Bahrain given till June 3 for the final Grand Prix decision (AFP)

PARIS (AFP)-motor racing in the dom body FIA said Tuesday that it would give the organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix until June 3 to show they could stage the event.

"Federation Internationale de l?Automobile (FIA) has granted Bahrain motor Federation and Bahrain International Circuit extension until June 3rd, the date of the FIA World motor Sport Council in Barcelona, "body revealed.

FIA added that "this decision was taken after consultation with the relevant authorities in Bahrain and formula one management, international promoter."

Bahrain, own Federation had chosen not to stage the inaugural event of the season at 13. March at the Sakhir circuit due to political unrest in the Arab State after extensive anti-Government protests.

At the beginning of March, the FIA urged the authorities in Bahrain say of May 1, if they would be able to stage the race this season.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestones, who had the section object to the idea of race will be held in November, had earlier proposed to give Bahrainis a little more time.

The Kingdom is controlled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, but has a Shiite majority and weeks of unrest have seen hundreds of arrests.

Government plans to run four Shiites for alleged murder of two policemen during anti-Government protests in March has also fuelled fears of increased tensions in the Gulf State.

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Close attention to Obama last words about Israel (AP)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama tries to allay some of America's largest supporters of Israel after he joined the Jewish nation 1967 borders as the basis for a Palestinian State and clashed with isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a speech Sunday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Obama was not expected to sketch out another significant U.S. policy shift but probably will focus on the deep U.S.-isrælske alliance.

But almost everyone in the room wanted to see how the Chairman addresses his remarks from Thursday, when he said that a future Palestine should be designed around the border lines that existed before Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and in East Jerusalem, with land swaps to take account of isrælske settlements and other changing conditions.

Obama endorsement moved U.S. position from noting the Palestinian goal of a country based on these terms and leaves the result to be settled through negotiation. By eliminating the hue, he stated, mainly what almost every Observer assumed would be the border lines of a two-State solution with mutually agreed adjustments.

Still, the change prompted bitter criticism from Netanyahu. And in a blunt display of differences between the two leaders disagree openly after a Friday meeting at the White House. Netanyahu called the 1967 demarcation "indefensible" and issued a flat rejection of the idea.

"It will not happen," he said. "Everyone knows that it will not happen."

Netanyahu, who will address the calm lobby Congress on Monday and Tuesday played down the rift.

"The differences have been blown out of proportion," he told The Associated Press on Saturday. "It is true we have some differences, but these are among friends".

Obama was to depart later Sunday for a weeklong European tour seeking tendency to old friends in the Western alliance and ensure their help with the political upheavals throughout the Arab world and the ten-year long conflict in Afghanistan.

Obama will visit Ireland, England, France and Poland.

The trip comes in the midst of the ongoing NATO-led bombing campaign in Libya and a seemingly intractable conflict between Moammar Gadhafi's forces and Libyan rebels. The negotiations will also include economic concerns, as European countries makes sharp cuts in public spending and Obama and Congressional Republicans try to hash out how to cut spending to bring U.S. debt under control.

___

Associated Press Writer Amy Teibel contributed to this report.

 

Palestinians seek Arab consultation on Obama speech (Reuters)

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters)-Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the Arab League Saturday to call for a discussion of President Barack Obama's vision of peace with Israel, a Palestinian official said.

The meeting will probably take place monthly at the end, said the official. Abbas has previously consulted with the Arab League on when designing Palestinian strategy vis-à-vis Israel, with which negotiations have been stalled since last year.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta)

 

Netanyahu to lobby the UK, France over Palestinian State (AFP)

JERUSALEM (AFP) – Isræls Benjamin Netanyahu visits the United Kingdom and France this week, he will point to a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal as part of its fight to stave off UN recognition of a Palestinian State.

Hours before arriving in the United Kingdom, Netanyahu urged Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas "totally cancel the" the agreement, which seeks to end years of bad blood between the secular Fatah movement and its Islamist Hamas rivals.

Agreement signed on Tuesday, will see the two fractions work together to build a transitional Government of independent candidates, while the issue of peace talks in the hands of the Palestine Liberation Organization, led by Abbas.

But Netanyahu will tell its French and British colleagues that Israel cannot negotiate with the agreement in place, pointing in particular at Hamass unreservedly the condemnation of the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US forces on Sunday.

"The agreement between Abu Mazen (Abbas) and Hamas deals a harsh blow for the peace process," said Netanyahu shortly before leaving.

"How can we make peace with the Government, when half of it calls for the destruction of Israel and glorify murderous Osama bin Laden?"

Hamas's reference to bin Laden as "a Holy warrior" on Tuesday triggered a sharp response from London, as well as from the US State Department, which described the Islamists answers as "scandalous."

But in Israel, comments--described by one paper as "inconceivable stupidity" of Hamas--were seen as entirely to play Netanyahu's hands.

"Response of Hamas, who condemned bin Laden? s assassination, Israel forces were only? s position and sends responsibility rolling against Abu Mazen, "a political official told the newspaper, Israel Hayom.

Even as Netanyahu looks set to face a skeptical audience in London and Paris, with President Nicolas Sarkozy gives the clearest indication yet that France recognise an independent Palestinian State if peace talks do not resume soon.

"If the peace process are still died in September, France will live up to its responsibilities on the key issue of recognition of a Palestinian State," he said in an interview with L'Express magazine.

Analysts expect British Prime minister David Cameron, whom Netanyahu meet Wednesday, and Sarkozy, whom he meets on Thursday to listen politely, but reserve the right to immediate assessment.

"There is so much happening in the Middle East truly dramatic Import, the endless dance of isrælerne and the Palestinians are struggling a bit to get the attention it deserves a time perhaps," said Jonathan Spyer, a political analyst at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

Netanyahu has said he will outline a new political initiative, when he addresses a joint meeting of the US Congress in may, but so far he has kept his cards close to his chest.

In the meantime, he tries to fend off European support for a Palestinian bid to win UN recognition for a State within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital in a Move expected to take place in September's annual general meeting.

Israel and the United States against such a step to say a Palestinian State can only be achieved through negotiation.

But the United Kingdom and France see things differently, with their UN envoys indicates last month they can back the Palestinian campaign as a way to resume the peace process.

Spyer sees no breakthrough for Netanyahu on this trip, but he believes that this drawing the attention of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority's new relationship with Hamas--which is blacklisted by the European Union as a terrorist organisation--will carry some weight.

"Israel will have a case to say:" as long as these guys are on board what you expect us to do? " That the matter will be challenged, but the case is makeable, ' he says.

But the Jerusalem Post suggested that many Europeans would see unity deal between the rival Palestinian movements as a sign of weakening its position by Hamas.

"Months votes proclaimed ... Hamas can be brought into the pirates by political tent "diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the weekend.

"Rather than postponing, like most isrælerne were aware that the Palestinian Authority is on the verge to integrate in its coalition Government an organisation, which calls for Isræls destruction, for many people in Europe want to see this move as an indication, Hamas has been pragmatic and more ' moderate ' as a result of the apparent loss of his patron in Syria."

 

Turkey's Gul: Hamas must recognise the Isræls right to exist (Reuters)

ISTANBUL (Reuters)-Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has urged the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas to recognise Israel's right to exist, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

In an interview a day after the United States's President Barack Obama gave a speech on the Middle East, yellow also hailed Obama's reference to the creation of a Palestinian State based on the Isræls the pre-1967 borders as "a very important step."

Turkey has considered Hamas as a key factor in the Middle East peace process, when it won the Palestinian elections in 2006.

Yellow said President Obama "has a point" when he said in his speech that Israel could not be expected to negotiate with a body that does not recognize Israel's right to exist.

Asked if he was willing to press Hamas on this issue, Gul said, "I have already advised them."

In a meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Ray in Ankara in 2006 Yellow said he told Ray, "you must be a rational" about recognise Israel's right to exist.

Gul said he believed Hamas was prepared to recognise Israel in pre-1967 borders, but want to happen at the same time with Isræls recognition of a Palestinian State.

Ankara's ties with former close ally Israel broke over its military operation in the Gaza Strip in 2008 and hostility was fueled by a isrælsk commando raid on the aid flotilla, which killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists in May last year.

Turkey has demanded that Israel end its blockade of the Gaza Strip and its aggressive stance on the Palestinian issue has created tensions between Ankara and Washington.

The paper said Obama speech was interpreted by Turkish officials as a significant if nuanced change.

Yellow also welcome Obama promise on debt relief and aid to Egypt and Tunisia as they struggle in the wake of popular revolutions. But he said much larger scale "Marshall Plan" for the Middle East was necessary.

Such a fund should be run by the World Bank and drawing on contributions from countries in the region, as well as from traditional donors in the West, say yellow.

(Writing by Daren Butler)

 

Isrælske reprimand of Obama Viewer gap in the Middle East (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly told President Barack Obama Friday his vision for how to achieve Middle East peace was unrealistic, exposing a deep rift could doom any U.S. bid to revive peace talks.

In an unusually strong rebuke to Isræls closest allies insisted Netanyahu Israel would never pull back to the 1967 borders--which would mean major concessions occupied land--that Obama had said should serve as a basis for negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian State.

"Peace based on illusions will down to the end of the Cretaceous rocks of the Middle East reality," said a round of Netanyahu as Obama listened carefully beside him in the Oval Office after they met for talks.

Netanyahu insisted that Israel was willing to make compromises for peace, but made clear he had major differences with Washington over how to move long-stand in the peace process.

Netanyahu's opposition raises the question of how difficult Obama will press for concessions he is unlikely to get, and whether the vision U.S. leader established on Thursday to resolve the conflict in decades old will ever get off the ground.

Despite assurances of friendship, both leaders appeared this week's events also to herald tense months ahead for U.S.-isrælske relations, even as the Arab world must pass through the Centre of the political tumult and Palestinians prepare a unilateral bid this fall's General Assembly to seek recognition for the State.

For journalists after the meeting, Obama said he reiterated to Netanyahu peace "principles" he offered on Thursday in a policy speech on the Middle East upheaval.

Goal, he said, "must be a secure isrælske State, a Jewish State living side by side in peace and security with a coherent, efficient and effective Palestinian State.

Obama on Thursday embraced a long-sought goal of the Palestinians: the State they seek in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip should largely be drawn along the lines that existed before the 1967 war, Israel captured these areas and East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu, who heads the right-leaning Coalition, reacted with what amounted to a history lecture on vulnerability to attack Israel faced with the old borders. "We cannot go back to these irresponsible lines," he said.

Picking a fight with Israel could be politically risky for Obama at home as he seeks re-election in 2012.

CRISIS IN THE RELATIONSHIP

Brewing crisis in U.S.-isrælske relationships dimmed even further prospects for resuming peace talks that collapsed late last year when the Palestinians walked away in a dispute over the isrælske settlements building in the West Bank.

Obama and Netanyahu, meanwhile, appears to have reached a stalemate after two and a half years of rocky relations. Obama White House was enraged when Netanyahu refused a U.S. demand to stop building Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Some isrælerne have never felt very comfortable with Obama, unnerved by his early attempts to reach out to Iran and his support for the popular Arab revolutions which has alarmed Israel.

In a pointed comment clearly aimed at Obama new approach to the long-standing conflict, Netanyahu said: "the only peace that will endure is, is based on the reality on the Kindle facts".

Netanyahu, isrælske officials said, was determined to push back hard because the reference to the 1967 borders was a red flag that will attract more international pressure on Israel for concessions. A senior isrælske official said Netanyahu felt he had to speak bluntly that he would be "heard around the world."

"There is a feeling of Washington does not understand the reality does not understand what we are facing," official on board the aircraft under Netanyahu to Washington, told journalists.

Nevertheless, Obama first statement of his position on the contested issue of boundaries helps ease doubts in the Arab world about his obligation to act as an impartial broker and increase its outreach to the region. Another unsuccessful peace efforts, however, could fuel further frustration.

In line with Netanyahu's position reflected Obama opposition to the Palestinian plan to search's recognition of the State in September, in the absence of renewed peace talks.

The Democratic President is quickly come under fire from Republican critics who accuse him of betraying Israel, the closest U.S. allies in the region. Pushing Netanyahu could offend the U.S. supporters of Israel, as Obama seeks re-election.

Obama can get a chilly reception in a speech to an influential quietly lobbying group on Sunday. Netanyahu is expected to be celebrated when he deals with the same audience on Monday and then Congress Tuesday.

POINTERS TO COMPROMISE

Obama, in his speech on Thursday, laid down its clearest markers yet on the compromises he believes that Israel and the Palestinians must do in order to resolve a conflict that has long been seen as a source of Middle East tensions.

But he is not a formal U.S. peace plan or timetable for an agreement he once promised to clinch in September.

In Thursday's speech, Obama said: "we believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps" soil. While this has long been the private view in Washington, Obama went further than U.S. officials have in recent times.

Agreed swaps would allow Israel to keep the settlements in the West Bank in exchange for giving the Palestinians other than agricultural land.

Go in the negotiations, Netanyahu said, he wanted to hear Obama reaffirms commitments to Israel in 2004 by then-President George w. Bush suggests that it can keep some large settlement blocks as a part of any peace Pact.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday that Obama had said something that "contrary to these letters."

Obama on Thursday also delivered a message to the Palestinians, they should answer "some very difficult questions" about a lot of reconciliation with Hamas, Islamic groups to run Gaza and the United States, regard as terrorist groups.

(Additional reporting by Alister Bull, Patricia Zengerle, Jeff Mason, Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Ori Lewis and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Paul Simao)

 

US will help seal the Israel-Palestinian peace: Jordan (AFP)

AMMAN (AFP)-peace between Israel and the Palestinians will be sealed with U.S. help, Jordan's King Abdullah II said Saturday as he urged American businessmen to invest in his country.

"Jordan's commitment to the future is secure. It has driven our long work for regional peace. .. and with the help of the United States, succeed in peace, "said the Jordanian monarch, who held talks this week in Washington with us officials.

Abdullah II do not give any reasons for his optimism.

His remarks come a day after the isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told us President Barack Obama in the Oval Office against chasing what he called a Middle East peace "based on illusions.

Netanyahu promised explicitly Israel would never return to the 1967 borders and laid down a number of non-negotiable conditions for peace talks--one day after Obama urged Israel to accept a return to territorial lines in place before the 1967 Arab-isrælske war, with the mutual land swaps with the Palestinians to frame a secure peace.

The Jordanian monarch invited in the meantime, U.S. businesses to invest in his country.

"Our same faith in the future is driving our determination to open the doors to enterprise and opportunity," he said.

' But we can't do it alone. We need partners to build prosperity that lasts--in my country and in my region, "he said stressing the region offered 350 million consumers and enormous potential.