Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may endorse the creation of a Palestinian state during his upcoming meeting with President Obama in Washington,Israel's defense minister said Saturday.In a revealing passage of this article, the Likud government is apparently willing to cede the following to the Palestinian Authority:
But sources close to the Israeli government told FOX News that Netanyahu will first seek assurances from Obama that neighboring Arab nations will back the weak Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas in concessions for peace.
Netanyahu's government was encouraged by Vice President Joe Biden's speech to the American Israel Political Affairs Committee in which he said one of the clear responsibilities the Arab states have is to support the Palestinian Authority's effort to govern on the West Bank, "develop and reform its institutions, help the people of Gaza work toward returning to Gaza."
The endorsement would be a significant shift for the Israeli leader, who has made clear in the past that he does not think the Palestinians are ready to rule themselves. But that position has put him at odds with long-standing U.S. policy that supports Palestinian statehood as the cornerstone of Mideast peace efforts.
"I think and believe that Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two nations living side by side in peace and mutual respect," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Channel 2 TV on Saturday.
Netanyahu has said the old formula of trading land for peace has been unsuccessful. He has suggested focusing instead on building up the Palestinian economy and security services loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.For the record, this sounds very similar to the concept which former Foreign Minister and Kadima Party Chief Tzipi Livni was proposing, although her model would have had slightly enhanced rights, & in line with Pope Benedict XVI's call for a "homeland" as opposed to an outright state.
But Netanyahu has acknowledged neither track is a substitute for political negotiations. And on trips to Egypt and Jordan last week, he said he wanted to quickly renew talks with Palestinians that stalled last year without any breakthrough.
Aides say he favors giving Palestinians the powers to govern themselves but minus the powers that could threaten Israel -- establishing an army, making treaties with states including Iran, importing heavy weapons, or controlling air space close to Israel's international airport.