Just hours before a new round of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations were to begin today in Jerusalem, the Israeli military struck two sites in Gaza, following rocket fire from Palestinians the night before.
The exchange of strikes came as Israeli officials released 26 Palestinian prisoners–they have promised to release 78 more over the coming months.
But this week, Israeli officials also announced plans to build more than 1,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This decision has enraged Palestinian leaders and lead some to question Israel’s commitment to the peace talks.
“The deliberate and willful sabotage of these talks and of any prospects of a genuine peace is embodied in Israel’s escalated and persistent policy of settlement activity and settlement expansion,” said Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi.
But Secretary of State John Kerry says he isn’t surprised–he sees the announcement as further evidence of the importance of peace talks.
“What this underscores actually is the importance of getting to the table, getting to the table quickly, and resolving the questions with respect to settlements,” Secretary Kerry said yesterday in Bogota, Colombia.
Haim Malka, Deputy Director and a Senior Fellow in the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins The Takeaway to discuss whether or not there is a chance for peace at the Israeli-Palestinian negotiating table.