Arab League says Israel 'wholly responsible' for talks stalemate
The Arab League on Wednesday blamed Israel for the current impasse in ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians saying Israel is "wholly responsible for the dangerous stalemate".
In a statement issued following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, the pan-Arab body said that Israel refused to abide by a two-state solution, which calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders.
"It also refuses to release a fourth group of Palestinian prisoners," the statement said.
Arab foreign ministers hailed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling on Washington to maintain its efforts to kick-start foundering negotiations.
US Secretary of State John Kerry recently suggested that Israel's announcement that is was going ahead with plans to construct around 700 housing units in East Jerusalem a huge blow to the peace talks.
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Wednesday's Arab foreign ministers meeting was held at the request of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.
Arab foreign ministers reiterated their refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, along with unilateral Israeli attempts to change the geography and demography of the Palestinian territories with the aim of imposing new facts on the ground and undermining the two-state solution.
Nevertheless, support for the peace talks was also reaffirmed with Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki saying: "Despite all, we are committed, as Palestinians and Arabs, to the negotiation process and the efforts exerted by Kerry in order to find a way out of this crisis",
Palestinian-Israeli peace talks stalled last month when Israel refused to release a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners– despite earlier pledges to do so – as a means of pressuring the PA to extend an April 29 negotiation deadline.
In response, Abbas formally applied for Palestinian membership in several U.N. agencies and conventions.
At the Arab League ministers renewed their pledge to give the Palestinian Authority $100 million a month. This would compensate for any money Israel will be blocking to the PA as a result of the faltering talks. Ministers also urged those countries who have pledged money to Abbas' government but who have not yet paid to transfer the funds as soon as possible.
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