Inside the Israel-Palestine Talks: Going Nowhere? (Haaretz)
Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 7:36
The three meetings held so far between Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the current round of peace talks have addressed nothing of substance, diplomatic sources say.
American mediators are still trying to save the talks from collapsing in the crisis following the resumption of construction in settlements.
Netanyahu refused to hold a serious discussion on any of the core issues apart from security, Abbas reportedly told diplomats he met at the UN General Assembly. Israeli and foreign sources say the main problem is that Netanyahu refuses to present fundamental positions or discuss the borders of the Palestinian state.
"I heard nothing from Netanyahu but niceties," Abbas reportedly told foreign diplomats.