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Israel would be willing to divide control over Jerusalem as part of a peace deal, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told an Israeli newspaper.

A likely scenario, Barak told Haaretz, would have Israel retaining western Jerusalem and the 12 Jewish neighborhoods that are home to 200,000 residents, while the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, home to about 250,000 Palestinians, would form the capital of a Palestinian state.

Other principles of a deal Barak said he thought could be agreed upon by both sides include a demilitarized Palestinian state with defined borders, a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem and comprehensive security arrangements.

“If [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu leads a process, a significant number of rightist ministers will stand with him,” the defense chief said. “So what is needed is courage to make historic, painful decisions. I’m not saying that there is a certainty for success, but there is a chance. This chance must be exploited to the fullest.” — jta