Israel Makes Overtures To Palestinians

Trying to draw the Palestinians into peace talks on his terms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that he understands their suffering, offers them “maximal self-government” and seeks reconciliation with Islam.

For a right-wing leader in Israel, the sweet talk was a bold overture at a time when worried Jewish settlers are threatening rebellion. But Netanyahu also has been under growing pressure from the United States to be more flexible.

Still, the latest proposals likely won’t appease the Palestinians: Netanyahu still ruled out Palestinian statehood and wants to skip two of the three West Bank troop pullouts Israel had agreed to in the past.

“I intend to move forward,” Netanyahu pledged in a meeting with Israeli editors a day after he failed to win quick Cabinet approval for a limited troop pullback, which will instead go to a vote of Cabinet ministers next week.

He refused to discuss the scope of the pullout, but reports have said it would add 6 percent to 8 percent of the West Bank to the 27 percent currently under full or partial Palestinian control.

Netanyahu said the pullout would only be carried out in five months - and only if the Palestinians “prove themselves” in the fight against terrorism. This leaves the process hostage to Islamic militants, should they carry out another attack against Israel.

At the same time, Netanyahu said, the sides should immediately begin talks on a final peace deal.

The Palestinians have refused to enter such talks because they fear Netanyahu would never agree to outcomes they see as essential and which a future, more dovish Israeli government might accept: statehood in most of the territory and an accommodation of some sort in east Jerusalem, where they want their capital.

Netanyahu said he would offer the Palestinians “maximal self-government” but that Israel would have to keep large West Bank areas - the Jordan River valley in the east, a buffer zone in the west, and roads linking them - for security reasons.

He also said he would not budge on Jerusalem - which Israel refuses to share as a capital - and insisted that a fully independent Palestinian state would threaten Israel’s existence.

But Netanyahu’s presentation was sprinkled with words of conciliation rarely heard from a right-wing leader in Israel.

“The Palestinian people have known much suffering and no little despair,” he said. “We must understand this and try to bring them consolation … to further (their) economic welfare.”