World Jewish News

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni at a press conference, July 30 Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Livni: Israel will make dramatic decisions during peace talks

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will result in dramatic Israeli decisions, Israel's chief negotiator predicted on Tuesday.
Livni, speaking on Israel Radio, said "there will be dramatic decisions" by Israel at the end, and negotiators had agreed not to disclose details about their deliberations in order to build trust.
"We are arguing, but we are arguing inside the room," she said.
Israeli and Palestinian sources said the negotiating teams convened for a third round of talks, in Jerusalem, on Tuesday.
Reflecting US Secretary of State John Kerry's dictate to keep the talks far from the public, there was no pre-announcement of the meetings, or any statement following them.
The existence of the daytime meeting was revealed by a senior Palestinian official who told AFP, "A meeting was held today between the Palestinian delegation, headed by Saeb Erekat and Mohammad Shtayyeh, and the Israeli delegation of [Justice Minister Tzipi] Livni and Yitzhak Molcho.”
Neither Livni's office nor the Prime Minister's Office would confirm the meeting. The meeting, the second in a week, was originally scheduled for Wednesday in Jericho, but was reportedly pushed ahead a day because Erekat was scheduled to travel to Russia.
The negotiators are expected to hold the next meeting in Jericho.
The first round of talks – which lasted five hours – was held last Wednesday in an undisclosed location in Jerusalem and described as "serious." Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated his commitment to a state solution that would see the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel has rejected criticism of its construction plans, saying the new homes would be erected in settlements within blocs it intends to keep in any future peace deal. Most countries view all settlements Israel has built on occupied land as illegal.
No details were given after last week's session on the subject matter, widely believed to have focused on setting an agenda for discussing core issues such as borders, security and the future of settlements, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated his commitment to a state solution that would see the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital.
Abbas’s comments came during a meeting in his office with representatives of the Front For Democracy and Equality (HADASH) party headed by MK Mohamed Barake.
Abba also accused Israel of placing “obstacles” on the way to the continuation of the peace talks by pursuing construction in settlements “in a provocative manner.”
He said that Israel’s actions were in violation of “sincere intentions to achieve peace and end occupation.”
Barake quoted Abbas as saying that progress had been achieved during the previous rounds of talks between Israel and the PA.
He also quoted Abbas as saying that solutions could be reached regarding the core issues.

By REUTERS, HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH .

JPost.com