High level meetings spark hope
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
The prospects for a resumption of serious peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis may seem
closer. It is hoped that the talks lead to a substantive resolution. Regular meetings are being held between leaders from both sides in preparation for an international conference to be held in the
U.S. Both communities are viewing developments with cautious optimism.
A meeting was held earlier last week between the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to prepare for a joint declaration of principles that would aid future negotiations to resolve the conflict. It was the sixth in a series of confidence-building meetings between both sides. Both parties, however, had different expectations from this document, with the Israeli party wanting a broad declaration and the Palestinian requiring a more detailed document that would also include a strict timeline for implementation.
Negotiation teams have been dispatched to identify key issues for discussion in the upcoming U.S. conference in late November and for any future negotiations. There are concerns that if the discussions do not tackle substantively the concerns of both parties, they will stall, with very negative ramifications.
'Anything that brings a glimmer of hope to people is worthwhile pursuing, however the fallback from an ill-prepared process can be much worse from a humanitarian perspective,' said Charles Clayton, National Director for World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza.
The Palestinian street, as the Israeli public, are wary of these meetings and largely view them as photo opportunities with little, if any, serious prospects to improve people's lives. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially, continues to deteriorate and needs continue to rise. Access is still a major issue at all Gaza checkpoints and in much of the West Bank.
World Vision continues its work in the North Gaza Area Development Programme (ADP), amidst rising concerns of a military operation being conducted on Gaza in the near future, as per the recent declaration of Israeli military officials, including the Minister of Defense. The North Gaza ADP is on the border with Israel and is usually one of the first places targeted in a military operation.
A meeting was held earlier last week between the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to prepare for a joint declaration of principles that would aid future negotiations to resolve the conflict. It was the sixth in a series of confidence-building meetings between both sides. Both parties, however, had different expectations from this document, with the Israeli party wanting a broad declaration and the Palestinian requiring a more detailed document that would also include a strict timeline for implementation.
Negotiation teams have been dispatched to identify key issues for discussion in the upcoming U.S. conference in late November and for any future negotiations. There are concerns that if the discussions do not tackle substantively the concerns of both parties, they will stall, with very negative ramifications.
'Anything that brings a glimmer of hope to people is worthwhile pursuing, however the fallback from an ill-prepared process can be much worse from a humanitarian perspective,' said Charles Clayton, National Director for World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza.
The Palestinian street, as the Israeli public, are wary of these meetings and largely view them as photo opportunities with little, if any, serious prospects to improve people's lives. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially, continues to deteriorate and needs continue to rise. Access is still a major issue at all Gaza checkpoints and in much of the West Bank.
World Vision continues its work in the North Gaza Area Development Programme (ADP), amidst rising concerns of a military operation being conducted on Gaza in the near future, as per the recent declaration of Israeli military officials, including the Minister of Defense. The North Gaza ADP is on the border with Israel and is usually one of the first places targeted in a military operation.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
