Kerry and Abbas hold surprise meet in Riyadh to discuss Israeli-Palestinian talks

[Jefferson23]

The unscheduled meeting was added to Kerry's agenda at the last-minute, as the two leaders' visit to Saudi Arabia coincided; the U.S. secretary of state is currently wrapping up a nine-nation tour, his debut official trip abroad.

By Jack Khour and Barak Ravid | Mar.04, 2013 | 2:34 PM

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met for unplanned talks on Monday afternoon, as part of their coinciding visits to Saudi Arabia.

Abbas' own trip to the capital Riyadh to meet King Abdullah was unexpected, and may have been coordinated to overlap with Kerry's.

The lunch meeting, which was added to Kerry's schedule at the last-minute on Monday morning, focused on efforts to resume the diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians and on U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to the region.

Kerry was supposed to have come to Jerusalem and Ramallah during his Middle East tour this week, his first official trip abroad as secretary of state, but canceled the visit at the request of the White House, apparently in light of the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has still not managed to form a coalition government. He will accompany President Barack Obama to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan later this month.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/kerry-and-abbas-hold-surprise-meet-in-riyadh-to-discuss-israeli-palestinian-talks.premium-1.507101

[Jefferson23]

1. Obama’s Middle East team: old problems, new style

The U.S. president's second-term team of secretaries and emissaries - including the major appointment of 'blank slate' Philip Gordon - augur a new involvement in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, though not necessarily on the part of Obama himself.

One of the questions that occupies Israel and the Palestinians before U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the region in about two weeks time is what his policy on the peace process will be during his second term. Obama is not expected to present a new policy during his visit, but the new composition of his Middle East affairs team looks like it will bring a different approach and style to the talks with both sides.

Over the past 18 months, Obama has dealt very little, if at all, with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The presidential election campaign, the departure of many advisers and the deep freeze of the talks have caused the American administration to engage mostly in maintenance and damage control.

snip* A new team of advisers on Middle East affairs, which will accompany Obama and Kerry over the next four years, has been formed over the past few days. The distinguishing characteristic of each of these advisers is that they come from the well-known peace industry clique that has been accompanying the blame game between Israel and the Palestinians for the past 20 years.

The major appointment in this context is Philip Gordon, who will be starting his job next week as Obama’s coordinator for the Middle East – a position that has been vacant for the past year and a half. Gordon, who as part of his new job will be responsible for the whole sector between Marrakesh and Bangladesh, will replace veteran diplomat Dennis Ross, who retired in November 2011.

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/obama-s-middle-east-team-old-problems-new-style.premium-1.507185

[azurnoir]

2. well it could be an interesting 4 years however

due in no small part to the US's 'generous' use of its veto power at the UNSC in Israel's favor it is unfortunate that the US is seen as little more than Israel's interlocutor

[Jefferson23]

3. Philip Gordon's approach to foreign policy should quell any concerns the Israeli government may

have about him...imo.

[azurnoir]

4. lol they should feel reassured

nothing will change nothing at all

[Jefferson23]

5. I wouldn't expect anything earthshattering, no. n/t