Nonetheles, I disagree that “Netanyahu find himself under the pressure of the israeli public opinion who demands for the release of the imprisoned Israeli soldier Gilad Shlit”. In my opinion, it’s the opposite. Voices agains the deal is mor prominent in the Israeli public opinion, others if they’re asked they wouldn’t give their opinion they’ll be confused, they don’t want to say with since it will suggest that they’re okey with releasing what they call “terrorist with Israeli blood on their hands” and if they say they’re against it will suggest they don’t care for Gilad. Otherwise, the biggest demonstrations were opposing to the release of the Palestinian prisoners, with some shy demonstrations and voices calling to wrap the deal. And that is the pressure being forced on Netanyahu. And I think you made it clear when you said “The refusal to release the Palestinian prisoners can be found also in the Israeli left side. The moderate and left Israelis believe that any kind of exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hamas will make the situation become worse since Hamas will gain the credit in the Palestinian street.” Netanyahu doesn’t feel comfortable giving the green light for the deal when he doesn’t have a supportive public opinion to throw the blame on. Otherwise, he will be the one to be blamed for any harmful(to israelis) consequences.

And a comment on the 6th paragraph talking about Israel’s expectations of negotiations, the way I see it is that although the Palestinians call for these demands in their public media, nonetheless this is not their ceiling on the negotiation table. Although the refugees and prisoners demands should be the main priority while other border and state issues are the complimentary, Palestinian leaders reverse the order on the negotiation table, the only thing that they negotiated about where the borders of the Palestinian state and its entity, and refugees and prisoners are complimentaries OR pressure cards to get the state. They did not even start negotiating refugees or prisoners, not in any negotiation. All negotiations were revolved around security issues and Palestinian political entity. So normall that is seen by the Israeli side as the Ceiling of the negotiation that they want to pull down as much as they can. And that’s how negotiations are. Everyone sets a ceiling and they reach a middle-ground. Nonethless, Palestinians have set their least expectations as the ceiling due to the lack of negotiation expertise. Nonetheless, Israel is ready to withdraw from the West Bank in return for a palestiniand and Arab recognition, and this will be the greates achievement of the state of Israel throughout its history. Nonetheless, Jerusalem is a different case. the Israeli settlements, regardless what the oppsessed Israeli settlers say, it’s just a negotiation card. Israel would take the Major blocs for a land swap anytime. Otherwise they have no interest in an arabic high dense land. Which is exactly why they established the PA and signed Oslo agreement.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks

Palestine Youth Voice
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