'Private individual’ arranged meeting between Israeli-Palestinian negotiators, U.S. not updated
A private individual who holds no official position in the Israeli government acted as a middleman in preparing for last Thursday’s meeting between Interior Minister Silvan Shalom and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, Haaretz has learned.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were aware of talks about the meeting and approved it. Senior officials in the Jordanian government and the European Union were also involved. The United States, however, was kept in the dark and Israel did not update the Americans before or after the meeting took place.
Talks about holding the meeting began a few weeks after the government was formed in May and Shalom was given responsibility for negotiating with the Palestinians. The private individual knows both Shalom and Erekat, suggested organizing the meeting and passed messages between the sides.
At a certain stage European Union envoy Fernando Gentilini tried to coordinate between the sides and even suggested the meeting be held in Brussels, however Erekat asked that it be held in Amman, Jordan, which brought the Jordanian government into the secret. Erekat did not present any preconditions for holding the meeting, beyond that it be held at a neutral venue.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/.premium-1.668166
Looks like everyone has finally realized that the US shouldn't be part of this dialogue, as it's not a credible intermediator--it's a partisan supporter of Israel. The European Union and even private parties will have to fill that role.
"Include us out" to paraphrase Samuel Goldwyn.
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