Israel
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David Baker, an official from the Prime Minister's office, told the Israeli daily
Haaretz, "Both sides are involved in a continuous dialogue to make as much progress as possible."
[1]
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Addressing the Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
"With the approach of the international November meeting, I held a series of meetings with the Palestinian President to explore some of the essential issues which are at the core of the conflict between us, and to find patterns which will enable us to reach understandings on the basis of mutual compromise. We do not have an agreement. Nothing was promised, but we created an atmosphere of personal trust, willingness to listen," and that the November meeting "
Is intended to provide backing and encouragement and create a comprehensive umbrella of support for the direct process between [Israel] and [the Palestinians]."
[2]
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Full Address at the Opening of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Winter Session
Palestinian Authority
Palestinian Authority (P.A.) President Mahmoud Abbas outlined six core issues of the international conference: Jerusalem, borders, refugees, water, settlements, and security. [3]
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The Palestinians are saying that negotiations will not start "from square one," but rather will be based on previous negotiation rounds held at Camp David, Taba and Stockholm. Ahmad Qurei (Abu-Alaa'), head of the Palestinian negotiations team, will strive to reach a five-six month deadline for final status talks with Israel that will begin after the November Annapolis summit.
[4]
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According to Qurei, the Palestinian side is demanding a document to be presented by Israel at the summit that includes final status issues outlined within a defined timetable.
[5]
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Mahmoud Abbas said during a meeting in Jerusalem that "
The Palestinian leadership wants peace which is founded on justice and international legitimacy, but not at all cost."
[6] Abbas is insisting:
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The issue of Jerusalem is paramount to achieving peace;
[7] -
United States (U.S.) President George Bush includes the highest possible number of states in the November summit;
[8] -
"
Any political agreement reached with Israel will be put to a national referendum and to the decision of the National Council;"
[9] -
There will be no peace settlement without the release of all Palestinian prisoners;
[10] -
Land exchange with Israel is unacceptable, but an agreement on "border correction [exchanging land] of similar value" may be agreed upon;
[11] -
"
We have 6,025 square kilometers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We want it as it is," Abbas said in a television interview in what was the first time he announced the exact amount of land the Palestinians are seeking.
[12]
Hamas
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The upcoming Annapolis summit is elevating political tensions between Hamas and Fatah, mainly the possibility of a Palestinian referendum of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles. In protest of the U.S.-led November international summit, Damascus is organizing its own summit with Palestinian factions to coincide with the Annapolis summit. Hamas has already confirmed its participation.
[13]
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Ahmad Yousef, an advisor to Hamas Prime Minister Isma'il Haniyeh, warned that "
If Hamas wants to thwart any agreement it will do so, because more than half of the Palestinian people will say no to this agreement."
[14]
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In a special interview with the Hamas-affiliated daily
Filasteen newspaper, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Arab states "
Not to support any new concessions in the Palestinian issue," and warned "about the true American goals behind the fall summit, which strive to bring about normalization between Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, and Israel."
[15]
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During a recent meeting in Mecca, Hamas' Syria-based political chief Khaled Mashaal said, "
Israel knocks on doors requesting negotiations and the Hamas movement refuses this request and prepares for a new round of resistance."
[16]
Footnotes
[1] "PA Chair Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinians borders," Haaretz, Oct. 10, 2007,
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=PA+chair+Abbas&itemNo=911440
[2] "Address by PM Ehud Olmert to the opening of the Knesset winter session," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official Website, Oct. 8, 2007, http://tinyurl.com/2y4pkt
[3] "PA Chair Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinians borders," Haaretz, Oct. 10, 2007,
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=PA+chair+Abbas&itemNo=911440
[4] Younis, Mohammad, "Abbas insists that Jerusalem is the key to peace…Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will commence tomorrow in secret venues," Alhayat, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071006-76ff0c8f-c0a8-10ed-00c3-e8c4d9ce4944/story.html
[5] "Qurei: We will demand a clear and defined document and there will be no solution or state without Jerusalem," Palestine Press Agency, Oct. 8, 2007,
http://www.palpress.ps/arabic/index.php?maa=ReadStory&ChannelID=94623
[6] Younis, Mohammad, "Abbas insists that Jerusalem is the key to peace…Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will commence tomorrow in secret venues," Alhayat, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071006-76ff0c8f-c0a8-10ed-00c3-e8c4d9ce4944/story.html [7]Younis, Mohammad, "Abbas insists that Jerusalem is the key to peace…Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will commence tomorrow in secret venues," Alhayat, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071006-76ff0c8f-c0a8-10ed-00c3-e8c4d9ce4944/story.html
[8] Younis, Mohammad, "Abbas insists that Jerusalem is the key to peace…Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will commence tomorrow in secret venues," Alhayat, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071006-76ff0c8f-c0a8-10ed-00c3-e8c4d9ce4944/story.html
[9] "The President: the political agreement will be put to a referendum and there is no truth to land exchange with Israel," Palestine Press Agency, Oct. 10, 2007,
http://www.palpress.ps/arabic/index.php?maa=ReadStory&ChannelID=94844
[10] "The President: the political agreement will be put to a referendum and there is no truth to land exchange with Israel," Palestine Press Agency, Oct. 10, 2007,
http://www.palpress.ps/arabic/index.php?maa=ReadStory&ChannelID=94844
[11] "The President: the political agreement will be put to a referendum and there is no truth to land exchange with Israel," Palestine Press Agency, October 10, 2007
http://www.palpress.ps/arabic/index.php?maa=ReadStory&ChannelID=94844
[12] Keinon, Herb, "Qurei: Palestinians may yield part of W. Bank," The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 11, 2007,
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1191257275091&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle2FShowFull
[13] "Mashal: Israel requests negotiations and Hamas refuses and prepares for a new round of resistance," Ma'an News Agency, Oct. 9, 2007,
http://www.maannews.net/ar/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=85551
[14] Alhuseini, Jihan, "'Peace document' and the upcoming referendum - a new battlefield between Fatah and Hamas," Alhayat, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071006-76ea5229-c0a8-10ed-00c3-e8c4610dbf48/story.html
[15] "Haniyeh asks Arab states not to support any concessions in peace summit," Alayam, Oct. 7, 2007,
http://www.al-ayyam.com/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx?did=67453&Date=10/7/2007
[16] "Mashal: Israel requests negotiations and Hamas refuses and prepares for a new round of resistance," Ma'an News Agency, Oct. 9, 2007,
http://www.maannews.net/ar/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=85551
