US will veto Olmert’s unilateral withdrawal
March 27, 2006, 5:16 am |
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By Ted Belman
According to the BBC, Israel ‘to consult US on borders’.
Olmert says that first Israelis will agree on acceptable borders then Israel will seek US recognition. Thus all his plans for withdrawal and borders are conditional on US approval. Quite a condition.
I have always believed that the US was micro-managing the location of the fence with this eventuality in mind. Although it resisted the fence from going further east from Ben Gurion Airport and the highway to Jerusalem, I am sure it recognizes the importance of this for final borders. Secondly the US has always resisted development of E1 and the attachment of Ma’aleh Adumin to Jerusalem. It also was against the retention of Ariel. Will it change its stance on this now? Only if it is changing its stance on a two state plan. Thus it would confirm the end of the Roadmap and the end of “Palestine” as a sovereign state.
From Olmert’s point of view he has the best of both worlds. He has attracted voters to the left with his platform of withdrawal and has attracted voters to the right with his declared intention to keep Ariel and Ma’aleh Adumin. He knows full well that it all depends on the US. It is doubtful he will execute his withdrawal platform without US approval.
Such an approval was obtained from the US to the Gaza Disengagement with a doubtful commitment to Israel retaining the settlement blocks.
Will the US play ball? Not at all.
Related: Israel, War Against Islamo-fascism, Peace Process