Even Mitchell recognizes that 'Palestinians' should have come to the table
Last Monday, former US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell made his most extensive public remarks about the 'peace process' since leaving office. While he repeated all of the usual platitudes about how Israel has to give the 'Palestinians' a 'political horizon' or we will find ourselves choosing between being Jewish and being Democratic, Mitchell also came out with a pretty explicit recognition of the fact that it was the 'Palestinians' who killed any chance for negotiations. Mitchell also criticized the Palestinian Authority's responses to American efforts to renew negotiations with Israel. He claimed that the Palestinians were unwilling to accept the 10-month settlement construction freeze declared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2009; the Palestinians contended that this freeze was "useless," and refused to engage in negotiations.While that's obvious to all of us, it's the first time I've seen Mitchell - or anyone else in the Obama administration - admit it.
"They refused to enter into the negotiations until nine months of the 10 had elapsed," Mitchell said. "Once they entered, they then said [the freeze] was indispensable. What had been worse than useless a few months before then became indispensable and they said they would not remain in the talks unless that indispensable element were extended."
Labels: Abu Mazen, George Mitchell, Middle East peace process, settlement freeze
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:35 PM
2 Comments:
The Palestinians were never really interested in negotiating. A settlement freeze extension would have made no difference.
What they sought then - and seek today - are excuses not to make peace with Israel and they will never run out of them.
Good to see George Mitchell gets it.
Fatah hackdom follow the Al Sharpton method:
"Resist we much. We must and we will much about that be committed."
Resist muching and must resisting all the way out to the horizon...
Post a Comment
<< Home