Israel Matzav

Kerry to present 'framework agreement' this month?

An Arab League source has told the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that US Secretary of State John FN Kerry plans to present a 'framework agreement' to Israel and the 'Palestinians' before the end of this month.

Quoting anonymous Arab League sources, the paper reported the agreement will include security measures meant to assuage both sides.

On two visits earlier this month Kerry presented to PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu security “ideas” based on the work that a team of some 160 US officials, headed by retired US Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, drew up defining what it thought would be necessary for Israel’s security if a Palestinian state were created.

Those ideas reportedly included an IDF presence in the Jordan Valley for an extended period, between 10 and 15 years.

...

On Wednesday, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said a peace agreement will not be reached by the end of the set nine-month period that ends on April 29, but that he believed an initial "framework agreement" is possible.

That "framework agreement" would "specify the borders, percentage of the [land] swaps, security arrangements, Jerusalem status, refugees" and other core issues, Erekat said.

The PLO negotiator said the Palestinians would be willing to continue negotiations beyond the nine-month period if such a framework agreement is reached.

Following the signing of a framework agreement, Erekat estimated the two sides could reach a final accord in six to twelve months.

"Once you reach the framework agreement, between that day to reach a comprehensive treaty, on all core issues... you need six to 12 months in the best case," he said.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, John Kerry, Jordan Valley, Middle East peace process, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome, Saeb Erekat, two-state solution

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:14 PM