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Netanyahu considers interim peace plans

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking at possible ways to advance the stalled diplomatic process with the Palestinians, and is currently considering plans that would enable the immediate establishment of a Palestinian state in interim borders. According to the proposals under consideration, the Palestinian state will be given control over 45%-60% of the West Bank in the first stage. At the same time, Israel and the Palestinian leadership would negotiate the principles of a future final-status agreement, and Israel will also provide guarantees regarding the final borders of the Palestinian state. An official in the Prime Minister’s Office told Haaretz, “We don’t want to evade a final-status agreement, but an interim agreement is the way to get there.”

Netanyahu’s decision to consider an interim agreement was reportedly spurred by the recent anti-government protests in the Arab world. At a time when Israel’s closest neighbours are experiencing intense unrest, the Israeli government believes it would be impossible to reach and implement a final status solution that would resolve the core issues of the conflict. In addition, the prime minister is concerned by the Palestinian leadership’s unwillingness to engage in direct negotiations, and its efforts to isolate Israel on the international scene.

Middle East Quartet officials will meet today in Brussels to discuss possible ways forward to renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Israeli and Palestinian representatives were invited to attend the meeting, however PM Netanyahu decided not to send his representative, Yitzhak Molcho. Israel is reluctant to hold indirect negotiations through the international community and would like to renew direct negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. Quartet officials therefore plan to travel to Israel next week to hold meetings with Israeli officials involved in the peace talks. The Quartet will meet again in two weeks in Paris where solutions to the core issues in the peace process are planned to be presented.