In response to Solana threatening Netanyahu with these words,
“Let me say very clearly that the way the European Union will relate to an government that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different.”
Zalman Shoval, a former ambassador to the US and a top adviser to Netanyahu, explained Netanyahu’s position.
The new government had every intention of respecting its international obligations as long as they did not pose a security threat.
“The European Union and this government are going to get along very well, given that most of the countries in Europe today are under leaderships who are basically friendly to Israel,” said Shoval. “I do not foresee any major problems.”
Netanyahu, he said, intended to continue to actively pursue negotiations with the Palestinians. However, he added, “we are not saying a priori what the solution would be.”
In his conversation with the Post, he shied away from the phrase “two-state solution” and favored instead words like “arrangement” or “international obligations.” He preferred to speak of the Palestinian “entity” rather than state.
“But we are definitely going to continue political talks,” Shoval said.
A “two-state solution should not be regarded as an ideology or a mantra, but as a formula which has to be judged according to its practical ability,” said Shoval.
“We do hope that the European Union will regard any possible solution in a pragmatic way, without preconceived ideas,” said Shoval. He added that he had every reason to believe that the new administration in the United States under President Barack Obama would do the same.
No one, he said, wanted to revive the Annapolis process under which talks with the Palestinians were held during the last year.
At the same time, “we are not saying that everything has to start from square one,” said Shoval.
He noted Netanyahu has had a history of respecting past diplomatic initiatives and did not abandon Oslo when he was prime minister from 1996 to 1999.
But it was clear that the previous administration under former president George Bush did not make progress and that new ideas must be tried, said Shoval.
Even Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have said their efforts had failed, continued Shoval.
“The achievements were zero, so why would we go blindly down the same track without adding additional ideas,” he said.
Netanyahu, he said, would be looking to propose new ideas on how to move the peace process forward, with a focus on improving the Palestinian’s economic situation.
The solution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict, he said, could be based on the US-backed “road map” initiated by Bush in 2002, which speaks of a Palestinian state.
But in considering that document, Shoval said Netanyahu’s government would want to focus on elements that have yet to be tried. He added that the road map document he referenced was the one which was amended by Israel.
Olmert’s government erred, he said, by moving to the final stages of the road map process without insuring the initial ones were fulfilled. The issue of borders comes up only in the third stage, he added.
I totally agree with this position. Netanyahu wants to avoid the left and the right pulling him off his course in either direction and that is why he has had difficulties building his coalition,
But this explanation covers a lot of ground.
Netanyahu wants as his point of reference Bush’s vision speech of 2002, not the Roadmap, not the Saudi Plan and not Annapolis.
I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence.
And when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors, the United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state whose borders and certain aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of a final settlement in the Middle East.
As we make progress towards security, Israel forces need to withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28, 2000. And consistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee, Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop. pay per click advertisingThe Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violence subsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting innocent Palestinians to resume work and normal life.
Today, the Palestinian people live in economic stagnation, made worse by official corruption. A Palestinian state will require a vibrant economy, where honest enterprise is encouraged by honest government. The United States, the international donor community and the World Bank stand ready to work with Palestinians on a major project of economic reform and development.
Netanyahu embraces all these things with the exception of stopping settlement construction in toto. He intends to allow internal growth which Israel has being doing all along.
Notice the mention of Jordan and Egypt.
This point of reference predates the Roadmap with its introduction of the Saudi Plan calling for a just settlement of the refugee problem division of Jerusalem and retreat to ‘67 borders.
Livni rejected Netanyahu’s embrace specifically because he would not accept a two-state solution. Does she really believe that Netanyahu’s course will not be productive or is she just being political. After all she had two years to move the two-state solution forward and made no progress whatsoever.
Under Netanyahu’s approach, no commitment is being given regarding ultimate borders, the division of Jerusalem, the return of refugees or even the creation of a sovereign state. Just the opposite of Annapolis.
Furthermore he has committed to Lieberman to topple Hamas something Livni/Barak refused to do.
Netanyahu has been at the forefront in the battle against Iran. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is now in Washington telling them the IDF must prepare to strike Iran. In that he is fully supported by Netanyahu.
The US needs a pliable Iran on the issues of Afghanistan and Iraq. It is not without reason to hope that Obama may in the end give Israel the green light or perhaps just a nod.
