Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 12/13 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 18. Juni – 02. Juli 2013 1. Kerrys Shuttle-Diplomatie US-Außenminister John Kerry hat seine Versuche, Israelis und Palästinenser an den Verhandlungstisch zu bringen, fortgesetzt. Obwohl sein jüngster Auf­enthalt in der Region, bei dem er Premierminister Benjamin Netanyahu und Präsident Mahmoud Ab­bas jeweils drei Mal traf, zu keinem Durchbruch führte, sprach Kerry bei seiner Abreise von bedeut­samen Fortschritten. Auch Abbas sagte, er sei opti­mistisch, dass Kerrys Vermittlungen bald zu einer Wiederaufnahme der Friedensgespräche, die seit 2010 ruhen, führen würden. Netanyahu hatte zuvor verkündet, Israel sei zu Ver­handlungen bereit. Die palästinensische Seite be­steht weiterhin auf Vorbedingungen – darunter ein Stopp von Siedlungsbautätigkeiten, die Freilassung von palästinensischen Gefangenen und eine Aner­kennung der Grenzen von 1967. Medienberichten zufolge hat Netanyahu sich zu einigen Konzessio­nen bereit erklärt. Selbst wenn es zu Gesprächen kommen sollte, bleibt jedoch offen, ob die Regierungschefs genug politisches Kapital besitzen, um Schritte in einem Friedensfahrplan durchzusetzen. Kerry hasn't given up "Kerry[…] has not been able to advance his project. […] Kerry began his term believing wholeheartedly that he can bring both sides back to the negotiation table, which is in the interest of the US.[…] He thought he would come here with a reasonable plan and two diligent aides and be able to move moun­tains.[…] Each time Kerry boarded the plane en route to an­other crisis somewhere in the world, both sides returned to the starting point. Kerry failed also be­cause he focused, before anything else, on two core issues- borders and security.[…] But there is no Israeli prime minister who will agree to sign on the borders before receiving Palestinian commitments regarding the right of return." Alex Fishman, JED 20.06.13 Proceed with caution "Immense pressure is being brought to bear on both sides by the Americans who do not want to see Kerry’s efforts fail. Neither side wants to be the one blamed for torpedoing talks. Yet, even if Palestinians and Israelis are brought together[…] fi nding common ground on key issues […] will be much harder. At a time when the region is in turmoil,[…] those […] who[…] favor, at least in principle, some kind of two-state solution are rightly wary. The rockets be­ing fired from Gaza Strip at Jewish towns in the South in recent days are a reminder of what hap­pened after Israel dismantled its settlements in Ga­za, removed its soldiers and gave Palestinians lim­ited autonomy. Unless the government is vigilant, the same sort of scenario could easily repeat itself in the West Bank." JPO 25.06.13 Editorial Kerry vs. Palestinian obstinacy "While it seems that Israel is placing great im­portance on renewing diplomatic talks and jump­starting the process, within the Palestinian Authority there is a fear of coming to the discussion table. That is why the Palestinians are setting unaccepta­ble preconditions.[…] The goal of Abbas is to get to September, when he will move ahead with unilateral steps to establish a Palestinian state.[…] Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority is demanding the release of terrorists with blood on their hands[…]. Keep in mind that[…] the reality here is not like that in Northern Ireland, where there is today a true cease-fire and a spirit of cooperation between two peoples who hated each other. We are far from that and Israel must protect its security interests.[…] 1