Palestine disappointed with US Middle East peace efforts
Source: Agencies |
December 9, 2010, Thursday
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A SENIOR Palestinian official yesterday questioned the United States' ability to forge Middle East peace after the latest breakdown in American attempts to revive negotiations.
The US failure to persuade Israel to renew a limited freeze on construction in West Bank Jewish settlements, announced late Tuesday, was the latest setback for the Obama administration in its quest to broker a peace deal by September. That goal, a top priority of the president, appears increasingly in doubt.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians are assessing their options before responding to the American announcement. While accusing the Israelis of being intransigent, he also voiced disappointment with the Americans.
Abbas told a news conference in Greece: "We think the European Union ... must play a political role."
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are expected in Washington in the coming days in hopes of finding a way out of the impasse. One Israeli official said the government was seeking "a new pathway" with the Americans.
Abbas is expected in Cairo today for consultations with Arab leaders. Among the Palestinians' options are finding a new formula for peace talks or taking unilateral action, such as rallying international recognition for a Palestinian state in the absence of a peace deal.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said that as a next step, the Palestinians would ask the international community, including the US, to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced after a trip to the US that he was close to an agreement in which he would slow settlement construction for three months in exchange for a package of American security and diplomatic assurances.
However, the sides were unable to agree a deal, in part because of uncertainty about what would happen after the three months. Israel could resume construction in territories it expects to keep, while halting building in areas given to the Palestinians.
The US failure to persuade Israel to renew a limited freeze on construction in West Bank Jewish settlements, announced late Tuesday, was the latest setback for the Obama administration in its quest to broker a peace deal by September. That goal, a top priority of the president, appears increasingly in doubt.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians are assessing their options before responding to the American announcement. While accusing the Israelis of being intransigent, he also voiced disappointment with the Americans.
Abbas told a news conference in Greece: "We think the European Union ... must play a political role."
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are expected in Washington in the coming days in hopes of finding a way out of the impasse. One Israeli official said the government was seeking "a new pathway" with the Americans.
Abbas is expected in Cairo today for consultations with Arab leaders. Among the Palestinians' options are finding a new formula for peace talks or taking unilateral action, such as rallying international recognition for a Palestinian state in the absence of a peace deal.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said that as a next step, the Palestinians would ask the international community, including the US, to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced after a trip to the US that he was close to an agreement in which he would slow settlement construction for three months in exchange for a package of American security and diplomatic assurances.
However, the sides were unable to agree a deal, in part because of uncertainty about what would happen after the three months. Israel could resume construction in territories it expects to keep, while halting building in areas given to the Palestinians.
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