Tempers flare at Tokyo Mideast talks
Hard talk: Combo picture shows speakers of a session of the 3rd Conference for Confidence-building between the Israelis and the Palestinians, cheif Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat (R), Farouk Kasrawi (C), an adviser to Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Haim Divon (L), Israeli Deputy Director General for International Cooperation, at a Tokyo hotel yesterday. The second day of four-way peace talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian officials focused on economic development in the Middle East. Picture: AFP
Friday, March 16, 2007
ISRAELI and Palestinian envoys said yesterday that economic progress could help bring peace, but brief flashes of anger at a conference in Japan showed the mistrust that remains.
Japan, a key financial supporter of the Middle East peace process, wrapped up two days of talks with Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians with a symposium on confidence-building measures.
But the courteous discussions turned heated when it came to concrete issues such as sharing water in the parched region and economic disparity between Israel and the Palestinians.
"I wish Israel all the luck," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in comments laden with sarcasm during a panel discussion. "Such prosperity and such advancement and such economic power," he said. "Sure you don't need that much of my water? You don't need my land in the Jordan Valley?"
His comments were met by a firm Israeli response, in contrast to conciliatory remarks by both sides throughout the conference.
"We want two things," said Ariel Zief, vice president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
"Stop terror and recognise the state of Israel. Then we will see to it to talk about other things," he said.
Japan, which is seeking a larger role in the Middle East, convened the meeting to push forward its plan to build an agro-industrial park to bring jobs to the West Bank.
"They spoke of the window of opportunity available today, but the horizon of hope is fast receding," Japan's special Middle East envoy Tatsuo Arima said.
Israeli official Haim Divon said that projects brokered by third countries, such as Japan and Jordan, could be "the answer".
"Cooperation with countries of the Middle East is the state of Israel's highest priority," said Divon, deputy head of international cooperation at the foreign ministry.
"We know one another very well," Divon said.
"In spite of bumps and difficulties," he said of the peace process, "it is a challenge that we would like to face since it is the future of all of us."AFP
Japan, a key financial supporter of the Middle East peace process, wrapped up two days of talks with Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians with a symposium on confidence-building measures.
But the courteous discussions turned heated when it came to concrete issues such as sharing water in the parched region and economic disparity between Israel and the Palestinians.
"I wish Israel all the luck," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in comments laden with sarcasm during a panel discussion. "Such prosperity and such advancement and such economic power," he said. "Sure you don't need that much of my water? You don't need my land in the Jordan Valley?"
His comments were met by a firm Israeli response, in contrast to conciliatory remarks by both sides throughout the conference.
"We want two things," said Ariel Zief, vice president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
"Stop terror and recognise the state of Israel. Then we will see to it to talk about other things," he said.
Japan, which is seeking a larger role in the Middle East, convened the meeting to push forward its plan to build an agro-industrial park to bring jobs to the West Bank.
"They spoke of the window of opportunity available today, but the horizon of hope is fast receding," Japan's special Middle East envoy Tatsuo Arima said.
Israeli official Haim Divon said that projects brokered by third countries, such as Japan and Jordan, could be "the answer".
"Cooperation with countries of the Middle East is the state of Israel's highest priority," said Divon, deputy head of international cooperation at the foreign ministry.
"We know one another very well," Divon said.
"In spite of bumps and difficulties," he said of the peace process, "it is a challenge that we would like to face since it is the future of all of us."AFP
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