(VOVworld)- Launched 8 months ago and backed by the US, the Middle East peace initiative of US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to meet its deadline. Instead of reaching a framework agreement on April 29th on issues concerning borders, settlements, Jerusalem, and refugees, Israel and Palestine are trading criticisms about politics and economics.
Though some US officials are insisting the peace process is only suspended, US President Barack Obama admitted last week that negotiations between Israel and Palestine stalled because leaders on both sides were unwilling to make concessions on key issues.
Retaliation instead of concession
The latest reason for Israel’s inclination to back away from the negotiations is an agreement between the PLO and the Hamas movement to set up a unity government, a move that could end years of conflict between the two. Israel insists that the agreement between these two Palestinian factions is difficult to understand and will undermine peace efforts. Israel has long considred Hamas a terrorist group and Hamas has always refused to recognize Israel and agreements previously signed between Israel and Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will never negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by a terrorist group that has vowed to destroy Israel. Israel has imposed new economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority and over the next few days, Mr. Netanyahu appears likely to continue his condemnation of the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.
The Central Council of the PLO has stepped up efforts to seek statehood for Palestine by signing 63 international conventions of the UN and has asked the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to condemn Israel for building new settlements and conducting anti-Palestine activities in Jerusalem which have damaged Catholic and Muslim churches. The Council urged UN member countries to boycott companies and organizations that support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian plan and the 120-member PLO council resolutely rejected the Israeli Prime Minister’s request for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Losses for all parties involved
According to many observers, no one will benefit from a deadlocked peace process in the Middle East. If the US is no longer interested in promoting the process, which seems highly likely for the near future, Israel and Palestine will have to resolve their conflict by themselves. For Palestine, the economic and security impacts are clear. In addition to Israel’s economic sanctions, the Palestinians face the possibility that the US will reconsider its aids to Palestine. Meanwhile, Israel is likely to become more isolated in the international arena. The European Union and other organizations are calling for a boycott and possible sanctions against Israel’s business activities in disputed settlement areas. US Secretary of State John Kerry warned that Israel’s existence as a Jewish state is precarious unless a sustainable peace agreement is reached with the Palestinian Authority.
Though the US is saying that now is the time for Israel and Palestine to consider new possibilities, it is clear that the Middle East peace process is at standstill. Compromise seems unlikely despite the fact that both Palestinian and Israeli leaders insist they wanted to extend the negotiations. This means the two sides have passed up yet another chance for peace.