US floats NATO troop plan for West Bank: Israeli report

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

JERUSALEM (AFP) - The United States is floating an idea to temporarily deploy NATO troops in the West Bank after Israeli troops eventually withdraw, a newspaper said on Wednesday, quoting Israeli defence officials.

General James Jones, the US special Middle East envoy, is spearheading the idea, the Jerusalem Post reported.

It said Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had been briefed but had not finalised his position. Israel has traditionally been hostile to any suggestions of using foreign troops to help achieve peace in the region.

Under such a deal, third-party troops would be stationed in the West Bank to secure the area between the time of an Israeli withdrawal and when the Palestinian Authority is able to take over full security control.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080220/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictwestbankusnato_080220083944

[kirby]

1. Prepare for WW III n/t