BICOM

According to reports, Israel has been preparing plans of its own to counter-steps taken by the Palestinian Authority to seek alternative ways towards Palestinian statehood, including unilateral measures. Israeli diplomats abroad have accelerated efforts to convince countries not to support the recognition move, warning that it could lead to counter-steps by Israel and urging that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians are the only way to make progress and reach a solution.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli plans to counter a Palestinian unilateral move include an annexation of large settlement blocs and limiting the Palestinian use of Israeli ports for imports and exports. Channel 2 reported that one of Israel’s plans is to construct an artificial island off the coast of Gaza, linked by a bridge, to handle all imports and exports to the Strip. This island could be securely controlled and monitored by NATO or another international body and would cost between $5 to $10 billion to construct within the next six years.

In further news, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday called on Israel to halt settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Ban, who released a statement at a regional UN meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in Uruguay, said that Israel has a right to live in peace and security within recognised international borders. The statement added that a solution must be found for Jerusalem to emerge as the capital of two states, Israel and Palestine, with an agreed upon solution to the plight of the Palestinian refugees. Ban’s statement urged that efforts must be made to break the deadlock in the peace talks in order to reach the targeted dates set for achieving a permanent status agreement.