Skip to main content

Kadima Leader Shaul Mofaz: 'Abu Mazen Is Our Partner'

Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz explains in an interview with Mazal Mualem that he is gearing up to re-launch his diplomatic plan for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Kadima party leader Shaul Mofaz speaks during a news conference in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv July 17, 2012. Israel's Kadima party quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition on Tuesday in a dispute over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, but the government was not expected to collapse because it still had a majority in parliament. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY RELIGION) - RTR350Q2
Read in 

President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel next month has raised the Israel-Palestinian diplomatic process all at once to the top of the public agenda – an issue that has been dormant for four years. Former chief of staff and Kadima party chair Shaul Mofaz is gearing up to re-launch his diplomatic plan that aroused a great stir in the world three years ago.

The United States has returned the “diplomatic process” to the coalition negotiating table, after it disappeared almost completely from the public discourse. At the same time, the Americans are clearly hinting at the proper place this issue ought to receive on the priority list and, therefore, what kind of coalition should be assembled. Even [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who distanced himself from this issue throughout the election campaign, has been talking over recent days about his willingness to renew negotiations with the Palestinians, and is using this card in his efforts to form a broad-based government.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.