BAKER REPORT REFERS TO PALESTINIAN "RIGHT OF RETURN"

Baker panel's mention of Palestinian "right of return" raises eyebrows (AFP)
A reference to Palestinians' "right of return" in the report issued by the high-level Iraq Study Group broke a diplomatic taboo which sparked immediate concern in Israel and surprise among Middle East policy experts.

The reference was buried deep inside a 160-page report that urged US President George W. Bush to renew efforts to revive Israel-Palestinian peace talks as part of a region-wide bid to end the chaos in Iraq.

"This report is worrisome for Israel particularly because, for the first time, it mentions the question of the 'right of return' for the Palestinian refugees of 1948," said a senior Israeli official, who was reacting to the US policy report on condition he not be identified.

A Middle East analyst who was involved in the Iraq Study Group discussions but did not participate in drafting the report expressed surprise when the reference was pointed out to him by a reporter.

"It's hard to know whether that language got in there because of carelessness -- I know there were many revisions up to the very last minute -- or whether it was a deliberate attempt to fuse something to the Bush rhetoric which wasn't there before," the analyst said.

SEE ALSO: Iraq Study Group: Selling Israel Down the River (LGF)
The Truth Laid Bear has the Iraq Study Group document in linkable form. The sections dealing with Israel are especially troubling, but not surprising given Baker’s history. All these recommendations stem from a basis of complete fantasy, in which Israel’s Arab neighbors are genuinely interested in peace and all we have to do to get it is ask them the right way.

It proposes that Israel return the Golan Heights to Syria, and pull back to its 1967 borders.

RECOMMENDATION 16: In exchange for these actions and in the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israelis should return the Golan Heights, with a U.S. security guarantee for Israel that could include an international force on the border, including U.S. troops if requested by both parties.

RECOMMENDATION 17: Concerning the Palestinian issue, elements of that negotiated peace should include:

* Adherence to UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and to the principle of land for peace, which are the only bases for achieving peace.

Yes, because that principle worked so well in Gaza.

* Strong support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to take the lead in preparing the way for negotiations with Israel.

Yes, because Abu Mazen has shown such a terrific willingness to work for peace.

* A major effort to move from the current hostilities by consolidating the cease-fire reached between the Palestinians and the Israelis in November 2006.

That would be the completely bogus ceasefire.

* Support for a Palestinian national unity government.

That would be Hamas. The Iraq Study Group wants the US to support the radical Islamic terror group. Of course, they also say Syria should step in and help convince Hamas to give up their genocidal dreams.

And these guys are supposed to be “realists?”