Israel to blame on talks

The July 1 deadline agreed to by Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel has gone by without being honored. The responsibility for this failure rests solely on Israel.

A lack of commitment on the part of Tel Aviv has delayed the implementation of the agreement that would have given the peace process the boost it desperately needs.

The failure to meet the July 1 deadline can be attributed to a lack of will on the part of Israel to stand by its declared intentions of peace. There is the impression that the Israelis have used the Palestinian track to prod the peace process forward in other areas.

They are intent on playing the Palestinian card to the maximum advantage, fully aware of the importance the Arab world gives to the Palestinian cause and that of Jerusalem.

While the transfer of civil powers is but one of three issues that the Palestinians and the Israelis are negotiating, it is the least sensitive one. The other two cover the redeployment of Israeli forces in the West Bank and the holding of autonomy elections.

If the deadline on the accord on civil powers has been missed, the progress on the other tracks automatically comes under doubt.

It is time that Israel realizes the sooner it ends its presence in Palestine, the sooner can it breathe easy. The Palestine Liberation Organization needs to establish its authority fully if the region is going to enjoy the fruits of security and stability.

Israeli delays and vacillation do not help achieve this aim.

-- The Riyadh Daily