Paper Says Israel Agrees To Halt Settlements

According to the secret deal Israel has agreed to halt the settlement for six to nine months. However, they still want to build nearly 2,500 units. The deal-offer, which is at odds of the Prime Minister Netanyahu's previously displayed position, was told to The Washington Times by people familiar with the matter on the condition of anonymity.

If this news is confirmed by officials it may be a good overture ahead of today's meeting in New York City. Washington has called for total settlement freeze. Israeli Haaretz writes that "in exchange, some Gulf Arab and North African states have privately assured U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell that they would take steps toward normalizing ties with Israel, a U.S. official told the Washington Times."

In regard to today's meeting the White House has kept the expectations low. But the offer, that The Washington Times is writing about, if true, may lift the expectations and serve as a starting point to move the relations between Israel and Palestine forward.

The High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Mr. Javier Solana has said if Israel and Palestine don't agree on the Two State Solution within two years EU should recognize Palestine as an independent state and the United Nations must make it a full member. Israel says it does not agree to any deadlines. Palestine says two years is a long time to wait.

Written by Armen Hareyan
Publisher of HULIQ