2013–14 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians began on July 29, 2013 following an attempt by United States Secretary of State John Kerry to restart the peace process. Martin Indyk was appointed by the US to oversee the negotiations. Currently at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., during the Clinton administration he served as US ambassador to Israel, and was assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs. The negotiations were scheduled to last up to nine months to reach a final status to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by mid-2014. They started in Washington, DC and will then move to the King David Hotel in Jerusalem and then to Hebron. Pre-peace talk compromises Before the peace talks began, both sides offered a gift. Palestine offered to put on hold international recognition as a state while Israel offered the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom have been in Israeli jails since before the 1993 Oslo I Accord. Commenters have however pointed out that Israel had already promised to release these same 104 Palestinians, back in 1999 under the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, but never did. Critics also worry that Israel will simply quietly re-arrest the potentially released Palestinians, and state that Israel is using the slow release to hold the negotiations hostage and that the main goal of the release is to bolster Israels image. Timeline 29 July As Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met for a second day in Washington to discuss renewing peace talks, Mahmoud Abbas said in a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli – civilian or soldier – on our lands. His comments drew immediate condemnation from Israeli officials, who accused him for discriminating against Jews. 13 August On the first day the Palestinian team leaders were Saeb Erekat and Muhammed Shtayyeh while their Israeli counterparts were Tzipi Livni and Isaac Molcho. The US mediators were Martin Indyk and Frank Lowenstein. 19 August On 19 August, Mahmoud Abbas called for the US to step up its involvement in the talks, saying its role should be proactive and not merely supervisory. 20 August Israel urged the United States to back Egypts military government, saying failure to do so would risk derailing the peace talks. 22 August Mahmoud Abbas said that no progress had been made in the first four talks. He also said that the Palestinian right of return would likely have to be waived in the event of any peace agreement. He also walked back his earlier statement that he wanted a Palestinian state without a single Israeli; he said that what he meant was no Israelis who were part of the occupation, but that he wouldnt have a problem with Jews or Israelis coming to Palestine for business or tourism reasons, as long as they were not an occupying force. 5 September Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said that Israel has yet to put any new offers on the table, that Israel has only allowed Martin Indyk to attend one of the six talks so far, and that the Palestinian leadership would not accept temporary solutions, only a permanent peace deal. 8 September Israel accused the Palestinians of leaking information about the talks, which are supposed to be kept secret, to the press. An Israeli official also stated that some of the information leaked by Palestinians was not true. 25 September Both Israel and the Palestinians agreed to intensify peace talks with an increased United States role. 26 September Mahmoud Abbas spoke in front of the UN Security Council, and welcomed the resumption of peace talks while at the same time criticizing Israels settlement building. The Israeli delegation was not present for Abbas speech, because they were observing the holiday of Sukkot. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad called for a third intifada, and a spokesman for Hamas armed wing said that the current peace talks were futile. 17 October Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his view that he would not accept any Israeli military presence on Palestinian territory. 22 October Israel and the Palestinians are reported to have discussed the issue of water. 27 October Israel prepared to release another round of Palestinian prisoners to create a positive climate for the ongoing peace talks. 28 October Netanyahu categorically rejected the Palestinian right of return and said that Jerusalem must remain undivided. 6 November Israeli negotiators said there will not be a state based on the 1967 borders and that the Separation Wall will be a boundary. 14 November On 14 November, the Palestinian team quit the negotiations blaming the escalation of settlement-building. 4 December On December 4, Saeb Erekat told John Kerry that the peace talks with Israel were faltering and urged Kerry to salvage them. Also, an Israeli newspaper reported that Israel was prepared to handle 2000 hectares (5000 acres, or 7 sq. mi.) of land to the Palestinians to show that it was prepared to allow Palestinian projects on these lands. The land had been privately owned by Palestinians but militarily occupied by Israel. 26 December Likud ministers led by Miri Regev began pushing a bill to annex the Jordan Valley, which would prevent Netanyahu from accepting the American proposal for the Jordan Valley and border crossings into Jordan to be placed under Palestinian control, with border security provided by IDF soldiers and the US. 30 December Saeb Erekat said that the peace talks had failed, citing the aforementioned Israeli bill to annex the Jordan Valley. Erekat said that denying the Palestinian state a border with Jordan would be a clear step toward apartheid, and that the PA should instead unilaterally seek international recognition and membership in organizations. Erekat also said that Israel wants to destroy the two-state solution through its daily practices. The PLO senior official also rejected the idea of extending the peace talks beyond their nine-month deadline. 1 January Maariv reported that Israeli and American leaders had been discussing, and seriously considering, the possibility of ceding parts of the Arab Triangle to the Palestinians in exchange for Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The residents of the Triangle would automatically become Palestinian citizens if this happened. This idea is similar to the Lieberman Plan. Rami Hamdallah also said that despite Erekats insistence that the talks had failed, the Palestinians would continue participating in the talks until the April deadline. 5 January Hardliners in Netanyahus coalition threatened to withdraw from the government if he accepted the 1967 borders as a baseline for talks. Dovish opposition parties, such as Labor, have said they would join if this occurs, in order to prevent the coalition from breaking up completely. 9 January According to insiders, support for a two-state agreement within the Knesset stood at 85 in favor to 35 opposed. In addition to the Labor Party, American negotiators were also attempting to persuade Haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, both of which are generally supportive of the peace process, to join the government to keep negotiations alive. 10 January Israel approved plans for 1,400 settler homes. Saeb Erekat responded by saying The recent announcement shows Israels clear commitment to the destruction of peace efforts and the imposition of an apartheid regime. Tzipi Livni, who also opposed new settler homes, was responded by Israeli politician Zeev Elkin, who suggested the settlements were vital for Israels security: “The path that Livni recommends means we will have to say goodbye to our security,” he said. 14 January Israels defense minister Moshe Yaalon rejected the negotiations and insulted John Kerry, saying he was acting based upon messianic feeling, and that The only thing that can save us is that John Kerry will get a Nobel Peace Prize and leave us alone. Yuval Steinitz, another members of the Likud, expressed general agreement with Yaalons views, but disagreed with the personal insult. However, Yaalon later issued an official apology in a written statement sent to media from the Defense Ministry. 18 January Yair Lapid threatened to take his party, Yesh Atid, out of the coalition if peace talks did not advance. This would topple the current government and force either the formation of a new coalition, or early elections. 21 January Israel announced plans for 381 new settler homes in the West Bank. The Palestinians condemned this move, and also ruled out the possibility of the peace talks extending beyond the nine-month deadline. 22 January Abbas said he would like Russia to take a more active role in the negotiations. 27 January The Palestinians said they would not allow a single settler to remain in a Palestinian state, but that this did not stem from anti-Jewish attitudes. Rather, Jews living in the West Bank would have the option of remaining if they renounced their Israeli citizenship and applied to be citizens of Palestine. A poll has shown that 4.5% of Jewish settlers would consider becoming Palestinian citizens under such an arrangement. Israeli settlements Israel was accused by Palestinian officials of trying to sabotage the peace talks by approving nearly 1200 new settlement homes shortly before the negotiations were due to start.[citation needed] It is well known that these are an obstacle for the Palestinians as they are on Palestinian land and are illegal under international law. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev stated that these settlements in Palestine would remain part of Israel in any possible peace agreements. The British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said: We condemn the recent decisions taken by the Israeli authorities to advance plans for 1096 settlement units in the West Bank, and to approve the construction of 63 new units in East Jerusalem. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two-state solution. On 13 August, Israel approved another 900 settler homes in East Jerusalem in addition to the 1200 settlements announced on the 10th. On 30 October, Israel stated it would go ahead with plans to build 3,500 more homes for Jewish Israelis in settlements in Palestine. Netanyahu then said any further settlement construction may stir unnecessary clashes with the international community. Reactions Official US Secretary of State John Kerry said that if the peace talks failed, there would likely be a third intifada. EU Ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen said if peace talks fail, Israel will likely be blamed for the break down. Some critics believe that Israel is only trying to put on a show, claiming the Israelis do not seek a peace agreement, but are using these peace talks to further other goals, including improving their image, strengthening their occupation of Palestine, and decreasing the viability of Palestine as a state free of Israeli occupation. Other critics have blamed the Palestinian side, Mahmoud Abbas in particular, for he lacks sufficient credibility with the West to fulfill and because of his past PLO association with the radical Yasser Arafat. If the Palestinians are serious about establishing a sovereign state, they must find leadership that is non-threatening to Israel and then serious negotiations can begin. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Kerry I want peace, but the Palestinians continue to incite, create imaginary crises and avoid the historical decisions necessary for a real peace.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:27:35 +0000
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