Murder of Israeli Soldiers Injects Realism Into “Peace Process”
25th September 2013
“Troop deaths put strain on Mideast peace talks.” So states a Washington Post headline (print edition) this morning. The headline refers to the fact that Palestinians killed two Israeli troops this weekend, including an unarmed 20-year old whose dead body was tossed into a well by his murderer.
The armed wing of Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party has claimed responsibility for both killings. Its actual responsibility, if any, is less significant, politically speaking, than its eagerness to make the claim. Moreover, the Palestinian Authority — Israel’s “peace partner” — has not yet condemned the murders. So, yes, you can see how the murders might put a damper on “peace talks.”