7-minister forum opposed to preconditions for peace talks
For three hours, the seven-minister forum discussed direct negotiations with the Palestinians ahead of the Quartet's announcement slated to be issued on the matter in coming days.
Israel, it was decided, will not agree to preconditions laid down in the declaration. "The Quartet declaration will likely be a fig leaf for stipulating preconditions on the part of the Palestinians, and this is unacceptable to us," reported a senior official in Jerusalem. (Roni Sofer)
