Skip to main content

Abu Mazen's overlooked surprise concession on settlements

If reports are accurate, PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas agreed to allow 80% of settlers to remain in settlements annexed to Israel, a historic reversal of previous PLO positions.
A crane is seen next to homes in a Jewish settlement near Jerusalem known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim January 3, 2014. Israel on Friday published tenders for 1,400 new homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the region to push peace efforts with the Palestinians. Picture taken January 3, 2014. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION POLITICS) - RTX178IM

Peace-making between Israel and the Palestinians has ended. In its place, the battle to explain or rationalize failure has begun.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas trade accusations. Both blame the Americans. Washington takes an evenhanded approach. It sees culprits everywhere … except in the mirror.

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.