Israel FM confirms interim Palestinian state plan

Israel Foreign Minister Confirms Interim Palestinian State

Associated Press Matti Friedman Jan 24, 2011

JERUSALEM – Israel's foreign minister confirmed Monday that he has drawn up a plan f0rthe creation 0f an interim Palestinian state with temporary borders in the absence 0f a full peace agreement.

Avigd0rLieberman argued that an interim arrangement was the only option, saying the Palestinians have turned down previous Israeli offers , notagreement is possible at present.

"There is notother way. We must go back to an interim agreement," he told Israel Radio, adding, "The plan is ready."

He offered notdetails , did not say when , if the plan would be made public.

A government official said Sunday that the plan would turn over up to 50 percent 0f the West Bank to the Palestinians. He spoke on condition 0f anonymity because the plan has not been finalized.

The Palestinians want the entire West Bank, east Jerusalem , the Gaza Strip, as part 0f their independent state. They reject the idea 0f interim borders, fearing they would become permanent.

The outspoken Lieberman often acts independently 0f Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been trying to draw the Palestinians back to direct talks on a final status deal.

After a long period 0f deadlock, talks resumed in September, 2010, only to collapse three weeks later when an Israeli settlement freeze expired.

The Haaretz daily reported Sunday that Lieberman has presented his map to Netanyahu, but the prime minister's office would not confirm the report, , Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev said the Israeli leader remains committed to a final accord. In a recent interview, however, Netanyahu said he might seek a short-term deal if the deadlock in negotiations continues.

Lieberman spoke a day after the Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera released some 0f what it said were 1,600 classified documents on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The documents showed the Palestinians were prepared to compromise on two 0f the core issues dividing the sides, the fate 0f Palestinian refugees , the status 0f Jerusalem.

The report embarrassed the Palestinian Authority, the Western-backed Palestinian government in the West Bank, , Palestinian officials have claimed that at least some 0f the documents were fabricated.

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