The Palestinians today criticised the United States’ role in the
peace process over the last seven years in a memorandum published as negotiators resumed peace talks with Israel in the absence of US mediation.
A five-page document issued by the Palestinian negotiating team said US policy under former president Mr Bill Clinton had had "disastrous consequences" for the peace process, accusing Washington of adopting the Israeli position and concentrating on "process over substance.''
The two sides are meeting in the Egyptian resort of Taba only two weeks ahead of the Israeli election for prime minister in a bid to strike a peace deal and settle some of the most contentious issues dividing them, including the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
The memorandum was issued two days after Mr George W. Bush was inaugurated as US president, replacing Mr Clinton who oversaw the 1993 Oslo peace accords and made peace in the Middle East a key plank of his foreign policy.
"The difficult substantial issues at the core of the conflict, including acceptance that Israel’s occupation of Arab territory it conquered in the 1967 Israeli-Arab war is illegal, have been constantly deflected in order to maintain talks without requiring Israel to face up to its obligations," according to the document, a copy of which was received by AFP.
"The United States' advocacy of 'constructive ambiguity' has had disastrous consequences for the peace process,'' the memo added, accusing the United States of accepting Israel's views on security while ignoring Palestinian rights and needs.
"There is much the United States can contribute to encouraging justice, peace and stability in the Middle East but only if it can learn from the mistakes and failures of the last seven years,'' the memo said.
AFP