Israel to Respond to U.S. "Benchmarks" Document Before PM Goes to U.S.

[Jerusalem Post] Herb Keinon - In its formal response to a U.S. document on access and movement in the territories, Israel will say that it had already carried out steps aimed at improving the situation at the Gaza crossings, that it was in the process of removing or changing various West Bank roadblocks, but that it was unable to agree to a truck route between the West Bank and Gaza due to security concerns, senior government sources said. According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, Israel's formal response to the "benchmarks" document will come before Prime Minister Olmert leaves for the U.S. on Saturday night. The document, written in April by U.S. security coordinator Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones, and U.S. Consul-General in Jerusalem Jacob Walles, sets deadlines for steps that both Israel and the Palestinians are expected to carry out.


2007-06-12 01:00:00

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