Report: Kerry's security proposals accept most Israeli positions

Army Radio: US security ideas call for Israeli presence, massive fence on Jordan border, Israeli ability to gather intel in West Bank.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Netanyahu and Kerry overlooking Jerusalem 370 (photo credit: Matty Stern/U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv )
Netanyahu and Kerry overlooking Jerusalem 370
(photo credit: Matty Stern/U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv )
John Kerry's security proposals presented to Israel and the Palestinians as part of ongoing peace talks accept most of Israel's positions, including Israeli control of the future Palestinian state's border with Jordan, Army Radio reported on Tuesday.
On two visits earlier this month Kerry presented to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu security “ideas” based on the work that a team of some 160 US officials, headed by retired US Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, drew up defining what it thought would be necessary for Israel’s security if a Palestinian state were created.
Accroding to the Army Radio report, the US is prepared to give Israel full control of the Jordan border, as well as the ability to spy and collect intelligence in the West Bank.
Kerry also proposed that a massive fence be built along the length of the Jordan Valley, similar to the current West Bank separation barrier, placing the proposed Palestinian state between the two fences, Army Radio reported.
According to the report, the US security proposal also allows for Israeli drones to fly over the West Bank, collecting intelligence and spying on terrorist activities. Jordan border patrols will initially be carried out by IDF soldiers only, for the first few years, and will eventually be made cooperative with Palestinian security forces and Jordanian forces.
While Israel reportedly sees the proposals as a basis for negotiations, both Abbas and the Arab League have effectively rejected the US plan, stating that here could be not one Israeli soldier in the territory of a future Palestinian state.
Netanyahu has for years been adamant in demanding an Israeli security presence – and not any kind of international force – along the Jordan River following a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.