Barak (R) and Mitchell (archives)
Photo: Shahar Azran
Barak to Mitchell: Flotilla must not stall talks
US envoy meets defense minister to contain damage to proximity talks in wake of IDF raid on flotilla
"Despite the recent events, which don't necessarily help, I hope we manage to overcome the hurdles and continue the proximity talks, in the hope that these will lead to direct talks and the continuation of the political process," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said to US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell Thursday.
Barak, speaking during a meeting with the US representative to the proximity talks, referred to the lethal IDF raid on the Gaza flotilla which left nine activists dead and many more wounded.
The defense minister also conveyed a message to the Palestinians. "I hope that all the players in the region, including our Palestinian neighbors, will meet these expectations, which I am certain are shared by the two nations," he said.
At the beginning of the week, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he did not expect the political fallout from the raid to affect progress in the talks – which, in his opinion, are in any case barely moving. "Even before the flotilla, I didn't see much enthusiasm for negotiations among the Palestinians," he said.
Earlier Thursday in Bethlehem, the US envoy had urged the sides not to allow the flotilla affair to undermine the small but significant progress that had been made.
Mitchell, who met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, said, "This incident underscores the need to make progress in negotiations." He added that the US would continue to act with determination to ensure that the needs of Gaza Strip residents are met.
