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- Oct 17, 2007
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Yesterday, the Madrid Quartet (UN, EU, U.S., and Russia) issued a statement that read, in part:
The Quartet reiterated its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli -Palestinian negotiations without delay or preconditions... there will be a commitment by both sides that the objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124734.pdf
This call for direct bilateral negotiations without delay or preconditions is a positive development. If a negotiated agreement is to be reached, the parties need to negotiate such an outcome. Unnecessary delays that have little to do with preparation for negotiations and preconditions are barriers to diplomacy. I also believe the Quartet did well to state that the end date of the end of 2012 is an "objective" rather than a firm deadline. That creates flexibility should the parties need somewhat more time.
In the end, it will be interesting to see how the parties respond. Israel has already given some positive indications. In contrast, the Palestinian leadership, still pursuing its strategic choice of circumventing negotations, is sticking to preconditions that would preclude diplomacy.
The Quartet reiterated its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli -Palestinian negotiations without delay or preconditions... there will be a commitment by both sides that the objective of any negotiation is to reach an agreement within a timeframe agreed to by the parties but not longer than the end of 2012.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124734.pdf
This call for direct bilateral negotiations without delay or preconditions is a positive development. If a negotiated agreement is to be reached, the parties need to negotiate such an outcome. Unnecessary delays that have little to do with preparation for negotiations and preconditions are barriers to diplomacy. I also believe the Quartet did well to state that the end date of the end of 2012 is an "objective" rather than a firm deadline. That creates flexibility should the parties need somewhat more time.
In the end, it will be interesting to see how the parties respond. Israel has already given some positive indications. In contrast, the Palestinian leadership, still pursuing its strategic choice of circumventing negotations, is sticking to preconditions that would preclude diplomacy.