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Last update - 13:32 07/09/2009
U.S. sources: Many Arab states 'pledging' normal Israel ties
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell has managed to obtain "pledges" from many Arab states for various steps toward normalization with Israel, some more significant and some less so, senior U.S. government officials told Haaretz on Sunday.

That is one of the main questions to which Israel is hoping to receive an answer when Mitchell arrives later this week or early next: what steps toward normalization the Arab states have agreed to take in exchange for a partial freeze in West Bank settlements.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry all said that Israel still does not have a clear picture of what quid pro quos Mitchell has managed to obtain in his talks with these states.
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The U.S. officials also declined to specify which states had made these pledges. Saudi Arabia, which Washington had hoped would be one of them, has thus far refused to offer anything to Israel, though it has agreed to provide the Palestinian Authority with hundreds of millions of dollars to shore up its shaky financial situation.

"We've done our part," an associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's said on Sunday. "We decided to make an effort to facilitate the diplomatic process, but now we want to see that we will also get something in exchange."

According to the U.S. officials, some Arab states have agreed to let Israel open offices in their territory, others have agreed to grant visas to Israeli businessmen and tourists, and still others have offered to allow direct telephone connections between Israel and their countries.

A few Arab countries have agreed to hold high-level public meetings with senior Israeli officials, and others have agreed to let Israeli planes fly through their air space or even land at their airports.

However, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa told a press conference on Sunday that given Israel's "stubbornness" over the settlements, there is no place for any moves toward normalization.

"Israel is still refusing to freeze construction in the settlements," he said. "As long as that continues, it is impossible to talk about steps toward normalization."

Mitchell is currently slated to arrive Wednesday night and meet with Netanyahu the following day, but may postpone his visit until next Sunday. However, a member of Mitchell's staff denied a report on Channel 10 television that the visit had been canceled entirely, saying the envoy still intends to come to Israel in the next few days.

"The date has not been finalized, but this is solely a matter of scheduling considerations," the staffer said. He also denied that the uncertainty was meant to send a message to Netanyahu.

Barak authorizes construction of 500 new West Bank construction

Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed some of the permits needed to construct 500 new houses in West Bank settlements on Sunday night, and is slated to sign the remainder on Monday morning.

The new housing, which was decided on by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will be built in six settlements, all of which are included in the settlement blocs that Israel wants to keep under any peace agreement. The settlements in question include Har Gilo, Modi'in Ilit and Ariel.

The construction permits will take effect before the building freeze that Israel is now negotiating with the United States goes into force. But even during this freeze, work will continue on some 2,500 apartments that are currently under construction.

Netanyahu told the ministers of his Likud party on Sunday that an agreement on the partial settlement freeze will be finalized during Mitchell's upcoming visit to Israel.

Though several ministers commented on the planned freeze before yesterday's cabinet meeting, the only one who assailed it was National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beiteinu). "There is no sense in freezing construction in the settlements."

"That will only increase the diplomatic pressure, just as happened after [Netanyahu's] speech at Bar-Ilan [University]," he said, referring to Netanyahu's first major policy speech delivered in June.

In contrast, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, also of Yisrael Beiteinu, praised Netanyahu for refusing to impose a total freeze on either East Jerusalem or the settlement blocs. However, he added, "we need to see what the other side will pay in exchange for these steps."

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    IN PICTURES / Did Prime Minster Netanyahu risk his life for a photo op?
      1.   But what`s normal for arabs is murdering jews. 03:15  |  disgusted american 07/09/09
      2.   It`s true! Take my word for it. Would I lie to you? 03:16  |  Barak Obama 07/09/09
      3.   Is Ariel worth Be`er Sheva? 03:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/09/09
      4.   Instead of fake normalisation israel should seize saudi oilfields 03:49  |  bernard ross 07/09/09
      5.   arabs pledge "normal" 04:10  |  Mark 07/09/09
      6.   "We`ve done our part" 05:16  |  un2here 07/09/09
      7.   "pledges" 05:42  |  Max 07/09/09
      8.   They are not palestinian lands 05:52  |  simple simon 07/09/09
      9.   Well! That`s an easy one to answer! 06:04  |  Johnboy 07/09/09
      10.   any arab leader who pledges normal ties with apartheid israel... 06:09  |  palestinian 07/09/09
      11.   Even if Arab country normalize relation with israel 06:16  |  C2 07/09/09
      12.   If this is their idea of "normalization", they should get nothing 06:59  |  Raymond in DC 07/09/09
      13.   US sources and "many Arab states" 07:34  |  DT 07/09/09
      14.   Arab states` ties to Israel are very welcome, but we, Jews, must 07:43  |  Eitan 07/09/09
      15.   what`s normal? 07:52  |  peter rouget 07/09/09
      16.   Normal Ties With Israel; Alas 07:54  |  Walid 07/09/09
      17.   LET THEM BUILD....in Palestine 07:59  |  B`galil 07/09/09
      18.   arrogant attitude of Israel 08:02  |  lemouel 07/09/09
      19.   Hate 08:22  |  Ibrhahim 07/09/09
      20.   No Peace 08:42  |  Hirz 07/09/09
      21.   What if the Band Visited? 08:48  |  Mark Lincoln 07/09/09
      22.   Why should they normalize relations 08:50  |  Janice 07/09/09
      23.   US should refuse to support Israel financially or diplomatically 08:50  |  With Iran 07/09/09
      24.   number nine, are you aware... 08:53  |  matt 07/09/09
      25.   simple simon 08:54  |  Why? 07/09/09
      26.   The Problem with Normalization 08:58  |  Fred 07/09/09
      27.   Mark of Lewiston #3: - "Is Ariel worth Be`er Sheva?" 09:05  |  S 07/09/09
      28.   I wasn`t aware of all this haggling. Obama is responsible for it. 09:22  |  S 07/09/09
      29.   OY! #9 Palestinian and "Demands" 09:25  |  Alan 07/09/09
      30.   Phones work already to Arab world 09:42  |  Dr. Aaron Lerner 07/09/09
      31.   S - How Much? 09:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/09/09
      32.   Marginalize extremists 11:06  |  Sherlock Holmes 07/09/09
      33.   Raymond in DC #12 `If this is their idea...` 11:41  |  Colin Wright 07/09/09
      34.   #.16. Walid. 11:50  |  Stephen. 07/09/09
      35.   Mitchell?s efforts unfortunately without magic peace formula 12:12  |  H.H.M 07/09/09
      36.   Beware of the Americans 12:43  |  Michael 07/09/09
      37.   Commonsence is urgently required. 13:05  |  Hamzah 07/09/09
      38.   #33 Colin Wrong 13:54  |  Alan-NYC 07/09/09
      39.   Keep building Israel it`s your buffer and security. 14:31  |  Petra 07/09/09
      40.   # 37 alan 14:37  |  Axel 07/09/09
      41.   US bluff 15:26  |  Frank 07/09/09
      42.   Mark of Lewiston 15:32  |  Pupik 07/09/09
      43.   #40 Axel here`s the truth regarding international law 15:56  |  Alan-NYC 07/09/09
      44.   Normalization gestures/steps ONLY WITH peace with Palestine 16:38  |  Ramzi Jaber 07/09/09
      45.   Arabs are the Peace Brokers Now 17:10  |  Vladek 07/09/09
      46.   Desert 17:23  |  Bazmann 07/09/09
      47.   axel 17:24  |  shimi 07/09/09
      48.   Arab states `pledging` normal ties??? 17:25  |  Brod 07/09/09
      49.   :o) They can`t even have normal ties with their Arab neighbours! 17:58  |  Murray of Montreal 07/09/09
      50.   Peace is against the policy of Arab and Persian Governements 18:04  |  utagawa 07/09/09
      51.   # 43 alan 18:17  |  Axel 07/09/09
      52.   42 Pupik - No Easy Answers 18:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/09/09
      53.   Axel of Germany #51; Negotiated settlement? 19:12  |  Murray of Montreal 07/09/09
      54.   Oh this is unfortunate because this was to be on Israeli agenda.. 19:38  |  zmogus 07/09/09
      55.   Mark of Lewiston #31 The subject is NOT "how much" (4th try) 19:41  |  S 07/09/09
      56.   Mark of Lewiston 19:44  |  Pupik 07/09/09
      57.   # 53 murray 20:18  |  Axel 07/09/09
      58.   #5 Axel of Germany 21:00  |  Murray of Montreal 07/09/09
      59.   S - It Started with a Normalization Pledge 21:43  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/09/09
      60.   Murray Of Montreal #49 21:51  |  Walid 07/09/09
      61.   The newest diversionary tactic 22:02  |  David 07/09/09
      62.   Arab concessions must be conditional on the freeze 22:29  |  BDS 07/09/09
      63.   Normal ties to no 10 23:14  |  Rigoletto 07/09/09
      64.   Tel Aviv - Dubai Flights 23:27  |  Phil 07/09/09
      65.   Israeli Credit Cards in UAE - They Work ! 23:33  |  Phil 07/09/09
      66.   above 00:14  |  moishe 08/09/09
      67.   simple simon 01:32  |  Michelle 08/09/09
      68.   This is news to us in the USA 01:35  |  John Q. Public 08/09/09
      69.   Nothing will be exchanged Mark of Lewiston 01:48  |  Mark Lincoln 08/09/09
      70.   To Lieber Axel 01:56  |  RW 08/09/09
      71.   #59 Mark, no need for Israel to "give" anything for Gush Etzion.. 02:13  |  Dr. L. Brnd 08/09/09
      72.   What "pledges"? HAARETZ needs to start fact-checking Barak Ravid 02:30  |  Dr. L. Brnd 08/09/09
      73.   fairness 03:23  |  sphardi 08/09/09
      74.   Mark Lincoln #65 is a good history; even excellent; except.... 08:06  |  S 08/09/09
      75.   The Resurrection of the Roman Period Zealots 09:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/09/09
      76.   WALID Pal terrorists have been involved in killing Arabs 09:56  |  PETER SM 08/09/09
      77.   MARK OF L.What is "secret" about Lord Caradon on UNSCR 242? 10:59  |  PETER SM 08/09/09
      78.   apartheid 12:03  |  samuel 09/09/09
      79.   Beirut 12:19  |  samuel 09/09/09
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