PA-Israel talks, US Democrats game

An Iranian lawmaker says the US-led talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are a propaganda game by US Democrats ahead of the US midterm congressional vote.

“As the US congressional election will be held in the near future, Democrats, who want to win, seek to pretend that they have done something,” Deputy Head of Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Mohammad Esmail Kowsari said.

“But even they (the Democrats) know that talks will be futile because the Palestinian issue can only be resolved by the Palestinians and when the realities of this land (Palestine) is understood by the US and the other supporters of the Zionist regime [of Israel],” he added.

“The US is not looking to establish peace [in Palestine] rather it is looking to take political advantage of the matter,” Kowsari added.

The direct negotiations between acting Palestinian Authority (PA) Chief Mahmoud Abbas and Israel began in Washington on September 2 after breaking off at the turn of 2009 when Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip killed more than 1,400 Palestinians — mostly civilians.

Most Palestinians have voiced opposition to the US-sponsored talks between the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and Tel Aviv, as they believe negotiations will only embolden the Israelis.

Kowsari’s remarks came as Democrats in the United States fear that their rival Republicans may gain control over the House of Representatives and even come close to the Senate in November’s congressional elections as most Americans seem to be concerned with economy rather than war and fighting terrorism.

A series of opinion polls have painted a grim picture for US President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats in the upcoming November midterm elections.

In a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday, 53 percent of likely voters said they would vote for Republican candidates if the elections were held today, while 40 percent said they would vote for Democrats.