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Talks with Palestinians Won't Start Where They Left Off

(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - The indirect "proximity talks" between Israel and the Palestinians likely to begin next week will not pick up where the discussions between then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA leader Mahmoud Abbas broke off in late 2008, the Jerusalem Post has learned. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the Palestinian demand that the talks begin from the point where they ended with Olmert. Olmert offered the Palestinians nearly 94% of the West Bank, a land swap to compensate for most of the rest, an arrangement on Jerusalem, and the return of a small number of refugees into Israel as a "humanitarian gesture." Abbas rejected the offer, telling the Washington Post in May that the gaps were "too wide." The proximity talks will not immediately focus on borders, another Palestinian demand, with Israel saying there can be no credible discussion of borders without first knowing what security arrangements will be in place. Netanyahu told the cabinet Thursday, "We welcome the start of talks, even if they are proximity talks. In the end, our goal is to try and reach a peace agreement with our Palestinian neighbors via direct talks, but we have always said that we do not necessarily insist on this format....If this is what is necessary to start the process - Israel is ready."
2010-03-05 08:04:56
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