Since when is Tony Blair the boss over Israel? And why is Israel even considering making gestures to coax the PA into negotiations in light of the turmoil in Egypt?
Via Israpundit:
Netanyahu commits to promoting Arab construction in East Jerusalem
HAARETZ
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the international community’s Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, announced Friday a series of gestures that Israel will make to the Palestinians, including a promise to support Arab construction in East Jerusalem.
“In respect of East Jerusalem, the Government of Israel has agreed to encourage the implementation of all projects that abide by municipal regulations that will improve infrastructure there for Palestinians, including in particular housing, starting with two projects in East Jerusalem,” Blair announced.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Blair on Friday comes a day before a summit of the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers – the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia – for whom Blair is the envoy. The Quartet is meeting to discuss the stalemate in peace talks between Israel and the PA.
The package of confidence-building measures that Israel will offer the Palestinian Authority is seen as a bid to moderate the Quartet statement at the end of its deliberations, which is expected to criticize Israel for its continued construction in West Bank settlements.
“On the West Bank, there will be an extension of Palestinian Authority security presence in Area B – with 7 towns approved in principle; an agreement to fast-track the construction or reconstruction of schools and health clinics in Area C on the basis of plans submitted by the Palestinian Authority,” Blair said.
In the end, Netanyahu’s offer did not include measure that would enable the PA to take over land required to build the new town Rawabi. Blair added, however, “5000 Gaza-registered residents of the West Bank will be given West Bank identity cards.”
Israel’s forum of seven senior ministers discussed the proposed gestures to the Palestinians last week. Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and minister Dan Meridor supported the gestures, while ministers Benny Begin, Moshe Ya’alon, Avigdor Lieberman and Eli Yishai objected.
The gestures will also ease the blockade on Gaza, permitting more items for export and permitting a limited amount of construction materials. Blair also announced the agreement to establish “mobile desalination plants to meet Gaza’s needs for clean water and approval in principle for a larger permanent desalination plant.”
Netanyahu agreed to the Palestinian Authority’s request to renew discussions on the development of an offshore natural gas field opposite Gaza’s shores, and agreed in principle for the gas to power the new power plant to be built in Gaza, which he also specifically approved.
Netanyahu said that although Israel’s natural gas needs will be satisfied by its Leviathan and Tamar gas fields in ten years’ time, it needs other sources of natural gas in the interim, and it is currently dependent upon supply from Egypt. Netanyahu pointed out that the profits from the Palestinian gas field will go to the Palestinian Authority, and not to Hamas, who rules Gaza. continue
1 comments:
Stupid Jews!
Obeying the Quartet will give Israel no real political and material benefits and while the Palestinian Arabs will certainly pocket Israel's new unilateral concessions, they will not make peace with Israel.
Just what does it take to convince Israel's leaders to stop going down the path of national suicide? A surprise Arab attack on Israel? This exactly what is wrong with what the Israel government is doing today in a dangerous world and it is beyond crazy!
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