Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will accept Israeli soldiers on the border of his future state for five years only. To reassure Israel’s security concerns, he brings a new proposal to the game: NATO troops to be stationed in Palestine.
NATO should make an important contribution to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, has proposed that NATO troops should be stationed in his future state.
“You can reside wherever they want to – not just on the eastern border, but also on the western border, everywhere,” Abbas told the “New York Times”. “You can stay, to reassure the Israelis and protect us,” said the PLO leader on.
By proposing Abbas opposes the Israeli insistence on a permanent control of the borders between the West Bank and Jordan by the Israeli army. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had proposed according to Israeli and Palestinian media reports, to let Israeli soldiers ten to 15 years on the eastern border, and then reassess the situation.
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Abbas has suggested in an interview with the ” New York Times ” that the Israeli army stretched their withdrawal from the future Palestinian state for five years. ” After the five years my country will be free from occupation,” said the head of the Palestinian Authority . So far he had offered a maximum period of three years for the Israeli withdrawal , with reference to the arrangement at Camp David agreement to evacuate the Sinai in 1981.
Abbas ‘ proposal comes at a critical time during the Israeli- Palestinian peace negotiations, which have been running since July 2013. In the coming weeks, both sides are expected to sign a framework agreement that will pave the way for a permanent agreement before the end of the year. In this interim agreement , Israel should commit to a construction freeze in the settlements , which subsequently fall under Palestinian control . The Palestinian side will promise in return , for the time being to give up full membership in the International Criminal Court and UN specialized agencies .
The Israeli government has not responded to the proposal of Abbas. In the past, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , however, has always insisted that Israeli troops remain stationed in the West Bank . Opposite Abbas is quoted as saying : “I trust only my army . ”
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