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On eve of Obama-Netanyahu meet, Abbas offers Jerusalem compromise

the makeout hobo

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On eve of Obama-Netanyahu meet, Abbas offers Jerusalem compromise - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

The London-based Arabic newspaper, Al Hayat, reported this weekend that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had proposed the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with a possible land swap of 2.3 percent of the West Bank to ensure a fair solution for Israeli settlement blocs. Al Hayat reported that the Palestinians agreed to leave settlement blocs including Gush Etzion, Pisgat Ze'ev and Modi'in Ilit, along with a swath of land overlooking Ben-Gurion International Airport, in Israeli hands.

In exchange, the PA would receive land of comparable size and quality in the southern West Bank as well as a corridor between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Abbas also reportedly proposed easing Palestinian demands over East Jerusalem to permit the Jewish Quarter of the Old City as well as the Western Wall to remain under Israeli sovereignty. The remainder of the Old City, he proposed, would become the capital of a Palestinian state but fully open to the adherents of all faiths.

Good. The Palestinians are offering a completely reasonable and acceptable offer. Let us hope that Israel agrees to this, and lets hope the Gazans throw out Hamas and put in a government that will make a similar agreement.
 
We'll see how it plays out, every agreement and negotiation is ALWAYS contencious in these cases...

I'm happy that Fatah is offering this, as it is basically what the Israelis have been offering in the past. I just hope that whoever Abbas and Netanyahu have as their seconds in command agree to this too, in case either gets shot
 
The Israelis should seize this offer before it expires. That is, of course, if they actually want peace.
 
The London-based Arabic newspaper, Al Hayat, reported this weekend that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had proposed the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with a possible land swap of 2.3 percent of the West Bank to ensure a fair solution for Israeli settlement blocs. Al Hayat reported that the Palestinians agreed to leave settlement blocs including Gush Etzion, Pisgat Ze'ev and Modi'in Ilit, along with a swath of land overlooking Ben-Gurion International Airport, in Israeli hands.

In exchange, the PA would receive land of comparable size and quality in the southern West Bank as well as a corridor between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Abbas also reportedly proposed easing Palestinian demands over East Jerusalem to permit the Jewish Quarter of the Old City as well as the Western Wall to remain under Israeli sovereignty. The remainder of the Old City, he proposed, would become the capital of a Palestinian state but fully open to the adherents of all faiths.

Good. The Palestinians are offering a completely reasonable and acceptable offer. Let us hope that Israel agrees to this, and lets hope the Gazans throw out Hamas and put in a government that will make a similar agreement.
- I believe Israel has proposed a land swap for five settlement blocs. Abbas offers three. Maybe they will split the difference and agree on four.

- There is no problem in principle with a corridor between the West Bank and Gaza. The problem is how to accomplish this without splitting Israel in half. I believe Israel has proposed an underground corridor similar to The Tube which connects England and France.

- Jerusalem will be tricky. I personally have no major problem with the proposal by Abbas.

- There was no mention by Abbas about the long-standing Palestinian insistence on "Right of Return". Israel will never agree to this demand since doing so would occasion a catastrophic shift in Israeli demographics.

- Israel would vastly prefer to obtain a "final peace agreement with ALL Palestinians". If there is to be a transit corridor, how is Israel to differentiate between West Bank Palestinians (bound by a peace agreement) and Gaza Palestinians (still waging war with Israel)?
 
- I believe Israel has proposed a land swap for five settlement blocs. Abbas offers three. Maybe they will split the difference and agree on four.
We'll see. It all depends on what works politically, and I know nowhere close to enough on this nitty-gritty

- There is no problem in principle with a corridor between the West Bank and Gaza. The problem is how to accomplish this without splitting Israel in half. I believe Israel has proposed an underground corridor similar to The Tube which connects England and France.
Even if it's just a single highway, would that be an issue?

- Jerusalem will be tricky. I personally have no major problem with the proposal by Abbas.

- There was no mention by Abbas about the long-standing Palestinian insistence on "Right of Return". Israel will never agree to this demand since doing so would occasion a catastrophic shift in Israeli demographics.
Would the right let them return to Israel proper, or just the Palestinian areas?

- Israel would vastly prefer to obtain a "final peace agreement with ALL Palestinians". If there is to be a transit corridor, how is Israel to differentiate between West Bank Palestinians (bound by a peace agreement) and Gaza Palestinians (still waging war with Israel)?

Would a suitable checkpoint be enough?
 
The Israelis should seize this offer before it expires. That is, of course, if they actually want peace.

I'm sorry, I think you meant to say "While the PA still pretends it's after peace"
 
Even if it's just a single highway, would that be an issue?
Certainly, since it implies sovereign territory. An overland sovereign highway would effectively split Israel in half. Imagine a highway between New York and San Diego which belongs to another sovereign nation and cannot be crossed without permission. This is why an underground corridor has been proposed. It satisfies the needs of both parties.

Would the right let them return to Israel proper, or just the Palestinian areas?
The Right of Return as promulgated by the Palestinians includes Israel proper.

Would a suitable checkpoint be enough?
Why should Israel again be forced to police the Palestinians? Doesn't it make more sense to have ALL Palestinians agree to a final settlement and govern themselves?
 
As I understand, you essentially have two leadership groups right now, and Abbas only speaks for one.
 
As I understand, you essentially have two leadership groups right now, and Abbas only speaks for one.
Yes. The Palestinian government is fractured and bifurcated.... PLO/West Bank vs. Hamas/Gaza
 
What about this offer makes you think they don't want peace?

History. Israel has been burned far too many times in the past. One prays for Peace, and one HOPES this is a legit move. However, to suggest, as Orion did that Israel isn't interested in Peace is patently dishonest.
 
On eve of Obama-Netanyahu meet, Abbas offers Jerusalem compromise - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Good. The Palestinians are offering a completely reasonable and acceptable offer. Let us hope that Israel agrees to this, and lets hope the Gazans throw out Hamas and put in a government that will make a similar agreement.

A very similar if not identical agreement was tentatively agreed to in the past by Israel at Taba (97% of the West Bank, all of Gaza, and half of East Jerusalem with land swaps to make a contiguous Palestinian state and to allow Israel to retain some of their settlements), Arafat rejected it over the right of return, and now that Fatah is offering it the hardliners are in control of the Knesset and probably won't accept it and even if they do there's still Hamas to contend with. It's a good plan but the timing sucks.
 
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Israel should have 100% control of all their capital city. Palestine should receive none of it and there should be no partitioning of the Israeli capital.
 
Would need to look at this a bit more but seems to be a reasonable plan. No info on right of return, which would be a big issue. The underground tunnel sounds intelligent as well.
 
Israel should have 100% control of all their capital city. Palestine should receive none of it and there should be no partitioning of the Israeli capital.
Are you going to give your reasoning for the above statements?
 
I have no doubt that Israel will say no and blame the Palestinian's for Israel's no. Same old story and it wont change.
 
I have no doubt that Israel will say no and blame the Palestinian's for Israel's no. Same old story and it wont change.
The current negotiations are closely monitored by US Special Envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

As usual, you prattle on without any substantive knowledge of the process.
 
The current negotiations are closely monitored by US Special Envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

As usual, you prattle on without any substantive knowledge of the process.

LOL and so what if Mitchell is monitoring the negotiations? Seriously the history of these peace talks has been one side or another saying no and then radicals on both sides start to open fire at each other. This will never ever change as long as both sides do not deal with the radicals among them, and considering Israel has a PM who easily could be called a radical, then well..
 
LOL and so what if Mitchell is monitoring the negotiations? Seriously the history of these peace talks has been one side or another saying no and then radicals on both sides start to open fire at each other. This will never ever change as long as both sides do not deal with the radicals among them, and considering Israel has a PM who easily could be called a radical, then well..
US Special Envoy Mitchell reports directly to Obama on the pace and substance of the mutual negotiations. So far, Obama is satisfied with both aspects and steady progress is being made.

As always, tiresome rhetoric is a poor substitute for dynamical understanding and comprehension.
 
US Special Envoy Mitchell reports directly to Obama on the pace and substance of the mutual negotiations. So far, Obama is satisfied with both aspects and steady progress is being made.

As always, tiresome rhetoric is a poor substitute for dynamical understanding and comprehension.

It's PeteEU, special envoy for promoting the European Promotion of the Palastinian Cause, what do you expect from him Shayah?
 
The underground tunnel sounds intelligent as well.

I like it in theory, but I fear it could be safety/security nightmare.
 
It's PeteEU, special envoy for promoting the European Promotion of the Palastinian Cause, what do you expect from him Shayah?
I expect very little from Pete, and he rarely disappoints me.
 
I wish they would start talking about a three state solution instead of a two, as this would address the issues of the corridor as well as the leadership, making the corridor unnecessary, and more easily accommodating the fraction between Hamas and Fatah. Especially considering that the most influential clans in the west bank and Gaza have always been different and the fact that Palestinian identity is such a completely modern invention to begin with, I see no reason it should be written in stone that they should seek a two state solution.

With a three state solution, if the West bank proves to be sincerely interested in peace and follows suit with actions and Gaza remains a terrorist hellhole, then at least some of the Palestinians will be living in peace and Israel would only need to concentrate on Gaza.
 
I wish they would start talking about a three state solution instead of a two, as this would address the issues of the corridor as well as the leadership, making the corridor unnecessary, and more easily accommodating the fraction between Hamas and Fatah. Especially considering that the most influential clans in the west bank and Gaza have always been different and the fact that Palestinian identity is such a completely modern invention to begin with, I see no reason it should be written in stone that they should seek a two state solution.

With a three state solution, if the West bank proves to be sincerely interested in peace and follows suit with actions and Gaza remains a terrorist hellhole, then at least some of the Palestinians will be living in peace and Israel would only need to concentrate on Gaza.

I had considered the three state solution. If the West Bank worked out well it would be a good example for Gaza. Gazans may be more inclined to oust their leaders as they have failed where other Palestinians have achieved success.

Of course, it may make things a bit more complex and bring about issues I haven't thought of.
 
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