Posted on 10/10/2007 2:28:40 PM PDT by Alouette
The Palestinians are ready to yield parts of the West Bank to Israel, if compensated with an equal amount of Israeli territory, the lead Palestinian negotiator said Wednesday, spelling out his positions in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ahmed Qureia, a 71-year-old former prime minister, said saying the US-hosted Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, tentatively set for November 26, is a "very, very, very important opportunity." If it fails, he said, Israelis and Palestinians will perhaps suffer more than in the blood-soaked years following the unsuccessful Camp David summit in 2000.
Israelis and Palestinians are slowly rebuilding trust, making compromise possible, Qureia said, sitting in his modest office in Abu Dis, a West Bank suburb of Jerusalem.
Today Qureia heads a four-member Palestinian team that first met earlier this week with Olmert's top aides. Ahead of the November conference, the two sides are trying to write a joint declaration of principles on the so-called core issues of the conflict - borders, Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and Palestinian refugees.
The disputes have defied solution, but Qureia believes there could be enough common ground to come up with a general sentence or two on how to approach each issue to guide negotiators in the future.
For example, the Palestinians want the pre-1967 borders to be the basis of border talks.
In a joint declaration, Qureia said, it would be enough to declare the 1967 lines as the starting point, say the border is open to modifications, based on the principle that the Palestinians end up with as much land as they lost in 1967. The exact border would be worked out in negotiations following the Annapolis conference. Part of the deal would likely be a land corridor linking the West Bank and Gaza, separated by 40 kilometers of Israeli territory, but other swap proposals have not been raised.
Earlier Wednesday, Qureia's boss, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, told Palestine TV in an interview that the size of territory the Palestinians want to get back is 6,205 square kilometers.
Asked whether he thought he could get such a commitment from his Israeli counterparts, Qureia said: "Why not? We are still at the beginning. I know that the spirit [atmosphere] is good, from what Abu Mazen [Abbas] told us about his meetings with Olmert. I think it is okay."
Qureia suggested that on one of the hardest issues, Jerusalem, a declaration would suffice that east Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine and west Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The sticky details, of who would control key holy shrines and where the line of division would run, could be dealt with later.
If the two sides can come together on the key issues, Annapolis will be a success, Qureia said.
On Tuesday, Qureia issued a harsh condemnation of Israel after getting word that Israel is moving ahead with a road project the Palestinians fear is intended to tighten Israeli control over strategic West Bank areas near Jerusalem.
If Israel goes ahead with another plan, to drive the separation barrier from Jerusalem deep into the West Bank, "there will be no peace, absolutely not," he said.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is returning to the region next week to check up on the negotiators. Her progress report will determine whether moderate Arab states, including regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, agree to attend the conference. Arab involvement is seen as key, after Camp David failed, in part, because the Palestinians felt they had little Arab support.
The Palestinians have long called for greater US involvement, and Qureia suggested they might see it now. "It is the responsibility of the American administration now, after they launched this great initiative, to prepare for the success of this initiative," he said.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
HUDNA= Lying permissable by allah
This is the first time in my life, that I've actually seen the Palestinians submit that they were willing to give something up in the interest of peace. Of course I'm only 56 years old though.
In this instance, it's actually a trade, but even that is a step. It's an offer of a trade. Something for something. Wow... it's a major breakthrough.
'Course I haven't see the small print.
Clause 296: ...until such time as Israel is pushed into the sea.
How can they give up what isn’t thiers? They lost it during the 6 day war.
Oh wait, the pali’s didn’t lose it, Jordan did and the only reason they’re wanting a Palistinian state is because even they don’t want to take back thier refugee’s. (can’t say I blame them on that one)
BS on this whole concept. If I were Israel’s PM, I’d give the Paleoswinians an offer they couldn’t refuse: We get sovereignty over all the territory (particularly the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount), and you get to live there and manage your own affairs in your own towns - provided that NONE of you bother us. Oh, and you pay the same taxes as Jews in similar economic circumstances do to support the services and protection you will receive for living within our borders. The moment you start blowing up in cafes, busses and pizza shops full of Jews, or you start lobbing rockets or mortar shells into Jewish towns, the deal is off, and you are OUT - PERMANENTLY.
That’d be my first, last and only offer - take it or leave it. If they don’t take it, then too bad for them.
Thanks, I should have typed “?”
They should call in Jessuh Jacksun to broker a deal for reparations for the Pallies...
Nomads are nomads, y'jes' can't take the country out of the camel.
“Truuuuust me.” Said the palestninny.
Why not pnut Jihadme Carter as broker
If Jessuh shows up, Jimmuh will be there...
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$50 and a Jordanian passport. Condi will probably bid more. Much more.
Good! Bring on the bloodshed. Because there will be a hell of a lot more Arab blood which will spill. And these animals should remember that.
Beware Israel and friends of Israel. Nothing is more dangerous than a President named Bush in "legacy mode". And his Sec of State is seeking lucrative consulting gigs for Saudi moolah after she leaves office, which makes it doubly risky for Israel. Frankly, I think Israel should just blow this off and tell Bush to go screw. Congress will back them up.
Should pay ‘em $10,000 an acre, but of course, deduct the damage, and pain & suffering, of the decades of attacks and murders.
I seem to recall someone else around 1938 saying that if he go some territory that it would be his last demand. Didn’t work in ‘38 and it ain’t gonna work now.
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