Report: Israel to freeze settlements in exchange for Arab ties
Israel would halt activity for up to 9 months for right to fly over some Arab states, says Washington Times.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel settlements Israel news Jews and ArabsIsrael has reportedly agreed to freeze West Bank settlement activity for up to 9 months in exchange for normalizing relations with some North African and Gulf Arab states, according to a Washington Times exclusive published on Tuesday.
The report, quoting Israeli officials and an Israeli specialist familiar with the government's policy, comes hours before a tripartite meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The apparent agreement contradicts expectations that Netanyahu would defend continued settlement growth during the New York meeting, despite U.S. calls for a total freeze in construction.
According to the Washington Times report, Israel has agreed to partially freeze settlement activity for 6 to 9 months, but has insisted it be able to continue construction of some 2,500 housing units already in the works.
In exchange, some Gulf Arab and North African states have privately assured U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell that they would take steps toward normalizing ties with Israel, a U.S. official told the Washington Times.
These normalization steps reportedly include granting Israel flyover rights and ending a longtime travel ban against Israeli citizens. According to the report, Saudi Arab has refused to grant these assurances, insisting a peace agreement first be signed.
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she seems to think that this is the United States of America and Israel. Or, More likely, the united States of Israel and the Unnited States. As an American, whether Israel has overflight rights in the Arab countries or not, is of no consequences to me as I fly only American carriers.
"No thanks. We`ll stick with the detour. The last thing I want to worry about is some al-Qaeda nutjob firing a surface-to-air missile into the belly of my plane while I`m reading the latest Aimee Bender novel. Kinda makes the trip and the book less enjoyable and I paid alot for my five-piece luggage ensemble." Just confused Heather, you indicate that you're from Milwaukee. If so, the U.S is not prohibited from flying over any of the Gulf Countries, in fact many Americans go there for vacations. Are you American or Israeli? Dual citizenship maybe? Israeli firster? Please help clarify this mass confusion.
So in other words Israel is saying that we'll put some battle dressing on the wound, as long as you allow us to fly over Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, etc so we can hit Iran. Once our mission is complete, the dressing is removed and the bleeding continues (victims being Palestinians). Boy, that was a hard one to figure out.
"And what happens after the nine months ?" - Arnold Then Israel gets to decide what it wants.
.....Israel started getting smart about this and is demanding specific, tangible actions that are required of the Arab states in exchange for Israel's agreement to freeze settlement activity. Frankly, I'm sick and tired of all the discussion around Israel having to make (yet more) unilateral concessions. Time for the Arab world to make clear steps toward normalizing relations with Israel....otherwise, I would say, they get NOTHING.
No thanks. We'll stick with the detour. The last thing I want to worry about is some al-Qaeda nutjob firing a surface-to-air missile into the belly of my plane while I'm reading the latest Aimee Bender novel. Kinda makes the trip and the book less enjoyable and I paid alot for my five-piece luggage ensemble.
I would rather have a freez on settlement,for Palestinian ties.What would we do with a Arab ties when the Qassams hits,or a bombs explodes. A freez and no violence from both sides,and recognition of Israel by Hamas.Then and only then we can seat and negotiate.Arab ties would follow anyway,after Israel and the Palestinians have reached an agreement. BTW,Ties with Arab,what is so fascinating about that?,it can be a "Pandora's box".
we already have relations with Egypt and what what i have heard they have the best ties around :)
What do they want to flyover ... military jets or passenger airlines? It may seem superficially a silly question but then Israel has odd priorities (to put it mildly)!
I hope, no I pray, that this freeze includes East Jerusalem; no peace will exist until both parties' fundamental demands are met in compromise. This includes Jerusalem as capitol for both Israel and the new Palestinian state. But Thank you, Israel, for making this offer.
Agree to temporary freeze all the while continuing work on 2500 units!? After 6 to 9 months those 2500 units will be finished or still being built, and then they'll just continue with the other ones. How is it a freeze if from now on the policy isn't changing at all and they just continue to build? Usually Israel is much more clever at hiding its crimes i.e. the kafkaesque policies that allow Israel to demolish Palestinian homes under "legal" jurisdiction, which contends that the homes are built without a permit, when, in fact, it is virtually impossible for Palestinians to get a permit in the first place. Not to mention the fact that Israel has no right to impose its "jurisdiction" on Palestinian land in the first place.
Erekat in New York: Palestinians haven`t changed conditions for peace talks. So why ahould we? Freezubg settlements in exchange for nebulous "Arab ties" is a stupic, useless concession. Can anyone imagine Jewfree Saudi Arabia agreeing to any ties with Israel? Build thse settlements, more and thicker! The Palestinians must be made to realize that they have lost, that if they want anything, they must pay for it.
Does the right to fly over Arab countries end with the ending of settlement freezing. I could never be a politician. I talk sensibly.