Mitchell: Window of opportunity for 2-state solution
US Mideast envoy briefs reporters on upcoming Israel-PA talks, mentions poll showing over 80 percent of Arabs polled are still in principle open to two-state solution
WASHINGTON – The US believes the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians can be completed within one year, special Mideast envoy George Mitchell told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
"Since the beginning of this administration, we’ve worked with the Israelis, the Palestinians and our international partners to advance the cause of comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including two-state solution, which ensures security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians," he said.
"We’re pleased that negotiations will be relaunched after a hiatus of more than a year and a half. And we will engage with perseverance and patience to try to bring them to a successful conclusion."
Addressing the construction moratorium in the West Bank, which is set to expire on September 26, Mitchell said, "Our position on settlements is well known, and it remains unchanged. We’ve always made clear that the parties should promote an environment that is conducive to negotiations."
During the press briefing, Mitchell mentioned a recent poll conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. "Among the key findings are that over 80 percent of Arabs polled are still in principle open to the two-state solution; also, that if and when a two-state solution were to come about, a plurality of those polled -- 39 percent -- believed it would happen through negotiations, and only 16 percent believed that it would come about through another war or conflict.
"And finally, those polls, the respondents, believed that if prospects for the two-state solution collapse, a majority of those polled believed that the result would be intense conflict for years to come," he said.
The Mideast envoy added, "Now, I believe that it is an awareness of these and other realities by the two leaders (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and their leadership that there is a window of opportunity, a moment in time within which there remains the possibility of achieving the two-state solution, which is so essential to comprehensive peace in the region, that difficult as it may be for both leaders, and we recognize that difficulty for both of them, the alternatives for them and the members of their societies pose far greater difficulties and far greater problems in the future."
Mitchell also told reporters that the US will play an "active and sustained role" in the process. "That does not mean that the United States must be physically represented in every single meeting. We recognize the value of direct, bilateral discussion between the parties and, in fact, will encourage that between the two leaders on a regular basis," he said.
"On the other hand, it does not mean that the United States will simply stand aside and not participate actively. We will operate in a manner that is reasonable and sensible in the circumstances which exist, but the guiding principle will be an active and sustained United States presence."
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