Jerusalem - Israel is considering pursuing an interim peace agreement with the Palestinians, a senior official said on Tuesday, signalling the government might abandon efforts to secure a single, comprehensive accord.
The official, who declined to be named, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might seek a “phased path” towards a permanent deal rather than a treasty that resolved all the core issues as envisaged by the United States and European allies.
“Obviously Israel would prefer (negotiations on) a final-status agreement, but the consistent Palestinian refusal makes that difficult,” the official said.
US-brokered talks between the two sides broke down last year after Netanyahu refused to extend a partial freeze on Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli officials have long argued that an interim deal spread out over many years would be easier to conclude than negotiating a single treaty that dealt with all the difficult, core issues such as the status of Jerusalem.
Analysts say this staggered approach would involve offering Palestinians the chance to establish an independent state in part of the West Bank and in the Gaza enclave, with the possibility of extending their territory at a later date.
The official declined to give any details and it was far from clear if the Palestinians would accept such a move. - Reuters