Kerry: ‘compromise’ key in Israel-Palestine talks

Preliminary talks, with a view to formally reopening peace negotiations, are due to begin in the US on Monday evening and continue on Tuesday. Negotiators from Israel and Palestine were flying out to the US capital on Monday, following the Israeli announcment that more than 100 prisoners would be released.

The talks will be conducted by senior aides to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the US state department said.

Complicated, emotional, symbolic

The talks are a successful result for US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been trying to get the two parties to return to the negotiating table, and has made six peace-making trips to the Middle East in the last four months.

I know the negotations are going to be tough, but I also know the consequences of not trying could be worse. John Kerry

Mr Kerry said it had taken “many hours and many trips” to get to this stage, and said that the road ahead would be strewn with “difficult choices”. He also named Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, as Washington’s Middle East envoy, whose job will be to oversee negotiations.

“It is no secret that this is a difficult process,” Mr Kerry said. “If it were easy it would have happened a long time ago.

“It’s no secret therefore that many difficult choices lie ahead for the negotiators, and the leaders, as we seek reasonable compromises on tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic issues. I think reasonable compromises has to be a keystone of all of this effort.

“I know the negotations are going to be tough, but I also know the consequences of not trying could be worse.”

Mr Indyk added: “It is a daunting and humbling challenge, but one that I cannot desist from.

“I look forward with great excitment to working with you (Mr Kerry), President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu and their teams to do our best to achieve President Obama’s vision of two states living side by side in peace and security.”

Prisoner release

On Sunday, an important piece of the puzzle towards negotiation was put in place. Israel announced, following a vote, that 104 prisoners, convicted of deadly attacks, would be released.

Mr Netanyahu said when politicians met on Sunday: “This moment is not easy for me, is not easy for the cabinet ministers, and is not easy especially for the bereaved families, whose feelings I understand.

There are moments in which tough decisions must be made for the good of the nation and this is one of those moments. Benjamin Netanyahu

“But there are moments in which tough decisions must be made for the good of the nation and this is one of those moments.”

Following the decision to release the prisoners, the US state department announced the Washington talks would be talking place.

It is understood that the prisoners will be released in three stages, depending on the progress of the talks. The last tranche of prisoners, Israel’s Channel 1 television said, would include a group of Israeli citizens.

According to the Jerusalem Post, hundreds gathered at Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem office to protest against the release.

‘Difficult decisions’

The last round of direct negotiations between the two countries broke down in 2010, following a dispute over Jewish settlement construction on the West Bank.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will return to talks on Monday evening at an iftar, the evening meal at which Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast, followed by further talks on Tuesday.

Mr Kerry said in a statement: “Both leaders have demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions that have been instrumental in getting to this point. We are grateful for their leadership.”

However, difficult decisions is only the starting point. The major issues of Jewish settlement on the West Bank (see graphic, right), the states of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees will not be easily overcome.

Israel’s chief negotiator Tzipi Livni said early on Monday as she left for Washington that talks will be complex and that she was leaving “cautiously but also with hope.”