The Osterley Times: Sources: U.S. won't view pullout line as final border

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Sources: U.S. won't view pullout line as final border

My God. Miracles happen.

For the first time in months the US and Israel have made an announcement on the Middle East that I can actually agree with.

It has been announced in Ha'aretz that the US has agreed that any withdrawal made by Israeli forces from the West Bank will not be viewed by the US as a final border and that any such border will have to meet with international approval after negotiations between Israel and the PA.

Sources in Washington said they believed the U.S. would want to maintain a united European-American front on the issue.

"We need them for too many things, we won't get into a conflict with them over this issue," an administration source said.

If the Israeli withdrawal receives the blessing of the international community, "it will be assuming that any reduction of the occupation is good for both sides, but it certainly won't be support for a new border," a source in Washington said.

Any reasonable interpretation of international law, a legal expert said Tuesday, "cannot allow recognition of a border that was determined unilaterally."

Having found myself so relentlessly critical of the US/Israeli position in the past, I have to say that this is a welcome change. I approve.

Of course, I'd rather that Israel entered into negotiations with the PA before taking any unilateral steps, but at least we now appear to have a promise that the setting of the final border will not be done without negotiations.

Or, more importantly, without international approval.

There are predictable areas of disagreement up ahead.

Specific problems have been raised with regard to Olmert's plan. For example, Olmert has said he intends the Jordan Valley to be Israel's "security border"; sources definded as "low to nil" the chance that such a line would receive international recognition.

We can expect the usual insane claims like the one above, and for the predictable old ruses like "natural growth" to rear their ugly heads again; but this is, nevertheless, a positive step by Israel to address the issue of the Occupied Territories in a way which is consistent with resolution 242 and, as such, is to be approved.

Click title for full article.