Settlement division dwarfs Kerry's effort for Mideast peace talks

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Settlement division dwarfs Kerry's effort for Mideast peace talks

(Xinhua) 15:13, November 07, 2013

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 7 -- With peace talks between Israel and Palestine on the verge of collapse, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday carried out shuttle diplomacy in a last-ditch effort of damage control.

After more than 15 sessions of negotiations, the peace talks have reportedly hit serious cracks recently. Accusations are being thrown at each other about who is to blame for the dire situation.

With incessant efforts, Kerry successfully ended a three-year stalling and brought the two rivals back to negotiations in Washington this July. However, the wind seemed not favorable for him this time.

By laying a wreath to Israel's late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Kerry reminded the two sides of the need to carry on Rabin's legacy of peace.

But the harsh reality soon kicked in. As Kerry started his shuttle diplomacy on Wednesday, the already-ailing peace talks were disrupted again by strong disagreements on Israel's settlement expansion.

While the Israeli and Palestinian officials exchanged blows in statements, reports mounted that a Tuesday meeting between the negotiators exploded with shouts. On top of that, members of the Palestinian team had even threatened to withdraw.

Deeming the expansion as an exchange, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the planned expansion goes hand in hand with its gesture of agreeing to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, 56 of which had already been set free thus far.

However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly denied throughout the week that Palestine agreed to such an exchange.

Only on Monday, two days before Kerry's visit, Abbas told the press that "it seems that the situation is likely to explode soon" and that negotiations were at a standstill.

Kerry's damage-control efforts were translated into his statement on Monday after meeting with Abbas. While saying Abbas is "100 percent committed" to keeping the peace talks going on, Kerry admitted that Israel's settlement policy is cutting the lifeline of diplomatic efforts for peace talks.

"The Palestinians believe that the settlements are illegal," Kerry said. "The United States has said that...the settlements are not helpful and illegitimate."

According to a report by the Ha'aretz daily, Kerry reiterated the illegitimacy of the settlements in separate meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Netanyahu.

In August, Washington gave Israel and the Palestinians nine months to reach an interim agreement. But now after three months, things aren't looking as if they are about to change and it seems the parties will continue to tread water.

While Netanyahu and Kerry met in Jerusalem, another significant occurring on the same day may further illuminate the future of Israel's diplomatic policy.