Palestinians and Israelis alike were asked to maintain confidentiality around the “diplomatic secret,” which, it was hoped, would finally lead to productive negotiations between the two parties. Nevertheless, after a meeting of Fatah’s Central Committee in Ramallah on May 11, the details of the proposal were revealed. During his last visit to the Middle East in early April, Secretary of State John Kerry apparently suggested a compromise that would bridge the deep divide between both parties, and put an end to the long-lasting disconnect between them.

According to this new proposal, negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians would commence in June, after Israel makes a commitment to halt construction in those areas of the West Bank that lie outside of the major settlement blocks. In other words, it would freeze construction in the central mountain range of the West Bank and effectively “dry up” the illegal settlements and outposts. For their part, the Palestinians would stop all their diplomatic efforts to win support in the General Assembly of the United Nations and withdraw their demand that Israeli officers be tried in international courts of law.

The underlying logic behind this proposal is that it could be acceptable to both sides. The Palestinians, who demanded a total freeze of construction in the West Bank as a precondition for entering into diplomatic negotiations will receive a partial freeze, while the Israelis, who claimed that there can be no negotiations with preconditions, can continue to build in the major settlement blocks. By the way, it is worth noting that even before each side expressed its position, Kerry asked Palestinian Chairman Abu Mazen to wait until he received an answer from Israel about the big move that he was planning.

In response to the permission that the proposal grants Israel to continue its building projects in the major settlement blocks, the Palestinians demanded of Kerry that they be granted “Palestinian construction,” or as they defined it, the right to engage in “development and maintenance in Area C,” which comprises some 60% of the entire West Bank. At the same time, they also demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners, a step that would be considered a major achievement for Abu Mazen, and which would make it easier for him to return to the negotiating table. It should also be noted that Israel has yet to respond to this proposal. And the Palestinians have not informed Kerry whether they are prepared to allow Israel to continue its construction in the major settlement blocs.