Israeli politicians visit controversial Jordan Valley prior to Kerry's visit

JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A team of Israeli right-wing parliament members on Thursday inaugurated a new neighborhood in a settlement in the Jordan Valley, few hours before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to visit the region.

Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who led the delegation, said Israel will not have strategic depth if it withdraws from the Jordan Valley and the Israel Defense Forces should maintain its presence in the area "for all eternity," Israel Radio reported.

"We are here in the Jordan valley out of recognition that during these days, one of the most crucial issues to Israel's future is at stake," Sa'ar said.

There are 21 Jewish settlements and reported near 7,000 Jews in the Jordan Valley annexed by Israel amid the 1967 Mideast War.

Protesters to demonstrate against Palestinian prisoner release policy

The police-approved protest will be held in Rabin Square this Thursday at 6 p.m.

The organizers say the demonstration will protest the release of Palestinian prisoners "with blood on their hands" and call for a change to diplomatic policy.

Singer Avi Benayoun will be in attendance, along with the family and friends of slain soldier Eden Atias.

Israeli ministers endorse legislation to annex part of West Bank

The Israeli proposal to incorporate the Jordan Valley within its borders, endorsed by the cabinet's legislative committee, was the first Israeli step in years to annex any territory occupied in 1967. 

A panel of Israeli cabinet ministers endorsed proposed legislation on Sunday to annex an area of the occupied West Bank likely to be the eastern border of a new Palestinian state.
The move, pushed by far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, could weigh on troubled U.S.-brokered peace negotiations several days before another visit to the region by Secretary of State John Kerry.
But centrist Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who also heads Israel's negotiations with the Palestinians, immediately challenged the motion, and said she would use her powers to block the legislation from being voted on in Parliament.
Peace talks have shown few signs of progress since Kerry oversaw their renewal in July after a three-year deadlock.

Pourparlers de paix au Proche-Orient : John Kerry met en garde les Israéliens.

Le secrétaire d'Etat John Kerry, qui poursuit sa tournée au Proche-Orient pour tenter de ranimer le processus de paix engagé fin juillet, a adressé jeudi un message inhabituellement sec au gouvernement israélien. 

«L'alternative à la reprise négociations est un risque de chaos», a-t-il lancé dans une mise en garde à peine voilée à Benyamin Nétanyahou, qui a récemment suscité la fureur des Palestiniens en autorisant la construction de 1500 logements à Jérusalem-Est. 

UN chief deplores plans for further Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. -(Announcement hours after freeing 26 Palestinian prisoners)

30 October 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the announcements today of further Israeli settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, pointing out that settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace.

“Any measures that prejudge final status issues will not be recognised by the international community,” a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson added.
Israel reportedly made the announcement hours after freeing 26 Palestinian prisoners.

Jubilant crowds welcome Palestinian prisoners. -Israel frees 26 men to Gaza and West Bank in second phase of deal linked to renewed peace talks.

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Israel has freed 26 Palestinian prisoners, the second of four batches released as part of a deal that set in motion the current Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Jubilant celebrations kicked off on Wednesday morning in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where the prisoners are seen as heroes who fought for independence, and were received by their families and Palestinian leaders.
"We greet and welcome our brothers, and we confirm that they will return to their homes and nowhere else," Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said in a speech to a roaring crowd in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

High Court rejects application against release of Palestinian prisoners...

The High Court rejected the application by the Almagor Terror Victims Association on Tuesday evening against the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners.

The prisoners are being released as part of a deal that was made in July to kick-start the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The High Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction on the matter and that two prior applications that challenged the government's decision were similarly rejected.