Two-State Dissolution

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is allegedly trying to sabotage the possibility of a two-state solution in the Middle East by insisting that Israel would continue to maintain a military presence along the borders of any future Palestinian state. —JCL

Haaretz:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to end the possibility of a two-state solution by insisting on a continued Israeli presence along a future Palestinian state’s borders, chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat told Israel Radio on Thursday.

Erekat was responding to Netanyahu’s Wednesday statement, according to which Israel would demand a continued military presence along the future Palestinian state’s border with Jordan.

“Israel must ensure that rockets aren’t being smuggled into territories in its vicinity,” the premier had told reporters, and to achieve that “an Israeli presence will be necessary along the Palestinian state’s eastern side.”

Netanyahu had also urged the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table without any preconditions, saying that the “PA climbed a high tree and are content on staying there. The more ladders they are offered, the higher they ascend.”

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AP / Emilio Morenatti

Containment: The Israeli-built wall at Qalandia in the West Bank.