Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' may declare 'peace talks' a failure or Abu Mazen may meet with Netanyahu

Good afternoon from Boston where I collapsed over my computer last night and the morning did not quite go as planned. By the way, if anyone knows how to score tickets for Sunday's Game 2 of the ALCS, please email me.

Last night it was reported that the 'Palestinians' were considering declaring the 'peace talks' a failure (did anyone ever think they'd be anything but?), as they accused Israel of seeking to 'win time' through the talks.

Hanna Amireh, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that this was one of the scenarios that were discussed during the last meeting of the Palestinian leadership.

Amireh accused Israel of seeking to “win time” and blame the Palestinians for the failure of the US-sponsored talks.

Israel, he said, is benefiting from the prolonged negotiations in order to “impose more facts on the ground and dictate the outcome of the talks.”

Amireh criticized Justice Minister Tzipi Livni for stating that the talks with the Palestinians may extend beyond the nine- month deadline set by the US Administration.

He said that Livini’s remarks were in violation of the agreement reached with the Americans.

The two sides met for the 9th time since July in Jerusalem on Wednesday, and Israel refused to comment on the meeting. Of course, the 'negotiations' won't take more than nine months since Israel will just give in on everything....

About an hour ago, Khaled Abu Toameh reported that 'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen 'might' agree to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The official was quoted by the Palestinian Quds Net News Agency as saying that Abbas has dropped his previous pre-conditions for holding a summit with Netanyahu.

The official did not specify the nature of the pre-conditions. Abbas had said in the past that he did not want a meeting with Netanyahu to serve as a photo-up opportunity that would serve Israel's interests alone.

"The US Administration played a big role in exerting pressure on Abbas to agree to a meeting with Netanyahu," the official disclosed. "We expect the meeting to take place in Jerusalem in the next few days."

In response, a source in Abbas's office said it was "premature" to talk about a summit between the two. The source acknowledged that Washington had suggested to Abbas to meet with Netanyahu in the context of efforts to boost the peace process.

Meanwhile, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi added her voice to those calling on the PA leadership to pull out of the peace talks with Israel.

"There is no benefit in the negotiations after the force of occupation emptied them from their goal," Ashrawi said in a statement.

She accused Israel of seeking to destroy the prospects for peace and the two-state solution.

I would not hold my breath waiting for that meeting to happen.  But I don't think that the 'Palestinians' will rush to declare the talks a failure either.

Labels: Abu Mazen, Binyamin Netanyahu, Hanan Ashrawi, Middle East peace process, Palestinian intransigence

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:56 PM