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Palestinians reject Olmert proposal as 'waste of time' By Avi Issacharoff , Haaretz Correspondent, and DPA Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday rejected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposal for a peace agreement in principle under which Israel would withdraw from 93 percent of the West Bank and provide free passage to and from the Gaza Strip. A detailed draft of Olmert's proposal was made public yesterday in Haaretz. Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said that "the Israeli proposal is not acceptable" because it does not envision a Palestinian state with geographic contiguity and Jerusalem as its capital, in contravention of international and Arab resolutions. Advertisement Abu Rudeineh called the proposal "a waste of time" and said it shows the Israeli side's "lack of seriousness" and effort to avoid implementing a two-state solution by dragging its feet. Under Olmert's offer, Israel would retain 7 percent of the West Bank, incorporating the major settlement blocs. The Palestinians would be given alternative land in the Negev, next to the Gaza Strip, roughly equivalent to 5.5 percent of the West Bank, with the unhindered passage to Gaza compensating for the difference. The permanent border would follow the route of the separation fence. Israel would keep Ma'aleh Adumim, Gush Etzion, the settlements surrounding Jerusalem and some land in the northern West Bank next to Israel. Olmert's proposal states that once a border is agreed on, Israel would be able to build freely in the settlement blocs to be annexed. Abbas' spokesman said it was agreed at the Annapolis Conference last fall that all settlement construction would stop completely, the future Palestinian state would correspond to the June 4, 1967 borders, and land swaps would be equitable. Members of the Palestinian peace negotiations team said yesterday that all issues relating to a permanent agreement must be resolved, including Jerusalem's status and the refugees' right of return. Jerusalem is not in fact being discussed at this stage of the talks between the teams. However, lead Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the report in Haaretz a "bunch of half-truths," and vehemently denied to DPA, the German press agency, that the issue of Jerusalem was off the table. Yesterday's Haaretz report is the first detailed account leaked of the highly classified negotiations since they began in December. The talks are being kept out of the media spotlight due to their sensitive nature. Erekat hinted that the leak was aimed at blaming the Palestinians for the negotiations' failure if they rejected Olmert's offer. A spokesman for Olmert, Mark Regev, declined to comment on the content of the negotiations, but told DPA that "important progress" had been made on various issues including the issue of borders. Mazal Mualem adds: Likud Party whip MK Gideon Sa'ar said about Olmert's proposal that Kadima, which ran in elections as a centrist party, is advancing the worldview of the Zionist left. "Any Meretz faction member could have signed on to Olmert's proposal, and it is strange that the candidates for Kadima's leadership are prepared to keep mum and not disavow it in the clearest possible manner." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Safe haven reached 200 fleeing Georgia after the outbreak of hostilities arrive at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport. Man dies of 'broken heart' Severely disabled man dies of a heart attack after his long-term girlfriend was arrested by Immigration Police.

Read & React U.S. puts the brakes on Israeli plan for strike against Iran Responses: 337 Settlers vow to fight PM's plan to pull out of West Bank Responses: 71 Uzi Benziman: The ultra-Orthodox are taking over Jerusalem Responses: 38 Report: Syria taking preventative steps, fearing Israeli strike Responses: 39 Israeli journalist seriously hurt in Georgia returns home for treatment Responses: 29 More Headlines 02:41 Georgia president denies Israel halted military aid 02:48 Israel thought Georgia, Russia headed for war back in 2007 23:09 Moscow agrees to stick to truce, as Rice threatens Russian isolation 23:55 Lebanon and Syria agree to establish full diplomatic ties 23:42 Report: Fearing Israeli strike, Syria taking preventative steps 22:14 Ahmadinejad: West must quit support of dying Israeli regime 17:13 Prof. charged with incitement to violence for comments on Gay Pride parade 01:47 Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish buried in Ramallah with highest honors 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 01:42 VIDEO / Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo reaches Olympic 200m medley semifinals 20:06 U.S. puts brakes on Israeli plan for attack on Iran nuclear facilities 21:04 Police: Huge drop reported in pirate radio interference at B-G Airport 19:17 Israel gives U.S. green light to supply PA police with flak jackets 17:57 IDF probe clears tank crew in death of Gaza journalist last April 22:03 Man 'dies of broken heart' after cops nab illegal immigrant girlfriend Previous Editions Select Day 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul

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