Twelve Step Plan For Israelis and Palestinians To Resume Negotiations
Dennis Ross has proposed a twelve step plan to get the Israelis and Palestinians back on the "peace wagon and to begin to restore trust." Ross' plan consists of six steps for each side.
For the Israelis, Ross says:
- Offer compensation incentives for settlers who voluntarily begin leaving settlements.
- Construct houses for settlers who leave settlements, so they will know they have a place to live even if they leave a settlement.
- In areas that Israel will definitely leave in a final status agreement, construction must be stopped, while the new housing should be put in the major blocs that Israel is expected to keep.
- Area C, which is 60% of the West Bank that came under full Israeli security control per the Oslo Accords, should be opened up to Palestinian economic activity that is currently prohibited. This will demonstrate that Israel is serious about leaving these territories.
- The Palestinian police's presence in Area B, which is 22% of the West Bank, should be expanded to include security responsibility and lower Israel's profile.
- Israeli incursions into Area A, which is 18% of the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority has civil and security responsibility, should be minimized unless absolutely necessary.
For the Palestinians, Ross says:
- Israel must be put on their maps, textbooks, websites, and government documents. This will demonstrate that the Palestinians are serious about a two-state solution that includes Israel.
- Palestinians must acknowledge a historical Jewish connection to the land if they are so confident about their own rights to the land.
- Palestinians must stop celebrating anyone who kills an Israeli as a "martyr." This will demonstrate that they are serious about coexistence with Israelis.
- The Palestinian Authority must start conditioning the Palestinian public for the difficult decisions and compromises they will have to take that are necessary for peace - "the more you treat yourself as a victim the more you perpetuate yourself as a victim."
- Refugee camps must be replaced with permanent housing.
- The Palestinians should build the infrastructure and institutions of their state, which would be good for them and also tells the Israelis what kind of state they want to have.
Read more about this topic: Dennis Ross
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