Envoy Says Israel and Palestine Wouldn't Compromise in Peace Talks

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: May 09, 2014

Envoy Says Israel and Palestine Wouldn't Compromise in Peace Talks

U.S. Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Martin Indyk reports that in the attempted peace talks between Israel and Palestine, neither nation seemed to want peace enough to compromise.

“One problem that revealed itself in these past nine months is that the parties, although both showing flexibility in the negotiations, do not feel the pressing need to make the gut-wrenching compromises necessary to achieve peace,” Indyk said.

The representative said that both sides were to blame for the failure. Some Israelis prompted Palestinian anger by arguing about settlement in the West Bank, but Indyk believes the argument was an attempt by some Israelis to cause the talks to fail.

“I can tell you firsthand that that had a very damaging effect. And by the way, it was intended to have a damaging effect,” he said.

Palestinians sparked problems by insisting to be recognized internationally to pursue statehood, a point that Israel is firmly against ABC News reports.

While the months of negotiations ended unsuccessfully in March, Indyk believes that the nations will try to attain peace again.

“In the Middle East, it’s never over,” he said.

 

Publication date: May 9, 2014



Envoy Says Israel and Palestine Wouldn't Compromise in Peace Talks