Axelrod on Mideast Peace Talks: We Are at a Pivotal Juncture
September 26, 2010— -- White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod, told "This Week" anchor Christiane Amanpour he is hopeful Israelis and Palestinians will continue peace talks that have been in progress since August, but which are threatened by the end of a 10-month moratorium on settlement construction tonight.
"The parties are still working. They're still talking," Axelrod said in an exclusive interview. "What is most important now is that the parties are at the table, they've having serious discussions, they ought to keep on having those discussions, and we are very eager to see that happen."
Middle East peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas began last month, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leading the efforts to bring the parties together for direct talks. Netanyahu on Sunday called on West Bank settlers to "show restraint" following the end of the government-ordered construction slowdown, in place since last November.
"Everyone understands that these talks themselves are absolutely crucial. We're at a pivotal juncture in that region," Axelrod said. "It's important for Israel. It's important for the Palestinians. And we think it's essential that they keep on moving forward, keep on talking, keep on trying to work through these issues. And we're hopeful that they will."
In a "This Week" exclusive interview Wednesday in New York during the UN General Assembly meetings, Queen Rania of Jordan told Amanpour that Palestinians should "absolutely" continue talks with Israelis.
"Whether the moratorium continues or not, what matters to me is what actually happens on the ground," Queen Rania said. "If both sides are still talking and in the spirit of peace and these settlements are not expanded upon, then I think both sides need to be flexible. As long as they continue to talk, we need to see results."
Queen Rania is campaigning to promote moderate voices in the Arab world to counter extremists. Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries to make peace with Israel.
