White House Said To Be Preparing A New “Peace Plan”

By Saed Bannoura

Over the last four months, the U.S Administration, headed by President Barack Obama, has been preparing a new peace plan that consists of four main principles meant to “restart the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
The New York Times reported Thursday that the four stages of the plan are establishing a Palestinian State, voiding the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem as a capital for two states, and ensuring Israel’s security needs.
The paper said that the White House is weighing the appropriate time to present the new initiative, and whether Obama should present the initiative during a dramatic speech regarding the Middle-East conflict.
The Times added that Obama and U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, support the plan while Middle East Advisor, Dennis Ross, opposes it.
The plan remains subject to doubt and uncertainty as it, so far, has not fully been adopted by the U.S government, and a full rejection is anticipated from
Israel, especially since the plan calls for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The initiative is also likely to be rejected by the Palestinians as it drops the internationally guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees as stated in Security Council number 194.
The Palestinians want a full implementation of all related resolutions and want their right to establish a fully independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in addition to ensuring the implementation of the Right of Return.
Israel also considers its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem as integral parts of the “Jewish State”, and refuses talks on their future. It is also ongoing with its settlement construction and expansion plans.
Israel refuses to grant the Palestinians control over their natural resources, borders, and also insists that the Jordan Valley area remains at all times part of the country.