Abu Mazen refuses to meet Netanyahu
As I predicted on Wednesday morning, Abu Mazen is refusing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu unless and until Israel agrees to a full 'settlement freeze.' Israelis and Palestinians said Wednesday that their envoys would meet with U.S. officials but not with each other, cementing the impression that a U.S.-sponsored meeting between their leaders had fallen flat.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said there would be no follow-up session with the Israelis because the two sides hadn't bridged the divides that have prevented them from resuming talks.
"It's not happening because we agreed to continue dealing with the Americans until we reach the agreement that will enable us to relaunch the negotiations," Erekat said.
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Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel would dispatch envoys to meet with U.S. officials in Washington, but there were no plans now to meet again with the Palestinians.
By elevating the issue of settlements, Obama only played into the Palestinians’ natural inclination toward rejectionism and obstructionism. But let’s be candid: the Palestinians are in no position to make a deal—or discuss a deal. What promise could they give about terrorism? What offer of recognition would they be empowered to make? All that has happened is that the naive and self-described “impatient” U.S. president has given the Palestinians a ready-made excuse not to show up.
Israel Matzav: Abu Mazen refuses to meet Netanyahu
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