Leading diplomats in the European and Arab world announced “small steps” on Thursday toward efforts to restore Mideast’s peace following the upcoming Israeli-Palestinian elections.
Officials – from the UN, EU, Egypt, Jordan, Germany and France – did not release specific details, however. And the meeting came amid new tensions between Israel and Arab countries around Jerusalem.
There have been no serious peace talks between Israel and Palestine in more than a decade and it is unclear what diplomats can do hard to create conditions to bring the two sides closer together, especially from without US involvement.
The Biden administration has called on all sides to stop unilateral measures that could undermine peace efforts but have yet to announce any major effort to resolve the decades-old conflict because it focuses on the coronavirus, the economy and other domestic issues.
“We are going to start meetings with both parties within a timeframe built around the election calendar to, with them, take the steps they are in a position to build each other’s trust, “French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. He outlined possible health and economic measures, without extension.
Any next moves will depend on the outcome of the Israeli election on March 23, as well as the Palestinian elections later this year.
Election results could exacerbate relations, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned, stressing the importance of continued dialogue in the meantime. “It is very important that the issue remains on the agenda,” he said.
Egypt’s and Jordan’s foreign ministers urged efforts to “save the two-state solution.”
The DA’s new special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, took part in talks Thursday.