Israel, Palestine to resume direct peace talks
By Our Staff Writer – 23rd–29th Aug 2010
After nearly two years of intense diplomatic shuttling and haggling, Israel and Palestine have finally agreed to resume direct face-to-face peace talks with each other. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have, as result, been invited to Washington on 2nd September to start the talks. They have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the direct negotiations.
Direct bilateral talks between the two protagonists have not been held since late 2008. However, indirect or proximity talks resumed in May this year with the former United States senator George Mitchell shuttling between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed the development. “…I warmly welcome the decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to move to direct talks…A two state solution is the only hope for lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. Today’s announcement is a courageous step towards that goal. Urgent progress must now be made. We call on all parties to refrain from any activity that could undermine negotiations”; Mr Hague emphasised.
He also pledged his country’s support to the parties as a way of buttressing the talks. The United Nations and its diplomatic partners in the Middle East Quartet comprising the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States had earlier called on the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume direct talks starting next month with the aim of reaching a wide-ranging agreement within the next 12 months to end the region’s long-running conflict. According to the Quartet statement, the purpose of the talks is to “…resolve all final status issues and fulfil the aspirations of both parties”.
Late last month, Arab League foreign ministers agreed in principle to give their backing to Mr. Abbas to re-start direct negotiations when he deems it appropriate. In the statement, the Quartet also expressed its determination to support the parties throughout the negotiations. “The Quartet again calls on both sides to observe calm, restraint and to refrain from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric”; the statement read in part.
