quote:

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Rowland explained the document looked at the possible borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state, saying Israel would withdraw from "large sections" of the West Bank and return to 1967 borders.

"In other words," said Rowland, "the borders before the 1967 war - with what the document describes as 'reciprocal modifications'."

She said that, according to the document: "The Israelis would want to hang on to some of those main settlement blocks and in exchange would give the Palestinians other bits of territory from Israel, most probably parts of the Negev desert."

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quote:

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Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's Jerusalem correspondent, who has seen the Israeli document, said it "lays out some broad principles that Israel believes both sides should sign up to as a starting point for formal negotiations".

"Some of the things are fairly obvious - renouncing words and actions associated with war, recognition of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

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This is rich. Since when has Israel recognized UN Security Council resolutions?

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But Israeli political commentators said Olmert, weakened by the governmental failings and those of the military in last year's war on Hezbollah in Lebanon, was in no rush to take on such issues in depth and risk further splitting the cabinet.

Walid Batrawi, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the West Bank, said Palestinians also had low expectations of Tuesday's meeting.

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Certainly looks rosy to me.

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Citing security concerns, Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, has balked at the removal of roadblocks.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called the Abbas-Olmert meeting another attempt to isolate it. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, saying the meeting would "end in complete failure".

"Such meetings can never achieve anything as long as the Israeli occupation continues to deny the rights of our people," he said.

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Me thinks the OP paints to pretty a picture. The real details in the article do not paint such a good picture. But Ohara says the land Israel might give is 'blossoming'. Sure Ohara. That would be the style of the day - to give the Palestinians decent land, not only decent land but an "oasis".

[ 29 August 2007: Message edited by: Stargazer ]

quote:

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Im not clear on the full plan but I have been to the Negev. For those that have been there Israel has turned what was a desert into an oasis. Much of the Negev is used for farming and it is blossoming. My hope would be that this agricultural phenomena can also be shared with a new Palestinian entity.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ohara:
Im not clear on the full plan but I have been to the Negev. For those that have been there Israel has turned what was a desert into an oasis. Much of the Negev is used for farming and it is blossoming. My hope would be that this agricultural phenomena can also be shared with a new Palestinian entity.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Frustrated Mess:

Then the settlers occupying Palestinian land in the West Bank won't mind moving there, will they?

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Some of the obstacles to peace in no specific order:

1) Israeli settlers
2) Palestinian Refugee problem
3) Rogue palestinian groups who might keep bombing.
4) The israeli far right and their representatives in the Knesset.
5) Jerusalem.
6) Prisoners.

My personal opinion seems to be that the problem with the israeli settlers is probably the easiest one to resolve. They're there illegally and it's unambiguous among anyone who's not crazy. Just pluck them out.

[ 29 August 2007: Message edited by: 500_Apples ]

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Then the settlers occupying Palestinian land in the West Bank won't mind moving there, will they?

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If the Isreali government moves settlers to the Nagev, it will be contributing to the diinfranchisement of the bedouin. This is the problem that a lot of two staters don't see. The occupation may end in the West Bank and Gaza, but the IDF will continue to brutilize arabs in various parts of Israel proper.

[ 29 August 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]

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Originally posted by ohara:
Im not clear on the full plan but I have been to the Negev. For those that have been there Israel has turned what was a desert into an oasis. Much of the Negev is used for farming and it is blossoming. My hope would be that this agricultural phenomena can also be shared with a new Palestinian entity.

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Ah...the old "we made the desert bloom" meme.

You are aware, I assume, that it is now recognized throughout the scientific community that deserts are themselves legitimate ecosystems and that they play a vital role in regulating climate and otherwise sustaining life, aren't you?

quote:

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Originally posted by bigcitygal:
I'm really sorry, but I read the thread title as "Israel offers Palestinians dessert".

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quote:

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Originally posted by bigcitygal:
I'm really sorry, but I read the thread title as "Israel offers Palestinians dessert".

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Want to read a really stupid article? Here you go. This is the opening paragraph:

quote:

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RAMALLAH–If more people in this rancorous region were like Hamad Al-Nimer – or enjoyed his advantages – then maybe the Middle East would be a happier place.

A more peaceful one, too.

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Why, golly, what is it about this wonderful Hamad guy that makes him such a fantastic example for those other Palestinians? What is it about dear Hamad that every Palestinian should aspire to so that there will be peace in the region?

Well, gee, read on and find out:

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Evidently, Al-Nimer is not your average Palestinian 20-year-old male. Born in Florida, he settled in the Middle Eastern land of his forefathers 12 years ago and intends to remain.

But he holds a U.S. passport still.

As a result, Al-Nimer can go pretty much where he pleases – even to Israel, a country detested by many if not most Palestinians, yet a place where he has managed to make no small number of friends.

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Well golly! That's clearly the solution to the problems in the middle east! There can be peace in our time! All that those other Palestinians have to do is get a US passport and stop making the Israelis discriminate against them!

Then they too can feel as happy and satisfied as Hamad, talking about how wonderful Israel is because he's okay, Jack.

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About twice a month, he takes a respite from his labours and whiles away a day or so at the beachfront fleshpots near Tel Aviv.

"There's no problem," he says. "I have permission to go to Israel."

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Well gosh. How nice for him!

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Other Palestinians in the West Bank are barred from even contemplating similar journeys, and many would not want to visit Israel even if they could.

Such are the wages of fear and of hate.

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The writer of this article sees clearly what the problem is! The problem isn't the occupation and discrimination against Palestinians! Oh golly no, because we can see that this nice US citi -- er, I mean, PALESTINIAN, Hamad, isn't discriminated against, gosh no! The REAL problem is those damn hateful Palestinians, who are so unreasonable as to fear and hate Israel just because of a little teensy bit of open air imprisonment, displacement, discrimination, home demolition and summary execution!

If only all Palestinians could be like Hamad - that is, US citizens who get preferential treatment by Israel - there could be peace in the middle east!

Edited to remove intemperate comment.

[ 02 September 2007: Message edited by: Michelle ]

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Originally posted by ohara:
Im not clear on the full plan but I have been to the Negev. For those that have been there Israel has turned what was a desert into an oasis.

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I have been there, and - as usual, I will add - you're spouting nonsense. The vast majority of the land in the Negev is not arable. Outside of the northern region which was cultivated only by means of massive and environmentally damaging (not even to mention the political costs) diversions of water from the West Bank and the Galilee region, there is little to no agriculture. Moreover, it has become apparent in recent years that agriculture and livestock industries have contributed to increasing desertification, the ruin of agricultural land by pesticide-filled run-off, etc.

In fact, many are suggesting that Israel change course use the Negev for urbanisation while leaving agriculture to less arid northern regions.

In short, Israel achieved certain success, but to claim that the Negev is an "oasis" is just more poppycock propaganda.

[ 02 September 2007: Message edited by: B.L. Zeebub LLD ]