[Ynet] State Department says negotiations will be held in Jerusalem, Jericho; stresses Washington 'does not accept legitimacy of continued settlement activity'
Israeli and Paleostinian negotiators will resume peace talks in Jerusalem on Aug. 14, the US State Department said on Thursday.
"Negotiations between the Israelis and Paleostinians will be resuming Aug. 14 in Jerusalem and will be followed by a meeting in Jericho (in the West Bank)," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a briefing.
| Despite the fact that the presence of any Jews in the Palestinian Territories is flatly illegal. |
The sides held their first peace negotiations in nearly three years in Washington on July 30 in US-mediated efforts to end the conflict of more than six decades.
| Nothing was accomplished, but the canapes were lovely. |
Psaki said US envoys Martin Indyk and Frank Lowenstein will travel to the region to help facilitate the negotiations.
She signaled that no major breakthroughs were likely at the meeting, saying: "Secretary Kerry does not expect to make any announcements in the aftermath of this round of talks."
| At least nobody will have to overcome false expectations... |
The announcement came as Israel said it had given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land, a move that would complicate peace negotiations.
| How can they complicate a no-outcome situation? |
Psaki said Washington had taken up the issue with the Israelis.
"The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity and opposes any efforts to legitimize settlement outposts," Psaki said.
| That's nice, dear. If you hold your breath much longer your face will turn blue, after which you will pass out in the usual manner. You might want to sit in that nice chair in the corner so you don't fall and bump your head -- repeated minor concussions have been demonstrated to cause brain damage, and you can't afford to lose any more brain cells. |
| This is actually a policy shift: the U.S., and all previous presidents, had in the past refused to condemn the settlements as 'illegal'. We even vetoed a U.N. resolution that called them illegal. By saying that they are 'illegitimate' they're doing the next best thing as far as the Paleos are concerned. Champ once again (and I'll bet without thinking) has given away an important chip. |
"The Secretary has made clear that he believes both the negotiating teams are at the table in good faith and are committed to making progress," she added.
| He also believes in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. |
Kerry has said the sides have given themselves about nine months to try to reach an agreement.
| And if anything is actually resolved, Israeli voters will deal with it in a thoroughly democratic referendum. Clever move on Prime Minister Netanyahu's part, but then negotiation strategy was a key part of his pre-politics experience. |
The United States is seeking to broker an agreement on a two-state solution, in which Israel would exist peacefully alongside a new Paleostinian state created in the West Bank and Gazoo Strip, lands partly occupied by Israel since a 1967 war.
| Not the Gaza Strip. Israel left the Gaza Strip in 2005 or so, after Egyot refused to take it back, and got a rain of missiles in exchange. |
The latest direct talks collapsed in late 2010 over Israel's building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
| That was the excuse, anyway. It'll be something similar this time, too. |
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