Netanyahu’s View of the Peace Talks
End of the Age News
By Hollye Robbins
Does the United Nations have too Many Christians?
It has been reported that the Christians are the most influential religious group in the United Nations. A study has stated that there needs to be more representatives from different religious groups in the decision making on world peace.
Professor Jeremy Carrette of the University of Kent conducted a research study and found that over 70% of religious organizations that are not government in the UN are under the umbrella of Christianity. This report also requested more attention and fairness in the operation of these non-government organizations otherwise known as NGOs. They want more importance put on religious permissiveness.
Carrette stated that, “It would seem there needs to be more of a ‘global goodwill’ to make the UN system work for all religions equally, and for religions to follow and share equally UN goals for peace and justice.” He further stated, “This must also entail religious groups working towards the ideals of the UN, in terms of human rights, fairness and justice for all men and women.”
The research further questioned why the Christian right would claim that the UN is operated by the new age cults.
Netanyahu’s View of the Peace Talks
This past Tuesday in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was preparing for John Kerry’s next visit to Israel, which will be this coming Monday. He updated the ministerial peace-talk forum on the progress of the negotiations with the Americans. Meanwhile, an update was also being presented back in the US by Kerry to President Obama and Vice President Biden concerning the status of the approval of his framework agreement by the Arab League.
One discussion that came up during a meeting Netanyahu was having with his ministers on Wednesday was whether or not this framework agreement would be permitted to come for approval at the cabinet. It was reported that Netanyahu’s “answer would be no.” Netanyahu is feeling the pressure from two parties known as the Likud party and Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi party.
The Knesset members of the Likud party, who have spoken with the Prime Minister recently, have said that he is trying to find a possible way to say yes to John Kerry while he is attempting to not harm his coalition. It is not obvious whether or not this could be possible.
The Exchange Between Iran and Russia Defies Sanctions
Iran and Russia are working on an agreement for exchanging oil-for-goods which would be in defiance of the international sanctions that were put on Iran. The exchange would be worth 1 and a half million dollars each month. It would help increase oil exports from Iran.
Sources from both Russia and Iran which are close with these agreements stated that the end results being discussed would allow Moscow to purchase approximately 500,000 barrels of oil per day from Iran and would give Russian supplies to them in exchange. An unnamed Russian source stated that, “Good progress is being made at the moment with strong chances of success,”
An Iranian official stated, “Our desire is to sign the deal as soon as possible. Our officials are discussing the matter with the Russians and hopefully it will be inked soon, regardless of whether we can reach a (nuclear) agreement in Geneva.”
They are not sure whether this agreement will be put into effect before the nuclear agreement between Iran and other world powers, which was given in Geneva this past November. Russia was involved in the talks but it has not forced sanctions on Iran at this time.
The agreement in November was supposed to temporarily squelch any advances that Iran was making for its’ nuclear power until they could get a more solid agreement in May. This agreement between Iran and Russia would help the struggling economy of Iran. It was put under a sanction that decreased its’ oil exports by over 50%.