Olmert travels to Jericho for first talks in Palestine in seven years
Much is being made of the fact that Olmert has travelled to the Palestinian territories for a meeting with Abbas. Before the meeting Olmert stated that, "he intended to discuss "fundamental issues" with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, at the meeting in the InterContinental Hotel in Jericho."
However, as soon as the meeting was over:But an Israeli official later said the talks had stopped short of negotiations over the core issues of a future peace deal: the future borders of a Palestinian state, the removal of settlements, the fate of refugees and the future of Jerusalem.
The Israelis appear determined that these meetings should discuss an "agreement of principles" ahead of any future meetings which will presumably tackle the core issues which Israel is, at the moment, so assiduously avoiding.
Already one feels a sense of frustration from the Palestinian camp:
It is for this very reason that Saudi Arabia is refusing to commit to attending any future US sponsored peace talks.Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said the meeting was "serious, deep and positive". He said: "We are seeking negotiations to go back to the pre-1967 borders and to a final status for a Palestinian state based on international resolutions." But he said the Palestinian side was frustrated with the lack of concrete results. "I think now it is about taking decisions at the leadership level."
Israel argues that it has made several gestures to the Palestinians in recent weeks, including releasing some of the Palestinian tax revenues that it froze early last year, freeing about 250 Palestinian prisoners, and announcing an amnesty for some Fatah militants in the West Bank.
There is no point in having these meetings unless Israel is serious about negotiating the core issues. At the moment Israel appears to want to spend a lot of time talking about "an agreement of principles", a vague term that probably means Israel is seeking to limit the terms of future discussions.
Israel may well argue that she has made "several gestures" over the past few weeks, but one can't help feeling that they are simply that - gestures. And Israeli gestures in the past have been done only to convince the Americans that the Israelis are making concessions, they have never been gestures concerning the core issue of returning to the pre-1967 positions.
"Abbas did not come to the meeting with a magic wand, and neither did Mr. Olmert," Erekat said at a news conference. "There is an agreement on a series of meetings to discuss the issues, including the establishment of a Palestinian state."There is a rumour in today's Ha'aretz newspaper that Shimon Peres has come up with the idea that Israel and Palestine could swap land to replace that Palestinian land currently occupied by Israeli settlements.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is examining a new framework for peace in which Israel will propose transferring to the Palestinian state areas equivalent to 100 percent of the territories conquered in 1967.This is a very good idea. However, when one notices that these ideas are being floated around in newspapers rather than being put directly to Abbas - who is being asked to seriously discuss "an agreement of principles" - then I begin to worry whether or not I am witnessing a PR exercise.
Israel will suggest to the Palestinians to conduct negotiations for adequate territorial compensation from Israel's sovereign territory, in exchange for settlement blocs amounting to about 5 percent of the West Bank's area.
If Olmert is serious about an offer regarding transferring territory equivalent to that seized in 1967 - then he should make it. At the moment he is talking about bugger all whilst these rumours float around the Israeli press.
And you can call me a cynic, but I think that there is a reason why these rumours float around whilst Olmert discusses bugger all. It is to create the impression in the public's mind that Olmert actually offered this, when the truth is actually the opposite. Olmert is talking about nothing, whilst the press are floating about these eminently practicable suggestions.
There is a reason why the Saudis are so sceptical about attending any future meeting with the Israelis, despite having come up with the Saudi Peace plan. We've all been here before. Where Israel does her little dance to convince the Americans that she tried to be reasonable but that no "partner in peace" exists.
Israel is at the moment "talking about talks" whilst she floats great ideas in the press. When she starts floating great ideas during actual meetings with the Palestinians, then it's time to take her seriously.
Up until that point, this is all a sideshow.
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