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Kerry tells Arab League that peace talks are at critical point
US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday met with Arab League foreign ministers in Paris and told them that peace negotiation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are at a crucial stage.
The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco, in addition to PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki. Kerry told them that “we really are at a critical point, as Palestinians and Israeli leaders grapple with difficult and challenging decisions that lie ahead.” Kerry visited Israel a week ago and is thought to have presented both Israeli and Palestinian leaders with a proposed framework for final status talks.
Kerry said that since the resumption of peace talks in July, “[PA]President Abbas and [Israel’s] Prime Minister Netanyahu have both demonstrated courageous and determined leadership” but that “they are contemplating even tougher choices in the weeks ahead.” Although Kerry also emphasised that Arab League leaders have thrown their support behind the talks, PA Foreign Minister al-Maliki told Voice of Palestine radio that “The [Arab League] delegation will tell Kerry that there is a unified Arab stance rejecting the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state,” a key demand of the Israeli government. According to media reports, it is an entrenched position which PA President Abbas appeared to further endorse over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Legislation yesterday rejected a bill proposed by Likud MK Miri Regev, which would have required a Knesset majority to authorise negotiations on Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees during peace talks, restricting the Israeli government’s ability to negotiate over what are considered two core final status issues. Ministers from Regev’s own Likud Party refused to support her initiative, with only two Jewish Home ministers voting in favour of the proposed legislation. The vote means that Regev’s bill will not receive the support of the coalition and will almost certainly fail to be adopted by the Knesset.