Face-to-face Mideast talks open
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands in the presence of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on Thursday. (Reuters)
Published: Sep 3, 2010 00:20 Updated: Sep 3, 2010 00:28
WASHINGTON: After a day of ceremony and separate meetings at the White House with US President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sat down together Thursday to begin direct talks for the first time in nearly two years for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The negotiations between the parties got under way Thursday with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton describing Netanyahu and Abbas as the people who could make the "long-cherished dream a reality." At a ceremony in the State Department's ornate Benjamin Franklin room, Clinton said the Obama administration was committed to helping the two sides find a solution to the Middle East problem, but stressed that after decades of failed attempts, the heavy lifting must be done by both Netanyahu and Abbas. "I know the decision to sit at this table was not easy," Clinton said. "We understand the suspicion and skepticism that so many feel.”
"By being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your peoples from the shackles of a history we cannot change," Clinton said. "To those who criticize this process, I ask you to join us in this effort."
After their 90-minute talks, Netanyahu and Abbas agreed to resume their negotiations in the Middle East on Sept. 14 and 15 and every two weeks thereafter, US special envoy George Mitchell said.
The two leaders agreed that the negotiations "can be completed in one year and that the aim of the negotiations is to resolve all core issues," he said, referring to security, borders, the status of Palestinian refugees and the fate of Jerusalem.
"The parties agreed that a logical next step would be to begin working on achieving a framework agreement for permanent status," Mitchell said.
"The purpose of a framework agreement will be to establish the fundamental compromises necessary to enable them to flesh out and complete a comprehensive treaty that will end the conflict and establish a lasting peace," he said.
Speaking at the start of the negotiations, Clinton said the US "cannot and will not impose a solution" to the conflict.
Speaking first at the talks launching ceremony, Netanyahu said he saw in Abbas "a partner for peace." "Together we can lead our people to an historic future that can put an end to claims and conflict," he added.
Netanyahu warned of the need to make "painful concessions" on both sides.
Speaking after Netanyahu, who spoke in English, Abbas lost momentum and an opportunity to speak directly to American people by speaking in Arabic and there was a long lapse before a translator was hooked up for simultaneous translation. Abbas said that current peace talks are meant to bring peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people within a year.
He thanked the US diplomats for their part in the launch of the talks and said: "Peace is not only in the interest of Palestinians, but in the interest of the entire region."
Thursday's negotiations are the first since the last effort broke down in December 2008, and are fraught with complications, including recent violence in the West Bank and Israeli settlement activity. Expectations are low and US officials have said that success may be only an agreement to hold a second round of negotiations.
The issues that must be addressed are contentious. Many Israelis don't want to give up land for peace, particularly in East Jerusalem. Palestinians want Israel to extend its moratorium on West Bank settlements as a first sign of good faith.
This puts Netanyahu and Abbas in a difficult spot. If they amicably begin bargaining, they will alienate many of their constituents who favor a hard line. If they stick by previous positions on issues such as dividing Jerusalem and returning refugees, the talks will go nowhere.

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