T. Belman. I would not be satisfied with anything they would agree to. Neither would the Palestinians. My guess is that Netanyahu has been trying to negotiate a better deal now for quite some time but to no avail. Even if they agree that the refugees can only go back to Palestine, the deal should be rejected. It is not in Israel’s interest to have 2 million “refugees come back to what would be Palestine. thereby doubling their population.
Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Jordan and Egypt reportedly prepared to change their attitude towards Israel in exchange for peace with PA.
Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Jordan and Egypt, are prepared to discuss with Israel changes to the Saudi peace initiative in order to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), Channel 10 News revealed on Friday.
In return for a peace agreement with the PA, those countries would reportedly change their attitude towards Israel.
Western diplomatic sources quoted by Channel 10 said that Arab countries have been sending messages to Israel through various emissaries, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying they are expecting to receive from Israel a response to the Saudi peace initiative and are also expecting Israel to make gestures towards the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, so that peace talks can be relaunched and those countries could ultimately change their public attitude to Israel.
The Saudi peace initiative, unveiled in 2002 and re-endorsed at the 2007 Arab League summit, says that 22 Arab countries will normalize ties with Israel in return for an Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.
But Israel has rejected the plan due to the fact that it calls for Israel to accept the so-called “right of return” for millions of descendants of Arabs who fled pre-state Israel, effectively bringing an end to the Jewish state.
The diplomatic sources who spoke to Channel 10 News said that there is a desire among the leadership of the Arab countries in the region that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel to change their attitude towards the Jewish State, and to start taking an active part in mediating between Israel and the PA on the basis of the Saudi peace initiative.
While Israel has refused the conditions of the Saudi initiative, the sources are now saying that the messages conveyed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu implied that the Arab states are ready to discuss with Israel some changes in the initiative, so that it serves as a foundation towards a return to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The report comes days after Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, urged Israelis and Palestinians to seize what he said was a “real opportunity” and renew peace talks.
The comments were welcomed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who stressed that “Israel is ready to participate with Egypt and other Arab states in advancing both the diplomatic process and stability in the region.”
Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman welcomed Sisi’s call as well, saying he welcomed the Egyptian president’s efforts to achieve peace and establish a Palestinian state.
Bibi agreed to ““express a readiness for the first time to enter a dialogue on the matter with the relevant Arab states.” in the document drafted between him and Bugie. The left is making a big thing of this.
But what is there to react positively to. !00% withdrawal or East Jerusalem to be Palestinian capital? That’s what they want.
How does it differ from the French proposal which Bibi rejects. The French also want 100% withdrawal and East Jerusalem.
JoeBillScott Said:
??????? :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg31AYRYKUA
JoeBillScott Said:
If it’s secret how come you know about it? 😉
All of the reasonable suggestions above are not even wrong. Something is coming very soon which will be as surprising to us as the splitting of the Red Sea was 3500 years ago.
We have a secret weapon.
Land for peace always results in loss of land and no peace. Israel must stand fast, since the neighbors only want Israeli military protection and Israeli technology. Nothing will fundamentally change. Those Moslems will again promote hatred of the Jews as soon as the Iranian threat is gone.
it always involves something that Israel is to give, never something the arabs and pals are to give israel. They have never backed off their land claims…. I expect it will relate to refugees but still demand the land that BB never claims anyway. Perhaps it will relate to the “swaps”…. in any case there will be no acknowledgement of land claims by Israel to Judea Samaria …. thanks to BB. it might also refer to Jordanian involvement in the security arrangements.
I am more optimistic than Bear Klein. I see two main reasons for this initiative.
a) Military — ISIS (Daesh) is one aspect. Iran is the other and it controls all the territory around, and is in bed in Syria. This is a very troublesome proposition for the Saudi’s for the Saudi neighbours and Israel. They would like Israel free to defend itself from ISIS, without the fear of Hamas or Hezbola intervening. And again, the problems with terrorism needs to be resolved.
b) Israel could accept the return of the original (not descendants) that fled. Grandparents and those aged 60+ could return. That would be reasonable, if and only if the Arabs paid the old age pensions and medical costs arising out of a return. So, lets say that this option is open to any individuals age 60 and over.
If this second option becomes available, then Israel and the Palestinians would see a tourist boom. Naturally, the PA, and Gazaians would have to form one country with one passport, and with full recognition of Israel (including Arab maps of the region).
There would have to be the problem of fully resolving a two state solution, such as semi-open two way access with limited border guard checking.
The Arabs need Israel and water/water technology is the reason.. Israeli technology, new industries, trade, etc. is badly needed by Saudi-Arabia. SA wants to move away from an Oil funded economy.
As for landswaps, I am sure there will be discussions and arrangements about this topic.
One step at a time. –Arabs to stop the tunnel construction.
Israel hospital facilities open, with help to the Arabs for education and medical facilities, and a map showing Israel as a Jewish state.
I see this as a 15 to 25 year progression.
First, the Pals will not agree to anything Israel would agree to.
That said take the heat off and do as Bibi is saying we will agree to talk without preconditions. However make it clear that Egypt must fo as Sisi has promised the they he will get that Pals into one. However, make it clear that Hamas must disarm and both its military and political wing must agree to this and actually do it. Also they and the Fatah must agree that they will agree to a Jewish State. (of course this a virtual impossibility for the Muslims to agree to this).
All of Bibi’s prior conditions at Bar Illan would also be repeated. Demilitarized PA state, no right of return, Jerusalem would stay whole and unified and Israeli, Israel would be on the Jordan border and in the Jordan Valley and they must recognize a Jewish State and this agreement would be final with the end of all claims.
Also to be added that all the Gulf States, Jordan and Egypt agree to all the above and agree to free trade and full normal relations with Israel.
Once the above is agreed to borders can be discussed. Israel would state that it no intention of moving from any of the settlement blocks. It could also state that if these conditions are not accepted during negotiation Israel will start annexing the blocks.
Israel will continue building during the talks and establish on the ground.
As I started nothing the Pals would ever agree to would not be agreeable to Israel. Clinton offered about 97% of Judah/Samaria and some splitting of Jerusalem. Arafat said no and went to war.