U.S. Offers F-35s for Settlement Freeze
While never a neutral arbiter in the Middle East, it still is surprising that the U.S. has promised something like a long-term security agreement—including 20 F-35 fighter jets and a promise to veto any “damaging” UN security council resolution—in exchange for an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank. The agreement is currently a divisive issue for the Israeli cabinet, as four members of the Likud party opposed the U.S.‘s move to resume peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. One can only surmise the collective uproar that result after the same deal with the Palestinian Authority. Just sayin’. —JCL The Guardian: A US proposal offering security and diplomatic incentives to Israel in exchange for a renewal of a freeze on the building of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank drew an angry response from several senior Israeli ministers at a cabinet meeting today. Four cabinet members from the rightwing Likud party opposed Washington’s initiative to resume peace talks, in what Israeli media described as heated discussions. The Palestinian authority also said today that it had not been informed . “We haven’t heard anything official from the Americans,” said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. “We are waiting for them to contact us.” The US has reportedly offered Israel a long-term security agreement, which includes the delivery of 20 F-35 fighter jets worth $3bn (£1.9bn). Washington also vowed to veto any UN security council resolution that could be damaging for Israel. Read more Related Entries November 9, 2010 Obama Reaches Out to Muslims on Indonesian Trip November 9, 2010 Noam Chomsky on Misguided Outrage
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U.S. Offers F-35s for Settlement Freeze
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on November 14, 2010. Filed under