Israel Matzav

US to force Middle East 'settlement'

We've all heard ominous threats about the United States imposing a 'settlement' with the 'Palestinians' or with the Arab countries on Israel. In fact, those threats go back at least to the first Nixon administration. But somehow with a President whose 'achievements' - which were dubious in the first place - are going up in smoke (Hat Tip: Memeorandum), the threat to try to force a quick agreement on a tiny country that has no other friends in the world gains a lot of credibility.

IDF Radio reports that the United States intends to impose a solution on Israel if agreement is not reached in the ridiculously rushed 'peace talks' between Israel and the 'Palestinians.' That timetable would work out to early May, which would work out conveniently for Obama and the Democrats having an 'achievement' to present for the 2014 mid-term elections.

The radio station says the US has informed Israel and the Palestinian Authority that if negotiations between them do not advance, Washington will propose its own solution, that will include a US position on every point that is in contention. In effect, according to the report, this will be an attempt to force the sides to agree on a solution formulated by the US.

The US moves comes after three months of talks between the sides which have reportedly made very little headway.

The US plan reportedly is similar to the Clinton outline, which is based on an Israeli retreat to 1949 armistice lines, and some swaps of territory.

The Obama Administration is reportedly determined to achieve “a diplomatic breakthrough” by mid-2014, and believes that Israel under Binyamin Netanyahu and the PA under Mahmoud Abbas are capable of reaching agreement.

Until now, the talks were based on the idea that the two sides negotiate directly, with the US only acting as a mediator.

The American decision to present a proposed agreement was reportedly communicated by several senior officials, including the Special representative to the talks, Martin Indyk. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly briefed Netanyahu on the matter when they last met, in Italy.

Zehava Gal-On, chairwoman of the far Left Meretz party, said almost the same thing after meeting with 'Palestinian' and American officials on Monday morning.

"There will be a new diplomatic program, based on the pre-1967 lines with agreed land swaps," Gal-On said in a statement after meeting with Palestinian and American officials on Monday morning.

The statement said that the US has made a subtle but significant switch from a "third-party trying to bring the two sides together, to a role of direct involvement in the process."

Gal-On attributed the American's preparedness for increased involvement to the general feeling of skepticism among the public on both sides regarding the talks.

I'm sure that will give the 'Palestinians' an no incentive to finally make their first concession. After all, why make concessions when you can rely on Abu Hussein forcing the other side to give you whatever you want anyway?

What could go wrong?

Labels: Abu Mazen, Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, John Kerry, Martin Indyk, Middle East peace process, Zehava Gal-On

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:44 PM