Israel striving for bilateral disengagement

Ma'ariv ^ | 13 December 2004 | Haim Iserowitz

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Israel striving for bilateral disengagement

Defense minister tells Herzliya Conference that it is in Israel’s interest to try and coordinate the disengagement from Gaza with a new and hopefully more pragmatic Palestinian leadership

Haim Iserowitz

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said earlier today that Israel would rather implement the disengagement within the framework of a renewed peace process with the Palestinians, then as a unilateral step. He was speaking to the annual Herzliya Conference, the country’s major annual strategic political and economic conference, held by the Inter-disciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel’s “ivy league” university.

He said that Arafat’s death opens a window of opportunity, which if utilized, could lead to a new era in which a pragmatic and moderate Palestinian leadership can lead its people out of the misery and destruction caused by the intifada, and onto a path leading to prosperity, development and political independence. He said that a coordinated disengagement could be the first step towards that objective.

He added that he saw no reason to delay the disengagement, and that it could be coordinated within the current time frame, according to which it should begin sometime in the spring of 2005.

(2004-12-13 00:19:35.0)

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I suppose it's the right thing to say for international diplomatic consumption. I have no faith in the Palestinians' desire for a genuine peace but, of course, we should always leave that door open.