Wall Street Journal: Palestinians make surprisingly large land offer to Israel

[Jefferson23]

In framework of proximity talks, Palestinian negotiators have reportedly proposed giving up twice the West Bank territory Abbas offered Olmert.
By Barak Ravid


The Palestinian Authority has offered surprising concessions to Israel regarding borders for a future state, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

In the framework of proximity peace talks now being mediated by the United States' special Middle East envoy George Mitchell, Palestinian negotiators have reportedly offered to match and even double the amount of West Bank land territory that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas offered to former prime minister Ehud Olmert during their one-on-one 2008 talks.

During those talks, Abbas offered Olmert to exchange 1.9% of West Bank land for an equal amount of Israeli territory. Olmert countered with a much higher demand of his own, which the current reported offer would still not come close to matching.

Palestinian officials told The Wall Street Journal that the unexpected proposal was being made due to their assumption that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not serious about reaching a final status deal within the indirect negotiations.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said his government was approaching the proximity talks in good faith and "are not going to waste Mitchell's time.

"We want Mr. Mitchell to succeed because his success is our freedom," he said.

Mitchell was in the region this week for talks with Abbas and Netanyahu. A statement from Netanyahu's office said they had discussed during their meetingsthe possibility of gestures toward the Palestinians. No details were given, but the gestures seemed likely connected to easing movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wall-street-journal-palestinians-make-surprisingly-large-land-offer-to-israel-1.291453

[shaayecanaan]

1. from the Wall Street Journal:-

JERUSALEM—Palestinian negotiators have surprised Washington with a bold opening offer to White House peace envoy George Mitchell that includes concessions on territory beyond those offered in past Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, according to officials briefed on the current negotiations.

The Palestinians' unexpected offer has been greeted warily in Israel and by some members of the Obama administration, according to these officials. Palestinians believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no intention of reaching a peace deal and thus may have calculated they can make generous offers without having to worry about following through, these officials said.

***

I wonder who the "wary" members of the Obama administration are? (I don't, actually).

Looks like the Palestinians are finally getting this whole diplomacy thing. Embarrassing Netanyahu should be a very easy thing to do. Just look at the bile that has been posted in the talkback thread.

[oberliner]

5. Always interesting to see "from the Wall Street Journal" as a subject heading on DU

Especially after some recent comments about RW sources on another thread.

[Jefferson23]

6. This is not from their Editorial section, where most of the neocons hang out.

[shira]

2. Erekat denies extra concessions

"However, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat later denied the Journal's report that the Palestinians had offered extra concessions, according to Israel's Channel 10."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/abbas-gaps-remain-in-land-swap-deal-with-israel-1.291562

[azurnoir]

3. actual article title and more content

Abbas: Gaps remain in land swap deal with Israel

Responding to reports he offered to trade more land than in the past, PA President only says no agreement has been reached on the amount of land to be traded.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that he is ready to swap some land with Israel but that gaps remain on how much territory is to be traded.

Abbas spoke on Saturday after participating in two rounds of indirect, U.S.-mediated peace talks with Israel.

Abbas said the first round dealt with borders and security arrangements between Israel and a Palestinian state. He said Israel asked a series of questions the Palestinians are now preparing to answer.

The Palestinian leader was asked about reports that he is willing to trade more land than in the past. Abbas only said that there is no agreement on the amount of land to be traded.

"We did not agree about the land area, but we agreed on the principle of swapping land in quality and value," said Abbas.

your single sentence could be seen as misrepresenting the the article

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. Both the Palestinians and the Israelis have denied this, although I'm not sure how much that means.

In negotiations of this form, my impression is that lying about what you have and haven't offered and been offered is fairly standard, I think, possibly because it helps keep your options open. Whereas the WSJ has less of a horse in the race than either side, possibly making it a more credible source.

But certainly, the Palestinians have denied having made such an offer, and the Israelis have denied having received one.