ISRAELI OFFICIALS have expressed cautious optimism over the possibility of ending the diplomatic deadlock with the Palestinians, after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held marathon talks in New York with US secretary of state Hilary Clinton.
Mr Netanyahu, who returned home yesterday, will convene his inner cabinet tonight and the full cabinet tomorrow, to update them on efforts to revive the direct negotiations which were broken off by the Palestinians at the end of September, when Israel refused to extend its 10-month settlement construction freeze.
Neither side released details of the talks, which focused on a package of American gestures that Mr Netanyahu will present to his ministers for approval in return for Israeli renewal of the West Bank building moratorium – probably for an additional three months.
The American package was reported to include both military and political elements.
Washington will reportedly offer Israel military guarantees to offset security risks entailed in any peace deal with the Palestinians, with the aim of securing the Jewish state’s qualitative edge for years to come.
On the political front, Israel was seeking a US commitment to block any move by the Palestinians to seek UN support for an independent state outside the framework of bilateral negotiations.
Israeli officials indicated that the fact that Thursday’s meeting in New York lasted for more than seven hours was a sign of progress.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Ms Clinton and Mr Netanyahu said they had a “good discussion” and agreed on the importance of continuing direct peace talks.
The two also said that Israel’s security requirements will be fully taken into account in any future peace deal.
The dispute over Israel’s decision to build more than 1,300 new homes in east Jerusalem was not mentioned.
But winning cabinet approval for any deal to get the talks back on track will not be easy for Mr Netanyahu.
Several ministers have voiced opposition to any renewal of the settlement building freeze.
Hardline foreign minister Avider Lieberman said Israel should not bow to international pressure.
“We will not accept any additional freeze – not for three months, not for a month and not for a day. Whoever wants to pressure us should pressure the other side. As far as we are concerned, a long-term interim agreement should be discussed, because a permanent agreement is impossible,” he said.
In a separate development, former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon returned to his ranch in southern Israel, for the first time since he fell into a coma five years ago.
The move followed a request from Mr Sharon’s two sons, even though there was no improvement in their father’s medical condition.
The Tel Aviv hospital that had been treating Mr Sharon issued a statement welcoming the family decision “in the belief that it is better for ‘Arik’, who belongs to all of us, to live his life at the ranch, surrounded by his loved ones and the scenery he loved, rather than in a room at the hospital.”