Middle East/US - peace talks

Netanyahu agrees Mideast peace talks must start

Article published on the 2009-08-26 Latest update 2009-08-27 11:18 TU

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell during their Wednesday meeting in London
(Photo: Reuters)

After meeting with a key US envoy Wednesday in London, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that meaningful talks with the Palestinians must begin. But there was no immediate sign of progress on the call from the US for a freeze on Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu was looking to end his public row with Washington in his four-hour London meeting with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who is on a mission to revive peace talks in the region.

In a joint statement with Mitchell, Netanyahu said Israeli and US officials will meet again next week in the United States to pursue peace efforts.

"The prime minister and George Mitchell agreed that there is a need to begin meaningful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in order to move towards a regional peace agreement," said the statement.

Mitchell has been pressing Netanyahu to freeze Jewish settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The international community has backed the US demand, putting intense diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu, who is also trying to keep the right-leaning coalition government together.

Progress on the issue of settlements is crucial to move forward on a peace process, says Robert Lowe, manager of Chatham House's Middle East programme.

“There seems to be some hint that the US and the Israelis are coming closer to an agreement on settlements—at least in the short-term,” Lowe told RFI, saying that Netanyahu’s lengthy talks with Mitchell is an indication the US is stepping up efforts to secure a dialogue on peace.

“This might be sufficient to persuade the Palestinians to enter talks… so it’s talks about talks, at an early stage.”

Lowe warns it is still not clear if there was sufficient desire on the part of the Israelis to push forward with peace negotiations. The Netanyahu government, he says, risks collapse if there is enough disagreement on ways to proceed.

“This is not least because of the make-up of their government, an awkward coalition of many parties,” he said. “Netanyahu has to be very aware of that… He is operating with one hand tied behind his back.”

Israeli and US officials are eyeing a three-way summit between Obama, Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to signal the re-launching of peace talks.

Netanyahu will next travel to Berlin for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.