U.S. deal: Israel leases parts of E. Jerusalem and Jordan Valley

Friday, October 29, 2010

U.S. deal: Israel leases parts of E. Jerusalem and Jordan Valley

Asharq Al-Awsat report: U.S. deal: Israel leases parts of E. Jerusalem and Jordan Valley [IMRA: The following two articles appear in Arabic. The Google translations below are stilted but provide a good idea of the content. The most interesting element of the article, if true, is that the settlement blocs are not part of the arrangement. Instead we are talking about French Hill, Ramat Eshkol and other Jerusalem neighborhoods being leased to Israel for a limited period. ] Article #1 Secret talks between Washington and Tel Aviv about a Palestinian state and Israel rental areas Asharq Al-Awsat 29 October 2010 http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=1&issueno=11658&article=593027 Palestinian sources confirm .. Egyptian and Israeli and American does not deny nor confirm to Asharq Al-Awsat Asharq Al-Awsat from informed sources that the talks taking place out of sight Arabic (according to these sources), between the U.S. administration and the Israeli government, in order to reach an understanding on a Palestinian state and its borders. According to knowledgeable sources, there is a tendency for the recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return for Palestinian agreement to lease settlements in the occupied East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley (Dead Sea area separating the West Bank and Jordan) to Israel for 40 years, in the novel another 99 years. According to Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat validity of this information, she has new information came to light recently was not aware of the Palestinian Authority, did not inform the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on them. The sources said that these talks have described Balhadip and regarded it as «input an American, not Israeli, have been underway for a long time to reach a common ground with the Israeli side, in order to achieve an initial understanding of the boundary question, and understanding about what is expected to remain under Israeli sovereignty and sites that can connect including settlement building in which is not from the standpoint of the U.S. violation of the understandings agreed upon ». According to Palestinian sources, who asked not to mention their names, these talks also come under Israeli pressure on the administration of President Barack Obama, for the recognition of a letter guarantees of former President George Bush, in April (April) 2004, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, on the clusters settlement and remain under Israeli sovereignty. The sources said that such issues were discussed at the Taba negotiations early 2001 .. «But the talk was about 6-9 years and not 99 years». Asharq Al-Awsat had been published in its issue of October 4 (October) the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on condition on Washington in return for agreeing to extend the freeze on settlements, among other things, the development of Israeli troops in the Jordan Valley area in under the permanent settlement of the conflict. In Cairo, the Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat The Israeli-American contacts in general aims to promote confidence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The «this issue where some of the confusion, because part of this communication is a part of confidence-building, the Israelis have to do it towards the Palestinians, and therefore may be not secret negotiations, as they are quiet for resolving situations in order to leave America's predicament breakdown of negotiations ». The source of Egypt «This understanding of what is going on, and are not interested in interpretation, there may be what we know, but this is our vision, does not mean that we have information, or that we agree on something they did not share it fully after». He declined the office of Prime Minister of Israel to deny or confirm this information. He said his spokesman Ofir Ilderman, told Asharq Al-Awsat: «We are in intensive negotiations with the U.S. administration for a resumption of direct negotiations with the Palestinians, who unfortunately do not participate with us in these negotiations». Ilderman added that «the Israeli chief negotiator and adviser to Prime Minister Yitzhak Molkho returned this weekend from the United States, where he held lengthy and intensive talks at the White House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are committed to the agreement we reached with the U.S. administration and the Palestinian Authority to keep these negotiations behind the scenes does not announce anything about it and the details only by mutual agreement ». Ilderman refused to go into detail on Jerusalem and the settlements in the Jordan Valley. He declined to comment on this information, a State Department official. He told Asharq Al-Awsat: «We are in constant contact with many and Israel. This is part of our strong and solid. Some public communications, and some are public, and of course we do not announce non-public ». The «also reiterated the Secretary of State, we are making every effort to push the peace process and resumption of negotiations between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority». Another source told «Middle East»: «true that we in the State, but we are following the primaries. We are in a semi-rigid now in regards to the U.S. role to push the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority ». He added that the State, as usual, to inform members of Congress on various external developments. This includes developments in the Middle East negotiations. He went on to say «But, you know, members of Congress are busy with elections». It was Eric Cantor, a member of the Republican Congress, launched on Monday during his election campaign, a strong attack on what he called «loathe each other between Obama and Israel». He said that, if the Republican Party won a majority of seats in the next Congress, «will prove to Obama that the American people do not hesitate to support Israel». The «When we become the majority of the cuts off one important aid to any country contrary to our interests, and will reduce aid to other countries. It would become the American aid to Israel to a standing item in the budget of the U.S. State Department (the Pentagon), so as not to affect the decisions of Congress on foreign aid ». At the same time, website posted «Huffington Post» yesterday that Netanyahu, said the number of members of Congress who recently visited Israel, Tel Aviv, betting on the loss of the Democratic Party control of Congress in elections next week. She added that Obama's speech in Cairo on June 4 (June 2009), led to a clear reduction in the contributions of Israel Friends of the Democratic Party in the current elections. The «During the last few years, the Israeli lobby announced an intensive campaign to increase donations to the Republican Party. They do not want Obama to be neutral in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. If Obama was the fact that a neutral ». The advisers within the White House and close to Obama were warned that any pressure on Israel will affect donations for the Democratic Party. Article #2 Secret negotiations .. A Palestinian state for the rental of land to Israel Asharq Al-Awsat 29 October 2010 http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=1&issueno=11658&article=593027 [Google translation] * Palestinian sources confirm to Asharq Al-Awsat negotiations, Netanyahu's office: Chairman of our negotiators returned from Washington * U.S. State: do not comment on non-public communications * Egyptian source: You may be resolving the negotiations Between the assertion of a Palestinian and a lack of clarity in attitudes of Egyptian, American, Israeli,Asharq Al-Awsat from informed sources that the talks taking place out of sight Arabic between the U.S. administration and the Israeli government, aimed to reach an understanding on Palestinian statehood, borders, land Ststojrha Israel from power in the East Jerusalem area occupied and the Jordan Valley for 40 years, and in another report of 99 years. According to Palestinian sources, who asked not be named, told «Middle East» validity of this information and said she recently uncovered new information that the Palestinian Authority was not aware of them, and did not inform the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on them. The sources said that these talks have described Balhadip and regarded it as «input an American, not Israeli, have been underway for a long time to reach a common ground with the Israeli side, in order to achieve an initial understanding of the boundary question, and understanding about what is expected to remain under Israeli sovereignty». The Egyptian source, who requested anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat : «This may not be secret negotiations as they are quiet for resolving situations in order to come out of America's predicament crashes negotiations». The source said: «This is our understanding of what is going on, and are not interested in interpretation». He declined the office of Prime Minister of Israel to deny or confirm this information. He said his spokesman Ofir Ilderman Asharq Al-Awsat : «We are in intensive negotiations with the U.S. administration for a resumption of direct negotiations with the Palestinians». Ilderman added that «the Israeli chief negotiator and adviser to Prime Minister Yitzhak Molkho, he returned at the weekend from the United States, where he held lengthy and intensive talks at the White House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs». He declined to comment on this information, a State Department official, told Asharq Al-Awsat : «We are in constant contact with many and Israel. This is part of our strong and solid. Some public and some communication is public, and of course we do not announce on non-public! ».