Abbas proposes three-year Israeli pullout from West Bank

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Abbas proposes three-year Israeli pullout from West Bank

BY DAN WILLIAMS
TEL AVIV Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:16pm EST

(Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas proposed on Tuesday that Israel carry out a gradual three-year withdrawal from the occupied West Bank as part of any future peace deal, an offer that fell short of Israeli demands.

He gave the timeframe in an interview shown at an international security conference in Tel Aviv, where Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon challenged the effectiveness of the Palestinian leader's current security commitments.

"I am saying that clearly: whoever proposes 10 or 15 years for a transition period does not want to withdraw," Abbas said. "We say that a transitional period not exceed three years, during which Israel can withdraw gradually."

Abbas has spoken in general terms in past meetings with journalists of a phased pullout from the West Bank after a final land-for-peace accord, similar to Israel's three-year withdrawal from Sinai after it signed a peace treaty with Egypt in 1979.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/us-palestinians-israel-idUSBREA0R16P20140128

[Jefferson23]

1. In exchange for what, exactly? n/t

[aranthus]

2. What do you mean?

I don't think he was offering anything in exchange for the three year withdrawal window.

[Jefferson23]

3. What I mean is, what is he getting, period. Where are the benefits to the Palestinians?

[Distant Quasar]

4. The Israelis out of the West Bank?

Isn't that the whole idea?

[Jefferson23]

5. They're not agreeing to that, the major settlement blocs, there are 3, and now Bibi has

added a fourth..and annexation of Jordan Valley...no viable state by that measure.

[Distant Quasar]

6. Thanks for the clarification

I can't imagine the Palestinians will ever agree to those terms.

[Jefferson23]

7. That's my take on it from what I have read so far.

Welcome to DU.

[Distant Quasar]

8. Thank you!

[Scootaloo]

9. And that's entirely the goal

Make such onerous demands, with the backing of and pressure from Israel's latest lawyer - one J. Kerry of Massachusetts - and the hope is that the Palestinians will walk away in disgust - then Israel can carry on, the whole while blaming the Palestinians. It's the same game that's been being played since the mid-90's.

[aranthus]

10. He looks reasonable.

Let's assume that both sides privately are sticking to their public demands. That is, Israel won't move any settlements and will annex the Jordan Valley, and the Palestinians won't agree without acceptance of the right of return. Both sets of demands are non-starters so the talks will go nowhere. When that happens, Abbas is going to want to show that he was being reasonable for political and propaganda purposes.

[Jefferson23]

11. I don't trust Abbas to do what will be in the best interests for the Palestinians.

He is so weak right now and he has no history of being forthright and strong to begin with.


I don't know what he'll do, I do believe he can't act in any final manner alone..so we'll see.

[aranthus]

12. That's another problem.

From what I can tell, neither constituency trusts their leaders. Nor should they.