Israel Matzav: It's come to this, Part 1

It's come to this, Part 1

It's come to this.

The Obama administration is so desperate for talks, some kind of talks, any kind of talks between Israel and the 'Palestinians' that it has proposed that the parties hold direct (to satisfy Israel), 'low level' (to let Abu Bluff save face about not 'negotiating' with Israel) talks about something.

Palestinian sources familiar with Mitchell's weekend round of diplomacy said he had proposed confidence-building measures that would improve conditions in the Palestinian territories.

...

The confidence-building steps cited by Palestinians as areas they would be keen to discuss included the transfer of authority from the Israeli army to the Palestinians in more of the West Bank's territory, the removal of some Israeli checkpoints and release of a number of Palestinian prisoners.

These measures would be discussed at a meeting of senior ministers from each side, but not the top leaders.

Israeli political sources said they were not aware of specific secondary issues, such as prisoners, that might be discussed with the Palestinians -- they spoke rather of talks at a ministerial or lower level that would look at narrowing differences over "core issues" in suspended peace negotiations.

Core issues include the future borders of a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and fate of Palestinian refugees.

A year of U.S. diplomatic efforts has so far failed to relaunch talks aimed at ending the decades-old conflict through a peace treaty agreeing to the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Holding a low-level meeting with the Israelis that tackles issues related to the daily life of Palestinians will not be an alternative to political negotiations," said the Palestinian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

...

The Palestinian official said Abbas would stick by his insistence on a full halt to Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, before any resumption of full peace talks. He has rejected a 10-month, partial Israeli freeze announced in November as insufficient.

On Sunday, US Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell left the region empty-handed, with the 'Palestinians' refusing to come to the table, disappointed over the 'lack' of US pressure on Israel, and insisting that they want a letter promising that they will get a 'Palestinian state' within the 1967 borders as the outcome before they agree to talk to any Israelis.

Isn't it amazing that thirteen months ago with George W. Bush in office, the parties were negotiating? I wonder what would have happened if the moron in the White House hadn't started up with a 'full settlement freeze.'

Hmmm.

Israel Matzav: It's come to this, Part 1