(Israel Hayom) Shlomo Cesana - Abbas is setting preconditions before agreeing to return to the negotiating table. He defines his demands as "guarantees to ensure the negotiations' success," but in practice he is trying to gain victories that no one has any intention of giving him. Abbas' list of demands includes a request that Israel present a map with the permanent borders of the future Palestinian state, release all terrorists jailed in Israel before the Oslo Accords, and an immediate moratorium on construction beyond the Green Line, including in Jerusalem. For his part, Netanyahu has made it abundantly clear to the U.S. that he is willing to sign a historic peace deal. Netanyahu has already declared that he supports the two-state solution. Israel has no preconditions. All the issues will be discussed at the negotiating table. Netanyahu wants a demilitarized Palestinian state, without a foreign army, between the Jordan River and the sea, in addition to large Israeli buffer zones. Jerusalem will remain unified, and Israel will retain full control over settlement blocs in the areas enveloping Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and Ariel.
2013-06-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive