'Palestinians' raise the ante
It's not just that the 'Palestinians' want the building freeze in Judea and Samaria extended in time. They want it extended to explicitly include 'east' Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority has told the U.S. administration that an Israeli commitment to continuing the freeze on settlement construction must include East Jerusalem.What could go wrong?
During preparatory talks ahead of the summit due in Washington next week, the Palestinians made it clear they refuse to accept any softer formula on the building freeze. They expect that even after the September 26 deadline, when the 10-month moratorium ends, the United States will support their demand to continue the ban on all construction outside the Green Line, including in the settlement blocs.
The Palestinian negotiating team, headed by Saeb Erekat, delivered to the Americans an opinion prepared by Israeli jurists. The Palestinians say this paper proves that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims that the government has no authority to freeze construction on private land are unfounded.
A source familiar with the exchanges with the United States said last night that for now the Americans have not changed their attitude regarding the building freeze. The source says the Americans are not inclined to adopt the compromise proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor that would see construction continue in large settlement blocs but not in isolated settlements.
Another recycled proposal was made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman: to allow settlement construction based on natural growth.
The source expressed the hope that U.S. President Barack Obama will be able to convince Abbas to soften his stance on Meridor's proposal. This would come in return for an American agreement to take steps on the ground that would improve the Palestinians' quality of life.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:36 AM
1 Comments:
The Palestinians keep placing pre-conditions on the talks. Its time for Israel to return the favor: demand Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, resettlement of the so-called refugees in the Arab countries where they reside, and a final end to the conflict. Israel should raise those demands loudly, consistently and clearly. If the Palestinians don't feel like they have to abide by the American formula, it is time for Israel to stop playing their game and just take it from them. Its time for Israel to respond back in kind and declare that its demands are not up for negotiation. The Palestinians can accept them as the price for a state or there will be no agreement and no state.
Israel should now raise the ante.
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