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Proximity talks will focus on security and water issues

February 27, 2014 at 10:20 am

If as now expected, the delayed “proximity” talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority resume this week, it is expected that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu will demand that the focus should be security and water issues. Sources in Israel say that the talks to be conducted by US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell will begin following the green light for the negotiations given by the Arab League’s Higher Arab Monitoring Committee.


According to Israeli media reports, Mr. Netanyahu is happy to let security and water be the focus of these indirect talks, but he wants the issues of borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem to be resolved in face-to-face talks with the Palestinian side. The reports added that the Netanyahu government has plans to meet with ex-Senator Mitchell within the coordination and mediation phases of the negotiations “to discuss outstanding issues between the parties if the need arises”.