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CAIRO, Egypt (AP) May 1, 2010 – Arab nations endorsed indirect peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis, a move that likely paves the way for the start of long-stalled U.S.-brokered negotiations.
The United States has proposed the talks to end the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians over the conditions for resuming negotiations, which broke down more than a year ago amid Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The green light from Arab foreign ministers comes after a first attempt to get indirect talks going collapsed in March when Israel announced a new Jewish housing project in east Jerusalem. The Israeli decision enraged Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as a future capital, and drew fierce criticism from the United States. It also led to the worst rift in years between the U.S. and Israel, Washington’s closest Mideast ally.
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Arab League foreign ministers meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. (AP)
Arab League chief, Amr Moussa, stressed that the league would be keeping a close eye on the talks, and said there will be no transition from indirect to direct negotiations.
Syria and Lebanon rejected the decision, saying the U.S. had not provided adequate safeguards needed to renew negotiations.
There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials.
“Because as Yitzhak Rabin said, ultimately, the leaders and the people of the region must provide the vision for peace and the will to realize it. The Arab Peace Initiative offers such a vision, a vision of a better future for all of the people of the Middle East. It rests on the bargain that peace between the Israelis and Palestinians will bring recognition and normalization from the Arab states. It is time to advance this proposal with actions, not just words.
We do not expect the Arab states to move forward in a vacuum. Israel must do its part by respecting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, stopping settlement activity, addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza, and supporting the institution-building efforts of the Palestinian Authority.
And Palestinians must continue their efforts to take responsibility and accountability for security in the West Bank. They must be vigilant in their work to stop incitement and prevent violence and terror. And they must press forward with the institutional and economic reforms under President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad’s leadership, which we support.”
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Video and text: Secretary Clinton’s Remarks At the American Jewish Committee Annual Gala Dinner.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
