President Abbas blames Israeli settlements for failed bid to revive top-level negotiations The Palestinians were last night preparing to walk away from talks with Israel aimed at reviving peace negotiations as international mediators frantically shuttled between Ramallah and Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the peace process alive. Palestinian representatives believe that negotiations have run their course as a deadline for both sides to present proposals on borders and security expires today. Israel, which has criticised the deadline as “artificial,” said talks should continue. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said yesterday that the talks aimed at reviving top-level negotiations had ended without progress. “If we determine the borders it is possible to return to negotiations, but the Israelis don’t want to determine the borders,” he said. While mounting international pressure may yet persuade Mr Abbas to keep talking, the Palestinians are increasingly convinced that Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is unwilling to make the compromises necessary for a two-state solution. The Palestinians want Israel to accept the pre-1967 borders as a basis for negotiations, and halt Jewish settlement construction – deemed illegal in international law – in the occupied West Bank, the acceleration of which has convinced many that a two-state solution is moving out of reach. On both counts, Israel’s right-wing government has refused to yield. Reflecting the mood in the Palestinian camp, one official said: “For us, it’s over… Israel chose to [promote] settlements over peace”. Previously, Mr Abbas has warned that he would employ “other measures” to isolate Israel if the talks fail. It is thought that this could include reviving a UN statehood bid and asking the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes during the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza strip in 2008. The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, comprising the US, the EU, Russia and the UN, which is represented by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in October that both sides should present proposals and wrap up exploratory talks within three months, or by 26 January. Israel has refused to do so, claiming that it has until April. Continue reading Related articles: Israel must choose between settlements and peace Netanyahu balks at Abbas proposal for Palestinian state borders Israel is missing another opportunity for peace Photo: Construction of illegal Israeli settlements continue to accelerate, further raising doubts over Israel’s willingness to reach a peace agreement. This view shows the construction site of Givat Zeev near Jerusalem — one of many Israeli settlements built illegally on Palestinian land. (Reuters)

President Abbas blames Israeli settlements for failed bid to revive top-level negotiations

The Palestinians were last night preparing to walk away from talks with Israel aimed at reviving peace negotiations as international mediators frantically shuttled between Ramallah and Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the peace process alive.

Palestinian representatives believe that negotiations have run their course as a deadline for both sides to present proposals on borders and security expires today. Israel, which has criticised the deadline as “artificial,” said talks should continue.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said yesterday that the talks aimed at reviving top-level negotiations had ended without progress. “If we determine the borders it is possible to return to negotiations, but the Israelis don’t want to determine the borders,” he said.

While mounting international pressure may yet persuade Mr Abbas to keep talking, the Palestinians are increasingly convinced that Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is unwilling to make the compromises necessary for a two-state solution.

The Palestinians want Israel to accept the pre-1967 borders as a basis for negotiations, and halt Jewish settlement construction – deemed illegal in international law – in the occupied West Bank, the acceleration of which has convinced many that a two-state solution is moving out of reach. On both counts, Israel’s right-wing government has refused to yield.

Reflecting the mood in the Palestinian camp, one official said: “For us, it’s over… Israel chose to [promote] settlements over peace”. Previously, Mr Abbas has warned that he would employ “other measures” to isolate Israel if the talks fail. It is thought that this could include reviving a UN statehood bid and asking the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes during the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza strip in 2008.

The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, comprising the US, the EU, Russia and the UN, which is represented by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in October that both sides should present proposals and wrap up exploratory talks within three months, or by 26 January. Israel has refused to do so, claiming that it has until April.

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Photo: Construction of illegal Israeli settlements continue to accelerate, further raising doubts over Israel’s willingness to reach a peace agreement. This view shows the construction site of Givat Zeev near Jerusalem — one of many Israeli settlements built illegally on Palestinian land. (Reuters)

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