Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumIsraeli minister urges unilateral declaration of Palestinian borders
DEFENCE Minister Ehud Barak wants Israel to consider imposing the borders of a future Palestinian state, becoming the most senior government official to suggest bypassing a stagnant peace process.
Mr Barak's statement on Wednesday to consider what he and many Israelis call ''unilateral actions'' without offering any specifics, echoed an emerging chorus of political leaders, analysts and intellectuals who have said Israel needs its own solution to the Palestinian crisis.
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But the Palestinian Authority did take its own steps last autumn, when it pursued United Nations recognition, something it is considering again. Israel has criticised such efforts for stepping outside the bounds of negotiations.
The Obama administration has strongly opposed unilateral action by either side and some senior Israeli officials have worried that such a move by Israel could provoke an uprising by Palestinians.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/israeli-minister-urges-unilateral-declaration-of-palestinian-borders-20120531-1zkmq.html#ixzz1wXgYVSkv
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)aranthus
(3,385 posts)If Israel has the power to impose boundaries, then it has the power to impose boundaries. Declarations don't count. Power does.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)Last edited Mon Jun 4, 2012, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)
Barak surely knows that it is impossible to annex settlements like Beit El and Ofra, which are only about 10 kilometers from Ramallah, and also to reach a permanent arrangement with the Palestinian government sitting in Ramallah. Perhaps that explains why he told last week's Institute for National Security Studies conference that if Israel cannot reach a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians, "we need to think about an interim agreement, or even unilateral steps."
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/on-both-palestinians-and-migrants-israeli-mks-are-koshering-the-vermin.premium-1.434231
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)azurnoir
(45,850 posts)good eye for errors
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Confusing Joe for Avigdor in spite of it being clearly indicated in the piece.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)but thanks for your input all the same I do hope it clarified things for you
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Maybe consider the other posters here as well as yourself.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)it is usually considered polite or considerate to address the person directly but if you wish to use such methods it's up to you,I did not realize that here we cannot comment unless spoken to first sorry I spoke out of turn perhaps in the future I should 'remember my place'
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Thanks for the courtesy.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)for your reply
shira
(30,109 posts)It appears more likely he's for another unilateral withdrawal, but this time from the West Bank.
Funny how anti-Israel extremists aren't overjoyed with Israel putting an end to most of the occupation.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Another way of putting it would be that Barak is proposing withdrawal from portions of the West Bank and settlement dismantlement. Seems like that would be a positive development, no?
holdencaufield
(2,927 posts)... if your ultimate goal is putting an end to the occupation and paving the way for an eventual Palestinian State.
However, if your goal is "other" -- then this could be a real "naqba"