Good news: Netanyahu to make a 'gesture' to Abu Bluff
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has promised President Obumbler that he will make yet another 'gesture' to 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mitchell proposes that he travel between Jerusalem and Ramallah, relaying messages to the two sides on various core issues, including borders, Jerusalem, refugees and security. At a later stage the talks might be taken over by low-level officials on both sides to evaluate if negotiations can be continued at top levels.Somehow, Netanyahu missed the fact that President Obumbler did not even mention the 'Middle East peace process' in his State of the Union address on Wednesday, signaling that it's being put on the back burner until after the midterm elections (at least), and that therefore Mitchell has no leverage to ask for more 'concessions' right now.
The proposal also included Israeli goodwill gestures that would be carried out at the start of the proximity talks the United States would conduct. The main goodwill gesture is expected to be the release of hundreds of Fatah prisoners to the West Bank.
The senior source in Jerusalem said that these would largely be prisoners with only a little time left in their sentences. Other goodwill gestures involve easing travel in the West Bank.
Netanyahu accepted Mitchell's proposal, according to the Israeli source. However, Netanyahu emphasized that the Palestinians must also agree to the plan.
Mitchell presented his proposal to Abbas but the Palestinian leader has not yet said whether he agrees.
What could go wrong?
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:18 PM
1 Comments:
1. I can think of an appropriate gesture.
2. Just because nothing much was said in the State of the Union speech, we have no reason to believe there is now less Obama effort to undermine Israel.
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