PM (L), Clinton and Abbas (archives)
Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO
Palestinians: Let's talk about borders first
Authority calls for urgent talks with Israel on borders of future Palestinian state; says Netanyahu proposal for settlement freeze in exchange for recognition won’t revive negotiations
The Palestinian Authority has urged the US to work towards expediting the negotiations with Israel, particularly with respect to determining the borders of a future Palestinian state, Ynet reported Wednesday.
Palestinian sources estimated that the negotiation teams will meet soon to discuss the matter in the framework of talks on a permanent agreement.
The sources told Ynet that the Jewish settlements in the West Bank are only a small component of the borders issue and said an urgent meeting would prevent another crisis.
Palestinian officials estimated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for a new settlement construction moratorium in exchange for the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state would not revive the stalled negotiations.
The Palestinians told Ynet Israel is refusing to hold serious talks that could resolve the borders issue during the two-month construction freeze, should Israel decide to impose one.
The US State Department said Tuesday it supports Netanyahu in his demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"I'm not making any news here," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a press conference. "It is a state for the Jewish people. It is a state for other citizens of other faiths as well."
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