(Reuters) A future Palestinian state could be viable but it would have to ensure security for its own citizens and Israelis and would require $33 billion in capital investment, according to a new report by the Rand Corporation. The centerpiece of the plan was construction of a new corridor from the northern West Bank to Gaza. The report ignored many of the political realities now pertaining in the region, notably the existence of an armed Palestinian resistance opposed to peace with Israel. The authors said Palestinian prospects of success would be enhanced if the future state achieved territorial contiguity and its borders with Israel remained open. This flies in the face of the security fence now going up between Israel and the West Bank and Israeli efforts to retain major settlement blocs.
2005-04-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive