 |
 |
 |
|
|
What, me worry? Olmert in the Knesset Monday (Flash90)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff November 20, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
Agreement has been reached on a draft for a joint Israel-Palestinian statement ahead of the Annapolis conference, Army Radio quoted diplomatic officials as saying after a meeting into the wee hours of Monday night between the Israeli team led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the Palestinian negotiating team headed by Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala).
Israeli officials expressed optimism that remaining issues could be resolved. "There are still a number of small points that have not been agreed upon," the officials said. "However, if the Palestinians do not get cold feet there will be a statement to conclude the conference."
But Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday morning that a joint statement could not be concluded without further intensive negotiations. "We spent till about two o'clock this morning actually trying to bridge the gaps. There are difficulties still." Erekat told Army Radio. "We're exerting every possible effort. I don't know whether we can finalize the document. We'll be meeting today also."
A leak of one dispute illustrates the huge gaps remaining between the sides. Olmert, according to Haaretz, proposed that "the Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel, the Jewish state, with recognized borders." But the Palestinians demanded that the language saY "the Palestinian state with the borders of June 4, 1967, alongside Israel," with no mention of the term "Jewish state."
The United States reportedly plans to issue invitations to the conference today by diplomatic cable to US embassies in the countries concerned, with instructions to Washington's ambassadors to present them to their host governments' foreign ministries, the officials said. They will ask that each nation send its highest-ranking appropriate official to Annapolis. |
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
