WEST BANK: Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat meets U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell

Record ID: 560152

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat meets U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell
  • Date: 15th December 2010
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 14, 2010) (REUTERS) U.S. MIDEAST CONVOY GEORGE MITCHELL'S CONVOY ARRIVES AT MUQATA, PRESIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS IN RAMALLAH SECURITY U.S. ENVOY GEORGE MITCHELL GETTING OUT OF CAR AND BEING GREETED BY PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, SAEB EREKAT PALESTINIAN SECURITY IN UNIFORM MITCHELL ENTERS BUILDING, WAVES TO PRESS PALESTINIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF MITCHELL, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AND DELEGATION MEETING MITCHELL AND EREKAT WALK OUT OF BUILDING TOGETHER SECURITY MAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT AND U.S. MIDEAST ENVOY GEORGE MITCHELL APPROACHING MEDIA PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. MIDEAST ENVOY GEORGE MITCHELL SAYING: "There have been many difficulties obstacles and setbacks along the way that has been the case through out the history of this conflict and this region we accept it but we are determined to persevere in our efforts until we reach the successful conclusion that I think all want; an independent, viable state of Palestine in which its people have the dignity of freedom and self determination, living side by side in peace with Israel." MITCHELL AND U.S. DELEGATION HEADING TOWARDS CARS TO LEAVE EREKAT TAKING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT SAYING: "Whoever speaks about reaching a comprehensive peace and a two-state solution should make the Israeli government stop all settlement activities and whatever actions they are carrying out in Jerusalem, whether house demolition or deportation of residents or creating realities on the ground. We hold the Israeli government responsible for changing the discourse of the peace process and when it was given the choice between peace and settlements it chose settlements." EREKAT WALKING AWAY PALESTINIAN FLAG EXTERIOR OF MUQATA, PRESIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 30th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVABHSYAJ5UWPIXIVECONXIXQF37
  • Story Text: Washington's Middle East peace envoy who said he would strive to achieve "real progress" in the coming months toward a Middle East framework peace deal met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday (December 14) at the Muqata in Ramallah.
    Launching a fresh round of shuttle diplomacy in the region since negotiations hit an impasse over Jewish settlement building, envoy George Mitchell met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem on Monday ahead of his trip to Ramallah.
    At the end of the meeting with Abbas, Mitchell expressed hope that despite setbacks a fruitful conversation between the two sides will kick off and yield results.
    "There have been many difficulties obstacles and setbacks along the way that has been the case through out the history of this conflict and this region we accept it but we are determined to persevere in our efforts until we reach the successful conclusion that I think all want; an independent, viable state of Palestine in which its people have the dignity of freedom and self determination, living side by side in peace with Israel," Mitchell said.
    The Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat, blamed Israel for the change in discourse in peace making, telling journalists that those who want a two-state solution need to stop Israeli settlement activity. "Whoever speaks about reaching a comprehensive peace and a two-state solution should make the Israeli government stop all settlement activities and whatever actions they are carrying out in Jerusalem, whether house demolition or deportation of residents or creating realities on the ground. We hold the Israeli government responsible for changing the discourse of the peace process and when it was given the choice between peace and settlements it chose settlements," Erekat told reports at the Muqata.
    Mitchell had shuttled between Israeli and Palestinian leaders for months before direct talks were launched in September. The talks broke down several weeks later when Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month freeze of housing starts in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
    Washington formally called off earlier this month behind-the-scenes efforts to persuade Israel to agree to a partial renewal of the settlement moratorium, in exchange for security inducements.
    With face-to-face talks at an end for now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Friday the U.S. would refocus efforts on a return to indirect talks and that Washington would also push to resolve core issues of the six-decade-old conflict.
    These issues include borders, security, the future of Jerusalem and settlements in territory Israel occupied in a 1967 war and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
    Palestinian officials, who have been highly critical of the U.S. policy shift, said the seriousness of any diplomacy would depend on a halt to settlement building and setting out clear terms of reference.
    Palestinian officials fear settlement expansion on land where they aim to found their state will render that goal impossible, and have voiced concern Israel may try to avoid discussion of future borders of a state they intend to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, occupied by Israel in 1967.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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