Israel and the Palestinians have tentatively agreed to resume peace
talks, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said late Friday. The Washington Post,
reporting Kerry’s announcement, said the news offers “a sliver of hope that a
bitter, violent conflict that has consumed the region for more than a
generation could be settled at the negotiating table.” (The Washington Post, 20
July)
“On behalf of President Obama, I am pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement that establishes the basis for resuming direct final-status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Kerry told reporters in Amman.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will soon meet in Washington to work out final details of re-launching peace negotiations. The diplomats expected to meet face to face in Washington are chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will be accompanied by Netanyahu’s close aide Isaac Molho.
“If everything goes as expected,” the diplomats should meet within a week “or very soon thereafter,” Kerry said.
“These were months of skepticism and cynicism,” Livni wrote on her Facebook page Friday night. “But now, four years of political stalemate are completed. I know this is an opportunity, but I also know that the moment negotiations begin it will be complex and not easy. However, I am firmly convinced that it is the right thing for our future, our security, economy and the values of Israel.”
Kerry said nothing about when Netanyahu and Abbas would meet, but he praised both leaders. “Both of them have chosen to make difficult choices here,” Kerry said, without elaboration.
Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan. 17 July 2013 (PPo/GETTY IMAGES /Washington Post)
“On behalf of President Obama, I am pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement that establishes the basis for resuming direct final-status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” Kerry told reporters in Amman.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will soon meet in Washington to work out final details of re-launching peace negotiations. The diplomats expected to meet face to face in Washington are chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will be accompanied by Netanyahu’s close aide Isaac Molho.
“If everything goes as expected,” the diplomats should meet within a week “or very soon thereafter,” Kerry said.
“These were months of skepticism and cynicism,” Livni wrote on her Facebook page Friday night. “But now, four years of political stalemate are completed. I know this is an opportunity, but I also know that the moment negotiations begin it will be complex and not easy. However, I am firmly convinced that it is the right thing for our future, our security, economy and the values of Israel.”
Kerry said nothing about when Netanyahu and Abbas would meet, but he praised both leaders. “Both of them have chosen to make difficult choices here,” Kerry said, without elaboration.
Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan. 17 July 2013 (PPo/GETTY IMAGES /Washington Post)
