BICOM

Representatives of the Quartet (the US, EU, UN and Russia) are currently engaged in efforts to persuade Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to abandon plans to seek United Nations support for a Palestinian declaration of statehood. The Quartet in recent days has been seeking to author a statement acceptable to both sides that would form the basis for a return to negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, and the shelving of the Palestinian plan to go to the UN. Quartet Middle East Envoy Tony Blair is playing a central role in these efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a number of compromises, including that the statement contain a reference to two states for two peoples, as well as of two national states, rather than just a Jewish state. Abbas, according to a report in Haaretz this morning, rejected the statement, even with the revisions agreed to by Netanyahu.

 

The US is currently considering a new road map type document, which will set timelines and milestones for both sides to achieve. Defence Minister Ehud Barak flew to Washington DC on Saturday, where he is scheduled to meet with US Middle East Envoy Dennis Ross to discuss this issue.

The Quartet, according to reports, has decided to issue a statement, even without the agreement of the parties. The statement is expected to be released today, in order to gauge the responses of both sides.

The United States has vowed to veto the Palestinian bid if it is placed before the United Nations Security Council. Washington, however, does not wish to use its veto unless absolutely necessary because of the damage this is likely to cause to US diplomatic standing in the Middle East, where support for the Palestinian bid is high. Consequently, the US is currently engaged in efforts to induce other Security Council members to oppose the bid. A report in today’s Israel Hayom newspaper suggested that eight UNSC members currently support the bid, with one certain to oppose, two likely to oppose and four not yet decided. There also remains the possibility that the Palestinians may agree to postpone the vote in the Security Council to permit a longer debate with the Americans and other international parties.