Confusion: US Thinks Israel Peace Talks Still Going On
State Dept Dismisses Reports, But PA Very Clear in Stance
There appears to be no small level of confusion among US officials over whether or not the indirect talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority are actually going to go through as planned.
State Department spokesman PJ Crowley insisted today that “I don’t think that report that’s been circulating for the last 24 hours is accurate,” adding “as far as I know, we are still moving forward.”
But Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saed Erekat was very direct in confirming the reports, saying that the PA has no intention of resuming peace talks unless Israel halted its East Jerusalem settlement expansion. Israel has already ruled this out, effectively making the talks dead on arrival.
Exactly why the United States State Department, which is expected to broker the talks, was not told of the PA’s position is not clear, but with direct quotes from Erekat and the Arab League’s Secretary General, it does not appear that this is simply inaccurate reporting, and the peace talks appears to be, at best, on life support.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Homegrown US 'Terror Plots' Drop, But Nation Still 'On Edge' - February 9th, 2012
- Amputations Soared Among US Troops in 2011 - February 9th, 2012
- US Still Can't Find Missing Libyan Missiles - February 9th, 2012
- Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: Let Us Form Government - February 9th, 2012
- As Reports of Violence Grow in Syria, So Do Western Calls for Intervention - February 9th, 2012
Chris Lawrence
March 12th, 2010 at 3:39 am
The PA is not in charge. They do what they are told by the US. This is not a new situation, people.
Albert Bakker
March 12th, 2010 at 5:47 am
You suggest perhaps that this confusion is just "confusion" to cynically paint the PA in the corner (also occupied permanently by the Israeli) as the refusing party instead of the real culprits?
Chris Lawrence
March 12th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
The PA is not independent. They are US-backed, and they do what they are told or they are replaced. The PA no longer has any support or respect among the vast majority of the Palestinians because they have sold out over and over and over.
Sure, Abbas might have to put things off for a couple days after the Biden snub, but he'll come crawling back to the table, as always.