Peretz: The sooner we quit our rule over Palestinians the better

In a rare moment of common sense in the Middle East, the Israeli Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, has said:

"The sooner we quit [ruling over the Palestinians], and by that rectify the distorting favoritism of settlements in the West Bank at the expense of Israel's periphery communities - the better," the radio quoted him as saying.

Indeed, even the advertisement I've used as the photograph for this article shows that the Israelis are now, for the first time that I can recall, showing a map that recognises Israel does not have control over the West Bank and Gaza.

These are very positive signs.

Peretz' first public speech as defense minister came as the "convergence committee" that is drawing up a legal, economic and diplomatic framework for a withdrawal from the West Bank is about to complete its first report, which will be followed by a more detailed draft plan.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has spent long hours over the past few weeks in consultation with the committee members, discussing the drafts before they are presented to the cabinet ministers.

A senior government source said that Livni appointed the committee last December when she was still minister of justice and asked ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovitch to head it. The panel was assigned to "map out" Israeli interests in the context of another unilateral withdrawal in the territories, to prepare for the possibility of not being able to negotiate with the Palestinians.

The only problem that I have with this are that the plans are being drawn unilterally. It would be far better for this to be done in consultation with the Palestinians.

However, this is still a positive step in the right direction.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the miracle can happen.

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Tags: Israel, Palestine, negotiations, final, borders,