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Last update - 19:33 07/06/2009
Will Obama envoy push Israel for final border talks?
By Barak Ravid and Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: peace process, West Bank 

Senior U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy George Mitchell, say they might propose immediate talks on setting Israel's border along the West Bank.

The move comes in light of Israel's opposition to a freeze on settlement construction and would determine which settlements will remain in Israel in a final deal that would see the emergence of a Palestinian state.

The American proposal was raised in recent weeks following Israeli suggestions that there is no reason to cease construction in the large settlement blocs. Such construction would accommodate natural growth. The Israelis say that since those blocs will remain in Israel under a final-status agreement, there is no point in preventing construction.
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The Israeli position was mainly directed at the blocs of Gush Etzion, Alfei Menashe, Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim and certain areas adjoining Jerusalem.


The American officials countered by suggesting that they initiate immediate negotiations on the border between Israel and a future Palestinian state. This, the Americans insisted, would make it easier for everyone to decide where settlement construction could take place.

Israeli sources told Haaretz that they are not entirely sure what the American proposals mean. "We do not know what precisely they intend," said a senior official who took part in some of the meetings.

Another official said that "this is essentially a threat and a verbal form of leverage" that is meant to clarify to Israel the American insistence to find a resolution to the issue of settlement construction as soon as possible.

Mitchell will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Tuesday to discuss the settlements.

Ahead of Mitchell's visit, a sharp disagreement has erupted over whether there have been earlier understandings with the United States over construction characterized by "natural growth."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Saturday that "there is no memorialization of any informal and oral agreements. If they did occur, which of course people say they did, they did not become part of the official position of the United States government."

Clinton added that "there are contrary documents that suggest that they were not to be viewed as in any way contradicting the obligations that Israel undertook pursuant to the road map ... [and] those obligations are very clear."

Meanwhile, Obama reiterated during meetings on Saturday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy that the Americans insisted on a freeze in settlement construction.

In Germany, Obama said that his Cairo speech drew a great deal of attention for his demands of Israel and that "less attention has been focused on the insistence on my part that the Palestinians and the Arab states have to take very concrete actions.?

However, both Merkel and Sarkozy praised his Cairo address. The chancellor said that ?it was an ideal basis for positive action, especially accelerating the peace process in the Middle East.? She said a solution of two states for two peoples was necessary.

According to Sarkozy, ?I told the president that we are in complete agreement on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and how much we support American diplomacy as it seeks to ... stop and freeze settlement construction.?

Netanyahu and his aides, meanwhile, are concerned by the complications over the settlements with the U.S. administration. They say they had not expected that the differences would be so wide.

Netanyahu believed that any problems in ties with the Obama administration at this time would revolve around Iran?s nuclear ambitions. He was surprised to discover that the new president does not consider himself obligated by the informal understandings between Israel and the Bush administration on natural-growth construction in settlements.

Ghajar pullout

Netanyahu told Clinton during his recent visit to Washington that the results of the Lebanese general election will affect Israel?s decision on whether to withdraw from the village of Ghajar on the border between Israel and Lebanon.

A political source in Jerusalem said Netanyahu had hinted that if Hezbollah wins the parliamentary elections, Israel will put on hold all preparations to pull out from the northern portion of the village.

Related articles:
  • Clinton: No proof Bush administration approved settlement growth
  • Barak: We didn't bow to Obama on West Bank outpost evacuation
  • EU seeks to increase pressure on Israel for settlement freeze
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      1.   Why Do "Settlements" Need to be Incorporated Into Israel? 06:11  |  Reader 07/06/09
      2.   Good Idea 06:17  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/06/09
      3.   Israelis are perplexed 06:17  |  gly 07/06/09
      4.   BB risks nothing... 06:32  |  Jasper 07/06/09
      5.   Americans are showing their colors 06:34  |  Frank 07/06/09
      6.   FORCE PEACE BY A UNSC RESOLUTION! 06:36  |  AMERICAN 07/06/09
      7.   And the cacophony grows and grows... 06:39  |  BBSNews 07/06/09
      8.   There Will Be No More Ethnic Cleansing Of Jews 06:50  |  Yishai Kohen 07/06/09
      9.   #2 Frank 07:26  |  Hugh 07/06/09
      10.   Netanyahu would build an even stronger coalition 07:32  |  NO to Pharaoh in D.C 07/06/09
      11.   Obama cannot be a mediator since he`s taken sides w/ the arabs 07:51  |  Observer 07/06/09
      12.   another proposal 08:14  |  rm 07/06/09
      13.   talk to yourself 08:14  |  ari 07/06/09
      14.   Unusual For Foggy Bottom: Thinking 08:28  |  Dave 07/06/09
      15.   Settlements kill peace hopes 08:31  |  Suzy 07/06/09
      16.   You can only play stupid for so long 08:32  |  George 07/06/09
      17.   to # 10 08:37  |  Suzy 07/06/09
      18.   Why can`t anyone see nuance? 08:46  |  Red 07/06/09
      19.   Strong tactics of Obama 09:03  |  Chappaqua neighbor 07/06/09
      20.   Abbas has said he will not negotiate 09:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/06/09
      21.   Obama 09:41  |  Ralph 07/06/09
      22.   get with the program Suzy! 09:41  |  Yehuda 07/06/09
      23.   Stop all aid to Israel first. That should bring.... 10:00  |  Lou Medel 07/06/09
      24.   Suzy #13 10:06  |  David 07/06/09
      25.   Two states for two peoples or one binational state for all 10:08  |  Fairplay 07/06/09
      26.   People, especially Jews, have such short memories... 10:24  |  bat yam 07/06/09
      27.   A SMART MOVE 10:29  |  indrajaya 07/06/09
      28.   # 17 why not cipora? israel`s NEVER honored its agreements 10:44  |  eric 07/06/09
      29.   Reader - 10:49  |  Nephtaly 07/06/09
      30.   Stand Strong Bibi 11:02  |  Moshe 07/06/09
      31.   To Yehuda: stop the Hasbara 11:06  |  John 07/06/09
      32.   Israel must recognise its green border! 11:06  |  fritz t. 07/06/09
      33.   The West Bank Borders. 11:09  |  Stephen. 07/06/09
      34.   Israeli Civil War 11:29  |  George 07/06/09
      35.   First insist Hamas and Palestinians recognize Israel 11:35  |  Zev 07/06/09
      36.   22 Yehuda defines the "anti-program" extending the conflict 11:38  |  Ivar 07/06/09
      37.   Cipora - yes indeed 11:40  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 07/06/09
      38.   Perplexed 11:42  |  Iain 07/06/09
      39.   settlements 11:42  |  JOHN 07/06/09
      40.   CJK regarding Abbas #20 11:43  |  Palestinian Prince 07/06/09
      41.   borders 11:45  |  oz 07/06/09
      42.   Yishai 11:49  |  Iain 07/06/09
      43.   #1 Make Some Sense 11:55  |  tbart 07/06/09
      44.   cover up 11:57  |  bar kochva 07/06/09
      45.   Iain - it is clear you dont live in the Middle East 12:05  |  x-ray 07/06/09
      46.   Iain 12:41  |  Yishai Kohen 07/06/09
      47.   Show Higer Road forgive Palestine 12:49  |  George 07/06/09
      48.   Netanyahu denies previous agreements with Abbas 13:30  |  Roo 07/06/09
      49.   # 41, GEORGE 13:56  |  indrajaya 07/06/09
      50.   Zionist nightmare 14:02  |  Axel 07/06/09
      51.   tp #1 and #2 14:02  |  Cesare 07/06/09
      52.   # 20 cjk 14:07  |  Axel 07/06/09
      53.   Good Idea 14:20  |  Jeff Northridge 07/06/09
      54.   Yishai 14:40  |  Iain 07/06/09
      55.   Ethnic cleansing 14:44  |  Iain 07/06/09
      56.   Obama is hinting at allowing for the Palestinians to declear 15:06  |  David D 07/06/09
      57.   Trapped? 15:08  |  Mandelarab 07/06/09
      58.   ROO Netanyahu supports the road map.Hamas govt.supports no peace 15:10  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      59.   READER The borders are subject to final negotiations 15:14  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      60.   Final Border talks 15:19  |  WHG 07/06/09
      61.   IAIN.Very perplexing. The Pal govt refuses permanent borders 15:24  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      62.   moshe 15:26  |  oz 07/06/09
      63.   Yishai Kohen---ever seen this 15:28  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      64.   axel 15:30  |  oz 07/06/09
      65.   Yishai Kohen---ever seen this 15:30  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      66.   Reader - you have a lot more reading to do! 15:35  |  ZISD 07/06/09
      67.   The perfect excuse 15:38  |  ezzat tamimi 07/06/09
      68.   Final borders make sense, but would backfire if Jihadists take WB 15:42  |  ZISD 07/06/09
      69.   Why so secretive? 15:46  |  un2here 07/06/09
      70.   No negotiations until Iran has nukes? Why giveaway 15:48  |  Atrick 07/06/09
      71.   JOHN stop- the Arabist slogans and look at UNSCR242 15:54  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      72.   AXEL The Zionists accepted borders in 48.They accepterd borders 15:57  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      73.   Axel: "Zionist nightmare" 16:15  |  Arie 07/06/09
      74.   psm speaking from experience. 16:22  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      75.   UN2 here Israel has made the borders clear several times 16:27  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      76.   psm israel has not yet accepted borders--they keep 16:30  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      77.   ALL Land STOLEN From Jews in 1948 Invasion Must be Returned! 16:33  |  Linda Rivera 07/06/09
      78.   The zionists said they accepted borders in 1948 16:43  |  John 07/06/09
      79.   will obama envoy push... 16:43  |  shimshon kinory 07/06/09
      80.   Funny Israeli reaction 16:44  |  David 07/06/09
      81.   Labhras # 52 That Does Not Necessarily Follow 16:47  |  Jeff Northridge 07/06/09
      82.   great expectations 16:52  |  ruben siedner 07/06/09
      83.   Maybe Israel could end up with less than they had in 1967 16:59  |  Natallie Durson 07/06/09
      84.   E.TAMMIMI What "excuse" does Hezb need? 17:00  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      85.   labhras 17:13  |  oz 07/06/09
      86.   to Reader ......... But the fact is israel wants to anex 17:14  |  Antonio da Silva 07/06/09
      87.   Dwelling on the past 17:18  |  Ezzat Tamimi 07/06/09
      88.   Don`t Be Deceptive Nephtaly - You Know Better 17:19  |  Reader 07/06/09
      89.   Hamas position 17:21  |  un2here 07/06/09
      90.   forcing peace 17:32  |  ehud 07/06/09
      91.   1967 borders, END OF DISCUSSION 17:33  |  Obama 07/06/09
      92.   fritz t. 17:34  |  American lady 07/06/09
      93.   Isaeli official:"We do not know what precisely they intend" 17:40  |  Esther 07/06/09
      94.   eric 17:44  |  American lady 07/06/09
      95.   Steven, Borders Will Be Set, One Way or Another. 17:49  |  Reader 07/06/09
      96.   Obama proposal 17:51  |  JoJo 07/06/09
      97.   Disingenuous Yishai #8 at-his-best... 17:51  |  Esther 07/06/09
      98.   Suzy 17:54  |  American lady 07/06/09
      99.   Thats right, where are the borders? 17:54  |  MB 07/06/09
      100.   Linda Rivera.....Don´t put G-d in evey human ill please!! 17:59  |  Antonio da Silva 07/06/09
      101.   Esther, 74, Settlements are "figments" of contention, not bones 18:04  |  Ivar 07/06/09
      102.   Oz --how quaint of you 18:04  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      103.   # 8 Palestine (river to sea) is Palestinian homeland 18:04  |  Mike Stroud 07/06/09
      104.   PETER SM #50 slogans and moonshine 18:06  |  Roo 07/06/09
      105.   # 10 fine dont beg for our $10 B any more 18:08  |  Mike Stroud 07/06/09
      106.   # 23 Your memory is even shorter 18:15  |  Mike Stroud 07/06/09
      107.   # 54 oz 18:22  |  Axel 07/06/09
      108.   To Axel (#46) 18:24  |  Morris Valentine 07/06/09
      109.   Final Border talks 18:24  |  WHG 07/06/09
      110.   Labhras (#55) Has a problem in reading Case [copy paste] 18:25  |  Gil 07/06/09
      111.   Labhras (#55) Has a problem in reading Case [copy paste] 18:26  |  Gil 07/06/09
      112.   PETER SM asks:What "excuse" does Hezb need? 18:42  |  ezzat tamimi 07/06/09
      113.   Esther 18:42  |  Mike from Boston 07/06/09
      114.   AXEL 18:43  |  OZ 07/06/09
      115.   Jasper #4 is right 18:47  |  arik 07/06/09
      116.   ZISD - You Forgot About Amira 18:53  |  Reader 07/06/09
      117.   PETER, These Are The Final Negtiations. Times up. 18:56  |  Reader 07/06/09
      118.   # 95 morris 18:57  |  Axel 07/06/09
      119.   WHG (#97) And why is that 19:05  |  Gil 07/06/09
      120.   WHG (#97) And why is that 19:06  |  Gil 07/06/09
      121.   # 98 gil 19:06  |  Axel 07/06/09
      122.   Axel is of course correct with the "Zionist nightmare", he only.. 19:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/06/09
      123.   #97 The final borders can be defined, if.. 19:10  |  Ardi 07/06/09
      124.   Morris Valentine, make up your mind please 19:11  |  Mark B. 07/06/09
      125.   Antonio, PETER SM Says Borders Are Subject to Final Negotiations, 19:14  |  Reader 07/06/09
      126.   #98 Gil --No apology required. 19:19  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      127.   WHG - Those in the Israeli Squatter Enterprise Must Choose 19:22  |  Reader 07/06/09
      128.   # 100 oz 19:45  |  Axel 07/06/09
      129.   #71 Jeff Northridge ---wrong again. 19:55  |  Labhras 07/06/09
      130.   Axel 20:05  |  Linichka 07/06/09
      131.   To Mark B (#110): As subtle as choosing between life and death 20:09  |  Morris Valentine 07/06/09
      132.   No quick fix 20:11  |  Alex 07/06/09
      133.   To Swiss (Dino) (#112): Correctly apprehending a mis-apprehension 20:13  |  Morris Valentine 07/06/09
      134.   chappaqua traitor 20:18  |  Peace Lover 07/06/09
      135.   Settlement freeze 20:25  |  Hank 07/06/09
      136.   Linichka 20:29  |  Mike from Boston 07/06/09
      137.   peace 20:30  |  ehud 07/06/09
      138.   Bostonian 20:43  |  Linichka 07/06/09
      139.   #127 Morris Valentine, what is also a subtle differtence 20:50  |  Mark B. 07/06/09
      140.   Some responses are a little scary 03:05  |  WHG 08/06/09
      141.   Ariel obviously can`t remain Israeli. 03:44  |  Ibrahim 08/06/09
      142.   #83 Durson 04:52  |  leoblue 08/06/09
      143.   Wait until Mitchell talks to Abbas 04:57  |  leoblue 08/06/09
      144.   #28, eric 05:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/06/09
      145.   Hank and Convinving the world 05:23  |  MB 08/06/09
      146.   Peter 05:25  |  Iain 08/06/09
      147.   #40, Palestinian Prince 05:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/06/09
      148.   No reason why Jews can`t live under a non-Israeli regime 06:39  |  Itamar 08/06/09
      149.   What Arie 10:25  |  John of Jordan 08/06/09
      150.   WHG (#140) Some responses are a little scary Really 10:32  |  Gil 08/06/09
      151.   Well Zev..... 10:40  |  John of Jordan 08/06/09
      152.   # 144 sorry to say cipora; but it`s yours that are meaningless 12:06  |  eric 08/06/09
      153.   lets talk French 12:46  |  RME 08/06/09
      154.   Gosh, how dumb can you be? 13:01  |  Johnboy 08/06/09
      155.   lets talk French 14:55  |  Mike Halpern 08/06/09
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