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Prospects for the Resumption of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) David Makovsky - Currently, U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell is exploring whether it is possible to return to the peace table after what might be called a lost year. The two sides have quietly agreed to a text that could serve as a foundation for renewed talks. The subject of months of negotiations, the text was released under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's name and encapsulates Israeli and Palestinian aspirations, stating: "We believe that through good-faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps, and the Israeli goal of a Jewish state with secure and recognized borders that reflect subsequent developments and meet Israeli security requirements." In effect, the text allowed Washington to say that the goals of the two sides are reconcilable, without committing itself or Israel to the 1967 lines or to land swaps that would counterbalance settlement blocs. With the exception of Egypt (which has sought to restart talks), the Arab states have done virtually nothing to realize Mitchell's hope that they would reciprocate an Israeli settlement moratorium. The writer is a Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at the Washington Institute.
2010-01-18 08:06:38
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