A Labor Party “think tank” has come up with far-reaching solutions to the problem of the future of the West Bank. The report, prepared by a team headed by Dr. Yair Hirschfeld, is intended to be the center of discussion on policy in the occupied territories by the Labor Party’s Central Committee. It would be the first comprehensive discussion of its kind by the Labor Party since 1972, if held which is by no means sure.
The proposals outlined by Hirschfeld at a press conference yesterday seem to be a combination of long-standing Labor policy that would limit Israel’s presence in the territory to areas vital to its security; autonomy for local Arabs as envisioned in the Camp David accords; and President Reagan’s September 1, 1982 peace initiative calling for an ultimate association of the West Bank Palestinians with Jordan.
Hirschfeld maintained that the time is ripe now to create a new political reality in the territories before American pressure begins, “probably after the Presidential elections, or perhaps even before.” He is trying to convince the Labor Party Center of the need to discuss it.
According to Hirschfeld, there is considerable support among the population in the territories for some kind of political settlement. He said the group which prepared the report talked to dozens of Israelis responsible in the past, or at present, for administration in the territories and with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank and Gaza.
As a preliminary gesture toward the population, the report recommends abolition of the Israeli civil administration and a policy which would allow maximum economic development to stop the radicalization of the local population. “We are convinced that such steps could help make King Hussein of Jordan join the peace process,” Hirschfeld said.
He said negotiations with Hussein should be based on the premise that the preferred permanent solution in the territories is one in which most of the area would become part of a federation with Jordan, demilitarized and with continued Israeli control over security areas.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
