Report: PA rejects Israeli incentive package
Top Palestinian official says Jerusalem's offer to free 30 prisoners, expand PA's control in Area B rejected by Abbas
The Palestinian Authority has recently rejected an Israeli "incentive package" meant to encourage the PA's return to the negotiating table, Ynet learned Friday.
A senior Palestinian official told Ynet that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the deal, which would have seen Israel free 30 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were arrested prior to the Oslo Accords; as well as extend the Palestinian security forces' authority in Area B.
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Area B, which comprises about 20% of the West Bank, is under Palestinian civil controls and shared Israeli-Palestinian security control.
The incentives were offered via a Quartet envoy, but the PLO's Executive Committee, which met Thursday in Ramallah, decided to reject the gesture.
The PA has further decided not to resume the peace talks in Amman. Ramallah insists that in order to resume the negotiations, Israel must first freeze settlement construction and agree to the two-state solution in full.
Fatah Executive Committee member Hussein Sheikh said that the Palestinians believe that the incentive package is an empty gesture, adding that "we don’t link confidence-building measures with the negotiations. There are obligations that Israel must follow according to the Road Map."
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