Following the announcement by Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni that the release of Palestinian prisoners had been canceled - which indicates a significant weakening in the parties' progress on the political front - today, Finance Minister Yair Lapid addressed an issue that has drifted into a deep crisis, saying that "Abu Mazen's conduct in the past 24 hours raises serious doubts and makes one wonder whether he is really interested in reaching an agreement."'
Lapid said this in light of Abbas's list of conditions - which includes, among other things, recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian people. He also commented on this and said that the list "looks more like a deliberate provocation aimed at blowing up the talks.".
Lapid added that "the only Israelis who were happy were the extreme right-wingers, who prefer to wait for the Messiah instead of trying to reach a solution. Yesh Atid will continue to support separation from the Palestinians, but Abu Mazen should know that at the current point in time, his demands are working against him. No Israeli will negotiate with him at any cost." The chairman of the Yesh Atid faction also emphasized that "resuming negotiations was one of Yesh Atid's conditions for sitting in the government, but in order to hold it, the other side also needs to want it.".
Following the developments in the positions of Livni and Lapid - the chairmen who had a great influence on the rapprochement of the parties and the resolution of the conflict - an Israeli source says that "as it appears at the moment, the negotiations have exhausted themselves.".
As you may recall, Prime Minister Netanyahu's chief negotiator, Tzipi Livni, told Palestinian representative Saeb Erekat a few days ago that if the Palestinians do not withdraw their appeal to the UN, Israel will cancel the fourth round of prisoner releases. Last night, as we reported inHaredim10, Livni announced that Israel is finally canceling the release of the terrorists as part of the 'Fourth Pulse', following the Palestinians' appeal to the UN.
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