U.S. official: Obama impatient with delay in Mideast peace talks
Comment comes as U.S. envoy George Mitchell arrives in Israel in a bid to restart negotiations
By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid Tags: Goldstone report Barack Obama Middle East peace Israel newsThe U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, arrived in Israel yesterday ahead of a round of talks aimed at restarting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
A senior U.S. official told Israeli reporters that Mitchell's visit was not likely to conclude with an announcement of a renewal of talks, and that further meetings would be necessary. Israeli sources, however, told Haaretz that an announcement on renewing negotiations was "within reach."
The main American message is that reopening negotiations on all core issues would greatly reduce tensions and prevent incidents such as the recent Temple Mount disturbances. "The events on the Temple Mount and the discussions on the Goldstone report have demonstrated how urgent it is to go back to negotiations and resolve the core issues of the conflict," the U.S. official said.
Most of Mitchell's meetings will concentrate on attempts to bridge the gaps between Israel and the PA on conditions for the negotiations, including the timetable. The sides are still divided on all issues.
Mitchell will meet today with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Tomorrow he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and over the weekend he will travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The U.S. official said President Barack Obama had instructed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mitchell to report to him by mid-October on progress. "We do not foresee a breakthrough on this visit, but we have a sense of urgency and we are determined to make progress," the official said. "The president is impatient with the current situation and expects the sides to move forward."
Sources in Jerusalem said a temporary freeze of construction in settlements was effectively off the agenda, and the Americans had dropped this demand. The U.S. official, however, said Mitchell would continue discussing the administration's demand for a "moratorium" on settlement construction. "It's not off the table," he said. "Our position on settlements has not changed."
Sources said yesterday that Abbas, whose standing among Palestinians has suffered dramatically in recent weeks, is expected to refuse the American request for an immediate return to negotiations without preconditions. Abbas has been harshly criticized for requesting a postponement of the UN discussion on the Goldstone report at the request of the United States.
Hamas staged a rally in Gaza yesterday attended by families bereaved during Operation Cast Lead. The crowd was invited to throw shoes at a large poster of Abbas.
Meanwhile, chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told Palestinian radio yesterday that the PA was mistaken in its approach to the report. "We have the courage to admit our mistake, and this mistake can be amended," Abed Rabbo said.
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Obama is impatient...the settlement construction resumes and everyone thinks Obama is to be blamed lol. Like the winner of your last election told Netanyahu, having a strong head with the American President is not in the best interest of Israel. If Peace is not established, there will be War on all fronts. I am not making this up lol...go and watch the Interview of the Jordan King...a so-called moderate. Saudi is still not in line with Israel. Things are changing..American arrested someone trying to sell US secrets..we wont be strong arm in the US...US is also treating Israel as a threat...lets up the AIPAC will save you at the end. Americans cant wait to get out of Afghanistan...and guess what, Iran can wait either. Israel's time for peace is almost over. Brace yourself Zionists...War is all but by your footsteps. Shalom!!!
President Obama is a "lame duck" for the Zionists and on the end of his term as President than he know that!
and is destroying the American economy.maybe he should try and fix America first. those who curse Israel will be cursed. those who push Israel into a corner will have the LORD push them into a corner. Dont mess with G-d! He will destroy you.
You know what, Obama, I'm impatient with you telling the world you're impatient without doing anything positive. I'm impatient with you saying you want a settlement freeze and then caving in to Netanyhau. I'm impatient with you saying you want justice and then forcing Abbas to drop Goldstone. I'm impatient with your tongue moving and the rest of your body doing NOTHING USEFUL. You've shown you can put huge pressure on the powerless Abbas. Show you have some spine, and put some pressure on Netanyahu.
Do you mean the Jewish "Young Turks?"
Obama is making the same mistake his predecessors did: trying to force peace. That is a contradiction. The goal is to get unity within the Palestinian chaos, now in a virtual state of civil war, and then get them to want to sit down with the Israels and negotiate honestly. As of now, all sides seem to get a benefit from the status quo: Israel continues settlement activity, and the Arabs rejoice and unite in hate. When Obama gets that to change, he will have made the real breakthru that is needed.. Peace cannot be imposed. It must be mutually wanted.
He still has 3 FULL years to do as he pleases...I think he has no problem with dragging America down..as long as he drags Israel with it... You think suicide bombs suck...try a suicide president...
obama impatient with delay. SO WHAT ??? WHO GIVES A DAMN WHAT HE FEELS. There is no delay. there are no peace talks except by obama and his messenger Mitchell.
Abbas is not PA president, he is the minister of Israeli occupation in the west bank.
While I do have some problems with certain aspects of Obama's policies, I would not call him a sell out so soon after the Obama administration blocked consideration of the biased Goldstone report at the UN.
Obama still has a lot to learn about the Mid-East. Besides Abbas has given him his answer on several occasions: Our way or no way. No compromise, no negotiation. (Translation: No peace.)
Israel's expense. Butt out Obama--no one beleives you aren't a sell out for the arabs.
elders and humility by his superiors. He is a novice and his community organizing experience is not nearly enough to overcome his inexperience in foreign affairs. He comes across more as a 'Young Turk' than a respected American President and Commander-N-Chief !
Isn't that how we got here? I sorta dont blame Abbas for not showing up since it doesn't matter
If Obama hasn't said this in his closed negotiations with Netanyahu, it is time that he openly and publically tells Israel that it is no longer America's spoilt super brat and bully. With the US on the financial downhill (despite the partial recovery) and the global influence shrinking, any binding peace talks under the auspices of the US will be as good as it gets for Israel. Grab it before it slips away.
is mitchell going to italy to dicuss peace with 'el president for life' in exile abbas?