By Vestnik Kavkaza
In November a working meeting between negotiators on the Middle East settlement – Russia, the U.S.A., the UN, and the EU, can take place. Direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine were frozen three years ago when Israel refused to halt the construction of new residential areas in the occupied territories. However, this summer the sides came back to a direct dialogue. At the same time, there is no serious progress. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Palestine to the Russian Federation Dr. Fayed Mustafa commented on the situation.
“The talks began on July 31. They will continue for 9 months. Up until now there have been a few rounds, a few meetings. These were bilateral negotiations, or negotiations in the presence of an American representative, Martin Indyk. We decided to hold these negotiations with serious intentions. We have always hoped that they will contribute to the elimination of conflicts, and our position is based on internationally-accepted agreements. We insist on the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. This is our position, which we constantly affirm. During these negotiations the final settlement of the main issues is being discussed. They include both refugees and the problem of water, and the issue of borders, and the problem of the creation of a Palestinian state, the issue of Jerusalem , that is, all the problems that are most pressing. And we are ready to sign the agreement if all of these issues are resolved on the basis of international law. But up until now no tangible results have been achieved.”
At the same time, according to Mustafa: “Along with the question of settlements, in recent months we have seen ,and perhaps you too have noticed it, that targeted attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque are increasing, and the nature of these attacks has become permanent. There are some radical Jewish organizations which are increasingly attempting to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order to, as they say, perform their rituals. There are statements that indicate that perhaps Israel wants to divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque soon and separate from the mosque some its parts for the Jews so that they could perform their religious ceremonies and rituals. Or, maybe, there will be some temporary separation. They may want to give some part of the day to the Jews so that they could perform their rituals there, and the rest of the day will be given to the Muslims. These are very dangerous attempts. Recently, these efforts have become more regular and more intense.”
The ambassador stressed that the international community had asked the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, but the Israeli side thinks it was its achievement: “Netanyahu says: "You see , the Palestinians came back to the negotiating table! I as the Prime Minister have achieved what other politicians in Israel could not." Such statements are misleading the international community with illusions about the seriousness of Israel. We went back to the negotiations, but we're back on the basis of solid principles and positions, from which we will not retreat. And we will continue to negotiate until the end of the period of 9 months. We hope that in the end we will come to a solution to the problem, and specifically to all those questions that I have already listed. There is no country in the world that would have indicated that the seizure of the Palestinian territories was lawful, and that the construction of settlements was a legitimate procedure. Everyone recognizes the illegality of this process. From January 1st, 2014, the EU will undertake specific steps to investigate the problem of settlements. Then there will be a decision, if it is implemented from January 1 in Europe, and the Israeli government will have to give an account. The EU will grant the right to Palestinian goods to be distributed in Europe, sold in Europe, and the inhabitants of the occupied territories will be able to move around the EU.”
