EU Hopes for Israel-Palestinian Talks Fall Flat
It would have been the highest-level meeting between Israeli and Palestinian officials since U.S.-led peace talks collapsed but, in the end, European officials were unable to orchestrate a meeting between Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
European Union officials had said as late as Wednesday evening they were still hoping to bring the two men –who were both visiting Brussels this week – together, as EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini continued her push to defuse tensions and start talking again.
But, on Thursday, Mr. Rivlin said his Palestinian counterpart would not agree to talks in person.
European officials acknowledged that Mr. Rivlin had offered to sit down with his Palestinian counterpart but that Mr. Abbas had refused. “I suggest you talk to the Palestinians about their reasons,” said one official.
The Palestinian mission to the EU did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The refusal of Mr. Abbas comes as an ironic finale to the two leaders’ visits to the Belgian and European capital.
In a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday, it was the Israeli president who brought the unpopular message that there were no prospects of a final peace deal in the near future and that a recent French initiative to revive negotiations amounted to little more than “negotiations for negotiations’ sake.”
Mr. Abbas, by contrast, talked Wednesday evening of the vital importance of the French peace initiative and said it was Israel that needed to get behind a two-state solution and start working on peace.
In a speech to EU lawmakers on Thursday, Mr Abbas condemned Israel’s “never-ending provocations” and “fascist policies.”
“Our hands are extended with a desire for peace and we have a will to achieve peace and we would ask [Israel], do you have the same will?” he said.
The diplomatic shuffle in Brussels is far from the first time the two sides have clashed over a sit-down. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly he is prepared to meet Mr. Abbas and accused the Palestinian leader of ducking talks.
Mr. Abbas has also, on occasion, said in recent months he is prepared to meet Mr. Netanyahu and said in January it was Mr. Netanyahu who didn’t respond to overtures. However, Palestinian officials also argue that years of direct talks have failed to end the stalemate or improve the situation on the ground.
The French proposal hopes to restart progress towards a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Since the 2014 war in Gaza, peace talks have come to a standstill and a surge in attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and the refusal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank have spoiled hopes of a return to the negotiating table.
Some 30 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been killed in more than 300 Palestinian attacks since September. Palestinian officials say more than 200 Palestinians, mostly alleged attackers, have been killed by Israeli security forces during the same period.
Ms. Mogherini put European hopes to advance the peace talks at the center of her agenda when she took office in late 2014. Her first overseas trip outside Europe was to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2016/06/23/eu-hopes-for-israel-palestinian-talks-fall-flat/?
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It's more of the same. The Palestinians refuse to sit down in direct negotiations with Israel. There's not much more to say. This is more for documentation purposes. It goes with all the other instances of Palestinian refusal to approach the situation directly. Looking for a back door to statehood will not succeed.
The Palestinians don't want peace. They enjoy murdering Jews too much to give it up. And their "government" is increasing the rewards for terrorism. They are a lost cause, which the Arab nations realized long ago.
The Arab nations realized nothing. They are complicit in the situation as it now stands.
The Palestinians simply want the status quo...IMO, they have no interest in peace, and never have.
Why would the Palestinians want peace? They would have to give up the UNRWA dole, and they know that the Arab'Muslim bloc at the UN is to their benefit.
When the western countries, especially the US, realize that the "humanitarian" aid they are providing to the Palestinians is being used to reward the terrorists and support the ones with blood on their hands in Israeli prisons, they will finally wake up to the fact that they are funding a never-ending war against the Jews and guaranteeing that there will NEVER be peace in the Middle East.
It also gives the Arab world absolution as far as giving aid, or honoring their pledges. They habitually pledge aid to the Palestinians, and follow through to the tune of about 10%. The UN pays for everything the Palestinians do. The Arab world is united in giving nothing to the Palestinians.
"Mr. Abbas, by contrast, talked Wednesday evening of the vital importance of the French peace initiative and said it was Israel that needed to get behind a two-state solution and start working on peace."
Good God, how long ago did Israel agree to a 2 state solution? Anyone that doesn't see the Palestinian obstruction of a final peace must be willingly blind.
Or antisemitic.
There is no proof that it's anti-Semitism blinds the EU to Palestinian obstruction. But there is no explanation for their blindness.
That's why it's a decent guess.
More of the same, different day. Until Abbas can actually talk to Israel directly, everything else is just BS.
One more reason for the Brits to leave the EU. They are poking their noses where they don't belong.