Downing Street Says » Middle East

» Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Middle East

Asked what the Prime Minister was trying to achieve in the Middle East the PMOS said, overall we were trying to move forward to serious engagement between Israel and Palestine, in a way that begins to address the answers that are needed for a final settlement. He recognised there were issues such as the kidnapping of Corporal Shalit and the position of Palestinian prisoners which get in the way of that process. What we needed to do was try and create the momentum that resolves the short-term issues and begins to address the long-term issues. The Prime Minister’s view was that that is possible. Asked why did the Prime Minister think now was the right opportunity, the PMOS said in a peace process if you wait for the ‘right time’ it will almost certainly never come along. Instead, you always had to recognise the need to push things forward. If you sat back you may think the status quo will continue, but actually what tends to happen was things get worse rather than better. If however, you understand where people are and you understand the choices that have to be made, then you can begin to understand the way of moving things forward. There was no guarantee that things would get better, but there is a much better chance if you remain engaged. Asked whether it was right to say that the Prime Minister was the only one engaged, the PMOS said it was not true to say he was the only one. For instance, Condoleezza Rice had been very active in a public way, but very often in a private way behind the scenes. Sometimes, other leaders were also engaged. The Prime Minister had identified this as a particular area where he wanted to try and see what was possible in moving things forward in his remaining time, as he has said publicly.

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