Talks On Palestinian State As Iran Prepares To Attack Israel (Worthy News In-Depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel faced major security challenges Thursday as Iran prepared to attack the Jewish nation while Arab countries and the United States pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state.
American and Israeli sources said Thursday that the U.S. and its “moderate Arab allies” are preparing a “peace deal” between Israel and Palestinians with a “firm timeline” for a Palestinian state.
The plan includes the reaching of an initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel’s government.
During the truce, hostages would be released, ideally before the start of the Islamic Ramadan period next month, according to officials familiar with the preparations.
The ceasefire, due to last at least six weeks, would also be used by Washington to help form an interim Palestinian government for a Palestinian state, sources said.
However, Israel has previously rejected a Palestinian state amid concerns it could have an army that could threaten Israel’s existence.
The current government was also not expected to be enthusiastic about the proposed evacuation of many of its West Bank settlements, a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, and “combined “ security and governments for the West Bank and Gaza.
HOPES REMAIN
Yet those involved in the plan reportedly hope that security guarantees and normalization with Arab states like Saudi Arabia can persuade Israel.
Nations involved in the plan aim to discuss their ideas with European and other leaders at Friday’s Munich Security Conference in Germany, Worthy News learned.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah spoke about the importance of a two-state resolution to the conflict when they met at the White House earlier this week.
At their joint press conference, Biden said, “Together, we will keep working to complete what has — what we started: to integrate the region, to bring about peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including a Palestinian state. That effort was already underway before the October 7th attacks. It’s even more urgent today.”
Abdullah said, “We must together, along with Arab partners and the international community, step up efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and immediately start working to create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution.”
The king stressed that this meant “an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital but living side by side with Israel in peace and security.”
The plan wasn’t expected to be welcomed by Iran, which seeks the destruction of the state of Israel.
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PLAN
As talks about an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal continued, Tehran reportedly test-fired advanced ballistic missiles this week as part of war drills to prepare the Islamic Republic for a strike on Israeli military sites.
Iranian media said the attacks are aimed at sites “that house American-made F-35 fighter jets.” A massive explosion Tuesday at an Iranian natural gas pipeline also heightened the possibility of an Israeli confrontation, observers said.
Tehran claimed the incident was a “terrorist act of sabotage” linked to Israel.
With tensions rising, Iran’s foreign minister met with the Hamas group’s senior leadership during a visit on Tuesday to Qatar, which shelters the organization’s top officials.
The meeting underscored Tehran’s backing of Hamas, which killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, prompting massive Israeli strikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), linked to recent strikes on American and Israeli positions across the Middle East, “simulated destroying hangars housing the Israeli regime’s United States-procured F-35 warplanes by using ballistic missiles,” reported Tehran’s official media outlets.
During the war simulation, the IRGC fired “enhanced versions of its Emad and Qadr ballistic missiles against the F-35 hangars located inside a mock-up of the Tel Aviv regime’s Palmachim Airbase” near the major Israeli city.
Iran claims its missiles are capable of striking deep into Israel as they are capable of traveling more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). Tehran’s planned strike was expected to seriously complicate peace arrangements with Israel sought by more moderate Arab nations.
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