Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who failed to find a solution to actualize an agreement with the PA as prime minister, is now suggesting a new formula, the immediate declaration of the State of Palestine, leaving the “core issues” to be worked out at a later date, after the fact.
Speaking with Israel Channel 10 TV on Sunday, Barak stated that at first, the PA state would be declared, without defining its exact borders, but with an assurance that within a maximum of two years, all remaining core issues must be resolved. This would include the status of Yerushalayim, borders, security and refugees.
Barak added that he is confident that such a reality would assist in boosting the PA’s influence over Hamas-controlled Gaza, which according to all polls, is gaining in popularity – even among residents of autonomous areas throughout Yehuda and Shomron, under the rule of Abu Mazen and his Fatah faction.
Barak added that today, there is no possibility of ending the conflict without adopting the two-state solution, namely negotiations towards the establishment of the PA state, one that includes territorial contiguity.
The current building freeze throughout yishuvim and municipalities in Yehuda and Shomron is unprecedented, explaining that the statements of visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the freeze is an issue to be addressed during talks, not a precondition to returning to the negotiating table.
Barak stated the US is aware of Israel’s ongoing commitment towards resuming talks with the PA and reaching a final status agreement.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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3 Responses
First of all, Barak has no business as Defense Minister making statements that are only the province of the PRIME Minister.
Secondly he once again shows himself to be nothing less than an imbecile with the statement… “the establishment of the PA state, one that includes territorial contiguity.” -ANYONE who knows the map knows that Gaza and the “West Bank” are on opposite sides of the country. For a PA “state” (and I only say this theoretically, because it will never happen) to have “territorial contiguity” it would have to cut through Israel and CUT ISRAEL IN HALF!!!
This has got to be (even for Barak) one of the absolute stupidest suggestions ever!
He proves once again to be totally clueless about Jewish values, about the meaning of a Jewish State, about kedushas Eretz Yisrael, and even about the strategic ramifications (supposedly his area of expertise) of this insane plan.
I know Bibi made Barak (instead of the hugely superior Moshe Yaalon) the defense Minister in order to bring leftist support for his government. If Bibi can’t see, after this moronic proposal by Barak, that Barak is not even suitable to be a sanitation worker in a Jewish state, then Bibi is even worse than I anticipated he would be.
#1 AinOdMilvado1, it could be that Barak’s suggestion is only a trial balloon (with Bibi’s blessing) takeh because he is NOT Prime Minister.
I was about to say what you said that one of the two can have “territorial contiguity”, so shouldn’t Israel be the one to have it?
By giving an assurance that within a maximum of two years, all remaining core issues will be resolved, Israel is tying its hands because then their is no incentive for the Arabs to compromise on anything, as they can stick to their demands and wait for the clock to force Israel to give in.
BTW, was the “1” at the end of your name a glitch or you are a different AinOdMilvado?
BenMelech – same one, from 2 different locations.