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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas
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| By Israel Insider staff August 19, 2007 |
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Local papers reported that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are facing difficulties as the two sides have trouble agreeing on a solution to refugees and whether to pardon more fugitives. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are continuing to hold frequent meetings on core issues.
Olmert on Saturday denied claims by Palestinian security officials that Israel plans to grant amnesty to 110 more Fatah fugitives.
"There is nothing to this at all," a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The official said that that Israel has no intention in the near future of adding to the list of names of wanted Palestinians it would no longer pursue.
Just last month Israel pardoned 250 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank as a good will gesture to Abbas, in an attempt to bolster the chairman's standing. According to the deal, the wanted men will then submit their weapon to the PA security forces and renounce terror.
The Palestinian side, however, insists that the deal to increase the list of pardoned men did indeed take place, and even criticize it for not being more far-reaching.
"The list does not include names of known gunmen who are wanted by Israel," Colonel Akram Rajoub, commander of the PA's Preventative Security Force in Nablus, said. "This is unfortunate, but we will continue to discuss the case of the fugitives with the Israeli authorities until we resolve it completely."
Many Israelis are skeptical of Olmert's claims because of the credibility the Palestinians are giving the deal that reportedly took place over the weekend.
Another roadblock that Olmert and Abbas have come to is the Palestinian refugee problem, an issue which the PA chairman is refusing to concede on, government sources in Jerusalem have reported, according to Haaretz.
The two sides have been meeting with increased frequency in an attempt to flesh out an agreement on core issues, including refugees, borders and Jerusalem, before the US-sponsored peace conference in the fall.
Israel's new strategy towards the Arab states and the Palestinians has slightly shifted gears. Among its components are weakening Hamas and supporting Abbas, with the help of international allies, and not seeking full recognition from Arab countries. Rather, Israel will aim for a gradual establishment of relations.
Senior officials say they do not expect the agreement to be implemented straight away, but are keeping their goals realistic ? they hope it will help lay the foundation for future talks and negotiations.
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