Israeli and Palestinian peace talks resume in Washington
BBC, Jul 30 2013
Jackass hosts Iftar dinner for Tzipi Livni and Saeb Erekat
Middle East peace talks have resumed after Israeli and Palestinian negotiators shared an Iftar meal in Washington with Jackass Kerry. Jackass said it was a very, very special moment as they broke the daytime Ramadan fast. Earlier, Obama welcomed the discussions but cautioned that hard choices lay ahead. The talks resumed after three years as Israel approved the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners. The releases, which split the Israeli cabinet, are to take place in stages over several months. In the last five months, Jackass has made six official visits to the Middle East in an effort to restart the negotiations. At the table on Monday evening at the State Dept, Jackass said it was wonderful the delegations had gathered in the US capital. He said it was very, very special, and quipped that they had not very much to talk about at all. Seated opposite Jackass was Israel’s chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and next to her was her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erekat. Former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk, appointed US special envoy to the talks, also attended the dinner. Indyk said earlier he looked forward to working with both sides to “do our best to achieve Obama’s vision of two states, living side by side in peace and security.” Indyk played a key role in the failed Camp David talks of 2000. Over dinner, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators sat with Jackass and Indyk to start thrashing out some of the procedural details of forthcoming talks: format, schedule and location. Because the two parties haven’t had direct talks in three years, these are basic but essential starting points. The initial talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives were scheduled to begin on Monday evening and continue on Tuesday, said the State Dept. There will be more talks on Tuesday and then negotiators will head home at end of the day. If all has gone well, the next round of talks is expected to take place in the Middle East, with Indyk at the helm. It’s still unclear at what point the two sides will delve into the real issues at the heart of the matter. The sceptics say this is all just process and the reality on the ground means that Jackass is on a fool’s errand. But Jackass has had his heart set on the goal of a peace deal for some time, and he is hoping his determination will keep the talks going long enough that they will actually get somewhere. At a press conference in Washington DC on Monday, Jackass urged both sides to make “reasonable compromises” for peace, saying:
I know the negotiations are going to be tough, but I also know the consequences of not trying will be worse.
State Dept spokeswoman Jen Psaki suggested the goal of initial talks would be to chart a way forward rather than try to tackle the thorny issues between the two sides. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, told AFP on Monday:
There must be a timeline and commitment from both sides on what they’ll agree about. We hope for something good.
At the UN in New York on Monday, Tzipi Livni, the Israeli negotiator, said:
The talks will be very tough and problematic. But efforts towards peace are a mutual interest for Israel, for the Palestinians, the Arab world, the international community.
Major sticking points include the future of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees. The issue of settlement-building halted the last direct talks in Sep 2010. Settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. Also on Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved the release of 104 long-term Palestinian prisoners by 13 votes to seven. The inmates are to be released in four stages over a number of months, linked to progress in the peace process. Their identities have not been published, but according to reports they include those who have killed Israelis or Palestinian informers. Sunday’s cabinet meeting was delayed by an hour as Netanyahu sought support for his proposal. The cabinet also approved a draft bill requiring a referendum for any peace agreement with the Palestinians that involves territorial concessions. Netanyahu’s office said it was important that every citizen voted directly on such decisions.
Niqnaq 