After a three-year break, Palestine-Israel peace talks are once again slated to kick off soon in Washington. US Secretary of State John Kerry must be given the due credit for convincing both sides to return to the negotiation table.
Saeb Erekat from the Palestinian side and Tzipi Livni from the Israeli side are scheduled to meet in Washington to open the talks that are likely to continue for six months. As the Director of Peace Project, David Makovsk, said Kerry has put them in the pool and they’re in the very shallow end, and they’re going to have to swim in deeper waters — and they can be treacherous. It’s still an achievement that he got them into the pool. This is diplomatic-cum-poetic language at its best! It has been reported that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be released in phases as a result of an agreement to begin negotiations. In view of the tormenting history of Palestine, one can only hope that this time around something will be achieved. — Shaukat Ali, Dhahran
Mideast peace: Keeping fingers crossed
