Of the 580 checkpoint and roadblocks that dot the West Bank and Gaza, Israel has agreed to remove fifty. Thirty roadblocks have appeared since last year's Annapolis peace summit. The removals coincide with a visit to the West Bank by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Israelis have also agreed to postpone the opening a controversial police headquarters in the West Bank town of Jenin.
The toD verdict: The David Citadel Hotel stands in Jerusalem's Old City. Inside, a large room is reserved for a trilateral meeting between secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. A breakthrough, promised by Rice to end the six-year Palestinian Israeli deadlock is overshadowed by Israeli bulldozers ploughing away at the al-Aqsa Mosque next to the hotel. This was in February 2007 and the promising Mecca Agreements outlined by Riyadh came to a dusty end among the "archeological" ruins of one Islam's holiest sites. In its place, the Annapolis agreement promised real change but while the removal of 50 roadblocks may help, the real issue of expanding settlements and an independent Palestinian state remains in ruins.
In the West Bank, Palestinians are facing increasing encroachment as the total number of settlers rises. A recent report released by Peace Now Settlement Watch says construction is still underway despite the settlement "freeze" agreed upon in Annapolis. At least 220 new buildings were constructed in 37 settlements. Prior to Annapolis, construction was under way in 88 out of the 150 authorised settlements along with permanent structures in 34 unauthorised settlements. A massive settlement project is also in progress near Ma-ale Adumim and will upon its completion sever the Palestinian territory between East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
In 2000 it was the Mitchell Report, in 2001 the Tenet Plan and the General Zinni recommendations, in 2002 the Road Map and finally in 2005 the Sharm al-Sheikh understandings. In each case, Israel came out on top. In each case, the Palestinians compromised. The removal of only fifty roadblocks seems a cosmetic measure. Parallel talks in Damascus and renewed interest in the 2002 Arab initiative indicate a broadening disintegration of faith in the Annapolis peace agreement.
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In a move contrary to US policy of military engagements against militants in and around tribal border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, officials from the Awami National Party (ANP) are negotiating with local Taliban along the Durand Line in the North-Western Frontier Province (NWFP). Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, has apparently welcomed the discussion and praised ANP's leadership for its most recent election win. ANP is a secular, Pashtun nationalist party that came under deadly attack preceding their electoral triumphs in February. Reports indicate that NWFP's provincial government will also hold talks with local Pakistani Taliban.
Sadr makes truce offer
Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has recalled his foot soldiers after a week of tense fighting against coalition and Iraqi security forces in the southern town of Basra. Basra controls Iraq's only sea port and 80% of the country's oil revenues. Al-Sadr issued the following statement, "Because of the religious responsibility and to stop Iraqi blood being shed ... we call for an end to armed appearances in Basra and all other provinces. Anyone carrying a weapon and targeting government institutions will not be one of us." The Iraqi government welcomed the statement despite continuing clashes in Baghdad. Basra residences are blaming the latest violence on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for provoking the militants. As part of the latest ceasefire, Sadr is demanding a prisoner amnesty and an end to the roundups of his supporters.
Global arms shipments fell in 2007
According to a report issued by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the trade in global arms dropped by eight percent in 2007. However, SIPRI says the trade percentage does not include small-arms sales which has steadily increased for the past six years. China was the largest importer of weapons between 2003 and 2007, followed by India, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and South Korea.
CIA says al-Qaida training ‘western' terrorists
CIA Director Michael Haydon warned that al-Qaida is training "western-looking" operatives with intent to infiltrate US borders. In an interview with NBC's television show Meet the Press, Haydon says al-Qaida's has established a safe haven in the remote tribal areas along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.
Fewer food rations spark global tensions
Vietnam and India, both major rice producers, announced on Friday they intend to cut exports. The announcement increased rice on US futures markets. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says dairy prices rose by 80 percent and grain by 42 percent in 2007. Since then, the UN reports a 35% increase of global food prices. Wheat stocks have dwindled to a 30-year low. As a response, some governments, like Vietnam and India, are limiting grain exports. It is feared farmers may produce less as a result and inadvertently trigger a food ration crisis.