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EU Working on New Mideast Peace Plan

(Ynet News) Itamar Eichner - The European Union is working on a detailed plan meant to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and establish an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, Yediot Ahronot quoted Israeli diplomatic sources as saying. The plan will likely include a demand to freeze settlement construction. The initiative is promoted by the British and French foreign ministers, and has the support of Germany. "There is great movement behind the scenes," a senior Israeli official said. "The Europeans can't force Israel to enter into an agreement, but they can certainly put us in an awkward position. They are drafting a document which will present the principles of the future peace accord, putting it on the table as a challenge. It is likely the Palestinians will accept it and that Israel will have some difficulty. It will drive us into the corner." Meanwhile the Palestinians are trying to initiate a special UN Security Council meeting on Jan. 23, a day after the Israeli elections, to discuss settlement construction and particularly Israel's area E1 construction plan. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the weekend and expressed Israel's objection to the discussion.
2013-01-14 00:00:00
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