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Israel Makes New Offer to Extend Peace Talks with Palestinians
(Jerusalem Post) Yuval Bagno - Sources in Jerusalem confirmed Thursday that Israel has presented the Palestinians with a new package aimed at extending peace talks. A diplomatic source said that "if the Palestinian Authority agrees to stop its plans to join a number of international treaties and conventions, Israel will agree to a new prisoner release package in return for the continuation of negotiations until the end of the year at a minimum." "At the same time the U.S. mediator sent a message to Israel: the release of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard from a U.S. prison is still a possibility the U.S. administration will consider, if the sides reach a deal that includes Israel freeing terrorists," the sources said. The sides are still not close to an agreement due to the Palestinian demand that Israel freeze settlement construction and due to the fact that agreement has not been reached on the details of a new prisoner release deal. Sources in Jerusalem said: "The crisis which we are trying to get out of is the full responsibility of the Palestinians, but the prime minister is not interested in a breakdown in talks, and his goal is to seek their extension."