Kerry: ‘Reasonable compromises’ key to peace talks

“Reasonable compromises” are key in the renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, U.S. Secretary of State Kerry said, as the talks were to resume Tuesday.

The first round of direct talks to resolve the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians began at the State Department Monday at an Iftar dinner, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Officials gave no details about the dinner meeting, hosted by Kerry, but negotiators were expected to lay the groundwork for negotiations to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel, officials said.

Negotiators were expected to look at the timing and location for future negotiations.

At a photo opportunity before the talks began, Kerry said it was “wonderful” the delegations were in the U.S. capital.

“There isn’t very much to talk about at all,” he joked.

Kerry has made an intensive effort to revive the talks, which have been stalled for nearly three years.

Newly appointed special U.S. envoy Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, who will facilitate the day-to-day dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians after Tuesday, also participated in the dinner meeting, officials said.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas approved of the choice of Indyk to the position.

Tuesday’s meeting, also at the State Department, was expected to discuss the principles underpinning the future peace talks.

At the Tuesday meeting’s conclusion, Kerry was expected to release a statement announcing the start of full-fledged negotiations, with the next round of talks expected to be in the Middle East.

“Going forward, it’s no secret that this is a difficult process,” Kerry said before Monday’s talks began. “If it were easy, it would have happened a long time [ago].

“It’s no secret, therefore, that many difficult choices lie ahead for the negotiators and for the leaders as we seek reasonable compromises on tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic issues,” he continued.

“I think reasonable compromises has to be a keystone of all of this effort,” Kerry said. “I know the negotiations are going to be tough, but I also know that the consequences of not trying could be worse.”

Kerry extracted a commitment the two sides would give the talks at least nine months, which provides some time to explore ideas without fears of a walkout, officials said.

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief negotiator, said before the dinner she hoped there would be “a better understanding now that it is in the interest of both of our people to reach an agreement to end this conflict.”

Netanyahu special envoy Isaac Molho also participated in the talks.

The Palestinian Authority was represented by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, who negotiated the 1993 Oslo Accords with Israel, and Abbas close adviser Mohammed Shtayyeh.

The Palestinian delegation had no comment Monday night, but Abbas struck a hard line while in Cairo, saying no Israeli settlers or border forces could remain in a future Palestinian state.

“In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli — civilian or soldier — on our lands,” Abbas said in a briefing to mostly Egyptian journalists.

“An international, multinational presence like in Sinai, Lebanon and Syria — we are [OK] with that,” he said, referring to U.N. peacekeeping operations in those places.

Kerry had asked both sides to refrain from talking publicly about issues.

Livni added: “There is some hope. And I hope that when in Israel they see the first meeting, they would understand that we shouldn’t give up hope and that it is reachable.

“We need to do it because it’s an Israeli interest. It’s not a favor to the United States or the Palestinians — this is something that we need to do,” she said.

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Category: National