Israel, Palestinian Authority summit still a long way off
U.S. envoy Mitchell was unable Tues. to bridge gaps on settlements between Washington, Israel and PA.
By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid Tags: Israel settlements Mahmoud Abbas Israel news PalestiniansU.S. envoy George Mitchell was unable to bridge the gaps yesterday between Washington, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in a way that would allow a three-party summit to be held at the United Nations General Assembly next week.
Mitchell asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show flexibility on the issue of freezing settlements, in order to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the meeting with Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama. Last night the forum of senior ministers in Netanyahu's inner circle met to discuss whether they believe Israel has additional room to maneuver within the administration's red lines.
Before meeting with Netanyahu yesterday, Mitchell said he hoped he would be able to reach an agreement with the prime minister that would allow the tripartite summit to take place. After yesterday's meeting the Prime Minister's Office issued a laconic statement that the meeting had been "good." An official later said that the two sides are continuing efforts to narrow the differences between them.
Following yesterday's fruitless talks, Netanyahu is scheduled this morning to meet with Mitchell again, after the envoy extended his stay in Israel by an additional day. Today Mitchell and Netanyahu will try to reach a compromise on a settlement freeze that would allow the renewal of diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
One of the outstanding issues between Washington and Jerusalem is the length of the proposed freeze - the U.S. is demanding that settlement construction be suspended for a year, while Israel is offering to do so for only six months. The timetable for talks is also under dispute, as Washington is seeking to reach an Israeli-Palestinian agreement within two years, a target the Netanyahu administration has rejected.
In today's meeting, Mitchell is expected to update Netanyahu on his meeting yesterday with Abbas, in which he dined with the Palestinian leader to break the day's Ramadan fast.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said after the meeting that Mitchell and Abbas did not even discuss the possibility of a tripartite meeting. Erekat said all settlement construction must completely stop, including in East Jerusalem, before such a meeting could be arranged.
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Good for the PALS. It is time someone stood up to Bibi and the Israeli government. The Israelis make promises, never keep them, and make the PALS look like to ones who are guilty of not wanting peace. Stand firm!! Don't give in!!! The world now realizes he brutality of the Israeli policies and treatment of the PALS and are tired of Israeli spin and excuses!
Israel must be nuts to EVEN think about the creation of a Palestinian State. Hamas will take over (or Hisbullah) and Israel will have to go in to defend itelf like it did in Gaza AND... it will again have to face this Golstone BS referral to the war crimes court. Am I missing something here... but Israel would need to seroiusly examine its head if it even THINKS about THINKING about the creation of a "terrorist" Palestinian State. NO thank you. Not now. Not EVER!
Palestinians have already did their committment when it comes to the road map. What do you want the palestinians to do?? The west bank has been quiet, incitements again israelis are just not there yet Israel wants to move the goal post intil the process has petered out. Israel does not want peace they want to dictate terms for surrender. Personally I see a boycott looming in the future for Israel.
Mitchell's single minded pursuit of the settlement freeze jeoprodizes the US role as a fair mediator. Where is some comparable demand on the Palestinians? Israel's use of settlements as a future bargaining chip is a bad idea, because it will involve uprooting Israelis like in the Gaza evacuation, and further revealing a profound schism in Israel's own belief and actions. If any settlement can be frozen, then it is expendable, and the whole enterprise is in danger. Begin gave back Yamit, and Sharon gave back Gaza, and Bibi will no doubt have to dismantle settlements that are deemed integral to Israel, so what is the point of this whole game which makes religious zionists pawns in a process of mid east haggling like the shouk. Let the Palestinians make some major gesture to show they want real peace, and not just pursuit of their retro fantasy of Israel disappearing. Am Yisrael Chai..