[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: MK Herzog apparently declined to say one word of
criticism regarding the attitudes and actions of Mahmoud Abbas. Instead he
opted to limit his criticism to joining Abbas in criticism of Israel.

Why no criticism of Abbas? Certainly there are many things that warrant
criticism. For example, it is most certainly unacceptable that Mahmoud
Abbas insists that Palestinians who murder Israelis before a final agreement
cannot be prosecuted.

So why doesn't MK Herzog say anything?

Apparently he believes that Abbas is a savage and thus expects nothing from
him.]

Israel's Herzog calls for 'brave' steps in peace talks

Published yesterday (updated) 02/12/2013 18:32
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=653289

RAMALLAH (AFP) -- Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog said Sunday he
would push the government to take "brave" steps in US-brokered peace
negotiations, after holding talks with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting at the West Bank headquarters of the Western-backed Palestinian
Authority was the first of its kind since Herzog was elected head of the
opposition Labor Party at the end of November.

Israel and the Palestinians returned to the negotiating table in July after
a nearly three-year hiatus, and following an intense diplomatic push by US
Secretary of State John Kerry.

But the negotiations have faltered amid Israeli announcements of new
settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and annexed east
Jerusalem, lands demanded by the Palestinians as part of their future state.

Herzog said his party, which was in power when Israel signed the Oslo
accords with the Palestinians in 1993, is willing to help push the process
forward and would urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to
take bold steps to reach a deal.

"The current negotiations brokered by the United States provide a historic
opportunity for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly
because president Abbas has a real desire to achieve peace," Herzog told a
news conference after the meeting.

"I will carry that message to the prime minister... (and) we will try to put
pressure on the Israeli government to take brave positions to achieve peace
and security for our children," he added.

He said Labor rejects the construction of Jewish settlements "on Palestinian
land" and has voiced opposition to recent plans for the construction of
20,000 settler homes in the West Bank.

Herzog also said he discussed with Abbas the possibility of holding a
meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu, saying face-to-face talks can help
bolster the peace process.

Abbas reiterated his commitment to the full period of talks agreed upon with
Washington, with the negotiations extending to April, said his spokesman
Nabil Abu Rudeina.

PLO negotiators resigned last month in protest at Israeli settlement
construction, but Abbas has so far refused to accept their resignations.