Discontent as Israel takes larger pie from peace table

Israeli and Palestinian leaders formally agreed at an international conference on Tuesday to launch their first set of peace negotiations in seven years.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders formally agreed at an international conference on Tuesday to launch their first set of peace negotiations in seven years, but failed in tortuous private discussions to resolve key questions over the content and structure of the talks. As a result, a day that began with handshakes and hopes for peace ended with undispelled doubts over the prospect for success of the renewed effort to end decades of strife in West Asia.

Palestinian and Israeli representatives said they were satisfied with the outcome of the conference, but there were clear indications that the Israelis came away with a greater share of what they were seeking. Both the Bush administration’s approach to talks and a joint declaration negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians leaned toward Israeli positions.

In the statement, called a “joint understanding”, Israelis and Palestinians pledged to begin negotiations in December, with a goal to create a Palestinian state before the end of Bush’s term.

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“We agree to immediately launch good faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception,” said the declaration, which Bush read with Olmert and Abbas standing at his side.

Thousands of Jewish settlers protested in Jerusalem while Palestinian supporters of the militant Hamas movement staged rallies in Gaza and the West Bank, and one Palestinian protester was shot and killed in Hebron as Palestinian riot police tried to break up demonstrations.

Olmert and Abbas, who spoke to the international gathering after Bush and will meet the President again on Wednesday at the White House, each vowed to sacrifice in the interests of peace.

“We are willing to make painful compromise, rife with risks, in order to realise these aspirations,” Olmert said, adding that Israel also wants peace with Syria and other Arab states. “Neither we nor you must beg for peace from the other,” Abbas said. “It is a joint interest for us and you.”

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Despite statements of mutual support, the vague wording of the joint declaration signaled that the Israelis had emerged from the conference with more of what they wanted than the Palestinians. It also underscored the chasm separating the two sides as they begin trying to reach a deal.

The Olmert Government, worried about critics on its right, appeared successful in their effort to begin negotiations without yielding on anything ahead of time. Abbas’ team, by contrast, had sought some sort of Israeli concessions up front to show his public that his alliance with the West is producing benefits in the lives of ordinary Palestinians.

Meanwhile, many Palestinians appeared disappointed that their leaders are returning “empty handed” from Annapolis.

“What did the Palestinian leaders gain from the conference. Everything they were pushing for was not included in the joint statement, which was also forced on them. Israel emerged the winner.

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Several Palestinians said that their leaders will have a hard time explaining to their constituents as to why they agreed on a joint statement with Israel at the last moment without any reference to their key demands — a time-table to settle disputes and reference to the three core issues. The joint declaration sets a date, December 12, for the beginning of talks but sets no deadline for completing a peace deal, as the Palestinians wanted.