"There are two options," Barak told Army Radio. "Either we reach understandings with the Americans to find a way to force the Palestinians to sit around the negotiating table, or the Palestinians and the Arab world will reach understanding with the Americans and it will be us eating frogs."
The deal includes a U.S. undertaking not to request a further extension of the freeze, and to veto any attempt by the Palestinians to win United Nations recognition of their state unilaterally.
The Obama administration would also ask Congress to approve the sale of the 20 F-35 warplanes to Israel and, should there be a peace deal with the Palestinians, guarantee its wider security needs.
"The fact that the Americans are willing to put guarantees on the table is a very serious achievement for the prime minister," Barak told Army Radio on Sunday, adding that the benefits of the American offer outweigh any internal political considerations.
"We wanted 40 planes, but due to
budget cuts, we could only afford 20, at a price of three billion shekels," Barak said. "The Americans are now offering to complete the deal in return for a 90-day freeze. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement they are offering us a deal six or seven times larger."
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Interesting article. It seems that the Americans have no other approach to Israel except to offer carrots, and then more carrots. Still, throw enough carrots and maybe you just might get somewhere.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-israel-must-reach-deal-with-u-s-before-palestinians-do-1.324798
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