Netanyahu’s proposal to discuss the borders of settlement blocs is “completely unacceptable”, says Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat
Agencies
Jerusalem
Palestinians yesterday angrily dismissed reported remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would like to negotiate the future annexation of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Haaretz newspaper yesterday quoted “an Israeli source” briefed on last week’s meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as saying that Netanyahu wants to resume talks with the Palestinians, with his goal being to reach understandings on the borders of settlement blocs that Israel would annex under any peace agreement.
“The prime minister explained that in this way, it would be clear what parts of the West Bank Israel could continue building in,” the newspaper reported.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said the concept was “completely unacceptable”.
“Netanyahu’s proposal to discuss the borders of settlement blocs is an attempt to legitimise the settlements,” he said.
“The borders that should be set are the borders of the internationally recognised state of Palestine based on 1967 borders.
“Settlements should be stopped instead of being legitimised.”
Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi said the plan attributed to Netanyahu was “a disingenuous and manipulative exercise in political and legal deception”.
“All settlements are illegal and in flagrant contravention of international law and consensus, and any efforts to annex and to legalise the settlements blocs is a blatant attempt to steal more Palestinian land,” she said in a statement.
Israeli seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war.
Today around 580,000 Jewish settlers live in the territory, including Israeli-annexed Arab East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu named a new right-wing coalition government earlier this month in which the pro-settlement Jewish Home party is a key player.
International concern over peace prospects spiked after Netanyahu vowed during campaigning for a March general election that he would never allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
He has since sought to backtrack on the comments.
Netanyahu faces US and EU calls to re-engage with the Palestinians.
Western diplomats have said Netanyahu will be closely scrutinised over his settlement policy.
An understanding on settlements in peace talks would enable Israel to keep construction going without raising the wrath of its Western allies. It could also appease hardliners in Netanyahu’s government who want to see more construction.
One Western diplomat familiar with what occurred at the meeting with Mogherini said Netanyahu’s proposal showed some change in his position, but not enough to restart peace talks.
“Up until now, Netanyahu has refused to put any maps on the table, so in that respect it was quite substantial. He was talking about borders in one way or another, even if it was based around the acceptance of existing settlement blocs,” the official said.
A man hugs his mother after she returned to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing yesterday.
