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Israel

Mideast Peace Talks Gain Momentum as Leaders Make Concessions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive action to revive stalled peace talks in London, while US envoys are working to build momentum for a successful outcome. The special US envoy, Martin Indyk, met with Mubarak at the Egyptian leader's palace, where they discussed ways to break the impasse in the talks. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is set to meet with Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in London, in an effort to push the negotiations forward.

Key Takeaways:

  • Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a "precise enacting" of all agreements between Israel and the Palestinians to revive peace talks.
  • Mubarak's office stated that he had encouraged Netanyahu to do "everything he can to make that meeting a success," echoing the sentiments of Henry Siegman, an American Middle East expert.
  • U.S. envoys, including Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross, are in the region to encourage the reopening of peace talks, which stalled in March 1997 over Israeli plans to build a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
  • A U.S. proposal for an Israeli troop withdrawal from 13 percent of the West Bank has won Palestinian assurances that it will not be watered down, despite opposition from Jewish settler leaders.
  • Netanyahu has offered a 9 percent pullback, but this is seen as insufficient by some, who fear it will endanger Jewish settlements.

Statistics:

  • 13 percent: The proposed Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank, as outlined in the US proposal.
  • 9 percent: The actual pullback offered by Netanyahu, which is seen as insufficient by some.
  • March 1997: The month in which progress in peace talks came to a halt as Israel announced plans to build a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
  • Jewish settlements: The area in East Jerusalem claimed by Palestinians, where Jewish settler leaders are opposed to the 9 percent pullback.

Sources:

  • Associated Press, Byline: Mariam Sami
  • No external sources cited.

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