Why the Mideast peace process is at a standstill

HARI SREENIVASAN:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama met at the White House this morning to discuss the derailed peace process with Iran and the fight against the Islamic State.

Chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner has been reporting on what happened as the leaders spoke behind closed doors.

So, after the cameras were off, what happened in there?

MARGARET WARNER:

Well, Hari, it didn't go entirely well, and that was somewhat surprising.

The expectation was that, after this tension-filled year over the Iran nuke talks, over the Gaza war, over the crash and burn of the peace process, that the two leaders would pretty much agree to agree on certain things, paper over their differences and focus on the fight against Islamic State or ISIS.

But, instead, Israeli officials came out and said, well, that they still had the exact same concerns on the Iran nuke talks, even though that was Netanyahu's number one item, that the U.S. and these world powers are pursuing a deal that will leave Iran with some kind of centrifuge capability and enrichment capability that they think will make them a threshold weapon state.

And, two, just — I think Netanyahu had only just returned to New York when the with White House spokesman came out, Josh Earnest, and totally unloaded on the announcement today of plans to build new Israeli settlements in Arab East Jerusalem, and he said it called into question the entire commitment of the Israeli government to any kind of negotiated settlement and it would alienate the government from even its closest allies.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

Well, that leads me to ask about the peace plan that Secretary of State Kerry has been working so hard on. Where is that?

MARGARET WARNER:

Dead for now, totally dead for now. He labored for nine months, as you know, suspended in April.

The only thing that could break the logjam to, say, everyone who is involved in it, is if President Obama would come forward for with the principles the U.S. believes in and just make everyone respond. He doesn't think either of these leaders, Abbas or — Palestinian President Abbas or Netanyahu has the stroke or will internally, domestically, to do it.

Two, he's not about to pick a fight with Israel on the eve of an American election. But, number three, he's really focused on the fight against ISIS. And, actually, interestingly, Israel is giving not only rhetorical support to that, but real — some behind-the-scenes support, one on intelligence. They have excellent intelligence with Syria.

And, two, allowing some overflights over Israeli territories on some of these strikes.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

So, something interesting that Netanyahu said was — let me quote this — "A commonality of exists between Israel and some Arab states."

What's he mean by that.

MARGARET WARNER:

It's interesting.

First of all, they have always had commonality, the Gulf states, Jordan, and Egypt, against Iranian influence. But during the Gaza conflict, Israelis were heartened by the fact that the Gulf states and these other countries were very muted in their criticism of civilian deaths.

Then the emergence of this sort of intense ISIS fight has had Netanyahu and his government thinking if there is a way to partner with some of these — quote — "moderate," they call them, Arab states to try to put leverage on actually the Palestinians, or give them diplomatic cover and money to actually get back to the peace table.

Now, some would say that hasn't been the only obstacle to peace. But, of course, an announcement — apparently, President Obama, they discussed — Netanyahu came in with specific ideas. They did discuss those ideas. President Obama made clear it would have to be a two-way street. And certainly announcements like the settlements are not the kind of gesture that would advance that or make it comfortable for these states to join in any kind of overt coordinated campaign with the Israelis.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

All right, Margaret Warner, thanks so much.

MARGARET WARNER:

Thank you.