JERUSALEM—Just as Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel, the Department of State published a statement by Special Envoy George Mitchell announcing the much anticipated indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
“I’m pleased that the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have accepted indirect talks,” read the statement. “We’ve begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks and I will return to the region next week to continue our discussions. As we’ve said many times, we hope that these will lead to direct negotiations as soon as possible. We also again encourage the parties, and all concerned, to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.”
Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the announcement that his government had been waiting for the resumption of peace talk, without preconditions for more than a year, reported Israeli media.
The prime minister added that he will stick to the conditions he previously set forth in a policy speech given at Bar Ilan University: a demilitarized Palestinian state, Palestinian acceptance of Israel as a Jewish state, and no return of Palestinian refugees to Israel.
Earlier this week, the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the umbrella organization of Palestinian national movements, authorized starting indirect talks with Israel. This decision followed similar support given by the Arab League.
The renewed negotiation follows a halt of about a year since Israel elected a new more right-wing government.
The last major round of negotiation was the Annapolis process back in Nov. 2007, which aimed at establishing a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. Since the failure of the Annapolis process, there have been no meaningful talks between the two sides.
Vice President Biden is in the Middle East for a five-day visit to discuss regional and bilateral issues. The vice president will meet with the president and prime minister of Israel, the president and prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, and will also travel to Jordan.
“I’m pleased that the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have accepted indirect talks,” read the statement. “We’ve begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks and I will return to the region next week to continue our discussions. As we’ve said many times, we hope that these will lead to direct negotiations as soon as possible. We also again encourage the parties, and all concerned, to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.”
Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the announcement that his government had been waiting for the resumption of peace talk, without preconditions for more than a year, reported Israeli media.
The prime minister added that he will stick to the conditions he previously set forth in a policy speech given at Bar Ilan University: a demilitarized Palestinian state, Palestinian acceptance of Israel as a Jewish state, and no return of Palestinian refugees to Israel.
Earlier this week, the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the umbrella organization of Palestinian national movements, authorized starting indirect talks with Israel. This decision followed similar support given by the Arab League.
The renewed negotiation follows a halt of about a year since Israel elected a new more right-wing government.
The last major round of negotiation was the Annapolis process back in Nov. 2007, which aimed at establishing a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. Since the failure of the Annapolis process, there have been no meaningful talks between the two sides.
Vice President Biden is in the Middle East for a five-day visit to discuss regional and bilateral issues. The vice president will meet with the president and prime minister of Israel, the president and prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, and will also travel to Jordan.
