Following delay of fourth stage of prisoner
release, concern mounts about potential collapse of Israeli-Palestinian
peace talks • Israeli official: If prime minister goes ahead with the
prisoner release, his coalition will not survive.
Bereaved relatives
demonstrate against the release of terrorists
|
Photo credit: Yonatan Zindel |
Fears of a collapse of the peace talks between
the Israelis and Palestinians have prompted U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry to consider making another trip to the region.
After the fourth stage of the prisoner release
was delayed Saturday, and following difficulties the U.S. has faced in
brokering an extension of talks, the possibility of negotiations falling
through has motivated the Americans to renew efforts to try to save the
talks.
According to an Associated Press report,
members of the U.S. mediation team held an urgent meeting with
representatives from both sides, and an Israeli source said indirect
talks between both sides continued for a full day with American support.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet
said whether the fourth stage of the prisoner release has been delayed
or canceled. Several Israeli ministers have said the release will not
happen if the peace talks are not extended.
Netanyahu addressed the question Sunday at a
meeting of Likud ministers on whether 400 Palestinian prisoners would be
released in exchange for the extension of negotiations, as reported in
Arabic newspapers.
"There absolutely will not be any deal with
the Palestinians about a prisoner release without a clear benefit in
return for Israel," Netanyahu said. "And if there is a deal, it will
have to be approved by the government."
Netanyahu suggested that the ministers should
"avoid making statements until the full picture is clear." He said this
should occur within a few days.
"There will either be a deal, or it will fall apart," he said.
A Israeli political official said Sunday that
"if the prime minister decides to go ahead with the prisoner release, I
predict that his coalition will not survive, because Habayit Hayehudi
will leave and other ministers will also vote against it."
Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis also warned that "another release of murderers will shake up the coalition."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said
Sunday that if Israel does not release the 26 prisoners it has promised
to release in the fourth stage, the Palestinians will not discuss the
possibility of extending the negotiations.
"There are sensitive talks being held on the
issue. There is a nine-month period that has not yet ended. We will
honor our commitment not to turn to international organizations during
this time," Erekat said.
A Palestinian Authority source told Israel
Hayom that real progress has begun in U.S.-mediated talks on the fourth
stage of the prisoner release, and that the 26 prisoners will likely be
set free before the end of the week.
Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett
said, "The idea that we will release more and more prisoners in exchange
for the right to hold negotiations is crazy. Regarding the release of
more prisoners, I will be clear: It will not happen."
Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi)
said,: "There is no country, including the United States, that would
release hundreds of murderers in order to hold negotiations."
Meanwhile, International Relations,
Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said
that "the decision to release prisoners is very difficult, but it has
less strategic significance than the decision on a construction freeze
[in Judea and Samaria]."
Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz
(Hatnuah) said, "I would prefer a construction freeze in the territories
over a prisoner release, but unfortunately there are officials in the
government preventing that."
Opposition Leader MK Isaac Herzog (Labor)
said, "The option of a prisoner release is a bad option." Meretz leader
MK Zehava Gal-On called on Netanyahu to "make brave decisions, even if
they are difficult."
Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon (Likud),
who met with bereaved relatives of terror victims on Sunday, said, "If
you were to ask [imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan] Pollard, he would be
against [the release]."
President Shimon Peres, in Austria for a state
visit, told Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier on Sunday that there had been
progress in the negotiations with the Palestinians.
"I believe there will be updates either tonight or tomorrow night," Peres said.
No comments:
Post a Comment