'Netanyahu, Abdullah met in Jordan to talk peace' | JPost | Israel News

'Netanyahu, Abdullah met in Jordan to talk peace' | JPost | Israel News: "According to AFP, the two leaders met to discuss the frozen Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The meeting comes in advance of a much anticipated visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories later this month by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.

It will be Obama’s first visit to Israel since taking office in January 2009. It will similarly be Kerry’s first visit to Israel since he replaced Hillary Clinton as secretary of state in January.

It is hoped that Obama’s visit will rekindle the peace process and lead to direct negotiations. Direct talks between the Palestinians and Israelis broke down in December 2008, and with the exception of a few meetings in September 2010, they have not been renewed."

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French President François Hollande will be awarded the United Nations cultural agency's peace prize for his "valuable contribution" to peace and stability in Africa, in particular for the country's military intervention in Mali, the agency announced on Thursday. Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano, who chaired the jury, said Africa caught the attention of the jury due to a number of threats that are affecting the continent. France has played a significant role in recent efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region, and as such the jury decided to award the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize to Hollande. "Having assessed the dangers and the repercussions of the situation on Africa, and on Mali in particular, as well as on the rest of the world, the Jury appreciated the solidarity shown by France to the peoples of Africa," Chissano said, adding that the jury condemned the ongoing conflict in Mali.

France’s Hollande to receive UN peace prize for Mali intervention | WireUpdate | Update to the Minute NewsWire: "The French government decided last month to deploy armed forces in Mali in an effort to prevent rebels from advancing south and reaching the country's capital.

"The Jury condemns the violation of Mali's territorial integrity, the violation of human rights, the taking of hostages and the destruction of the cultural heritage of humanity in Timbuktu," Chissano said. "The Jury therefore decided to award the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize to Mr François Hollande, President of the French Republic, for his great contribution to peace and stability in Africa.""
read more: http://wireupdate.com/frances-hollande-to-receive-un-peace-prize-for-mali-intervention.html
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UN International Day of Peace, Culture of Peace, Ambassador Zara Jane Juan, Sailing for Peace - YouTube

UN International Day of Peace, Culture of Peace, Ambassador Zara Jane Juan, Sailing for Peace - YouTube

From Mideast peace to Iran to Syria, Obama faces familiar world of problems in second term - The Washington Post WASHINGTON — Now that his re-election is secured, President Barack Obama has a freer hand to deal with a world of familiar problems in fresh ways, from toughening America’s approach to Iran and Syria while potentially engaging other repressive countries such as Cuba and North Korea and refocusing on moribund Middle East peace efforts. The first tweaks in his Iran policy could come within weeks, officials said.

From Mideast peace to Iran to Syria, Obama faces familiar world of problems in second term - The Washington Post: "But a pressing task for Obama will be to assign a new team to carry out his national security agenda. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced her plans to retire but could stay a few weeks past January to help the administration as it reshuffles personnel. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is likely to depart shortly after her. CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus is expected to stay on." (click link to read more)

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A Palestinian bid to upgrade its U.N. status to a sovereign country would jeopardize the peace process with Israel and make it difficult to get the two sides to return to talks on a two-state solution, the United States said on Monday. But the diplomatic drive by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received support from Russia and Arab countries at a U.N. Security Council debate on the Middle East situation. Having failed last year to win recognition of full statehood at the United Nations, Abbas said last month he would seek a less-ambitious status upgrade at the world body to make it a "non-member state" like the Vatican. The president of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic, has said the issue will likely be debated in mid-November, after the U.S. elections. Washington argues a Palestinian state can only be created through direct talks.

UPDATE 1-Palestinian status bid jeopardizes peace process, US says | Reuters: "Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil, speaking to the council on behalf of the Arab group of countries, said it fully supported the Palestinians bid.

"We expect the General Assembly to adopt a resolution during its current session to upgrade the status of Palestine to become a 'non-member observer state,' as a first step towards reaching full membership," he said.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said: "We believe that the initiative to gain broad international recognition for Palestinian statehood ... complements efforts to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict with Israel rather than serve as an alternative."

"In no case should they be used by Israel to tighten the screws in the occupied territories or exert any other pressure on the Palestinian authority," he said.

The Palestinians won admission to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in October last year, a move that prompted the United States to cut off funding to the U.N. agency.

A 1990s U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to any U.N. organization that grants full membership to any group that does not have "internationally recognized attributes" of statehood."

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Southern California Muslims gathered in silence at a street corner in Orange County to mourn the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the three other American diplomats killed in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. The silent vigil in Tustin was organized by a young Syrian American, who, along with her friends, wanted to send a message to the perpetrators who stormed the compound in Libya during a protest over a controversial film that insulted Islam’s Prophet Muhammad

"As a Muslim American, me and a couple of friends decided to show that what happened in Libya does not represent us as Muslims," said organizer Lilah Khoja, 21. "Even more important, we should stand by and honor the great Christopher Stevens, who did a lot for the Libyan people." The Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), along with the Libyan American Assn. of Southern California, cosponsored the vigil. Khoja's initiative has led to other planned vigils for Stevens and the three other American diplomats throughout the nation, including in New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago."We are very sorry," said Ayoub Misherghi, 63, a Libyan American who drove from Upland with his wife and daughter. "We wanted to express our sorrow and solidarity with the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Libya."" 'via Blog this'  Area Muslims call for peace, honor ambassador slain in Libya attack - latimes.com: "

Pope Benedict is calling on Lebanon to be a model of peace and religious freedom in the tumultuous Middle East. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church met with Lebanese officials and religious leaders Saturday at the presidential palace in Beirut, where he was met by cheering crowds. The pope said Christians and Muslims in Lebanon have shared the same space for centuries and that families often have members of both religions. He asked, “If this is possible in one single family, why would it be impossible at the level of the society as a whole?”

 "One of the Lebanese leaders at the meeting, Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Qabbani, gave Pope Benedict a letter saying he considers any attack on a Christian an attack on all Muslims. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman also spoke and referred to Syria, which has been gripped by 18 months of fighting between government forces and rebels. Mr. Suleiman said Lebanon would continue to care for Syrian refugees and wished the Syrian people would attain freedom and democracy through dialogue and other peaceful means. Upon arrival in Lebanon Friday, the pope said he has come to the region as a “pilgrim of peace.” The trip comes days after deadly Muslim protests in the region, triggered by a film produced in the United States mocking Islam's leader, the Prophet Muhammad. Pope Benedict says he never considered canceling his trip to Lebanon because of security concerns brought on by violence in the region." 'via Blog this' Pope, Lebanese Leaders Call for Religious Peace « VOA Breaking News: