|
September 1, 2010
Posted: 1013 GMT
It's been hard to find many optimists about the prospects of success in renewed talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Most of the analysts and people on the ground we've been speaking with the past week have been pretty much uniform in their skepticism. Last week we heard from a couple of well-known Israeli analysts on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, former Labor Cabinet Minister Yossi Beilin and the National Union Party's Arieh Eldad. Listen to the them in the link above and compare their shared sense of doubt about the timing and effectiveness of the talks against the rather more panglossioan view from the Quartet's Middle East Envoy Tony Blair. The pervasive sense of pessimism that has been hanging in the air was only heightened Tuesday with a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that left 4 Israeli settlers dead. The military wing of Hamas took responsibility for the attack and is clearly hoping that it will help derail the yet-to-begin direct negotiations taking place in Washington on Thursday. While no one is talking about cancelling the talks the violence has only served to poison the atmosphere in which they are taking place. The Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlers in the West Bank said Wednesday they will renew settlement construction immediately, despite an existing moratorium on all building. Not a good omen for the start of the talks. Posted by: Kevin Flower
|
![]() Welcome to the Inside the Middle East blog where CNN's journalists post news, views and video from across the region. This is also a place where you can start the discussion so please keep your comments coming. We highlight not only current news stories but also anecdotes and issues that don't always make the top of the headlines. Read more about CNN's special reports policy ![]() Recent Posts
Watch the show
Inside the Middle East airs the first week of every month on the following days and times: Categories
Archive
|