WEST BANK: Egyptian delegation looks to break the impasse in direct talks with Israel

Record ID: 560935

  • Title: WEST BANK: Egyptian delegation looks to break the impasse in direct talks with Israel
  • Date: 29th October 2010
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 28, 2010) (REUTERS) HELICOPTER CARRYING EGYPTIAN DELEGATION LANDING AT PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION LED BY EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT AND THE EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF OMAR SULEIMAN ARRIVING AT PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND CAMERAMAN EGYPTIAN DELEGATION WITH PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS ENTERING COMPOUND PALESTINIAN FLAG PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS MEETING WITH EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT CLOSE OF ABOUL GHEIT CLOSE OF ABBAS PALESTINIAN AND EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS AT MEETING MORE OF MEETING ABBAS AND ABUL GHEITH TAKING PODIUM WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "The first of these options is the return to direct talks if Israel completely halts its settlement construction. Then there is the option of talking to the United States in the first instance and asking them to take a position on most of the issues -- and specifically, over the existence of a Palestinian State and to recognize this state within the borders of 1967 -- then there is the other option: that we go with them to the Security Council to present that idea (recognition of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders)." CAMERA OPERATOR SECURITY EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABUL GHEITH SAYING: "We should not jump back from reaching for our goals before we run out of these steps. If we are concentrating on the negotiations and to convince Israel to, or to force it, to follow the American demand, which is internationally supported, and the European demand, which is internationally supported - to stop settlement activity, then let us continue on this route until we discover that this route does not take us far or does not achieve our goals, only then we move to another option - Security Council, the General Assembly and all the political and diplomatic options that are available." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE ABBAS AND ABUL GHEITH SHAKE HANDS AND WALK AWAY
  • Embargoed: 13th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6DGZF8T4577YOOJBFNB5BARQ2
  • Story Text: The Palestinian president said on Thursday (October 28) he was still focused on a return to direct peace talks with Israel, but looking at alternatives, including seeking U.S. support for a Palestinian state.
    President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, repeated his demand for a halt to Jewish settlement building on occupied land before any return to peace talks.
    Abbas said his first choice was a return to those talks, which aim at the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel on the land it has occupied since a 1967 war.
    ""The first of these options is the return to direct talks if Israel completely halts its settlement construction. Then there is the option of talking to the United States in the first instance and asking them to take a position on most of the issues -- and specifically, over the existence of a Palestinian State and to recognize this state within the borders of 1967 -- then there is the other option: that we go with them to the Security Council to present that idea (recognition of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders)."Abbas said at a news conference in Ramallah.
    A new round of direct peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians got underway in Washington on Sept. 2 only to stall a few weeks later when Israel lifted restrictions it had imposed on West Bank settlement building for 10 months.
    The Arab League, where Egypt is a dominant player, convened on Oct. 9 and gave the United States a month to persuade Israel to halt settlement building. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted calls to do so.
    His cabinet is dominated by parties which support the settlers, including his own Likud.
    Aboul Gheit said that as yet there was no discussion with the United States about what the Palestinians would do if the direct negotiations did not resume.
    "We should not jump back from reaching for our goals before we run out of these steps. If we are concentrating on the negotiations and to convince Israel to, or to force it, to follow the American demand, which is internationally supported, and the European demand, which is internationally supported - to stop settlement activity, then let us continue on this route until we discover that this route does not take us far or does not achieve our goals, only then we move to another option - Security Council, the General Assembly and all the political and diplomatic options that are available," he said.
    Were the negotiations to remain frozen Abbas said his next option was to consult the United States with the aim of securing recognition of a Palestinian state. After that, the Palestinians would go to the Security Council, he said.
    Netanyahu said on Sunday the Palestinians should not take any unilateral steps towards statehood. He said any attempt to circumvent direct talks by going to international bodies would be unrealistic.
    Commenting on Netanyahu's remarks, Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority could approach the Security Council within months.
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