"Because of the strategic change in our region, we have to move forward with the Palestinians"
Israel must relaunch “peace talks” with the Palestinians in light of the massive protests rocking Egypt, a senior Israeli politician said, as the popular uprising on Thursday entered its 10th day. Shaul Mofaz, head of the powerful parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defense, said the revolt in Egypt is creating a new strategic reality in the region, making it imperative for Israel to restart talks with the Palestinians. "The crisis in Egypt is a new strategic situation," the former defense minister told journalists late on Wednesday. "Because of the strategic change in our region, we have to move forward with the Palestinians," said Mofaz, who is a senior figure within the opposition Kadima party. "We have to do our best to restart negotiations with the Palestinians and with Syria as well." The alternative would mean Israel becoming "a state for two nations and we will be very close to a new war with our neighbors." "We have to move to an interim agreement whereby we have a Palestinian state in the West Bank on 65 percent of the land ... with full continuity from north to south, with an international guarantee that the size of the land in a permanent agreement will be in the 1967 borders," he said. The move would involve a land swap of 6-7 percent of the land, he said. "It will mean the Palestinians move from having an authority to the status of a state," said Mofaz, claiming that "most of the (Israeli) leaders as well as the people believe" a future Palestinian state would be based on the 1967 lines. "The major issue is that it will change the atmosphere totally."Official: Egypt Crisis Means Israel must Resume “Peace Talks”
