Mike Pouraryan
Israel & Palestine: Deja Vu!?!?
This past week saw the acceptance of invites sent out by the Middle East Quartet for Israel and Palestine to begin direct talks. That's the good news!!!
As everyone gears up, the Israeli Prime Minister has already staked out his positions. On the one hand, he is saying that he wants no pre-conditions. Yet, he is noting that the new Palestinian State has to be de-militarized and has to recongize Israel's right to exist as a home of the Jewish People. There is of course the issue of Jersuleam. While this posturing is going on, settlements are continuing to be built, the wall continues to move along and restrictive policies on Palestinians continue to stay in place.
I remain eager and do welcome the talks. The problem is that Israelis will push for talks to continue while it continues the process of making life continually difficult for the Palestinians. For the sake of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, I hope that I am wrong.
As everyone gears up, the Israeli Prime Minister has already staked out his positions. On the one hand, he is saying that he wants no pre-conditions. Yet, he is noting that the new Palestinian State has to be de-militarized and has to recongize Israel's right to exist as a home of the Jewish People. There is of course the issue of Jersuleam. While this posturing is going on, settlements are continuing to be built, the wall continues to move along and restrictive policies on Palestinians continue to stay in place.
I remain eager and do welcome the talks. The problem is that Israelis will push for talks to continue while it continues the process of making life continually difficult for the Palestinians. For the sake of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, I hope that I am wrong.
