The Financial Times reports on France’s plans for an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to provide “renewed momentum” to encourage direct negotiations between the two sides.
In the article, the FT looks back at the 2014 US-led talks, and why they failed:
The last round of US-led talks collapsed in April 2014 after delays in a planned release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and Palestinian anger over Israeli construction in illegal settlements and an Israeli demand that they recognize the country as a Jewish state.
Is this really the full story? Was Israel solely to blame for the collapse of the talks, and on three counts? What about the other side of the story that the article didn’t cover? Could it be that the Palestinians played some role in the failure of the talks?
For example:
- Abbas didn’t agree to extend the talks, and with their impending failure, the release of the prisoners was delayed.
- In a clear breach of agreements with the US and Israel, Abbas applied for Palestinian membership in 15 UN and international bodies.
- Fatah announced an agreement with Hamas – the genocidal, terrorist organization – that they were to form a Palestinian unity government.
So why did the Financial Times choose to only report one side – the side that placed the blame wholly on Israel?
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