In the draft document that US Secretary of State John Kerry later this week will present to Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) he will most likely ask for an extension, to permit additional months of negotiations in the hope of reaching a final status agreement. The document is not going to be a legal one that demands their signatures, but more of a wish list that is accompanied by an understanding that this is what the White House seeks.

Israel still seeks PA recognition of the Jewish State, an act that must accompany the final status agreement in the hope of ending the conflict. The PA continues demanding the final map must be based on the pre-1967 borders, which would compel Israel to withdraw from large areas of Yerushalayim, Yehuda, Shomron, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley.

Israel does not expect the PA to accept the agreement for a number of reasons, including the fact the current administration in Yerushalayim has given the green light for the construction of 1,400 homes in areas viewed as “Israeli occupied” by the PA and the international community.

There are also reports that Israel is demanding the US release Jonathan Pollard to coincide with the next Israeli terrorist release, the fourth and final of this negotiating process. Israel will include the release of Israeli Arab citizens in the fourth release and Pollard’s release has been introduced into the formula. However, officials in the Prime Minister’s Office are well-aware that despite the urgency of his release, there is little Israel can or is willing to do to compel America’s hand in this matter. Regarding efforts to have Pollard released, US President Barak Obama has been handed the letter signed by 106 members of Knesset. In the letter, which was translated and presented to the US letter, the elected Israeli officials make another plea to pardon Pollard, who wishes to finish living his life home in Israel.

Regarding the government’s approval of new construction, the plan is as follows:

600 units in Yerushalayim, 100 in Emanuel, 80 in Karnei Shomron, 160 in Elkana, 100 in Geva Binyamin (Yishuv Adam), 70 in Alfei Menashe, 60 in Efrat, 40 in Ariel, 40 in Givat Ze’ev, 40 in Betar Illit and 100 in different communities.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)