Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' now want what they turned down

The Jerusalem Post cites a Channel 10 report that says that the 'Palestinians' are now demanding concessions that weren't enough for them when Israel was 'led' by Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. The Post even has details of Livni's offer (which was described in Wednesday's print edition as being 'more generous than Barak's but less generous than Olmert's) (Hat Tip: CAMERA).

During Olmert's tenure, then-foreign minister Tzipi Livni offered to establish a Palestinian state on 92.7 percent of the territories conquered in the Six Day War. The map presented to Palestinian negotiators did not include the Jordan Valley as part of the State of Israel. The settlement of Ariel would remain part of Israel, but the stretch of land ensuring its contiguity with the rest of the country would be very narrow, Channel 10 reported.

In return for 7.3% that Israel would annex, it would offer the Palestinians 3% in land swaps.

According to a Channel 10 analyst, there were already decisions on what land would be swapped in return to retaining settlement blocs. Israel would cede 100 square kilometers near the Gaza Strip, 13 in the Tirat Zvi area, 10 near Nataf, half a square kilometer near Mevo Beitar, 7.4 near Lachish, 3.2 near Sumeria, 42 near Yatir and 151 in the Judean Desert.

The JPost reported in its print editions on Wednesday that in response, the Bush administration had proposed that Israel keep Maaleh Adumim and give up Ariel.

As noted, Olmert's offer to the 'Palestinians' was 'even more generous.' He offered to annex only 6.5% of Judea and Samaria and a land swap of 5.8%, so that the 'Palestinian state' would constitute 99.3% of the 1967 territories.

JPost also reports that the 'Palestinians' put forward a proposal under which they would get 98.1% of Judea and Samaria.

The Palestinians were willing forego only 1.9% of the Judea and Samaria territories, but they were willing to accept that Gush Etziyon, Modi'in and several other settlement remain in Israeli hands.

In Jerusalem, the Palestinians were willing to accept the neighborhoods of Ramot, Ramot Alon, Ramat Shlomo, Pisgat Ze'ev, Neve Ya'akov, Ma'alot Dafna, French Hill and Gilo, the southern neighborhood which has recently become a sticking point not with the Palestinians but with the United States after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would build several hundred new housing units there.

However, according to the report, the Palestinians themselves have [should be "had" CiJ] agreed to forego areas where they now demand Israel implement a complete halt to construction.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Abu Mazen.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:57 AM