Eli Lake Gets The News
In today's Washington Times, Eli Lake has a serious scoop. Lake reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a major speech on Sunday accepting the concept of a Palestinian state, subject to terms protecting Israeli security:
• Any Palestinian state must be demilitarized, without an air force, full-fledged army or heavy weapons.
• Palestinians may not sign treaties with powers hostile to Israel.
• A Palestinian state must allow Israeli civilian and military aircraft unfettered access to Palestinian airspace, allow Israel to retain control of the airwaves and to station Israeli troops on a future state's eastern and southern borders.
• Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state, a nod to the hawkish side of Mr. Netanyahu's governing coalition that has raised concerns that the Palestinian Authority, which nominally governs the West Bank, does not recognize Israel as a Jewish state.