US proposal for Gaza international force ‘an opening for negotiation’ — European diplomat

The Trump administration’s draft United Nations Security Council resolution on an international security force for Gaza that leaked to press last night “is an opening for negotiation,” a European diplomat tells The Times of Israel.

“This is a draft document” and not a completed proposal, the diplomat emphasizes.

Key points of disagreement include the role of the Palestinian Authority, and recognition of a Palestinian state, the diplomat says.

“There are different points that seem to be lagging behind what was written in the Trump plan some weeks ago,” insists the diplomat.

The issue of the the mandate of the so-called International Stabilization Force is also a major area of contention — whether it will be merely a peacekeeping force or one that actively works to dismantle terror groups.

“An offensive mandate is very likely to piss off some of the partners, especially in Arab countries,” says the diplomat. “I’m not really sure they want this force to have an offensive mandate. Now that remains to be debated.”

The diplomat doesn’t expect talks to drag on: “Most of the people around the table want it to be rather quick because you don’t want to spend months negotiating a resolution.”