Yachimovich meets Abbas to push for peace talks
In Ramallah, opposition head stresses commitment to two-state solution, but also emphasizes Israel's security as top priority
Opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday in Ramallah to discuss stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Yachimovich told Abbas that she had promised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the support of the opposition if he takes significant steps toward peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
“The Labor Party is deeply committed to the peace process and the two-state solution,” Yachimovich told Abbas, noting, however, that under any agreement, Israel’s first priority was the security of its citizens.
Negotiations between the two sides have been stalled since 2010, and while Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that he is ready to resume talks at any time, he has refused to meet the Palestinians’ preconditions — notably, a freeze to all settlement construction in West Bank.
However, in recent weeks, Washington, led by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, has begun pushing a renewed effort to resume talks.
Last week Kerry announced that he would arrive in late May for a fourth visit to the region since taking over as the chief US diplomat in late January.
“Now is the time to respond to US mediation efforts to renew the talks,” Yachimovich told Abbas on Sunday.
The Arab League recently endorsed an amended version of its 2002 peace plan that would allow for “minor” land swaps between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in exchange for peace.
Following that announcement, Yachimovich called on Netanyahu to act like a “responsible adult” and pursue the amended Arab Peace Initiative.
Kerry welcomed the Arab League bid, saying, “I don’t think you can underestimate… the significance of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, [United] Arab Emirates, the Egyptians, the Jordanians, and others coming to the table and saying, ‘We are prepared to make peace now in 2013.’”
Officials said that Kerry’s proposal includes two small changes to make the Arab Peace Initiative more palatable to Israel, saying the 1967 lines could be modified through mutual agreement and pressing for stronger security guarantees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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