INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE appears to be mounting on Israel to take concrete steps to break the deadlock in the Middle East peace process.
The Los Angeles Timesyesterday quoted western diplomats saying that the quartet, comprised of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, was weighing the option of recognising a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, unless Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu came up with a new peace plan.
Direct negotiations between the sides broke down last September after Israel refused to extend a West Bank settlement freeze. The Palestinians linked a resumption of talks with a total cessation of all settlement activity.
Britain, France and Germany had reportedly drawn up a plan for the quartet to recognise a Palestinian state, with agreed land swaps, that was to be discussed at a meeting of the group in Berlin last week. However, Washington objected, and the Berlin meeting was cancelled.
Aware of the mounting international pressure, Mr Netanyahu has been toying for some months with the idea of a new policy initiative in an effort to jump-start the talks. Next month he will address the US Congress and is expected to use the occasion to unveil Israeli thinking.
“This is an opportunity to present Israel’s political and security principles, following dramatic changes in the region and in light of our national interest to ensure our peaceful and secure future,” he said this week.
Israeli media speculated that Mr Netanyahu may propose a series of concessions, such as a further withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas of the West Bank. However, the plan is unlikely to include dismantling Jewish settlements, and is likely to fall short of meeting international expectations.
The Palestinians appear to have given up any hope of reaching a negotiated settlement and are pressing ahead with plans for the UN to recognise an independent Palestinian state in September, the deadline set by US president Barack Obama for a peace deal.
Palestinian negotiator Nabil Sha’ath predicted that Ireland, France and Sweden will by September become the first EU states to endorse a Palestinian state.
He said that by September two-thirds of UN members will back such a state, and if the US uses its veto in the security council, the Palestinians would take their case to the UN General Assembly.