The closely guarded secret of Secretary of State John Kerry’s ‘framework’ proposal to give the Israel-Palestinian talks new life has come partially to light, with Palestinian sources revealing the basic “mutual recognition” proposal.
Under the deal, the Palestinians would agree to recognize Israel’s status as a “Jewish” state, and in return the Israeli government would agree that the 1967 borders would be the starting point for a Palestinian state.
While a fairly basic start, the framework is unlikely to be endorsed by either side. The Palestinians will be reluctant to make the recognition concession simply for what they see as an obvious agreement to the starting points of the future border, while Israel’s government includes a lot of high profile hawks who have repeatedly ruled out the 1967 borders and are in the process of trying to annex more and more of the West Bank.
Kerry is heading to Israel on New Year’s Day, and while State Department officials are playing up the visit as a major move toward “final status negotiations,” the smart money is on this once again being a false start, with Kerry expecting a deal that isn’t going to come, and departing with the same unreasonable sense of optimism that has characterized the entire peace process in 2013.
The 1967 borders may be the starting point for a Palestinian state, but Israel's intended end point for a Palestinian state is nothing, nada, rien, zilch.
The land will be divided equally like a piece of swiss cheese – the zionists will get the cheese, the Palestinians will get the holes.
They might not even get that
Kerry doesn't give a rat's behind for any kind of agreement with the Palestinians. He's the SecState and that's a feather in his cap regardless of whether he actually accomplishes anything or not. History is written and can never be changed. Perhaps he believes that having been SecState he can leap-frog into 1600 when the next occupants' term expires.
The reality is that the US and Israel are using these "talks" to distract the public from what is really happening…the complete and utter decimation of the Palestinian people – all for the benefit of Greater Israel – and the US pols who facilitated the genocide.
My faith in a just universe would be improved immeasurably if John Forbes Heinz Kohn Kerry were to return from one of his many phony diplomatic trips and find that Theresa has taken up with a 25 year old gymnast and bartender named "Kirk" and has cut Johnny from the trusts and will.
Kerry like Obama and Bush, is a liar and a war criminal. Don't trust anyone in Washington or tel Aviv.
Kerry may as well take the plunge and propose giving all remaining Palestinian lands to Israel, and deporting (at US expense) all people who don't qualify as citizens in a "Jewish Democratic State." Nothing short of that will satisfy Israel's deranged leadership, "peace talks" notwithstanding.
This is one of Kerry's "wet dreams" where he is the only participant. The 1967 borders is a major sticking point for the Israeli, what makes you think that they are going to move those illegal settlements back to Tel-Aviv.
Israel should be told that they are to immediately return to the pre 67 borders and that everything should be left as reparations! America paid for them anyway! Failure to do so will mean immediate sanctions exactly the same as Israel demands be put on Iran, and ANYBODY doing the bidding of AIPAC be charged immediately with Treason!
Of course it will never happen but the reality is that is what should happen!
lets go back to the 1946 boarders! Israel is NOT our friend! Remember the USS Liberty!!