Paris Conference on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is Any Progress Possible Without the Participation of the Conflicting Sides?

• 01.19.2017, 14:58
•  Near East,  World

thecommentator.com

Talks over resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as discussions on "two-state" solution are again on international agenda.  On January 15 in Paris with the initiative of the French side and the participation of over 70 countries a summit took place on Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The representatives of 70 countries called Israelis and Palestinians put an end to the conflict and agree on the solution that considers creation of two states. They also warned that neither side should take unilateral steps that could jeopardize future negotiations.

The most interesting part of this conference was not the joint declaration or the commitment of the countries to "two-state" solution, but the fact that neither Israel, nor Palestine – the conflicting sides, were present during the summit, as they were not invited. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the Paris meeting "a rigged conference" which Israel would not be bound by, while Palestine welcomed the final statement of the summit.

Though the summit again reiterated what has during the recent years been said for resolving the conflict – Palestinians’ right to statehood and sovereignty, fully end of occupation that begin in 1967, satisfying Israel’s security needs and resolving all permanent status issues on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the fact that the conflicting sides were not present, lowers the possibility of moving forward the process.

This concern was raised only by the UK. "We have particular reservations about an international conference intended to advance peace between the parties that does not involve them - indeed which is taking place against the wishes of the Israelis - and which is taking place just days before the transition to a new American President when the U.S. will be the ultimate guarantor of any agreement," a Foreign Office statement said, trust.org informs.

The world practice has shown that in order to have progress in settling any conflict direct engagement of the conflicting sides is of utmost importance. Today negotiations are also being held on Cyprus issue and the fact there is a great progress in the process, very few issues are left to be agreed and the possible agreement seems to come soon is due to the fact that the leaders of the conflicting sides have come to the perception that they need a solution and they are directly negotiating on the issue.