J'lem seeks Bush okay for IDF free hand in W. Bank [View All]

[bemildred]

Bush is a lame duck, and his "support" isn't worth a plugged nickel.

Edit: there are some interesting details about "security arrangements" here, and the fact that they are being discussed is interesting too.

Israel is seeking to reach an understanding with the U.S. administration that would safeguard Israel's security interests in a future final-status agreement with the Palestinians and during current negotiations, government sources have said.

The sources also said Israel is seeking President George W. Bush's support for its security demands so that such understandings can serve as a basis for the work of the American special security envoy General James Jones, who has been tasked with formulating the security arrangements for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

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At the heart of Israel's demands is that it remain free to act against terror in the West Bank for as long as negotiations last, and that demilitarization arrangements place limitations on the future Palestinian state.

Discussions with administration officials on this issue began even before the Annapolis summit, during the visit of the Israeli delegation to Washington.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941154.html