Beilin Announces Planned Settlement Freeze as Barak and Peres Formulate New Peace Plan

Former Knesset Member Yossi Beilin announced yesterday that Prime Minister Netanyahu will soon declare a ten month freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank, which would not include Jerusalem. Posturing on what may happen following Netanyahu's declaration, Beilin predicted that the Americans would welcome the move and call for the renewal of talks despite their disapproval of continued building in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority would not be able accept it and would collapse as a result.

There is also news of a plan proposed by President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak calling for the establishment of a Palestinian State with provisional borders on approximately half of the West Bank. The US would issue letters of guarantee to Israel and the Palestinians assuring the Palestinians of a target date for the end of negotiations and the final size of a state as well as assuring Israel that the Jewish nature of their state would be recognized and security arrangements provided for.

Ben Caspit in Ma'ariv refers to Beilin's plan as the "little plan" and the Peres/Barak plan as the "grand plan." Calling the grand plan "far more interesting," Caspit reports on its conceivability:

The obstacles facing this plan are many: the Palestinians are not agreeing to it, and the Americans are yet to be convinced it is plausible.

The Prime Minister’s Bureau’s response: various political initiatives are being discussed, however no decision has been made.

In recent months, and particularly in recent days, great pressure was applied on the Americans to consent to this plan and to bring the Palestinians on board as well. This pressure is being exerted mainly by President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. As revealed by Ma’ariv at the time, the two share the concept of a temporary Palestinian state. Shaul Mofaz’s visit to Washington with a similar plan, helps their cause.

Peres and Barak’s persuasion efforts have been undertaken with the knowledge of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, according to senior political sources. The question remains, however, whether his knowledge is also indicative of his support, or whether Bibi will catch cold feet and thwart the initiative at the last moment. The situation in Netanyahu’s group of seven is perplexing: on the one hand are Ehud Barak and Dan Meridor, who support the initiative, on the other side there are Benny Begin, Moshe (Bugi) Yaalon, and Avigdor Lieberman, who oppose it.

In the event that Netanyahu endorses the plan, Minister Eli Yishai becomes the swing vote. The Shas chairman recently said behind closed doors that his party would stand by Netanyahu’s side should he decide to embark on negotiations as well as a major political move. Now all that remains is for all these plans to face the harsh test of reality.