Just when we thought the impassé between the the governments of the United States and the Jewish State of Israel over the peace-process was getting bigger, especially over settlement construction in the West Bank, we may have an agreement finally on the way, a month after Benjamin Netanyahu broke with his tradition of not accepting a two-state solution.
According to Haaretz:
Israel will agree to temporarily freeze construction in settlements in the framework of new understandings that Jerusalem will reach with Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told European foreign ministers last week.
Commenting on Clinton's statements, Israeli and American sources confirmed that the parties were close to reaching an agreement. But they said the deal was not expected to be mentioned publicly in the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.
Mitchell is due to arrive in Israel on Sunday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet with Mitchell on Tuesday, reportedly said over the weekend that he thinks an agreement would require another round of talks with Mitchell.
"The magic formula has not yet been struck," a source in the Prime Minister's Bureau said. "The gaps are not big and there are creative proposals on both sides, but the gaps have not yet been bridged."
Senior Israeli officials said Defense Minister Ehud Barak had supplied the Americans with a detailed list of all projects in the West Bank currently under construction and which Israel believes cannot be halted. The list contains 2,500 housing units, the number of units in each project, and the projects' location and construction stage.
The Americans are willing to allow most of the projects currently under construction to continue. A source close to Barak said that "if a moratorium is decided on, it will be in the framework of a more inclusive and wider deal."
This will be interesting. While I've felt there hasn't been enough pressure on Abbas and the PA, and that Israel was facing undue pressure, I am very glad to see that a framework is being worked out that will not shut either the US or Israel totally out of what each wants, Israel may get to continue on certain projects, while freezing others while not completely freezing construction that is underway and would be pointless to stop, and the US can say it did its negotiating and work on the peace-process. If both sides can claim a victory of sorts, I think it will help strained relations between Obama and Netanyahu, as Netanyahu has said he wants to reach an agreement.
I hope if the agreement is reached, Mahmoud Abbas can finally get in on the peace process, instead of having everyone do it for him, and him only ask for more. And I do think East Jerusalem is Israeli so I have no problem with more construction there. Tho if it helps the peace process to halt just until a final agreement comes to the table, then so be it. Ramallah in the capital of a Palestinian state, IMO.
I think peace can happen. Netanyahu's plan still has support in Israeli voter circles, but I think Obama-Netanyahu relations could move up. Also, if Abbas is moved and takes the lead, and perhaps holds elections sooner than later, economic peace should continue working as it has been and as it will, and the triple prong track of economic, political, and security help from Netanyahu will come into play
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to make "economic peace" with the Palestinians, and the first fruits are already being seen in eased Israeli restrictions that are stoking a retail and entertainment boom in the West Bank.
. I also believe if Iran is finally neutralized and PA does the right moves, Hamas can be undercut, hopefully kept out, and we got 2 states.
UPDATE: On Iran, Hillary Clinton has clarified her stance on Iran's pursuit of possible nuclear weapons, saying that we will prevent Iran from getting a nuke, saying their pursuit is futile. This in relation to her recent comment about a defense shield. I believe that with an Iran that wouldn't be able to provide a nuclear shield to jihad groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, peace will be advanced. hamas and Hezbollah keep jihadism alive, and keep the violence around that makes Israel scared to negotiate. They don't need another Islamic Republic of Hamastan on their borders.