A senior Israeli negotiator said behind closed doors last week that the parties were still far from making concessions that would see a breakthrough. He added that Israel wanted to be practical and move toward solving some issues, but the Palestinians continued to speak in slogans about their national rights, international legitimacy and the need to redress historic injustice. The Israeli official also said the Palestinians wanted Israel to first fully recognize Palestinian rights, and only then would the Palestinians agree to make compromises.
Dit klinkt zeer herkenbaar. De notie dat ook Israël en de Joden rechten hebben, dat ook hen historisch onrecht is aangedaan en dat ook zij deze zaken graag erkend zouden hebben, lijkt maar moeilijk tot veel Palestijnen door te dringen. Als onder de 'Palestijnse rechten' die men door Israël erkend wil hebben ook het zogenaamde 'recht op terugkeer' valt, houdt dat al de ontkenning van een basaal recht van het Joodse volk in.
Ratna
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Mahmoud Abbas says Israel, PA still far from breakthrough
Dit klinkt zeer herkenbaar. De notie dat ook Israël en de Joden rechten hebben, dat ook hen historisch onrecht is aangedaan en dat ook zij deze zaken graag erkend zouden hebben, lijkt maar moeilijk tot veel Palestijnen door te dringen. Als onder de 'Palestijnse rechten' die men door Israël erkend wil hebben ook het zogenaamde 'recht op terugkeer' valt, houdt dat al de ontkenning van een basaal recht van het Joodse volk in.
Ratna
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Mahmoud Abbas says Israel, PA still far from breakthrough
Last update - 02:40 02/06/2008
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/989130.html
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told senior Israeli officials recently that there were still major gaps between Israel and the PA in negotiations. Abbas said the parties did not appear to be moving toward closure on core issues, although the gaps were becoming more clearly defined; he added that more time was needed.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas will meet this afternoon at Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem to continue coordinating their positions ahead of Olmert's visit to Washington this week.
A senior Israeli negotiator said behind closed doors last week that the parties were still far from making concessions that would see a breakthrough. He added that Israel wanted to be practical and move toward solving some issues, but the Palestinians continued to speak in slogans about their national rights, international legitimacy and the need to redress historic injustice. The Israeli official also said the Palestinians wanted Israel to first fully recognize Palestinian rights, and only then would the Palestinians agree to make compromises.
Abbas said that as opposed to the relationship between Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak in 2000, he and Olmert, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, have relationships based on trust and are able to openly discuss their differences.
Abbas said that the parties felt closer on the matter of borders than on other issues; however, differences still existed there, too. The Palestinian president said that with regard to refugees, he wanted to clearly define the number of refugees to be allowed to return to Israel gradually over several years as a humanitarian gesture. However, he said Olmert objects to a specific number and prefers to define an ambiguous formula involving exceptional cases in which refugees would be allowed to return.
Abbas also said the situation in the territories had not improved despite Israeli pledges, making negotiations more difficult. With regard to the ongoing investigation of Olmert, Abbas said that as long as Olmert was still in office, he was Abbas' negotiating partner.
Meanwhile, Olmert on Sunday held consultations with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Livni and senior defense officials on the outlines of cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. It was decided that at this stage, prisoner negotiator Amos Gilad would not be sent to Egypt, but that they would reevaluate the situation when Olmert returned from the U.S. The inner cabinet might also discuss the cease-fire at that time.
"The cabinet will fulfill its pledge to give a sense of security to the people of Sderot and the south. We are all obligated to this and that is how we will act," Olmert said at Sunday's cabinet meeting.
Shas chairman Eli Yishai said Sunday before the cabinet meeting that disagreements between Olmert, Barak and Livni were holding up the decision-making process. "If they can't reach a consensus, why do we have an inner cabinet to make decisions?" Yishai said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/989130.html
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told senior Israeli officials recently that there were still major gaps between Israel and the PA in negotiations. Abbas said the parties did not appear to be moving toward closure on core issues, although the gaps were becoming more clearly defined; he added that more time was needed.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas will meet this afternoon at Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem to continue coordinating their positions ahead of Olmert's visit to Washington this week.
A senior Israeli negotiator said behind closed doors last week that the parties were still far from making concessions that would see a breakthrough. He added that Israel wanted to be practical and move toward solving some issues, but the Palestinians continued to speak in slogans about their national rights, international legitimacy and the need to redress historic injustice. The Israeli official also said the Palestinians wanted Israel to first fully recognize Palestinian rights, and only then would the Palestinians agree to make compromises.
Abbas said that as opposed to the relationship between Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak in 2000, he and Olmert, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, have relationships based on trust and are able to openly discuss their differences.
Abbas said that the parties felt closer on the matter of borders than on other issues; however, differences still existed there, too. The Palestinian president said that with regard to refugees, he wanted to clearly define the number of refugees to be allowed to return to Israel gradually over several years as a humanitarian gesture. However, he said Olmert objects to a specific number and prefers to define an ambiguous formula involving exceptional cases in which refugees would be allowed to return.
Abbas also said the situation in the territories had not improved despite Israeli pledges, making negotiations more difficult. With regard to the ongoing investigation of Olmert, Abbas said that as long as Olmert was still in office, he was Abbas' negotiating partner.
Meanwhile, Olmert on Sunday held consultations with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Livni and senior defense officials on the outlines of cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. It was decided that at this stage, prisoner negotiator Amos Gilad would not be sent to Egypt, but that they would reevaluate the situation when Olmert returned from the U.S. The inner cabinet might also discuss the cease-fire at that time.
"The cabinet will fulfill its pledge to give a sense of security to the people of Sderot and the south. We are all obligated to this and that is how we will act," Olmert said at Sunday's cabinet meeting.
Shas chairman Eli Yishai said Sunday before the cabinet meeting that disagreements between Olmert, Barak and Livni were holding up the decision-making process. "If they can't reach a consensus, why do we have an inner cabinet to make decisions?" Yishai said.
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