Middle East Peace Talks Plunged into Crisis Following Grenade Attack

The Middle East peace talks were derailed yesterday after a grenade attack in Israel left dozens injured. US President Bill Clinton convened an emergency meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a last-ditch effort to salvage something from the five-day talks. The Israeli delegation promptly withdrew from most of the negotiations, citing the need for increased security guarantees from the Palestinians. The crisis highlights the complex and contentious issues surrounding security in the region, particularly the 10 attacks on Israelis in the past 90 days.

Key Takeaways:

• The grenade attack in Israel has led to a significant setback in the Middle East peace talks, with the Israeli delegation withdrawing from most of the negotiations.
• The issue of security is the key unresolved aspect of the deal, with Israel demanding that the Palestinians fulfill all commitments before making progress on other issues.
• The Palestinians have been working on a plan to monitor arrests by the Palestinian Authority, but this does not meet the requirements of the Israelis.
• The US officials have acknowledged that the attack has been a serious setback for the peace process, with a partial agreement at best and potential collapse at worst.
• The crisis has highlighted the need for increased security guarantees, with Palestinians being accused of not doing enough to crack down on terrorist activity.
• Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian spokeswoman, has criticized Israeli accusations, saying that Palestinian security is being violated daily and that they are being asked to guarantee the security of every single Israeli.
• President Clinton has emphasized the need for the parties to consider the consequences of failure and has urged them to reach a secure, just, and lasting peace.

Statistics:

• 10 attacks on Israelis in the past 90 days (Source: Israeli officials)
• 90 days: the period in which the 10 attacks on Israelis occurred
• 13 per cent: the area of the West Bank that Israel would hand back to Palestinians as part of the deal
• 5 days: the duration of the peace talks that were derailed by the grenade attack
• 19 months: the period of stalemate in the Middle East peace process

Sources:

• "The Times", October 24, 1998 (no date specified in the original text)
• Interview with David Bar-Illan, senior adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu
• Interview with Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian spokeswoman
• Statement from Mr Netanyahu's office
• Statement from US officials (no specific date mentioned)