Thursday, July 14, 2011

Breaking: New Obama Peace Initiative: American-Islamic summit to affirm 1967 borders in exchange for recognition of Israel as Jewish State – Egyptian News Report

Yonatan Gonen, Nana10 (Israel – Hebrew) 7/14/11
An Egyptian newspaper reports that the Obama administration has proposed to Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to hold a joint American-Islamic summit.  The purpose: to promote an international agreement on the Palestinian issue, in exchange for recognition of the Jewishness of Israel
An Egyptian newspaper reports this morning (Thursday) that Arab countries are currently consulting with each other on a new American initiative regarding the peace process and a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israel conflict based on the return of territories in exchange for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. 
According to the report in the Egyptian newspaper “Al Masry Al Youm” the intent is to establish a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders, with comprehensive Arab recognition of the Jewishness of the State of Israel in exchange.   According to the report, the consultations are taking place at high levels between the United States and the Arab states.
The report continues that the Obama administration proposed to various countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to hold a joint American-Islamic summit.   The objective would be to promote an international agreement on the Palestinian issue in exchange for Arab recognition of the Jewishness of Israel.
The Arab states have not yet responded to the US proposal and are currently consulting with each other.  The US initiative will be discussed at the Arab Peace Initiative Committee this Saturday, which will take place in Cairo under the sponsorship of the Arab League. 
Translation by Doni Remba - Hat tip: Col. (res) Shaul Arieli

Comment:  The formulation of any US-initiated international understanding will surely refer to the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps, "so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states," as stated in Obama's May 19, 2011 speech.   According to news reports in the Israeli press, Netanyahu has accepted this formula as well - the Obama borders parameters in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state at the end end of the negotiating process.   Obama is hoping to give him even more than he asked for:  comprehensive Arab and Islamic recognition of the Jewishness of Israel.

It's worth mentioning that I predicted two years ago that Obama would eventually do something like this in a Viewpoint column I published in the Jerusalem Report under the title,  "Obama's Grand Plan for the Middle East," (PDF version of the published piece; or go here for the web version published in Jewcy) (June 8, 2009)