The details have yet to be publicized officially, but members of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) are leaking information that certain agreements have been concluded with the United States administration in connection with Prime Minister Sharon's "disengagement" plan.
According to the PMO sources, the understandings reached between PMO director Dov Weisglass and senior US administration officials include agreement that the path of the security fence includes Gush Etzion. However, there is no word on whether the US agreed that Israel include the Shomron city of Ariel inside the fence. The Americans also reportedly agreed to reject any diplomatic efforts outside the Road Map (such as Yossi Beilin's Geneva Understandings or the Saudi Initiative).
Another point partially and gingerly agreed upon with the Americans, say the PMO sources, is the rejection of any Arab "right of return" to Israel. The US officials reportedly agreed to stick to the formula that "refugees will be able to return to the territory of the Palestinian state." The statement on refugees, however, is not clear enough to absolutely rule out demands for a similar "right of return" to the Jewish state.
Such a clear statement on refugees was one of the conditions demanded by Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order for him to approve of the "disengagement" plan. As of this report, Minister Netanyahu has refused to express his opinion whether the as-yet unofficial agreement with the Americans is sufficient and fulfills his conditions for supporting the Prime Minister's plan. Netanyahu is awaiting official confirmation of the understandings and will reply at that time.
According to the PMO sources, the understandings reached between PMO director Dov Weisglass and senior US administration officials include agreement that the path of the security fence includes Gush Etzion. However, there is no word on whether the US agreed that Israel include the Shomron city of Ariel inside the fence. The Americans also reportedly agreed to reject any diplomatic efforts outside the Road Map (such as Yossi Beilin's Geneva Understandings or the Saudi Initiative).
Another point partially and gingerly agreed upon with the Americans, say the PMO sources, is the rejection of any Arab "right of return" to Israel. The US officials reportedly agreed to stick to the formula that "refugees will be able to return to the territory of the Palestinian state." The statement on refugees, however, is not clear enough to absolutely rule out demands for a similar "right of return" to the Jewish state.
Such a clear statement on refugees was one of the conditions demanded by Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order for him to approve of the "disengagement" plan. As of this report, Minister Netanyahu has refused to express his opinion whether the as-yet unofficial agreement with the Americans is sufficient and fulfills his conditions for supporting the Prime Minister's plan. Netanyahu is awaiting official confirmation of the understandings and will reply at that time.