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Last update - 17:50 07/07/2009
What would Arab states have to give in exchange for a settlement freeze?
By Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Arabs 

U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is pressing for a halt to Israeli settlement activity, holding out the prospect of reciprocal steps by Arab states towards normalizing relations with Israel.

Talks in London on Monday between Mitchell and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on a package that could include a settlement freeze and normalization ended inconclusively.

Further discussions are planned between Mitchell and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as early as next week.
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Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab states that have diplomatic relations with Israel. Below are the regional normalization steps U.S. and Western officials say Washington is seeking:

  • Arab countries in the Gulf would allow Israeli passenger and civilian cargo aircraft to fly over their territory. The move would save long detours on flights to Asia, a popular destination for Israeli travelers.

  • Israel would be able to open interest sections in other states' embassies in Arab capitals, such as Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Israel had interest sections in several Arab countries but they were closed after the start in 2000 of a Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

  • Arab countries would lift bans on the entry of tourists and other visitors whose passports carry Israeli visas or entry stamps. Such a step would facilitate regional travel for tourists and business executives.

  • Arab states would allow Israeli-registered mobile phones to operate on Arab networks, a move that could foster economic contacts.

  • Israel and Arab states would hold cultural exchanges. Arab countries would ease restrictions that prevent their officials from meeting with Israeli counterparts at international events.

    A senior Israeli official familiar with Mitchell's talks said Israel was skeptical the envoy would be able to coax Arab states to make concrete normalization commitments if only a temporary settlement freeze was declared.

    "Even if the Americans can bring a serious settlement freeze, the normalization steps will be implemented only gradually and based on performance by Israel," the official said
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      1.   None of these should be given 15:23  |  Ahmed Habib 07/07/09
      2.   Why should Arab states pay for a settlement freeze? 15:29  |  Natallie Durson 07/07/09
      3.   Settlement 15:44  |  Hope 07/07/09
      4.   It`s called negotiations, Mr. Habib 15:59  |  nina 07/07/09
      5.   And What Would Arab States Have to Do for Evacuation 16:13  |  Monitor 07/07/09
      6.   and the arabs in israel... 16:14  |  ilan 07/07/09
      7.   So now I get it!! 16:25  |  Sami 07/07/09
      8.   Natalie, I Have No Problem 16:41  |  Yaakov Ben Horin 07/07/09
      9.   Well, Nina and Yaakov 17:01  |  Murray 07/07/09
      10.   Sorry, Durson, but yes, the Arabs have to put out 17:05  |  JPS 07/07/09
      11.   Results 17:10  |  Tom 07/07/09
      12.   It`s called building trust 17:15  |  Josh 07/07/09
      13.   Yaakov Ben Horin 17:27  |  Natallie Durson 07/07/09
      14.   Obama, Nathalie and Arabs 17:35  |  GA 07/07/09
      15.   #8 Yaakov Ben Horin 17:49  |  Chas. 07/07/09
      16.   Why should Israel pay when Arabs havent lived up to ANY agreement 17:53  |  David 07/07/09
      17.   Israel wants paid twice 17:59  |  BDS 07/07/09
      18.   Waste of time 18:13  |  Gee 07/07/09
      19.   Wow - let`s make a deal 18:14  |  Dan 07/07/09
      20.   The Settlements are unlawfull a priori, none will pay for 18:22  |  Kris Lazar 07/07/09
      21.   JPS - Israelis really have it hard 18:23  |  Natallie Durson 07/07/09
      22.   Israel Must Move First 18:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/07/09
      23.   According to the raod map Israel must leave occupied 18:27  |  Ezra 07/07/09
      24.   Let them keep their airspaces & visas; We must continue building 18:29  |  Tomer 07/07/09
      25.   JPS in Efrant on Arab Jews and Compensation 18:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/07/09
      26.   "Land for Peace" becomes "Land for Prospect of Reciprocal Steps" 18:44  |  Dr. L. Brnd 07/07/09
      27.   Nothing! Nothing at all: just stop! 18:50  |  Jason 07/07/09
      28.   Answer To #1 18:59  |  Col [Res] Cohen 07/07/09
      29.   Chew On This... 18:59  |  Mary Witherspoon 07/07/09
      30.   No concessions necessary 19:04  |  Sammar 07/07/09
      31.   Monkey Business 19:04  |  un2here 07/07/09
      32.   Israel wants to be rewarded for halting illegal settlements??? 19:06  |  Pal 07/07/09
      33.   That`s all they want?! 19:08  |  Jennifer 07/07/09
      34.   Why should Arabs concede? 19:12  |  Welshman 07/07/09
      35.   To David from Boston 19:23  |  Ahmed 07/07/09
      36.   Such intransigence... 19:34  |  utagawa 07/07/09
      37.   It is clear this Israeli goverment 19:40  |  Shuli 07/07/09
      38.   Bad deal 19:42  |  Frank 07/07/09
      39.   Nina 4 19:55  |  Anthony 07/07/09
      40.   Ilan 6 19:59  |  Anthony 07/07/09
      41.   Nothing before normalization! 20:00  |  Jeff 07/07/09
      42.   A history lesson 20:17  |  Yehuda 07/07/09
      43.   Why 20:31  |  Noura 07/07/09
      44.   Arab thinking: why must they give anything 20:46  |  Jon 07/07/09
      45.   Reponse to Sammar #30 20:56  |  Alain 07/07/09
      46.   Same old story 21:06  |  Colin Wright 07/07/09
      47.   Normalization: Why Should Other Arab Countries Change Anything? 21:08  |  Volto Santo 07/07/09
      48.   PERFECT SOLUTION 21:09  |  Sam 07/07/09
      49.   3rd attempt - response to Sammar #30 21:19  |  Alain 07/07/09
      50.   Settlements freeze and eventual withdrawal, to this coalition... 21:21  |  Smadar 07/07/09
      51.   Stolen Land 21:39  |  Kevin 07/07/09
      52.   Illegal Settlements 21:45  |  Bill 07/07/09
      53.   Doctrinaire attitude leaves region frozen in the past 21:57  |  Barry 07/07/09
      54.   Concessions 22:07  |  Alain 07/07/09
      55.   Settlement freeze is an unconditional Israeli obligation. 22:09  |  Ivar 07/07/09
      56.   Without A State of Palestine FIRST, there will be no frienship. 22:20  |  Arabia 07/07/09
      57.   durson & her ilk exposed 22:20  |  steve 07/07/09
      58.   Col Cohen; " Your settlements... 22:20  |  Deacon2 07/07/09
      59.   The ILLEGAL settlements have to go as was in GAZA. 22:24  |  Ishmael 07/07/09
      60.   #6. ilan, the arabs in Israel are the original 22:29  |  Benni 07/07/09
      61.   A Settlement Freeze does not in any way 22:49  |  ARTH 07/07/09
      62.   Only Putin can persuade Israel to freeze settlements 23:07  |  Voice of Reason 07/07/09
      63.   instead of these half-step overtures what we need are some real - 23:19  |  ivo 07/07/09
      64.   Hope 23:36  |  Jasper 07/07/09
      65.   #2, Durson 23:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/07/09
      66.   Nuttalie 23:49  |  Jasper 07/07/09
      67.   #15 Chas - This is How It Was - Perhaps This Is How It Will Be 00:04  |  Yaakov Ben Horin 08/07/09
      68.   A deficiency in Arab thinking 00:20  |  joki 08/07/09
      69.   Jews and muslims must stop fighting 00:36  |  somebody 08/07/09
      70.   Even the co-called "freezing" is to take place on... 00:38  |  Esther 08/07/09
      71.   In most of the world thieves are punished.... 00:38  |  Deborah 08/07/09
      72.   Jeff #41... when we give them back their territory... 00:49  |  Esther 08/07/09
      73.   They Should Give Absolutely Nothing at All 01:22  |  Joseph Blough 08/07/09
      74.   Israel already must abide by IV Geneva Convention 01:28  |  Sclomo Joe 08/07/09
      75.   Nothing 02:16  |  Robert 08/07/09
      76.   Col. Cohen 28 02:59  |  Anthony 08/07/09
      77.   exchange 03:07  |  oz 08/07/09
      78.   #41 Jeff is another who hasn`t bothered to read the Road Map. 03:17  |  Johnboy 08/07/09
      79.   Barry is right. 03:21  |  Solomon 08/07/09
      80.   Should send Palestinians to live with their Brothers in Jordan !! 03:21  |  Alfred 08/07/09
      81.   Response to #42 and to #1 03:27  |  bronxite10 08/07/09
      82.   Why should Arab states pay for ANYTHING? 03:29  |  Gene 08/07/09
      83.   Yehuda - Pray Tell 03:49  |  Ghada 08/07/09
      84.   Perfectly reasonable request and in keeping with Obama`s vision 03:59  |  Tom C 08/07/09
      85.   Natallie 04:04  |  Avi 08/07/09
      86.   Not to marry 6 yrs old girls would be nice 04:10  |  17 08/07/09
      87.   Listen, I have even more pityful ideas: 04:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/07/09
      88.   Momemt of truth for Arabas 04:25  |  Tom C 08/07/09
      89.   To the rejectionists (Natalie, A. Habib...) 06:52  |  another 08/07/09
      90.   Indeed .Palestinians will have to give 06:57  |  arik 08/07/09
      91.   Nothing is the simple answer 11:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/07/09
      92.   #72 Untrue, Chris Linthwaite 16:28  |  Johnboy 08/07/09
      93.   No negotiations at this point. The settlements are illegal. 19:24  |  James Hovland 14/07/09
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