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Faulting Both Israelis and Palestinians, Report Aims to Revive Peace Talks Faulting Both Israelis and Palestinians, Report Aims to Revive Peace Talks
(about 1 hour later)
UNITED NATIONS — Israel should cease its policy of building settlements in the occupied West Bank, stop setting aside land for “exclusive Israeli use” and end the practice of denying Palestinians permission to build homes, according to a long-awaited report released Friday and endorsed by the United States.UNITED NATIONS — Israel should cease its policy of building settlements in the occupied West Bank, stop setting aside land for “exclusive Israeli use” and end the practice of denying Palestinians permission to build homes, according to a long-awaited report released Friday and endorsed by the United States.
The report, issued by the Middle East Quartet, also sharply criticizes Palestinian groups for glorifying individuals who carry out deadly attacks, and it points to the Palestinian Authority’s lack of control on the restive Gaza Strip, calling on Palestinian leaders to “cease incitement to violence.”The report, issued by the Middle East Quartet, also sharply criticizes Palestinian groups for glorifying individuals who carry out deadly attacks, and it points to the Palestinian Authority’s lack of control on the restive Gaza Strip, calling on Palestinian leaders to “cease incitement to violence.”
The Quartet, made up of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, is trying to nudge the Israelis and Palestinians to resume negotiations, which broke down more than two years ago.The Quartet, made up of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, is trying to nudge the Israelis and Palestinians to resume negotiations, which broke down more than two years ago.
The report contains no hint that the group favors any legally binding measures by the United Nations Security Council. As such, its impact may well be limited, at least for now.The report contains no hint that the group favors any legally binding measures by the United Nations Security Council. As such, its impact may well be limited, at least for now.
The language of the nine-page report, along with Washington’s blessings, could signal President Obama’s efforts to make a final push on what was once a centerpiece of his foreign policy: an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. That goal has become a major diplomatic frustration, and there is little expectation that the White House will take any significant steps before the election. Coming so late in the president’s second term, the report could instead offer a path to his successor.The language of the nine-page report, along with Washington’s blessings, could signal President Obama’s efforts to make a final push on what was once a centerpiece of his foreign policy: an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. That goal has become a major diplomatic frustration, and there is little expectation that the White House will take any significant steps before the election. Coming so late in the president’s second term, the report could instead offer a path to his successor.
“This is designed to signal, but with very low expectations that its going change behavior by the Israelis or the Palestinians,” said Aaron David Miller, a scholar at the Middle East program of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and a former adviser to both Republican and Democratic administrations. “What I think it could be a prelude to is an American effort after November.”“This is designed to signal, but with very low expectations that its going change behavior by the Israelis or the Palestinians,” said Aaron David Miller, a scholar at the Middle East program of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and a former adviser to both Republican and Democratic administrations. “What I think it could be a prelude to is an American effort after November.”
It remains to be seen if the Quartet’s report will prompt a Security Council resolution, an idea that the United States has long opposed but that has the support of its European partners. It directs its recommendations only to the Israelis and Palestinians, calling on them to “independently demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution.”It remains to be seen if the Quartet’s report will prompt a Security Council resolution, an idea that the United States has long opposed but that has the support of its European partners. It directs its recommendations only to the Israelis and Palestinians, calling on them to “independently demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution.”
The United Nations envoy who was involved in drafting the report, Nickolay Mladenov, said the goal was to show both sides that it is in their interest to return to negotiations.The United Nations envoy who was involved in drafting the report, Nickolay Mladenov, said the goal was to show both sides that it is in their interest to return to negotiations.
“The main objective of the report is not to be a scorecard for assigning blame, but to provide a constructive way forward toward achieving a negotiated two-state solution,” he said on Friday. “Any other scenario entrenches a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.”“The main objective of the report is not to be a scorecard for assigning blame, but to provide a constructive way forward toward achieving a negotiated two-state solution,” he said on Friday. “Any other scenario entrenches a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.”
The report offered strong criticism of Israeli settlements. Since the start of the Oslo peace talks in 1993, settlements in the occupied West Bank have doubled, the report says, much of it “unilaterally taken for exclusive Israeli use.” From 2009 to 2014, the report says, a small fraction of applications for Palestinian housing construction were approved; none were granted in 2015. Instead, in the first four months of the year, 500 Palestinian structures were demolished.The report offered strong criticism of Israeli settlements. Since the start of the Oslo peace talks in 1993, settlements in the occupied West Bank have doubled, the report says, much of it “unilaterally taken for exclusive Israeli use.” From 2009 to 2014, the report says, a small fraction of applications for Palestinian housing construction were approved; none were granted in 2015. Instead, in the first four months of the year, 500 Palestinian structures were demolished.
“This raises legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions, which are compounded by the statements of some Israeli ministers that there should never be a Palestinian state,” the report says.“This raises legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions, which are compounded by the statements of some Israeli ministers that there should never be a Palestinian state,” the report says.
Among its strongest recommendations: “Israel should cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and denying Palestinian development.”
In a bid to address Israeli concerns, the report also urges the Palestinian Authority to “cease incitement to violence and strengthen ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including by clearly condemning all acts of terrorism.”In a bid to address Israeli concerns, the report also urges the Palestinian Authority to “cease incitement to violence and strengthen ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including by clearly condemning all acts of terrorism.”
It holds Hamas principally responsible for glorifying terrorism, openly calling for violent attacks against Jews and posting instructions on social media on how to carry out stabbings. It faults Hamas for continuing to fire rockets into Israel – 160 since the cease-fire in the summer of 2014 – and for continuing to build tunnels and amass weapons.It holds Hamas principally responsible for glorifying terrorism, openly calling for violent attacks against Jews and posting instructions on social media on how to carry out stabbings. It faults Hamas for continuing to fire rockets into Israel – 160 since the cease-fire in the summer of 2014 – and for continuing to build tunnels and amass weapons.
But it also takes the Palestinian Authority’s leaders to task, saying they “have not consistently and clearly condemned specific terrorist attacks.” It also notes that “streets, squares and schools have been named after Palestinians who have committed acts of terrorism.”But it also takes the Palestinian Authority’s leaders to task, saying they “have not consistently and clearly condemned specific terrorist attacks.” It also notes that “streets, squares and schools have been named after Palestinians who have committed acts of terrorism.”
As if to underscore how unready both sides are to go back to negotiations, the reactions to the report were swift and damning from both the Israeli prime minister and the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.As if to underscore how unready both sides are to go back to negotiations, the reactions to the report were swift and damning from both the Israeli prime minister and the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the report “perpetuates the myth that Israeli construction in the West Bank is an obstacle to peace,” though it praised the report for citing “the centrality of Palestinian incitement.”Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the report “perpetuates the myth that Israeli construction in the West Bank is an obstacle to peace,” though it praised the report for citing “the centrality of Palestinian incitement.”
That is what the Palestine Liberation Organization secretary general, Saeb Erekat, took issue with, calling it an attempt to “equalize the responsibilities between a people under occupation and a foreign military occupier.”That is what the Palestine Liberation Organization secretary general, Saeb Erekat, took issue with, calling it an attempt to “equalize the responsibilities between a people under occupation and a foreign military occupier.”
The Israelis and Palestinians were asked for written contributions for the report, Mr. Mladenov said.The Israelis and Palestinians were asked for written contributions for the report, Mr. Mladenov said.