Talks between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) may begin by the end of September under the auspices of the US President Barak Obama. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu briefed his cabinet after a meeting of the mini-cabinet on Thursday night, during which the prime minister reported progress following meetings with his emissary, Yitzchak Molcho, in Washington.
The prime minister will be meeting in London with US Mideast envoy George Mitchell in another effort to reach an understanding and address tenacious US objections to Israeli construction.
The prime minister told his cabinet that significant progress is seen, adding there are still matters to work out regarding differences between the Israeli and US positions, but the prime minister spoke of a “good atmosphere” and “intense pace” and “progress”.
The prime minister is signaling talks may begin during the UN General Assembly. Resumption of talks with the PA under the White House veil may result in a one-year construction freeze throughout Yehuda and Shomron, but officials in Yerushalayim are signaling such a move would not include the capital and the ‘large settlement blocs’. Efforts also continue to complete some 2,000 housing units already in various stages of construction.
Officials in the PA are rejecting statements from Netanyahu, of resuming negotiations without preconditions, insisting talks must resume from the place they broke off with the previous administration of Ehud Olmert.
Mr. Netanyahu left Israel on Monday for London, where he will also be meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Following his meeting with Mitchell, he will also make a stopover in Germany for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two are expected to discuss progress surrounding Germany’s efforts to negotiate a deal for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
According to my luach, Yom Kippur is rapidly approaching. It occurs “at the end of September”. Do the Jews in the Israeli government have a Jewish calendar? (Not to mention the Obama handlers.)
Ah, but Ramadanadan….