Olmert’s goal: Permanent agreement with Palestinians by November

PM, Abbas meeting in recent months to resolve core issues, including Jerusalem, refugees and permanent borders before US-brokered conference of Mideast nations in Washington

Shimon Shiffer, YNET

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas have been meeting regularly in recent months with the aim of drafting the principles of a permanent agreement before the US-brokered conference of Mideast nations, which is scheduled to take place in Washington this coming November, Yedioth Ahronot reported on Thursday.

See also, Olmert: Immediate goal is Palestinian state / Attila Somfalvi
During meeting in Jericho, Abbas and Olmert agree to meet regularly to prepare for Mideast peace summit in US scheduled for this fall. Olmert: Our aim is to achieve Bush’s vision of two states for two peoples, based on the roadmap, living in security and peace side by side

Sources close to Abbas said the two leaders have been holding the talks in a genuine effort to resolve the core issues, mainly Jerusalem, the Palestinian refugees and the permanent borders between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

On Tuesday Olmert met with a House of Representatives delegation, headed by majority leader Steny Hoyer (Dem.) of Maryland, to discuss the peace process with the Palestinians.

During the meeting the Israeli prime minister declared that he had been meeting with Abbas in order to “agree on principles regarding the core issues that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, including the borders, Jerusalem, the refugees, exchanges of land, the passageway between Gaza and the West Bank and the nature of the relations between Israel and the future Palestinian state”.

Joint control over Temple Mount

Olmert told the Americans that he did not believe the agreement would be implemented immediately, but added that Abbas would be able to hold a referendum to approve it.

“Abbas is the first Palestinian leader since the talks with the Palestinian leadership began who is interested in changing the reality,” Olmert was quoted as saying by those who attended the meeting.

“He wants peace with Israel, but on his terms, which we do not accept.”

During the talks Olmert told the Palestinian president Israel would not cooperate with him if a unity government with Hamas is established.

Based on past statements by Omert and his deputy, Tzipi Livni, Israel would apparently agree to return more than 90 percent of the West Bank in the framework of a permanent agreement and allow the Palestinians to create a corridor between Gaza and the West Bank.

In return for holding on to large Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank, Olmert would likely agree to give up some parts of the Negev to the Palestinians. In the past the prime minister hinted to the possibility of transferring a number of east Jerusalem neighborhoods to the control of a future Palestinian state.

It is estimated that Olmert would also be willing to discuss joint control over the Temple Mount complex.

Regarding the Palestinian refugees, Olmert is expected to adopt Livni’s solution, which states that they would be permitted to return to the future Palestinian state but not to Israel.