Israel to withdraw from West Bank?

[Irbis]

Netanyahu mulls unilateral disengagement from West Bank

Prime minister tells Bloomberg unilateral steps are being considered in light of failed peace talks; 'Idea of unilateral steps is gaining ground'.

"We want a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state. How do you get that if you can't get it through negotiations?" asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with Bloomberg's Jeffrey Goldberg published Thursday.

In the interview Netanyahu discussed the failed attempts at US brokered peace talks with the Palestinians, suggesting that to move forward, Israel may need to consider taking unilateral steps to achieve its goals.

"It's true that the idea of taking unilateral steps is gaining ground, from the center-left to the center-right. Many Israelis are asking themselves if there are certain unilateral steps that could theoretically make sense."

The reference addresses suggestions that Israel begin testing unilateral disengagement from the West Bank that would force Palestinians to take up key responsibilities in the areas of security and administration that Israel currently manages.

With careful planning, such a plan could lead to an independent Palestinian nation on Israel's terms and without negotiations, though tensions between the neighbors would most likely remain high and Netanyahu stressed important security concerns that such a plan does not address.

"People also recognize that the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza didn't improve the situation or advance peace - it created Hamastan, from which thousands of rockets have been fired at our cities."

While the prime minister did admit that new ways to move toward peace are being explored, he stressed that the conversation is on-going and hasn't yet brought any conclusions.

"Let me be clear - negotiations are always preferable. But six prime ministers since Oslo have failed in their pursuit of a negotiated settlement. They've always thought we were on the verge of success, and then Arafat backed off, Mahmoud Abbas backed off, because they can't conclude these negotiations," said Netanyahu.

Netanyahu also touched on accusations that claim to Israel takes part in aggressive espionage against in the US by firmly stating, "This is an outright lie. Since Pollard, almost 30 years ago, Israel has not conducted any espionage operations in the United States, period. Full stop. Not direct espionage, not indirect espionage, nothing, zero. We do not conduct in any way, shape or form espionage operations in the United States."

The prime minister stressed that while differences has arisen in their approaches to handling the Iranian threat of nuclear power, relations with US President Barak Obama remain strong.

I wonder if that is a good sign. After withdrawal, pretty much nothing would prevent declaration of Palestine and eventual reaching of peace deal under UN, would it?

[mr friendly guy]

I will believe it when I see it. I remember when they had made progress and then it turn to shit again.

[Guardsman Bass]

His idea of withdrawal probably includes Israel still holding on to Jerusalem in its entirety along with the surrounding area and its settlements. You could still pull together something resembling a rump Palestinian state as long as it was contiguous, but it would be a major point of contention along with other issues like water rights control and border rights.

[Thanas]

It depends on whether it is a real withdrawal or just a nice PR term for "we keep all the valuable land and water while cutting the others off".

[Welf]

I doubt there will be peace in Israel/Palestine. Even if Israel withdraws from the West Bank including east Jerusalem and the settlements the new Palestinian state would be riddled with countless economic and social problems. I doubt any government could manage those, and surely not one coming from military group like the Fatah or a islamist military group like the Hamas. Blaming Israel is the only commonly accepted form of conflict solution in Palestinian society, so the terror will continue and sooner or later lead to the next war.
With that in mind, I think it's PR and has a lot of asterisks added.

[Edi]

Doesn't look like Israel is withdrawing form the West Bank anytime soon.

Thursday, Jun 5, 2014 09:15 AM +0300
Israel advances 1,500 settlement homes
Associated Press

Topics: From the Wires, News

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s housing ministry says it is advancing plans for 1,500 new settlement housing units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in response to the new Palestinian unity government backed by Hamas.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel said in a statement on Thursday that the move was a “fitting Zionist response to the formation of a Palestinian terror government.” He said the housing plans were “just the beginning.”

The settlement units are in areas the Palestinians claim for their future state.

The Construction and Housing Ministry announced the new plans early Thursday in one of several steps necessary before construction begins.

Israel has vowed to take punitive action in response to the Palestinian unity government formed last week because it is backed by the militant group Hamas.