You're probably right, but Secy Rice did say a Palestinian state must be contiguous, and it was interprited this way by many on both sides of the issue. One of the problems of "negotiating" in the press. Frankly your idea, a connecting road or tunnel, has never been a stumbling block, whereas a geographical strip miles wide was always a non starter.
You're probably right, but Secy Rice did say a Palestinian state must be contiguous, and it was interprited this way by many on both sides of the issue. One of the problems of "negotiating" in the press. Frankly your idea, a connecting road or tunnel, has never been a stumbling block, whereas a geographical strip miles wide was always a non starter.Very much a non starter. The irony is, that would make Israel non-contiguous.
The access road (perhaps cris-crossed with bridges and/or tunnels as appropriate, and likely including a rail link) is one possibility among many to be traded off. It would give Palestine a port.
I expect that Israel will end up with virtually all of the high-density settlements blocs contiguous to the Green Line, and consular privileges adjacent to the major holy sites, particularly Patriarchs. Palestine will get the access road, most of the West Bank, and I also expect that they will end up with Temple Mount itself and the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem. Perhaps the Armenian Quarter as well. They can put their ceremonial capital there. The Western Wall must go to Israel, so the borders must be carefully drawn.
This will not bring immediate peace, but it will begin the process of marginalizing the fanatics on both sides. President Bush is looking far into the future on this one.
-Eric