(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Tuesday's signing in Jerusalem of an economic agreement between Israel and the PA is not without significance. Quietly, imperceptibly, officials from the two sides have been working for close to a year on an agreement that regulates taxation and bilateral trade, meant to improve on the 1994 Paris Protocol that has governed economic relations between the two sides. None of this is sexy stuff, but it is an agreement that calls for a great deal of enhanced cooperation. Israel is interested in the agreement because of a belief Netanyahu has articulated on numerous occasions: a stronger Palestinian economy means fewer people will support a return to terrorism. The economic agreement and the ongoing security cooperation demonstrate that the two sides are able to cooperate when doing so furthers their interests.
2012-08-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive