PM plans to draw 'the final shape of Israel'

[newyorican]

Sixty years after the state of Israel was created, Ariel Sharon is effectively drawing its final borders, say his advisers, diplomats, friends … and the cartographers.

They believe that Mr Sharon, who as a general played a leading role in the expansion of Israel's borders in successive wars since 1948, is now - as a politician - determined to set the country's hitherto elastic frontiers in stone.

-snip-

"We're beginning to see the final shape of Israel," said one Western official. "Whatever the leaders say, Palestinian and Israeli public opinion is converging on the issue." The official said that the separation barrier, which opponents argue effectively annexes 10 per cent of the West Bank, would ultimately define Israel's eastern border, although it may not all be built exactly as now planned. The country will probably be forced to trim back some of the "huge claws" of Palestinian land that are scheduled to be surrounded by the wall around the northern settlement block of Ariel and the Jerusalem suburb of Maale Adumim.

-snip-

Despite the peace camp's new found optimism, such a deal would not be acceptable to Palestinians, without concessions by Israel, which was criticised this week in an EU report for hampering Palestinian claims to a future capital in east Jerusalem by ringing that half of the city with settlements.

"Either the borders are those from 1967, or there is a swap of land that is equal in quality and quantity," said Ghassan Khatib, the Palestinian Authority labour minister. "Palestinians will not settle for less."

Link

[newyorican]

1. Map...