AP: Palestinians Claim Israel Wanting to Turn West Bank Barrier Into Border
- Posted on January 27, 2012 at 2:04pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israel is proposing to essentially turn its West Bank separation barrier into the border with a future state of Palestine, two Palestinian officials said Friday, based on their interpretation of principles Israel presented in talks this week.
The officials said Israeli envoy Yitzak Molcho told his Palestinian counterpart that Israel wants to keep east Jerusalem and consolidate Jewish settlements behind the separation barrier, which slices close to 10 percent off the West Bank. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing strict no-leaks rules by Jordanian mediators.
The proposal would fall short of what the Palestinians seem likely to accept, especially because it would leave Jerusalem on the “Israeli” side of the border.
FILE - In this Thursday, March 25, 2010 file photo, the Jewish neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev in east Jerusalem is seen behind a section of Israel's separation barrier. Two Palestinian officials say Israel is proposing to essentially turn its West Bank barrier into the border with a future state of Palestine.The officials said Friday that this is based on their interpretation of principles Israel presented in talks this week. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
But it would also mark a significant step for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has spent most of his career as a staunch opponent of Palestinian independence.
And if talks advance in such a direction, it could also spell the end for his nationalist coalition, where key members would consider the abandonment of most of the West Bank – a strategic highland and biblical heartland – an unforgivable betrayal.
Israel has confirmed that it presented principles this week for drawing a border with a Palestinian state. But the politically charged nature of the talks – even though they were held at a relatively low level, below that of Cabinet ministers – was reflected in the guarded refusal by any top official to discuss details.
An Israeli government official said that as far as he knew, the information was incorrect, but declined to elaborate or go on the record, citing Jordan’s demand for discretion.
Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, one of the closest Cabinet ministers to Netanyahu, said he has been supporting such an offer for months, and that Israel should concentrate on preserving the large West Bank settlement blocs, close to the pre-1967 border. But he could not confirm whether the offer was in fact made.
“I do not know if (Molcho) said these words exactly, but it would be great,” Meridor told The Associated Press.
The Palestinian officials – one a senior member of the leadership – said Molcho told the Palestinians that Israel wants to live peacefully beside a Palestinian state.
It would be the most detailed offer yet from Netanyahu on how much he wants to keep of the lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War – the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
The Palestinians want to establish their state in virtually all of these lands – although they do seem ready to accept minor adjustments, through land swaps in which Israel keeps some of the largest settlements.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is certainly unlikely to consider a proposal that keeps east Jerusalem under Israeli control. The eastern sector of the city is home to key Jewish, Muslim and Christian sites.
And Israel’s position, as described by the Palestinians, is less than what was offered by Netanyahu’s predecessors, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, who were willing to discuss a partition of Jerusalem as well.
About half a million Israelis settled in east Jerusalem and the West Bank after 1967, including tens of thousands east of the barrier.
Israel started building the barrier in 2002, in the midst of a Palestinian uprising that included scores of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants who crossed from the West Bank into Israel and blew themselves up among civilians.
Israelis have generally credited the barrier – along with other punitive measures – with stopping the spate of incursions several years ago.
However, it was routed in a way that raised questions about Israel’s claim that it was a temporary security measure – weaving through the West Bank, looping wide around some settlements to leave room for expansion, and looking very much like a border a future Israeli government might argue for. The Palestinians condemned it from the start as a land grab.
The Palestinian officials also said that Molcho portrayed the Jordan Valley, which makes up about one-fourth of the West Bank and borders Jordan, as a strategic Israeli security asset. However, that wording suggests less than a demand for firm territorial control.
Netanyahu has said he wants a continued Israeli presence on the eastern border of a future Palestinian state as part of any peace deal.
Netanyahu has long argued Israel needs the area as a security buffer – protection against possible attack from the east.
The 1994 peace treaty with Jordan eased this concern – but the Arab Spring has given it new life: although it is almost never discussed by officials, mindful of riling Jordan, many in Israel ponder a nightmare scenario in which the Jordanian monarchy falls to Israel’s enemies, who then pour weapons and militants into the West Bank, reaching within miles (kilometers) from its major cities.
A senior Israeli military official said last week the Israeli army had to consider in its planning the possibility of heightened threats from east of the West Bank.
Israeli officials have said any presence in the Jordan Valley could be reviewed over time.
Abbas, meanwhile, is under growing pressure from the Quartet of Mideast mediators – the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia – to continue the talks with Israel, which began earlier this month. The Quartet had asked the sides to present detailed proposals on borders and security arrangements.
The Palestinians argue that the period set aside for the contacts ended Thursday, or three months after the Quartet issued its marching orders. Israel says the intention was to have three months of talks, and so wants meetings to continue.
Abbas will consult Monday with senior officials from the Palestine Liberation Organization and his Fatah movement. Later next week, he will also seek advice from the Arab League.
—
Perry reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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disenlightened
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 5:52pmAP: The Palestinians say a lot of things. Most of it is a lie.
Report Post »schlepnier
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:47amA wall works, it worked in northern ireland and in cyprus.
israel is not going away. it is a legitimate state declared under the UN partition plan, just because the arabs refused their state part of the plan doesnt mean they get a re-do 40 years on.
Understand that the arabs will accept nothing less than the total destruction of israel. thats their peace plan. the peace process is a joke and will go nowhere so long as israel tries to negotiate with a group that denies their very right to exhist.
Report Post »gemmeri
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 10:28pmOh, I have an idea-Let’s just melt the desert sand into glass & have something pretty to look at instead of property that looks like they’ve been testing missiles on it. The made-up nation of Palestine is still fighting over the made-up state of Israel. Sounds like a fairy tale ending to me.
Report Post »Soundbyte
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 8:47amThe made up state of Israel? I think you should read your history books, or are you reading the Made Up History taught to students on the West Bank and Gaza?
Report Post »John Kettlewell
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 10:22pmto the victor goes the spoils, who had what is irrelevent, who has it presently is what reality is. Don’t like it go to war…again…lose again. The culture in that area of the world is constant conflict. Suck it up and move along
Report Post »62nitro
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:08pmI have to agree with HIDDEN-LION about the Palestinian people being Arabs that have been used by the politically powerful leaders of the “PLO” strictly for personal gain. Arafat turned down offers of the same exact things that are they are demanding right now. He could have had it all, but he was like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton over racism, it’s much more profitable to keep it going as opposed to everyone getting along. I have been to Jeruselem and believe me, you know when you step into the Palestinian quarter of the city, what a dump.
Report Post »Winkycat
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:04pm“The proposal would fall short of what the Palestinians seem likely to accept, especially because it would leave Jerusalem on the “Israeli” side of the border”
Report Post »How can anyone blame Israel if she did take this action especially since the Palestinians want statehood by carving out the old section of Jerusalem to be their capital. The section where the Temple of Salomon and the wailing wall exists, where important Christian religious sites exist. Israel has no other choice than draw a line on the sand that would prevent such a cultural disaster for Jews and Christians alike.
SoulReaver
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:03pmSorry to say it but I would not give these crazy people anything not attached to a warhead. They have threatened and bombed Israel and Jews as long as they have been alive for no other reason than they are Jews. Sorry but 1 bombing raid will get you as much peace as giving land to these thugs.
Report Post »SoulReaver
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:08pmPerhaps if Israel was the aggressor and attacking Jordan, Egypt, and any other surrounding countries the negotiations would work. Israel is as strong as all of these thugs combined. Stop being politically correct and be the aggressor. They are not being politically correct at all wipe the Jews from the face of the earth is not too nice and deserves retaliation. These people only listen to force, use it.
Report Post »7.62x51
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:47pmIf you stand against the Jew you stand against GOD. Only if you dare.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:07pmI am sure God is really pleased that his children fight over this piece of land. Pathetic.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 11:51pmnot so sure god exists
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:34pmSounds vaguely like a threat towards Mr Beck and his family…You do realize this site is monitored don’t you?
Report Post »DD313
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:24pmMaybe it’s from working the Daily Jumble, but couldn’t help but notice that Yitzak Molcho has a last name which is an anagram of “Moloch”. It is an interesting coincidence, considering the source of the article.
Report Post »TrueLiberal
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:19pmWOW!!! Look at all the Jew haters!
I love it when they get their panties in a wad. LOL
:D
Report Post »Lateris
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:11pmSo your supporting these people? http://www.theblaze.com/stories/palestinians-use-nazi-sieg-heil-salute-during-fatah-celebration-in-lebanon/
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:00pmMaybe some couch time and rx is needed?
Report Post »waspanglosaxon
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 6:20pmAll of the USA’s problems in the USA and elsewhere (9-11, etc.) will be at last solved when the Palestinians free Palestine (a.k.a. ‘Israel’), get their stolen all back (ALL of it!) and send this race of international criminals back to Europe and whereever else they came from.
Report Post »Lateris
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 6:27pmI disagree. Suicide bombers are wrong and so is radical Islam.
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:04pmIf you had ever read the Bible you would know that Jews have been living in the middle east for thousands of years so to say they stole this land is a bit of a reach even for a left wing nut job.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:37pmJerusalem is where they came from. Palestinians were wandering Arabs that just decided they now want an actual country. They live in crap conditions because they make it that way.
Report Post »QuranIsCorruptAndMuhammadPossessedBySatan
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:54am@M 4 COLT not only the Bible says that Israel is for Jews, but so does the Quran.
In fact in the Quran Allah told Moses and the Israelis to KILL ALL THE PALESTINIANS and take that land…when they refused, Allah punished them by making them wander in the desert for a long time. But Allah still assigned Israel to Israelis
So according to Hamas and Hezobellahs own Quran = ISRAEL IS FOR ISRAELIS.
Report Post »Soundbyte
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 8:50amAnd what time does the Clan Rally Start? You don’t want to be late.
Report Post »Elcigaro
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 3:39pmHow about we return Palestine to Turkey? Isn’t that who previously ran the place? Send them back to Europe. What a mushhead. I guess Moses parted the Red sea and continued on to Poland. Your lack of knowledge is frightful. How about sending all blacks back to Africa? All Asians back to the far east. Where does it stop Gomer Pyle? Please, turn off your computer and stick to coloring books.
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