Washington - Eighty-seven US Senators urged President Barack Obama on Monday to press Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas not to walk away from US-backed peace talks with Israel.
“It is critical that all sides stay at the table. Neither side should make threats to leave just as the talks are getting started,” the lawmakers, an overwhelming majority of the 100-seat body, wrote in a letter to Obama.
Abbas had repeatedly warned he would abandon the negotiations if Israel were to continue building on occupied Palestinian land, but the Jewish state let a partial settlement freeze lapse.
As bulldozers across the West Bank lumbered into action on Monday, Abbas told reporters in Paris he would not rush to respond to Israel's refusal to extend the freeze, but would first consult Palestinian and Arab leaders.
He was to discuss the move with his Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organisation this week and meet with Arab foreign ministers on October 4.
“We urge you to continue to emphasise to Israeli and Palestinian leaders that direct talks, while difficult, provide the best hope of reaching a meaningful and lasting peace agreement,” the US lawmakers wrote to Obama.
The senators also declared that “Arab states could do more to provide meaningful political and economic support for this process, including providing increased financial support to the Palestinian Authority.”
“We understand that you share this sentiment and we respectfully request that you use your influence to ensure that there is sustained Arab support for the talks,” they wrote.
The lawmakers also applauded the Obama administration's “commitment not to attempt to impose an agreement on the two parties.”
“To truly achieve positive and meaningful results, it is absolutely critical to have an agreement that is carefully negotiated and ultimately embraced by both sides, and provides for Israel's lasting security,” they wrote.
The powerful pro-Israel American-Israel Public Affairs Committee said in a statement that it “strongly applauds” the letter.
Senators Barbara Boxer, a Democrat from California, and Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georgia, led the effort, joined by Democratic Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina. - AFP