Washington proposes leasing JV, ponders replacing Mitchell

[ 02/11/2010 – 09:49 AM ]

 

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– The US administration has proposed to Israel leasing the Jordan Valley from the Palestinians for seven years after signing a peace agreement, the Israeli army radio said on Monday.

The broadcast quoted unidentified Israeli officials as saying that premier Benjamin Netanyahu did not turn down the idea but said that the lease should be for many years. An Israeli minister, who refused to be identified, told the radio that the lease should be for 99 years at least.

The AFP said an official Israeli source refused to affirm or deny the news report, saying that Israel’s security needs necessitate military presence east of any future Palestinian state (in Jordan Valley) to guarantee its disarmament.

The Jordan Valley is 100 kilometers long including 80 kilometers in the West Bank flanked by Jordan on its east and occupied Palestine on its west.

For its part, Hebrew daily Maariv said on Monday that Washington was pondering replacing its current envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell for failure to renew negotiations between Israel and the PA in Ramallah.

It added that former American ambassador to Tel Aviv Martin Indyk was among those nominated to replace Mitchell.

Washington proposes leasing JV, ponders replacing Mitchell.

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