrab Lands
Golan ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (10.10.07)
Does the EU support the right of Return of Jews to Arabs lands? Will the EU facilitate and enforce the return of Jewish property stolen in Arab Lands. Does the EU even know what happened to hundreds of thousands of Jews brutally pushed out of Arab lands? The EU is a weak! This EU spokesperson is a naive twit totally misguided by modern notions of freedom, liberty and equality. Wake up these notions do not apply in the Middle East!! The declaration of the rights of man has yet to find its place in the ME! Help us find an appropriate solution to our Middle Eastern problems. If not find some other cause!!!!!!
3. STOP PEACE-TALKS and everything else will fall in place.
Joseph P. ,   Jerusalem   (10.10.07)
There will never be peace with terrorists anyhow. All these talks are just a waste of time and a means of destroying Israel.
4. right of return
Igor ,   Munich, Germany   (10.10.07)
Even as person who opposes the Israeli foreign policy, I object this idea of the right of return! The Arab countries expelled its Jewish citizens and seized all their property and assets in the late 40´s and after 67. No right of return will be granted, so I assume the Palis refugees will demand compensation, but then Israel should demand compensation from Arab countries for what they did to its Jewish citizen. anyway: NO RIGHT OF RETURN! let history be history. The same happened in Russia & East Germany after the fallling of the communist regime. Previous owners demanded their land back, which the communists confiscated after the seizing power! no way!
5. Israel has gotten so easy to push around
Marcel ,   Florida   (10.10.07)
ALL The nations know not to pressure the Islamic world ,so a weak nation with no red lines is easiest to dictate to. The terms of the second holocaust unconditional surrender are made more clear every day. Just wiat till Bush's FAKE PEACE conference in November. A weak Livni and corrupt Olmert wil sell the nation out from under it's foundation to please their god George.
6. Right of "RETURN"
Robby ,   San Jose, USA   (10.10.07)
As long as the words are taken literally - anyone who actually lived there should be able to "return". You can not return to a place you have never been, just I can not have the Right of Return to my Grandfathers land in Russia.
7. EU & right of return
Lazerbenabba ,   London   (10.10.07)
Is it any wonder that the EU has very little relevance on the world political stage, when a representative adopts a position totally at variance with the practical situation and without regard to Real Politik that now exists. Ms Hohman will not have the respect nor trust of the Israeli representatives when such a one sided, partisan stance is adopted. Perhaps the EU should also insist on the right of return of the lives and property of those dispossessed Jews from its current new member states; I think not.
8. To Israel or to West Bank?-she didn't say!
Alan ,   SA   (10.10.07)
If she means to Israel then its another story . Does EU expect Israel to to allow return of 4-6 Million "refugees". If that is the case , then why waste time with "Conferences."
9. what to include in rice concoted conference
chaim ,   miami beach usa   (10.10.07)
would any sane person go to a poker table with a stacked deck against him, if Israel in all its wisdom attends such event deserves what they get but why should world Judaism be forced to suffer the antics of selfish fools. yes Israeli's claim then why dont you move here well guess what if not for the American Jews Israel as a country will have long ago been just a distance memory
10. this hohmann's opinion is only that: her opinion
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (10.10.07)
sure the so-called 'right of return' should be discussed, but not for the purpose of implementation as the palestinians demand. it should be discussed as a means to give some token lip service to it in order to ceremonially fulfill it (meaning let a few old-timers go back to the west bank/gaza) and finally do away with it forever. the EU can huff and puff all day long but they are about as relevant as they are helpful.
11.  The EU, Brussels think tank always worked against Israel!!
Roy c. Hudson ,   Pittsburg USA   (10.10.07)
Behind the scene, They have given the PLO Billions of Euros to keep the Gas & Oil flowing, instead of working to take out the PLO. letting the PLO try to take out the Jews for them. They have two sets of books going to try to save the Culture of Moslam happy in their streets.!! they will learn the Hard way, it can't be done. The Koran will not let them stop for love or Money. Jesus has to go. Mary can stay under Many names. but not with the Jews, My Preiident said; it's not a Religious thing. Democracy is the word he has pushed, That means you can pick your leaders & your friends, !! Jesus Means you change your Life, culture & heart or there will be on Peace. The right of return in the next phase if set in, will out number the Jews like the Mexicans will do in the USA in a few years. That is what the GW game has been in his time. Hey, we the people are not stupid, we that know are out numbered now. It;s OK..! God will save the Jews . Zechariah:12;1-9 Roy C, USA
12. How about the rights of Sephardi Jews??
Ezra ,   Israel   (10.10.07)
Should we also not be discussing at Anapolis the right of compensation for all the property stolen from Jews of Arab lands? Who will represent our rights? Why is the world silent about the big eviction of Jews from Arab lands and theft of our property? It is time our politicians did something right and insist on a gigantic restitution of Jewish assets stolen by the Arab nations like Egypt, and others who will be in attendance at the conference.
13. They left in the hopes of destorying Israel!
(10.10.07)
No right of return at all!
14. No. 12 Ezra
NYC Girl   (10.10.07)
Your comment is right on target. It's time to discuss compensation for all of those Jews who were forced to flee their homes in Arab countries beginning around the time of the Balfour Declaration. In fact, one of the greatest failings of virtually every Israeli government has been to not make the issue of compensation to these nearly one million refugees a priority.
15. Hohmann, read this!
Jason, Ph.D. ,   USA   (10.10.07)
Any insistence in allowing Arab refugees to return to Israel will simply doom the talks, and there will be no agreement and no Palestinian state. Period.
16. High minded, Magnanimous EU...
marya ,   sacramento, USA   (10.10.07)
"Christiane Hohmann said the EU supports the Arab initiative in full, including all of its clauses. " And that includes cajoling Israel to commit to short term or long term suicide. We don't need a translator to understand what the "Arab initiatives" are.
17. NO PROBLEM: LET'S TALK ABOUT ABOUT JEWS FROM ARAB COUNTRIES
Gideon   (10.10.07)
The total amount of due compensation to Sephardi/Mizrahi Jews that were chased away from Arab countries outweighs by far (several times) the due compensation to Palestinian refugees.
18. Don't forget about ASHKENAZI right of return
Malcolm   (10.10.07)
All the Jewish land and homes lost throughout Europe and Russia after WW II should go back to their rightful owners.
19. Annapolis will be used to gang up on Israel
Barron ,   Israel   (10.10.07)
Nobody bothers to demand that the Palithugs fulfil even one commitment from any agreement from Oslo onward.
20. Simple solution: make our own demands
Ilan ,   Ariel   (10.10.07)
Israel should stress going into the conference that it rules out dismantling communities in Yesha. That'll be enough for Abbas to stay home.
21. right of return
Invicta ,   Europa   (10.10.07)
A couple of years ago I was chatting to a colleague of mine (who is a good few years older than me) and she told me that her family had been expelled from Iraq. I don't remember the dates but it before she was born. (She is 65) She expressed the same sentiments - though a bit more refined - as expressed on this TB. I had to admit to her that i wasn't aware of these expulsions. And I agreed with her that more notice should be taken of them As a resident of the EU I am absolutely certain that the EU is not involved in some anti Israel plot. I have mentioned many times that the EU supports Israel financially and culturally. (last month I was freelancing for the Israeli TV that was working at Wembley at the EUROPEAN Championship.) Europe is now the biggest and wealthiest economic block in the World. Of the G8 five of the countries are European. Europe is not about to 'give in' to Muslims, Christians, Buddhist or whatever. Europe is a secular society and wishes to remain so.
22. Who Cares about this "Conference?"
Howard ,   Chicago USA   (10.10.07)
I still don't see why israel should have any motivation to attend this conference. How about Israel make the demand that it stop being treated as a pariah state and that full recognition and peace with the arab states be a prerequisite for any talks about so called palestine? Wake up Israel! It's time to stop being such a suck up for everybody's rights but your own.
23. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE IT?
ROLAND SEENER ,   LONDON ENGLAND   (10.10.07)
THE EU SPEAKS FOREMOST TO SECURE BENEFITS FOR ITSELF WORLD..ALTRUISM DOES NOT EXIST WITH TAX-PAYERS MONEY.IT IS POSSITIVE RESULTS THAT HAVE TO BE ACHIEVED,WHETHER IT IS THROUUGH BACK-HANDERS,OR CORRUPT ARMS CONTRACTS...,ISRAEL SHOULD USE ITS SERVICES TO DEFINE BORDERS BETWEEN FLEMINGS AND WALLOONS IN BELGIUM AND THE BASQUES WHO HAVE CONSTANTLY SOUGHT INDEPENDANCE FROM SPAIN.IT WAS A GOLDEN OPORTUNITY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRELAND,BUT ISRAEL WAS TOO SLOW TO CATCH A COLD.SITTING ON THE SIDE LINES IS NOT A POLICY THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED ANY LONGER,AND IT IS MORE DESIRABLE THAT ISRAEL BE MORE ACTIVE IN WORLD AFFAIRS .BUT HOW WOULD THE EU ESPECIALLY, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD BODY TAKE IT?
24. Invicta (21), Europe has already given in to Islam.
sk ,   USA   (10.10.07)
Just visit a online bookseller, and and you'll find books by Ye'or, Bawer, Phillips, and more.
25. Israel can simply decline "Quartet" involvement.
sk ,   USA   (10.10.07)
The EU, Russia, and the UN are anti-Israel and largely anti-Semitic. If Israel had any balls, it would simply avoid diplomatic initiatives that involved these players. If it did, it would also lessen pressure on the US, though the US would appear displeased.
26. Same right of return Europe gave Jews of Auschwitz
Yosef ,   NY,NY   (10.10.07)
27. Israel and the EU
M.Ernst ,   USA   (10.10.07)
The EU proposal in a nutshel: Israel must agree to its dissolution as a Jewish state as a precondition to "negotiations." Israel now stands alone. It must now entirely disengage itself from its enemy--the EU, after having told them to drop dead.
28. Hohmann and EU can discuss how they will pay for refugees
Sam ,   Canada   (10.10.07)
Hohmann and the EU can discuss how they will pay for Palestinian refugees to resettle outside Israel. What happens inside Israel is none of their business.
29. #24
Invicta ,   Europa   (10.10.07)
Oh Dear. You know the situation by looking on an on-line book store. whatever. If you don't like the EU Israel don't play football with us. Or use the UE as your biggest trading partner.
30. EU OLMERT AND TREASON
M.Ernst ,   USA   (10.10.07)
For Olmert to even agree to discuss the so-called "right" of return should be considered an act of treason against the State of Israel, and the so-called PM of Israel should then suffer the consequences of treasonous act.
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