…. The three leaders [Abbas, Bush, Olmert] can “leverage” their weakness in the upcoming meeting. They have very little to lose and a great deal to gain. After trying everything – and we have all paid an unnecessary price – they are returning to the year 2000, and they can try to go on from there. …
They can agree in Annapolis about the principles of the final-status agreement (the Bush vision, the Clinton plan, the Geneva Initiative, the Ayalon-Nusseibeh plan) and immediately afterward begin negotiations, which will be conducted for several months and end as early as possible, in 2008.
The implementation of the agreement should be conditioned on the ability of Palestinian security forces to carry it out, and for this purpose a multinational force can be deployed on the Palestinian side.
Virtually the entire Israeli public is ready for a final-status agreement, according to the familiar principles. Virtually the entire Palestinian public supports these principles, according to all of the most recent surveys. Olmert is guaranteed an unprecedented parliamentary majority; more than 65 MKs will support the agreement he will reach. Even if he loses the support of Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas, the Knesset will be with him. …
Click here for entire article in Haaretz by Meretz party chair Yossi Beilin.
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