U.S. proposes Palestinian recognition of Israel

It has been revealed that Arab-Egyptian consultations are currently underway regarding the proposed U.S. initiative offering a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict based on the principle of "land for peace", and the establishment of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, in exchange for Arab recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. According to the newspaper "Al-Missriyoun", high level consultations to this effect have been taking place between Washington and other Arab capitals. This is on the basis that the U.S. will turn a blind eye to Arab efforts to re-launch the Palestinian issue with the Security Council, asking for international recognition of Palestine as an independent state. Washington has suggested to Islamic and Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, that an American-Islamic summit be held in an attempt to reach a joint decision for the international settlement of the Palestinian issue. It has said that Israel must be recognized by the Arab countries as a Jewish State for the resettlement of Palestinian refugees from 1948 to be permitted. However, Arabic and Islamic parties have so far not responded to the proposal, which will be discussed at the meeting of the Arab Initiative Committee that hosted the Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo on Saturday. It is Israel’s demand to be recognized as a Jewish state that led to the failure of the Quartet meeting held in Washington on Monday, as there were differences of opinion among senior Israeli officials, and Western diplomats from the Quartet with regard to this matter. The newspaper "Hearts" reported on its website that the foreign ministers of the "International Quartet" tried to reach an understanding that would satisfy both the Palestinian and Israeli sides. It was proposed that Palestine should return to the borders of 1967, with an agreed exchange of land, however, it was also suggested that the Palestinian side would have to recognize Israel as a Jewish State. The sources added that the differences between the members of the Quartet on the recognition of Israel as a Jewish State, and the failure to reach an agreement on this issue, led to the lack of a statement being made by the Quartet, as was originally expected. Israeli officials claimed that the Israeli government was to make an announcement accepting the statement issued by the Quartet, agreeing to an immediate launch into direct negotiations with the Palestinian side. They claimed that they would agree to the statement even if it had demanded a return to the 1967 borders, as long as it included the recognition of Israel as a Jewish State. The Quartet committee, comprising the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and Russia, has sought to resume talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and to avoid facing any unexpected diplomacy at the United Nations next September, when the Palestinians will call for the international recognition of the State of Palestine. However, the Quartet's meeting came to a close without a final statement being issued with regards to any progress in reviving Palestinian-Israeli settlement talks. The core issues of the conflict at the Palestinian-Israeli borders, the security and future of Jerusalem, the settlements, and the Palestinian refugees remain.