Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff: 'Peace talks' at an impasse

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen returned to Ramallah on Thursday and announced that the 'peace talks' are at an impasse. As usual, he blamed the 'settlements.'

A spokesman for Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria had caused the U.S.-sponsored peace talks to reach an impasse.

"Israel's settlement activity caused the negotiations to fail and led them to an impasse," the spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, told the AFP news agency.

He was reacting to a report earlier that Israel had advanced construction plans for over 2,000 new housing units in six Judea and Samaria communities.

...

The PA consistently blames “settlement construction” as being an obstacle to peace. It does so despite the fact that it was informed in advance that Israel will continue to build as talks continue. The areas in which Israel plans to build are areas that even the PA has previously accepted will be part of Israel in a future deal.

Abbas threatened two weeks ago that unless a building freeze was imposed on Jewish construction in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the peace talks would come to an end. Such a freeze was not stipulated as a pre-condition to resumed talks.

There was never going to be a real peace agreement. But I hope that this 'impasse' becomes official. We have nothing to gain from these 'talks' continuing.

Here's an interesting and perceptive reaction from an Israeli official:

One Israeli government source responded to the rally by saying it was reminiscent of Yasser Arafat’s return from Camp David in 2000, when it appeared that the Palestinians were celebrating the failure of peace talks. The second intifada broke out shortly thereafter.

“If the Palestinians celebrate rejectionism, they’re closing the door to Palestinian statehood, because the only way to achieve a Palestinian state is through negotiations and agreement with Israel,” the official said. “A rejectionist position makes Palestinian statehood impossible, and in maintaining such a position ultimately the Palestinians are only hurting themselves.”

 Third intifada coming? Thank you Obama and Kerry!

Labels: Abu Mazen, Judea and Samaria construction, settlements, settlements are legal

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:43 AM