The US has proposed nothing new for peace regulation between Palestinians and Jews, said Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian National Authority, to the Al Arabiya TV channel.
This statement proves the failure of the recent meeting of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Mahmoud Abbas in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The parties could not agree on a common approach to Israeli actions in Palestine. Hillary Clinton asked Mahmoud Abbas to allow Israel to finish the construction of three thousand houses on the West bank of the river Jordan and continue the construction of public and private buildings in the Eastern part of Jerusalem.
This is absolutely unacceptable for Palestinians. Mahmoud Abbas said the negotiations with Israel would continue only if Israel stops its settlement activity on the West bank of the Jordan, in Jerusalem and in the surrounding areas. As for the Americans, they amended their position. Vladimir Akhmedov, an expert from the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences says:
"The US was influenced by the current Israeli government rather than affected it on the issue of resuming the negotiations with Palestine. The US retreated from its former position to resume talks only if Israeli settlements are not constructed. Unfortunately, the Clinton-Abbas round did not satisfy the Palestinians".
Barack Obama during his Middle East tour used to state that the US may act as a mediator at Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. This statement awoke certain hopes and expectations in the region. After Hillary Clinton’s visit, Palestinians were disappointed which means that any settlement in the Middle East is postponed. Joint efforts by the international mediators will be needed as an incentive.
Evgeny Krishkin
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