Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
426. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the response of the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, after a meeting on 30 June 2016 called for direct talks with the Palestinians without preconditions; if he considers this a reasonable request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21125/16]
View answerPrime Minister Netanyahu has called on many occasions for direct negotiations without preconditions. Indeed he repeated this to me when I met him in Jerusalem on 14 June. As a principle this, of course, sounds positive and reasonable. However, all peace processes are unique, and what is said must be understood in context.
It is clear to all that a final agreement in the Middle East can only be reached in direct talks between the parties. Only they can make the deal. However, by ‘direct’ Mr. Netanyahu also implies that there should be no international presence in the talks, only the two parties. The Palestinians have made clear that they need an international presence, because they are by far the weaker party and as a guarantee that the talks will be serious.
Mr. Netanyahu makes his remarks knowing that important preconditions for Israel have already been met earlier in the process. The mainstream Palestinian movement represented in the PLO and the Palestinian Authority have recognised and accepted the existence of Israel, occupying more than three quarters of historic Palestine, and have renounced armed struggle. Nonetheless, Mr. Netanyahu does also sometimes add new preconditions himself.
On the Palestinian side, they have not demanded prior recognition by Israel of a Palestinian state. They have however insisted that they can only enter negotiations if these are going to be a genuine attempt to reach peace, and not just a process for its own sake. They have also demanded that seizure of Palestinian land, and construction of settlements, cannot continue while talks proceed. When this demand has been refused they have sought alternative confidence building measures, such as release of prisoners.
These Palestinian demands – preconditions or confidence building measures, depending on one’s perspective – arise from the political necessity of reassuring their people that, in entering negotiations with Israel, they are not simply being strung along to occupy time, while the seizure of their land continues unabated.
Regrettably, experience has shown that these fears are justified. Mr. Netanyahu is now leading his fourth government, and international confidence in his commitment to a genuine peace negotiation is low. Only he can confound that judgement.
