Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that the chances of a peace deal with the Palestinians are fading, and that as usual it is totally the fault of the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu says recent PA statements amount to a “provocation” against the Israelis, and proves that the Palestinians aren’t willing to come to a “just agreement.”
The statements in question amounted to just saying they won’t accept Israeli demands to recognize them as a “Jewish state,” nor will they accept John Kerry’s proposal to have a “capital” in a tiny neighborhood near East Jerusalem, while letting Israel keep the city itself.
Netanyahu demanded again that the Palestinians prove they want peace by offering immediate concessions on all the issues, giving in on everything Israel wants, including abandoning all refugee claims, without getting any concessions of their own or moving toward statehood.
The PA has pointed out they already recognized Israel in 1993, and that they just object to the term “Jewish state” because of the potential consequences to the nation’s Arab minority.
Would you buy a used car from this guy?
First, there really never was any chance of a peace deal happening. Ever. Israel does want peace but it doesn't include a Palestinian state. Once the indigenous Palestinian people are removed from their land then Israel will have their peace…except for the rest of the Arab/Muslim world who will insist on exacting an appropriate price from the Israelis. So, basically, Israel will never get their "peace" if they persist in the current plan.
There was an agreement, prior to the go-nowhere talks beginning, that Israel would release 100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 1,000 new units of housing in existing settlements that wouldn't be contested. Since the peace talks began, Netanyahu has announced more than 10,000 new housing units in settlements old and new. Israel still has some of the 100 prisoners in captivity, and now demands Palestine accept all Israel's demands before further releases will take place. But Netanyahu wants us to believe it's the Palestinians who are not negotiating in good faith? Maybe that tired old song plays well in neoconservative / neoliberal / Israel First right or wrong circles, but it doesn't impress or convince anyone who has been paying attention.