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NU-NRP Chairman Benny Elon (file)
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| By Israel Insider staff October 7, 2007 |
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NU-NRP Chairman Benny Elon is proposing an alternative solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he presented on Sunday as the "Israeli initiative." His plan calls for the annexation of Judea and Samaria by Israel, and would allow the Palestinians to remain there, but would grant them Jordanian citizenship.
"The establishment of the State of Israel did not deprive the Palestinians of their state ? there never was such a state," Elon said, according to Ynet. "But Israel took from them their houses and their dignity. We can return to the Palestinians their dignity, to give them homes, and hope for a new life by changing the refugee status."
Elon's proposal includes generous grants for hundreds of thousands of refugees to build new homes. The chairman said the Israeli Initiative would cost one million dollars in total, which would be raised by donation. Elon also added that the plan had the support of high-ranking US officials, although he did not mention names.
His plan, the Jerusalem Post quoted Elon as saying, is to "replace the status of Palestinian refugees - one that is coupled with connotations of poverty and hatred - with a reality of welfare, prosperity and hope."
Elon said he was sure that Jordan's King Abdullah II could be persuaded to agree.
The chairman of the religious, right wing party stressed the humanitarian aspect of his plan.
"I am starting a long path today, which is beyond politics," Alon said. "I will not relent. We will create the means necessary to convince the Israeli public and politicians ? As citizen and a Jew, I am concerned that people see no light at the end of the tunnel and that they no longer believe in peace and justice after the failure of the Oslo Accords and the disengagement."
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