(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - The heavy fighting during the Gaza conflict serves as testimony to what happens in areas from which Israel withdraws. Regarding the option of renewed negotiations with Abbas, the assumption in Jerusalem is that it will only end in a stalemate. Therefore, instead of striving towards a two-state solution that would see the Palestinians receiving sovereign territory - which Hamas could then take over and use to fire rockets at Israel - Jerusalem is shifting towards a "conflict management" approach, at least until the current wave of radical Islamism passes. On the ground, this means economic benefits and restriction easing for residents of the West Bank, and eventually for Gazans as well, including freedom of movement between the two Palestinian territories. In addition, Israel will assist as much as possible with reconstruction efforts in Gaza in an attempt to create an incentive for the population to demand that Hamas not drag it into another devastating war. Egypt and Israel will not allow the transfer of metal pipes, which could also be used for rockets, into Gaza. All of the pipes transferred into Gaza for reconstruction projects will be made of plastic.
2014-10-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive