In an effort to placate the Obama administration on the issue of settlements, Barak is mulling a proposal whereby the Israeli government would pledge to a temporary, three-month halt to construction in all West Bank settlements, Army Radio reported on Sunday.
Dat klinkt goed. Dan heeft Obama drie maanden de tijd om de Palestijnen aan te zetten tot een serieuze tegen-concessie. Lukt dat, dan moet Israel de maatregel haast wel verlengen, en zouden beide partijen weer serieus kunnen gaan onderhandelen, en zou een stapje zijn gezet op weg naar vrede. Lukt het niet, dan is duidelijk dat de nederzettingen niet het enige of grootste struikelblok zijn, en ook meer druk op de Palestijnen nodig is om tot vrede te komen.
RP
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Netanyahu: EU receptive to Israel stance on Palestinian statehood
Haaretz - 28 June 2009
Haaretz - 28 June 2009
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the European heads of state with whom he met last week were receptive to Israel's new position on Palestinian statehood.
"I found a receptive ear in Europe to the principles that we presented for the diplomatic process with the Palestinians," said Netanyahu at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
He listed the principles as, "The recognition of a Jewish state, demilitarizing a Palestinian state, and recognition that any agreement signed will be the end of the conflict and an end to demands [of Israel]."
Netanyahu said that these principles garner widespread public support. "I call on the opposition to declare its support for these ideas," he said.
Netanyahu said that these principles garner widespread public support. "I call on the opposition to declare its support for these ideas," he said.
On Wednesday, the prime minister said his proposal for a demilitarized Palestinian state was gaining international ground and was the only solution for Middle East peace.
"The idea of a demilitarized state will in course become accepted," Netanyahu said after meeting the leaders of France and Italy.
"If it is not accepted, there will not be an agreement," he told following his meeting in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "It cannot be that there is a Palestinian state and the struggle will continue within it."
Sarkozy, meanwhile, said that Israel must take immediate confidence-building measures for Middle East peace, including a complete freeze of construction in West Bank settlements.
The French leader told reporters after his meeting with Netanyahu that Israel must also work to improve freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the cabinet on Sunday that Israel places "great importance" on reaching an understanding with the Obama administration on the issue of construction in West Bank settlements.
Commenting on the possibility of a temporary freeze in settlement construction, Barak said the matter has yet to be fully formulated.
"The subject of settlements is just part of a wide range of topics of conversation with the Americans," Barak said on Sunday.
Barak will travel to the United States on Monday for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.
In an effort to placate the Obama administration on the issue of settlements, Barak is mulling a proposal whereby the Israeli government would pledge to a temporary, three-month halt to construction in all West Bank settlements, Army Radio reported on Sunday.
Mitchell was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris last week, although the meeting was put off reportedly due to the remaining gaps that separate Jerusalem and Washington on the subject of "natural growth."
Israel seeks American approval to continued construction within the existing municipal boundaries of West Bank settlements in order to accommodate the growing population within the communities, a stance that Washington rejects.
The reported proposal would make an exception for some 200 structures which are current in advanced stages of construction, according to Army Radio.
The offer of a temporary freeze is intended to gauge the Palestinian response and to determine whether the Americans are willing to consider the proposal.
The cabinet will discuss Barak's upcoming trip to Washington during its weekly meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.
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