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From today's edition of The New York Times:
Israeli Rules Out Palestinian State by 2012 - NYTimes.com
Clearly, such remarks will be viewed very negatively. Nonetheless, FM Lieberan's assessment is a realistic one. To date, even as the West Bank construction freeze nears an end, the Palestinian leadership refuses to engage in direct negotiations with Israel. At this time, there is also very little evidence of the Palestinians doing little more than making additional demands of Israel e.g., no promises of Palestinian concessions in exchange for Israeli ones. Given the differences between the parties, a final settlement is quite unlikely by 2012. Perhaps a provisional state under an interim agreement might be feasible, but the Palestinians also have previously rejected ideas of such an intermediate stage on several occasions.
In remarks that could further strain peace efforts, Israel’s foreign minister said on Tuesday there was no chance a Palestinian state would be established in the next two years.
“I’m an optimistic person, but there is absolutely no chance of reaching a Palestinian state by 2012,” the foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said. “One can dream and imagine, but we are far from reaching understandings and an agreement.”
Israeli Rules Out Palestinian State by 2012 - NYTimes.com
Clearly, such remarks will be viewed very negatively. Nonetheless, FM Lieberan's assessment is a realistic one. To date, even as the West Bank construction freeze nears an end, the Palestinian leadership refuses to engage in direct negotiations with Israel. At this time, there is also very little evidence of the Palestinians doing little more than making additional demands of Israel e.g., no promises of Palestinian concessions in exchange for Israeli ones. Given the differences between the parties, a final settlement is quite unlikely by 2012. Perhaps a provisional state under an interim agreement might be feasible, but the Palestinians also have previously rejected ideas of such an intermediate stage on several occasions.