Envoy’s Progress In Mideast Minimal Israeli-Palestinian Mistrust Keen After U.S. Diplomat’s Visit
Despite round-the-clock meetings this week with a special U.S. envoy, Israeli and Palestinian officials appear as wary and suspicious of each other as they were before the mediator arrived.
A senior U.S. official said Thursday that “not a lot of progress” was made by mediator Dennis Ross in his effort to rebuild confidence between the two sides - a key element for real progress on security issues.
“Just baby steps,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“Both sides need to tone down the rhetoric and the accusations,” the official said. “We have to really get back to dealing with each other as partners. It’s easy to break trust. It’s very difficult to build it.”
Ross left the region Wednesday night after four days of meetings, urging Israel to ease sanctions on the Palestinians. Israel lifted roadblocks Thursday on the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Hebron, but continued to bar tens of thousands of Palestinians from reaching jobs within Israel.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat underscored the lack of trust in remarks Thursday to Israeli peace activists and legislators in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
“How can you dance the tango alone?” Arafat said. “We say, ‘Is this government really ready to work with us to preserve the peace process and protect it?’ Is it really ready to do so? I am sorry to say the answer is no.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to lift the harshest of the economic sanctions imposed after terrorists’ bombs exploded July 30 in a Jerusalem market, killing 16 people including the two bombers. Netanyahu has insisted that Arafat crack down on terrorist organizations in the West Bank and Gaza before Israel releases $40 million in taxes owed to the Palestinian Authority.
David Bar Illan, a key adviser to the prime minister, referred Thursday to “a certain seriousness” in security meetings with the Palestinians that resumed after Ross’ intervention.
“And we welcome it,” Bar Illan said. “We are waiting to see if it translates into deeds. If this first step is followed by other steps, it will be remembered as a very good step in the right direction. If it is followed by no concrete results it will be considered a futile step.”
A spokesman for U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright meanwhile reaffirmed Albright’s plans to travel to the region but said her trip may be delayed until September. Palestinian leaders are counting on Albright’s visit to forge real change in a process they believe has been stymied by the policies of Netanyahu.
“As far as the Palestinians are concerned only the Americans can make a difference,” said Khalil Shikaki, executive director of the Nablus-based Center for Palestine Research and Studies. “Only the Americans can put pressure on (the Israelis).”
The Palestinians want a halt to Israeli construction in East Jerusalem and in West Bank settlements. Netanyahu has maintained that Israelis are entitled to build to satisfy the “natural growth.” But the Palestinians say Israel is attempting to solidify its control over land that they want as part of a future Palestinian state.
The Clinton administration, in a shift in U.S. policy, has said it supports accelerating negotiations in which the most sensitive and volatile issues are to be decided. Among them are the permanent status of Jerusalem and the future of the settlements.