(New York Times) David M. Halbfinger and Isabel Kershner - The Mideast peace plan offers the Palestinians a state, while establishing a permanent eastern border for Israel along the Jordan River, recognized by the U.S. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the plan recognizes Israel's need for a buffer along the Jordan River, giving it strategic depth against enemies to the east and the ability to prevent the smuggling of weapons to the Palestinians. The Palestinian capital would be in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods cut off by the Israeli security barrier. The plan also contemplates land swaps giving the Palestinians parts of what is now Israel including some areas of Israel that are heavily populated by Arab citizens. Israelis say the Palestinian response to previous American peace proposals has either been negative or nonexistent. Dore Gold, a longtime Netanyahu adviser who said he had been consulted by the Trump team, said the plan is "a kind of declaration that the old paradigm had failed and that something new was needed." Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, said Israelis would prefer a bilaterally negotiated agreement, "but when the neighbors are not coming to the table, what's the alternative?"
2020-01-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive