Israel Matzav

Maybe we won't need that coalition crisis after all

Prime Minister Netanyahu may not have to deal with a coalition crisis after all. The 'Palestinians' may solve his problem by insisting that Israel agree that 'negotiations' be based upon the 1967 borders 1949 armistice lines. That's a non-starter in this coalition.

Netanyahu says the new talks must be held without "preconditions", especially regarding the borders of the state Palestinians want to found in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Though it withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Israel deems all of Jerusalem its undivided capital - a status not accepted internationally - and wants to keep swathes of West Bank settlements under any eventual peace accord.

Yet the Palestinians insist no negotiations can be held until all sides agree the pre-1967 borders would be their basis.

Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said Erekat had yet to be invited to Washington. When he goes, Abu Rdaineh said, it would be first to determine the framework of any future negotiations.

"If they reach an agreement over the details, in accordance to the Palestinian demands, then the launch of negotiations will be announced," Abu Rdaineh told Reuters on Monday.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Middle East peace process, negotiations without preconditions, Palestinian state, two-state solution

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:27 PM