BICOM

In his first public comments since peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ended without agreement, US special envoy Martin Indyk outlined the reasons why negotiations broke down.

Indyk was appointed as the United States’ special envoy to the talks and was the principle facilitator during negotiations. Speaking last night at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, Indyk said, “We have passed the nine-month marker for these negotiations, and for the time being the talks have been suspended.” However, he insisted “Some have said this process is over. But that is not correct … in the Middle East, it’s never over.”

Indyk then went on to assess why the talks did not succeed, saying that although both sides demonstrated flexibility, neither felt “the pressing need to make the gut-wrenching compromises necessary to achieve peace.” He said, “It is easier for the Palestinians to sign conventions and appeal to international bodies … It is easier for Israeli politicians to avoid tension in the governing coalition,” concluding that, “If we, the United States, are the only party that has a sense of urgency, these negotiations will not succeed.”

Indyk warned that “rampant settlement activity” not only undermined Palestinian trust, but “it could mortally wound the idea of Israel as a Jewish state.” However, analysing the final weeks of talks, he said that Palestinian accession to 15 international treaties “at the very moment when we were attempting to secure the release of the fourth tranche of prisoners was particularly counterproductive.” Indyk added that the “final step that led to the suspension of the negotiations at the end of April was the announcement of a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement.”

Meanwhile, following a meeting yesterday with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said there are “principles that must guide a Palestinian government” formed as a result of the Fatah-Hamas pact. Rice specified them as unambiguous and explicit commitment to nonviolence, recognition of the State of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements.