WASHINGTON—Former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, to shepherd Israeli-Palestinian peace talk as senior negotiators from the two sides prepared to sit down together for the first time in years. Kerry asked both sides to make “reasonable compromises on tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic issues,” and agreed with President Barack Obama that it would be a long, tough journey. “This is a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead,” said Obama.
“I know the negotiations are going to be tough, but I also know that the consequences of not trying could be worse,” Kerry said.
Both leaders feel Indyk has earned the respect of everyone involved in the negotiations because of his years as an experienced diplomat in Middle East. There have been some funny comment made about him as midwife to the process, since the sides have agreed to negotiate for at least nine months, officials said.
“I think reasonable compromises have to be a keystone of all of this effort,” Kerry the AP.
Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman said that the initial goals are to develop “a procedural work plan for how the parties can proceed with negotiations in the coming months.”
Kerry said. “Ambassador Indyk is realistic. He understands that Israeli-Palestinian peace will not come easily and it will not happen overnight. But he also understands that there is now a path forward and we must follow that path with urgency. He understands that to ensure that lives are not needlessly lost, we have to ensure that opportunities are not needlessly lost.”
He thanked President Barack Obama and Kerry for “entrusting me with the mission of helping “It is a daunting and humbling challenge, but one that I cannot desist from,” Indyk said.
Details of the negotiations are being kept as closely held secrets so that neither side and noisy politicians would be able to torpedo the talks. While many have no hope, among many analysts and top leaders there is some cautious optimism when the long-term consequences of not reaching a viable peace agreement are considered.
