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Palestinian sources say framework agreement to be signed in Washington
Netanyahu in Washington to meet President Obama
Kifah Ziboun Asharq Al-Awsat Sunday, 2 Mar, 2014 Kifah Ziboun Asharq =
Al-Awsat Sunday, 2 Mar, 2014
http://www.aawsat.net/2014/03/article55329581
Ramallah and Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat=97The Palestinian=96Israeli peace proce=
ss is =
expected to enter a critical phase this week, with President Obama expected =
to attempt to persuade the two parties to reach an agreement on an interim =
framework for talks drawn up by the US.
Obama will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and is =
scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on March 17.
Netanyahu left for Washington on Saturday for the meeting with Obama, who i=
s =
trying to persuade both leaders to sign a framework agreement which is bein=
g =
formulated by US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bid to launch talks for =
a final settlement, using the framework agreement as a reference for =
contested issues.
Palestinian sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Asharq =
Al-Awsat: =93This time Obama will intervene strongly and directly and will =
pressure Netanyahu and Abbas to accept the framework agreement.=94
The sources added that the agreement is expected to include a clause on a =
capital of a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, in return for Palestinian =
concessions in other issues related to borders and refugees.
The issues of borders, refugees, settlements and water resources are =
expected to be included in appendices to the agreement which will be =
discussed by joint committees. The issue of the Jewish identity of Israel, =
which Netanyahu=92s government insists must be recognized, is categorically =
rejected by the Palestinians, according to the sources.
The sources added: =93If Obama succeeded in persuading Netanyahu and Abbas =
to =
make concessions on the framework agreement, he would announce a date to =
sign the agreement in Washington, in his presence.=94
Israeli sources revealed that Obama will ask Netanyahu and Abbas about thei=
r =
future plans in case of the failure of the negotiations, and will give them =
the option to cooperate with the American plan, or face isolation and live =
with the difficult reality which awaits them if the US abandoned the peace =
process.
Netanyahu continues to insist on Palestinian recognition of the Jewish =
identity of the state of Israel, and the presence of Israeli troops in the =
Jordan Valley, as well as rejecting the division of Jerusalem. Netanyahu =
also wants to adjust West Bank borders to integrate large Israeli =
settlements into Israeli territory, and rejects the return of refugees.
Palestinians insist on the sharing Jerusalem and refuse to recognize Israel =
as a Jewish state=97which they see as precluding any return of Palestinian =
refugees to what is now Israeli territory=97and also insist on the removal =
of =
all Israeli forces from the Jordan Valley.
It is likely that Obama=92s efforts will be focused on Jerusalem and a =
declaration of the Jewish identity of Israel, in order to find a compromise.
Senior Palestinian sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Asharq =
Al-Awsat that the way to resolve the crisis would be to announce that =
Jerusalem was the capital of both states, with an indication to Israel=92s =
right to acquire international recognition as a Jewish state, which would =
implicitly also mean the recognition of the state of Palestine.
Kerry previously said both parties had the right=97after signing the framew=
ork =
agreement=97to object to, or express reservations about, any articles and h=
ave =
them registered, in an attempt to resolve the dilemma of Jerusalem and =
national identity.
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian intelligence chief=
, =
Majed Faraj, will travel to Washington in the next few days to meet America=
n =
officials in preparation for the Abbas visit. Erekat and Faraj are expected =
to meet Secretary of State Kerry and Middle East Envoy Martin Indyk.
Palestinians say Obama=92s intervention, despite its great importance, woul=
d =
not be the last step, as John Kerry still had until the end of April to =
present a reasonable framework agreement. The sources said that =93if Kerry =
failed by then, the Palestinian leadership will meet to decide on the next =
step.=94
According to the sources, the Palestinian leadership has a =93Plan B=94 in =
place =
for Palestine to seek membership of international organizations and =
institutions. This plan is rejected by Israel and the US, and Israel may =
respond by a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank, which will cause the =
Palestinians a political, security and financial crisis.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelati told Asharq =
Al-Awsat that Cairo received information from the Palestinian side that the =
=93differences were still deep and have yet to be bridged.=94
He added that Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi had a meeting with a =
member of Palestinian Fatah movement, Azzam Al-Ahmad, who informed him of =
the developments in the negotiations.
Ahmad said the meeting came within the framework of coordination with the =
Egyptians in order to make unified decisions on the negotiations ahead of =
the Abbas=96Obama meeting.
In a related issue, assistant secretary for Palestine and the occupied Arab =
territories at the Arab League, Ambassador Mohammad Sabih, said Erekat woul=
d =
meet Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby soon to inform him about =
details of the Palestinian=96Israeli negotiations in light of the recent =
meeting between Abbas and Kerry in Paris.
Mohammad Hassan Shaaban contributed reporting from Cairo. =
________________________________________
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