The Arab League has modified its peace proposal for the Israel-Palestine conflict to include support for mutually agreeable land-swaps between Israel and the Palestinians.
Land-swap proposals have been brought up before, most often in the context of Israel using such a proposal to “expel” Israeli Arab villages into a new Palestinian state while keeping the large settlement blocs in the West Bank.
Palestinian negotiation Saeb Erekat endorsed the plan, saying that minor land swaps have always been something they were open to. Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni likewise endorsed the call, though other Israeli officials were much less encouraging about it.
The US immediately touted the call as a “big step forward,” but since the Arab League proposal still starts on the 1967 borders, it seems like it will have an uphill battle convincing the bulk of Israel’s current coalition government.
Any proposal of any kind, historically or not.., by anyone needs to follow a international boycott both in terms of political and economic against Israel.., that's the only language that Israel ever will understand.., enough with talking "step forward" or otherwise.., they been doing this for last 60 years.., talking and talking.., if Obama and the Europeans using their conscious now.., then they should have realize that it is not the people of Middle East but rather the kind of Israeli (apartheid) governments which is the reasons for all the misery brought upon the people of Palestine, Iraq, and now syria, by USA and EU supporting such regimes.
this is too much like a two state solution, and the war will go on. What the hell do leaders think they have influence on history or on the nomadic tribe teachings of Islam against all civilizations.
And Hamas? Dealing only with the PA is like agreeing to a price with a car salesman knowing he still has to present it to his sales manager. Without Hamas' approval it's worthless. Unless they all the Palestinian Arabs agree, there is nothing to celebrate.
"…uphill battle convincing the bulk of Israel’s current coalition government." Since Israel is a democracy, the "current coalition government" you casually mention, happens to represent the majority of Israel's population, including myself. There is now a move afoot in the parliament to require a referendum on any peace proposal. In other words, "We, the people" will have our democratic say into what happens to our country. Pressure our leaders all you want, we will decide.
The idea of Israel agreeing to a "land swap" is fanciful – it will always wind up like dividing a piece of Swiss cheese – the Israelis will take the cheese and will give the Palestinians the "holes". There is zero good faith to be found in the Israelis – any reasonable agreement will come only from a powerful third party shoving such an agreement down their larcenous throats.
That the Arab League has made this offer will show to the world that it is the Israelies that will refuse the very same deal that the Israelies have been asking for for decades! Move the goal posts yet again, because if there is an agreement any agreement the Israelies will not get 100 percent of the land. Failure to look at this with real meaning should elicit an internationlal response that of full blown sanctions not unlike those placed on Iran, and those placed by Israel on the Gazans, no right of free travel!
This is good news…Where is the main stream media?
Should move the people of Gaza to the West Bank, then take Congress and the other gaggle of retards free roaming in this country and move them in, just the way it is, they deserve to live there more than the Palestinians do. Half the armies guns pointing out and the other half pointing in. Give Hillary a lovely spot overlooking a fence. I'm a genius, take Madonna too the inmates might want some entertainment.