The Mofaz plan—state now, ask questions later

[oberliner]

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Shaul Mofaz has a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Mofaz, the Likud Party defense minister-turned-Kadima leader, says the first step is the immediate establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders on 60 percent of the territory in the West Bank. Then, over the course of the next four to six years, the two sides would negotiate the final-status issues, including permanent borders. The final deal would be put to national referendums in Israel and Palestine.

Under his plan, not a single Israeli settlement would be uprooted during the course of final-status negotiations, and both Gaza and the West Bank would be united under a moderate Palestinian government. In the end, Jerusalem would remain united under Israeli sovereignty, the large Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank would be annexed to Israel, and the Palestinian state would be completely demilitarized.

"Israel must initiate forward movement rather than being dragged into unwanted agreements," Mofaz said last week at a presentation of his plan to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/11/22/1009328/the-mofaz-plan

[aranthus]

1. An excellent idea!

I like how it dovetails with what the Palestinians are talking about now. Declare independence immediately. There are some problems with the Mofaz plan. The new Palestinian state is not going to be demilitarized for one thing. However, this is a way to get the process moving.