ABBAS REJECTS KERRY'S PLAN FOR ISRAELI PRESENCE IN JORDAN VALLEY

Ramallah, 11 Safar 1435/13 December 2013 (MINA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected a proposal by US Secretary of State John Kerry to allow Israel to keep troops in a future Palestinian state along border with Jordan.

“Abbas rejected Kerry’s proposal,” a reliable source told Anadolu Agency, requesting anonymity.

The top US diplomat held a one-hour meeting with Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah late Thursday.

“Kerry suggested a long-term Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley,” the source said, Anadolu Agency, quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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“He proposed that Israel would control the Jordan Valley to a period between 10 to 15 years before withdrawing from the region.”

According to the source, the US Secretary linked Israeli withdrawal from the region “to the readiness of the Palestinian forces to take control of the Jordan Valley”.

The Americans are talking now about security arrangements that leave the Jordan Valley, border crossings and airspace under Israeli control, the source said.

Abbas “rejected the ideas on security because there is not a third party”.

This refers to a plan by former US national security adviser James Jones under which a third party would deploy along the Palestinian Jordanian border.

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An international force would be acceptable to the Palestinians, but Israel opposes such a solution.

Kerry started talks on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The talks are expected to tackle the proposed security plan in the Jordan Valley. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).