Back to square one

Once again it appears that the American efforts to inject life in the peace process are running aground.

Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are capable or willing to offer the concession necessary for building enough trust to jump-start a peace process.

But this time around, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is trying to turn the tables on US Secretary of State John Kerry over the current impasse in the peace efforts.

The Palestinian newspaper Al Quds reported last Wednesday that Abbas had threatened to thwart talks with Israel if the latter continues its procrastinating tactics and obstructing policies.

Last week, the Israeli government scrapped a planned release of Palestinian prisoners, a move that enraged Abbas and threw Kerry’s effort into disarray.

In response to the Israeli move, Abbas is bidding to join some 15 international treaties and institutions. Implicit in Abbas’ decision is his frustration with the American hesitant role and Washington’s failure to play the role of honest broker.

Abbas turned down as “madness” the draft asking Palestinians to approve Israeli condition to recognise it as a Jewish state and enable it to maintain some 10 settlement blocks in any land exchange in the context of a deal.

Contrary to the public impression, Abbas is in no mood to beat around the bush. He feels that he was dragged for a long time with nothing to show for.

For him, it is time to show the world that the Palestinians are not without options.

If anything, Abbas is taking calculated steps. Sources close to him reveal that he is taking a risk designed to push the American side to offer him a tangible concession in exchange for refraining from further moves that could thwart Kerry’s efforts.

Kerry may rush back to the region to rescue his efforts. It remains to be seen whether Kerry’s envoy, Martin Indyk, can do anything for the time being.

He invited chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni for an emergency meeting.

The Palestinian negotiator sought to know if the Israeli and American sides were prepared to offer the Palestinians anything as a quid pro quo for suspending the bid to join various treaties and institutions.

Observers argue that Abbas is confident that the US will not allow Israel to derail the process altogether. Hence, he seeks to set new conditions that improve the Palestinians status in future talks.

Not surprisingly, Abbas may step up his campaign in weeks to come to make it perfectly clear that the old game no longer interests him.

Abbas is most likely to add two conditions for extending the peace talks to the end of this year: that Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and that Israel fully cease all kinds of settlement activities.

While Abbas believes that he is taking the initiative and that the US needs him, such move may convince the anti-peace camp in Israel that the Palestinians cannot be partners for peace.

If anything, this anti-peace camp will step up pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to further intensify settlement activities.

The conclusion will be a mutually hurting stalemate.

Under these conditions, Kerry may find it difficult to continue exerting efforts.

Of course, he can blame any side he wishes, but this can hardly change the dynamics of the conflict.

It seems that the region is heading back to square one.

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