Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Last week, the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad unveiled a plan for the de-facto establishment of Palestinian state in two years, thus strengthening the logic of a ‘Palestinian State First’ in the West Bank. 

Fayyad’s plan is seemingly a non political one. The plan leaves negotiations with Israel and other “political” issues to the PLO and thus portrays itself as a technical effort. Officially, the implementation of the plan does not relate to the result of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. In practice however, it creates a parallel and a possible alternative agenda for direct negotiations.

Moreover, Fayyad would probably not present such a plan if it was opposed by Abbas which suggests it was endorsed by the latter.

However, it is too early to tell if Abbas sees in Fayyad’s plan an alternative to direct negotiations over Permanent Status. His recent efforts to revive also the PLO by holding elections to the PNC, may suggest otherwise.

And yet, Fayyad’s plan provides an opportunity for Israel to Upgrade the PA.  Fayyad’s plan creates an option for Israel to take complementary steps that would fill the void of the political process . Israel could systematically transfer powers and responsibilities to the PA in political, economic, security and territorial areas or offer to conclude a new interim agreement.

Related Links

Building a Palestinian State in the West Bank

From the Annapolis Process to Permanent Status

Upgrading the PA to the Status of a State with Provisional Borders