Israel’s military is planning to further ease restrictions on Palestinian travel in the West Bank, delivering what appeared to be the first in a series of gestures requested by the United States as part of renewed peace talks.
Israel promised to make such gestures following the second round of indirect talks with the Palestinians organized by U.S. envoy George Mitchell. Mitchell met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu May 13 and discussed the possibility of gestures toward the Palestinians. In the past, Israel has taken down some West Bank roadblocks as a sign of goodwill.
Israel said that during the talks it expects the Palestinians to refrain from political activity against the Jewish state, citing as an example the unsuccessful campaign to prevent its acceptance into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a prestigious world economic body.
Mitchell met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier last week. Palestinians complained about statements by some Israeli Cabinet ministers about plans to continue construction in West Bank settlements and Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians claim as the capital of their future state.
The indirect talks are set to continue for four months. All sides say they hope the talks will lead to direct negotiations, but the Palestinians have refused to sit down with Netanyahu unless he orders a total freeze in settlement construction.
No date was announced for the next round of talks, in which Mitchell shuttles between Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem and Abbas’ headquarters in Ramallah, a trip of about 10 miles. — ap