The New Israel: Plans to redraw border on West Bank
Ehud Olmert, having won less seats than expected in the Israeli elections, today begins the task of finding partners for his Kadima party in order to carry out his election promise to redefine the borders of the Israeli state unilaterally.
And even though his mandate is not as large as was predicted, the collapse of the Likud vote, and the relative buoyancy of the Labour vote, represents a significant swing to the left in Israeli society.
The arguments of Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel needs to hold on to large swathes of the West Bank, have been thoroughly rejected by the electorate, to such a degree that the very future of the Likud Party must now be in doubt.
These are encouraging signs for anyone who hopes for eventual peace in the region.
However, the fact that Israel plans to redefine her borders unilaterally, remains a possible thorn in the side of any future peace deal with the Palestinians.
We can take slight comfort from the fact that some hope exists and there is indication of possible movement on both sides.
Mr Peretz has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to see negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas and that unilateral measures should only be taken as a last resort. Ismail Haniyeh, the new Hamas Palestinian Prime Minister said after his Cabinet was sworn in by Mr Abbas in Gaza yesterday that " whatever Mr Abbas presents to the people as a result of the negotiations serves our interests, then we will also redefine our position."
Read the Independent's report by clicking the title.
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