Tuesday, November 19, 2013

How Do You Pronounce Rawabi in French?

Noted:

During their meeting, the two parties signed agreements stipulating that the French government will transfer 19 million euros to the PA. The funds will be allocated toward the advancement of various projects, including the construction of Rawabi

And this:

French President Francois Hollande on Monday...met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Mukata government compound in Ramallah...also told Abbas that during his conversations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the premier cited the refugee issue as one that was liable to make it difficult for the two sides to reach an agreement..."When I speak of the initiatives that the two sides must present, I spoke with President Abbas and told him to reach understandings on this issue [the refugees]. This was the focus of part of our discussion.”

Palestinian sources told Haaretz that while this seems like a French attempt to get the sides to make concessions on two core issues, at this stage no agreements should be expected. Abbas, for his part, said the Palestinians cannot present a position that differs from the position that was approved by the Arab League, known as the Arab Initiative, and which also has UN Security Council backing.

Netanyahu spoke in the Knesset on this

“We are attentive to any initiative and we are ready to discuss any initiative that is proposed and that is not a dictate,” Netanyahu said, referring to a much-cited argument that some of the Arab Initiative’s demands — such as a return to the 1967 lines and the right of return — are non-starters for Israel...

and an analyst explained:

...proponents say that the text of the initiative specifies that any solution needs to be “agreed upon” by both sides, meaning that Israel will not forcibly be flooded by millions of Palestinians. However, it also says that any such solution needs to be in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which resolved that “refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date.”

Another little-known clause in the Arab Peace Initiative rejects “Palestinian patriation,” which implies that refugees living in camps on Israel’s borders will not be granted citizenship of their current host countries. This issue seems resolvable in the framework of a future Palestinian state, but critics fear it could further complicate issues.

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