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Israeli-Palestinian Contacts Resume After Mini-Crisis
Israeli negotiator Gilad Sher resumed talks with his Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erekat Wednesday afternoon after a mini-crisis over Israel's intention to suspend the contacts Tuesday.
The meeting, which had become the major channel between the two ides for reviving peace talks in the past few weeks, concluded a short while ago. The two negotiators discussed several issues related to the permanent settlement and decided to continue meeting in the next few days, according to Israel Radio.
On Tuesday, a reliable source in Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Israel had halted the talks and taken a time-out for internal consultation.
However, Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who was obviously under the pressure of the United States, later backtracked and said the meeting will continue on Wednesday. Furthermore, his spokesman Gadi Baltiansky explained that reports about the suspension of the negotiations were totally misunderstandings.
Analysts believed that the farce was only a negotiation trick of Barak to put pressure on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom Israel urged to show more flexibility and openness.
Israeli Communications Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said Wednesday that Tuesday's crisis was only a warning to the Palestinians, urging them not to play games and waste time.
But the Palestinians outsmarted the Israel side by announcing Wednesday morning that they will not return to the negotiation table until Israel make an explanation for Tuesday's humiliation.
Finally, the two sides came back to the talks in the afternoon to keep momentum of the peace process, which had been in deadlock after last July's Camp David summit between Barak, Arafat and U.S. President Bill Clinton collapsed.
The major unresolved issues are the fate of Jerusalem, especially the sovereignty over the Temple Mount in the stone-walled Old City which hosts various Jewish and Muslim holy sites,
and the return of Palestinian refugees.
Briefing reporters after a parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, Barak said Wednesday that he was confident that the talks will continue.
He also stressed that the bridging proposals, which were being prepared by the U.S. and will be presented to the two sides in the next few days, are crucial for peace.
"I expect and believe that in the coming weeks we will know whether Chairman Arafat is prepared to see President Clinton's proposals -- presented at Camp David and afterwards -- as a basis for discussion," said Barak.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed Wednesday that Israeli acting Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami has spoken twice by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in the last 24 hours, obviously discussing the package proposals.
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