WASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)– U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Norway’s Foreign Minister Borge Brende met on a variety of issues on Thursday, April 24, with the apparent breakdown of the Middle East peace process clearly on everyone’s mind.
Meeting the news media before their private discussion, Brende made a point of thanking Kerry “for your personal courage and leadership in the Middle East, on Israel and the Palestinian situation.”
“Very difficult days,” he added, “but sometimes we really can show leadership when times are difficult. And there is no alternative to finding a permanent solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. So we will support your work on the private sector in Palestine.”
Asked by a reporter whether the Middle East was now at impasse, Kerry responded: “Well, there’s always a way forward, but leaders have to make the compromises necessary to do that. We may see a way forward, but if they’re not willing to make the compromises necessary, it becomes very elusive.
“We will never give up our hope or our commitment for the possibilities of peace,” Kerry added. “We believe it is the only way to go. But right now, obviously, its’ at a very difficult point. And the leaders themselves have to make decisions. It’s up to them.”
The issue of the announced reconciliation between Hamas and the P.L.O. dominated the daily news briefing conducted Thursday by State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.
She announced that Kerry had spoken by telephone with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, telling Abbas “that he was diappointed by the reconciliation announcement” and reiterating “the elements that any Palestine government would need to have, the same principles that President Abbas has long supported.” These, she added, are “commitment to nonviolence, recognition of the State of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties.”
While Abbas, whose government is situated in what is commonly called the West Bank, has publicly endorsed these principles, they have been adamantly rejected by Hamas, which controls Gaza and is officially considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European community.
Psaki said Kerry and Abbas reviewed the efforts that were made, prior to the announcement about a reconciliation with Hamas, to extend the time period past April 29 for Israelis and Palestinians to conclude their talks. She also said that U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk is in the Middle East to consult with both the Palestinians and the Israelis.
*
Preceding based on U.S. State Department transcripts … San Diego Jewish World invites attention from sponsors who would like their messages to run beneath topical stories. Contact donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com