If one party does not want peace

His Majesty King Abdullah’s talks with visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius tackled regional developments, mainly efforts to confront the danger of terrorism through a comprehensive approach that sees partnership and coordination among the parties concerned.

They also aimed to galvanise international support for reviving peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution and international resolutions.

Failure to hold meaningful peace negotiations as soon as possible, Jordan warned repeatedly, would trigger a catastrophe in the region, over and above the existing conflicts.

The King has been inviting influential parties to create the conditions necessary to breathe life into the peace process, totally stalled for a year, and reach at a solution to this decades-old conflict.

True to form, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Fabius’ intervention — an innocuous suggestion that a UN resolution be issued that would lay out the parameters for peace talks — probably by instinct, not even caring to hear what it is, calling it and other initiatives “international dictates”.

Before the French official’s arrival in occupied Jerusalem, Netanyahu criticised international diplomatic efforts to suggest proposals, saying that they neglect to address Israel’s security concerns.

“Peace will only come from direct negotiations between the parties without preconditions,” said Netanyahu.

How convenient.

For years the two parties have been engaged in direct negotiations. The outcome is there for all to see.

As for preconditions, they were never made by Palestinians. International law and UN resolutions are clear bases on which talks can proceed.

The only “preconditions” were put by Israel — like the infamous demand that Israel be acknowledged as a Jewish state, blatantly disregarding Palestinians’ rights — knowing that they will be rejected, thus putting an end to talks, or that a scaled-down version will be accepted by the cornered, despairing, Palestinians, conceding more till nothing to give will be left anymore.

Without justice for the Palestinians, there can be no end to this conflict. And without peace in Palestine, the entire region and beyond will be forever boiling, giving excuse to legitimate and less so powers to invoke Palestine for their not always kosher acts.

Will Israel ever understand that?

With Netanyahu at the helm, clearly not.

King Abdullah has repeatedly said that among the many conflicts in the Middle East, the Palestinian issue remains the number one crisis that awaits resolution.

Trouble is no one seems to be listening until it will probably be too late.