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PA sources: Mofaz as Kadima head would be disastrous for peace process By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid Tags: Palestinians A victory by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz in next month's Kadima Party leadership race would be a disaster for the peace process, senior Palestinian Authority officials say. The officials said that an American-Palestinian plan for the continuation of the process is based on Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni winning the primary. A Mofaz victory, in contrast, would send the talks into a deep freeze, given his hawkish views on them. Mofaz told his first formal campaign rally yesterday that as prime minister, he would "preserve united Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital." Advertisement To that, a senior PA official responded: "God have mercy" on the final-status talks if Mofaz wins the primary. For now, however, PA President Mahmoud Abbas is continuing his talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The two will meet in Jerusalem today for the first time since Olmert announced that he would not run in Kadima's primary. Palestinian sources said Abbas wants to hear Olmert's views on continuing the talks, given his declared intention of resigning after the primary. The PA would like the talks to continue during the transition period, especially because of the likelihood that Olmert will remain in power for some time after the September 17 primary, possibly even until new elections in early 2009. A senior Israeli official commented that Olmert intends to continue the talks in their current format, but "we are growing reconciled to the fact that there will be no breakthrough. Mainly, we want to see how we can pass a live diplomatic process on to the next U.S. administration and the next Israeli government." Olmert himself has indicated that he wants to make progress in the talks, but Livni has some reservations. At a meeting in New York with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week, she even hinted that given his political situation, Olmert has lost the legitimacy to make far-reaching concessions. However, she added, "The Israeli public can continue to support the process as long as it gives expression to the state's interests." The PA would also like Olmert to promise at today's meeting that in the months remaining to him, he will prevent Israeli construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Finally, the Palestinians are awaiting a response to the request Abbas made when he met Olmert in Paris three weeks ago: that Israel release several leading Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, who heads the Fatah-affiliated Tanzim organization; Aziz Duweik, a Hamas member who serves as speaker of the Palestinian parliament; Ahmed Sa'adat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; and Said al-Athba, one of the leaders of the small Fida party and one of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoners. The Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported yesterday that a list of the Palestinians Abbas wants released, which also includes many others of the longest-serving prisoners, was given to Livni during her meetings in Washington with the head of the PA negotiating team, Ahmed Qureia. Qureia told Livni that the release of these prisoners would play an important role in bolstering the PA's status among the general Palestinian public. Israel is expected to release hundreds of prisoners to Hamas as part of a deal to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, assuming that such a deal is eventually concluded, and the list Hamas has given Israel includes many of the names that appear on Abbas' list. So far, however, Israel is refusing to release most of prisoners on the Hamas list. An Israeli delegation headed to Cairo yesterday for further talks on the Shalit deal. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Party for a killer Arabic TV station hosts birthday party for convicted child killer Samir Kuntar. Hamas to blame Noam Shalit says his son Gilad is holding Gaza hostage, and not the other way around.

Read & React IAF: Hezbollah anti-aircraft missiles could threaten Israeli planes Responses: 244 ANALYSIS / Iran's real nuclear tactic is to keep buying time Responses: 39 Why did the U.S. turn away Gaza Fulbright scholars? Responses: 94 VIDEO / IDF trains for simultaneous Iran, Syria, Hezbollah missile strikes Responses: 76 Mofaz: Iran is the root of all evil, threat to world peace Responses: 61 More Headlines 02:17 'Mere dismissal of officer over shooting of bound Palestinian is a disgrace' 00:39 Israel to free more than 150 Palestinian prisoners as gesture to Abbas 20:47 Israel, U.S. to develop new Arrow missile defense system 22:36 VIDEO / Israel rebukes Al-Jazeera for throwing 'birthday party' for Samir Kuntar 23:02 Ex-Gaza Strip settlers hold rally, vowing to return to their homes 22:36 Barak orders demolition of Jerusalem yeshiva terrorist's home 02:29 Diaspora Jews connect with Israel, Jewish identity through volunteering 21:29 Qassam hits western Negev in new Gaza truce violation 18:11 Noam Shalit: Gilad is holding the entire Gaza Strip hostage 19:28 VIDEO / Israeli TV ad poking fun at oil sheikhs draws Saudi ire 23:10 Congress likely to see record number of Jewish legislators 17:49 UN Security Council, Germany to weigh new sanctions on Iran 22:51 Palestinians: Israel releases 2 West Bank Hamas officials from jail 12:12 Mofaz: Iran is the root of all evil, threat to world peace 17:43 Jerusalem nurse's 'Nuclear Modified' music CD sparks security alert Previous Editions Select Day 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul

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