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Palestinians Warn of "New Measures" If Meeting Fails

January 03, 2012

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to take "new measures" against Israel if a much anticipated meeting in Jordan fails to bring a resumption of peace talks.

Abbas was speaking on January 3 ahead of a scheduled face-to-face meeting between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Jordan to discuss the prospects for reviving peace talks that have been stalled for more than one year.

Abbas did not give any details but sources say the measures could include more action at the United Nations.

The meeting in Amman -- bringing together Israeli negotiator Yitzhak Molcho and his Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erekat -- will be held alongside a gathering of representatives of the international Quartet of Middle East mediators – the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States.

The Quartet’s envoy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is expected to attend the session.

The meeting will not mark the start of formal negotiating sessions between the Israelis and Palestinians, and officials from all sides have sought to downplay expectations about any possible results.

Two-State Solution

"We believe now it is up to the Israeli government whether to choose the continuation of the petty politics, scoring points, finger-pointing, or to stand tall and take the right track," Palestinian negotiator Erekat said on January 2.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak intimated that he expected the Palestinians to "come without preconditions" to the meeting and that "the chance to start negotiations will be clarified."

The whole issue is very important for the state of Israel. I think it is very important for the Palestinians," he said. "It is very important to anyone who cares about the continuation of movement towards a two-state solution."

U.S.-backed peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians broke down in September, 2010.

The Palestinians have said they will only resume negotiations when Israel freezes settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel says talks should resume without preconditions.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/palestinians_warn_of_new_measures_if_meeting_fails/24441168.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.