Negotiators Lower Expectations Ahead of Mideast Peace Talks

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Jordan on Tuesday, but don’t expect fireworks. Nothing has changed since Palestinians threw up their hands at continued Israeli settlement construction.

Peace talks fell apart in September 2010 and it looks like they’ll stay that way. According to the BBC, “The priority for both sides will be to avoid blame if the process cannot be restarted.”

Back in 2010, Palestinian negotiators said they would boycott peace talks if Israel approved the development of new settlements on occupied Palestinian territory and President Obama backed that position. However Israel’s conservative prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed the need to accommodate “natural growth” as he approved new construction. The U.S. quickly backed down and the Palestinians decided to abandon peace negotiations to instead seek statehood recognition at the United Nations.  —PZS

Detail of a Banksy eddiedangerous (CC-BY)