Middle East Peace Talks on The Brink
US mediators have another week or so to try to broker some sort of compromise solution before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pulls the plug on the current round of Middle East peace talks. He has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the talks because of Israel’s refusal to go beyond its 10-month moratorium on new construction on the West Bank. Stakes are high and before rushing into a decision, he plans to consult with other representatives of the Arab League next Monday.
He is clearly under pressure from more radical Hamas elements within Gaza who appear determined to scupper whatever deal he can come up with. They oppose any negotiations with Israel and have threatened violence if necessary.
The temporary halt to construction operations that have been in place for the last 10 months ended yesterday and was greeted with jubilation amongst Jewish settlers. The jubilation, however, remains quite hollow and largely symbolic just the same, with builders and contractors reluctant to begin projects that could be halted at a moment’s notice. Nonetheless, some contractors, if symbolically at least, have begun clearing ground in the West Bank area vowing to build much needed homes.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to President Abbas to keep negotiations going despite numerous previous attempts at reconciliation failing.
Fatah made no comment.
