Editorials

Peace parleys

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-05 07:48

Signs have emerged recently that the Middle East peace process, stalled since 2008, may be rekindled.

On August 3, an official of the Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization told Xinhua News Agency that international and Arab contacts were underway to set the terms of reference for the resumption of the peace process. If so, this is a positive development that will hopefully help reconcile the varying stances regarding the issue in the Arab world.

A day prior to this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his country would agree to a UN-led investigation into the raid on a Gaza-bound international aid convoy. This is the first time that Israel has agreed to an international investigation into the incident, and as such, it reflects a softening of its tough position.

Although the Israeli stance still falls short of Palestinian demands, the gesture could certainly bring the two sides one step closer. The Palestinians and Israelis have since May been holding indirect "proximity" talks - with former US senator George Mitchell acting as a go-between.

Direct negotiations were cut off after Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas militants in December 2008. Palestinian authorities have since specified that the resumption of direct negotiations will hinge on a complete Israeli halt to settlement building in the Palestinian West Bank.

The US has also pushed the two sides to the negotiation table. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley warned recently that there would be consequences if both sides did not forsake the current opportunity to resume direct negotiations.

All these favorable developments, though stemming from different political pursuits, seem to impart strong momentum for the resumption of the peace parleys.

(China Daily 08/05/2010 page8)