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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Olmert offers PA control of Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin |
| 2007-08-29 |
| The teams of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met in Jerusalem Tuesday, ahead of a private meeting between the two leaders. Israel Radio reported that during the extended talks the Israelis gave their Palestinian counterparts general offers on core issues. An unnamed official was quoted as saying that the points on which the sides reached some degree of accord would then be discussed in more detail in higher-level negotiations. Vice Premier Haim Ramon is slated to head the Israeli negotiating team, and Olmert and Abbas are also set continue meeting in the next few weeks. Among the proposals made by the Israeli team was an offer to share control of the Temple Mount between the three major religions (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) and to cede control of the Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem to the PA. The policing of major West Bank towns Ramallah, Jenin and Nablus would also be given to the Palestinians. The proposals were presented in a document obtained by Channel 10. Notably, the document makes no mention of the issue of Palestinian refugees. However, the Prime Minister's Office denied that there was any official document outlining the proposals. During the discussions both sides agreed to work towards a joint security conference with representatives from Israel, Egypt, US and the PA to examine ways to stop weapons smuggling from Egypt. However, a proposal to dig a trench along the Philadelphi corridor was dismissed because of technical difficulties, Israel Radio reported. Olmert and Abbas also discussed Abbas's request to release more Palestinian prisoners. Israeli government spokesman David Baker said Olmert told Abbas he would soon present a plan Israeli security officials are drawing up to permit greater freedom of movement within the West Bank, which is restricted by IDF roadblocks, Baker said. Both sides also agreed to continue the meetings between Israeli and Palestinian ministers to discuss nature preservation, economy and culture. A joint Palestinian-Israeli economic council will be launched, apparently in October in Tel Aviv, in the presence of Olmert, Abbas and international Mideast envoy Tony Blair, Baker added. The prime minister emphasized that renewed relations between Hamas and Fatah would lead to halting of discussions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I can't wait for Winnograd report to come out. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-08-29 10:59 |