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Last update - 00:00 15/09/2008
Olmert voices sorrow for plight of Palestinian, Jewish refugees
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: Israel, Refugees, Palestinian 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said he was sorry for the plight of Palestinians and Jews who became refugees as a result of Israel's establishment.

"I join in expressing sorrow for what happened to the Palestinians and also for what happened to the Jews who were expelled from Arab states," the prime minister said.

Olmert made the comments before a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, apparently in his last such session as prime minister. He was speaking in reference to the key Palestinian demand for a "right of return" in peace negotiations with Israel.
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"Under absolutely no circumstances will there be a right of return," Olmert declared, "but we are prepared to be part of an international mechanism that will work to solve the problem."

Palestinians have demanded that Israel accept responsibility for the suffering of Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes in the War of Independence that followed Israel's 1948 creation.

Olmert's remark Monday fell far short of meeting this demand. But it was unusual for an Israeli prime minister to say Israel will participate in expressing sorrow for what happened to them.

The premier also said that a peace deal with the Palestinian Authority will involve proportionate land swaps between the two sides.

"The territorial price of peace with the Palestinians will bring us very close to the land-for-land formula. This needs to be said forthrightly and with courage. There are different ways of reaching this formula through annexing or exchanging territories," Olmert said
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  1.   The Right Idea 14:11  |  Yosemite 15/09/08
  2.   What "Jewish refugees"? 14:26  |  The Revving Girl 15/09/08
  3.   No One Cares What Olmert Has To Say Anymore 14:28  |  Dish It out 15/09/08
  4.   PHULLEEEZ!!! JEWS TOOK REFUGE IN PARADISE; PALESTINAINS IN HELL. 14:31  |  Sam 15/09/08
  5.   The right equation 14:45  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 15/09/08
  6.   Sam 14:49  |  Jeremy Woolf 15/09/08
  7.   How blind can you be... 14:51  |  Clement 15/09/08
  8.   To Sam and others 14:51  |  Shmuel 15/09/08
  9.   Jealous of Israel Sam and Rewing? 14:53  |  x-ray 15/09/08
  10.   #2 Arab states who threw out Jews will Absorb Pals 14:54  |  I 15/09/08
  11.   READ olmert`s WORDING CAREFULLY 14:55  |  Arie 15/09/08
  12.   RIGHT OF RETURN ONLY SAFEGUARD TO PREVENT REPETITION 14:59  |  Jan 15/09/08
  13.   To Yosemite 15:06  |  Your Cousin 15/09/08
  14.   #4 SAM....there is no way the ROR is going 15:08  |  Lynn 15/09/08
  15.   #2 and #4 15:08  |  Jerusalemite 15/09/08
  16.   A wretched excess of meaningless words 15:09  |  Natallie Durson 15/09/08
  17.   He`s right, palestinians should take the offer 15:11  |  Igor D. 15/09/08
  18.   #3 sam 15:12  |  EZ 15/09/08
  19.   Who is responsible for the Pal`s refugees problem? 15:13  |  Gene 15/09/08
  20.   #4 Sam 15:16  |  John Allen 15/09/08
  21.   Bravo 15:23  |  lady from USA 15/09/08
  22.   When is Olmert Leaving? 15:23  |  Ron 15/09/08
  23.   Sam 4 shock admission "Israel is paradise, Arab world hell" 15:23  |  Realist 15/09/08
  24.   Jews and Pals must be COMPENSATED 15:30  |  judith 15/09/08
  25.   Ah...that wonderful "land for land" deal...... 15:49  |  Clickfool 15/09/08
  26.   #2 Have you been asleep for the last 60 years? 15:51  |  Bob 15/09/08
  27.   #2 There are more Jewish refugees than Palestinians 15:57  |  Gili 15/09/08
  28.   Sam: the Palestinian refugee "myth" 15:58  |  Richard S 15/09/08
  29.   Sam 16:20  |  Norman Cone 15/09/08
  30.   REFUGEES SAM #4 16:39  |  ROBERT 15/09/08
  31.   Resolution 194 and the ?right of return?. 16:41  |  Jean Van Daem 15/09/08
  32.   Ravving Girl - Jordan/Egypt/Lebanon/etc absorbed the Pal refugees 16:44  |  Hannah 15/09/08
  33.   #2 RG 16:45  |  Moshe 15/09/08
  34.   Sam - Jews fled Arab lands on foot too 16:51  |  Hannah 15/09/08
  35.   Israelis ethnicaly cleansed Palestinians and Jews were ethnicaly 16:57  |  anti-racist 15/09/08
  36.   #2 Antisemites always belittle Jewish Refugees from Arab States 17:01  |  EgyptJewRefugee 15/09/08
  37.   Thank you Olmert. Finally talks of Jewish refugees 17:03  |  Laila 15/09/08
  38.   #4 Palestinian refugees "your problem". Kept for propaganda 17:06  |  Massouda 15/09/08
  39.   #2 Rewing Girl - Whoever told you that 17:33  |  * BEN JABO 15/09/08
  40.   No Jewish Refugees? Bad logic, #2! 17:50  |  DavidAK 15/09/08
  41.   Consequences 18:07  |  Bitin Dawg 15/09/08
  42.   Both refugees should be able to return - a just solution 19:16  |  Ramzi 15/09/08
  43.   SAM - Jews cultivated the land while Arabs waited 19:29  |  David Israel 15/09/08
  44.   Who are the `Palestinians` from where did they spring and when... 19:30  |  Dagma 15/09/08
  45.   Sam is absolutely RIGHT 19:51  |  Keith T 15/09/08
  46.   Olmert and the prize 20:23  |  Connie 15/09/08
  47.   What Jewish expulsion? 20:26  |  Nick Ferriman 15/09/08
  48.   Olmert`s `last session as a Prime Minister`.... 20:36  |  charlie 15/09/08
  49.   #2&4 No Jewish Refugees NOW 20:37  |  Ian 15/09/08
  50.   palestinians refugees 20:39  |  maria 15/09/08
  51.   To My Cousin 20:59  |  Yosemite 15/09/08
  52.   # 2 Girl.....yes, Israel did what no Arab State 21:07  |  Lynn 15/09/08
  53.   ROBERT # 8 - No truer words....... 21:07  |  Onlooker 15/09/08
  54.   Ramzi 21:09  |  x-ray 15/09/08
  55.   Intent, apples and oranges 21:10  |  R`fael Moshe 15/09/08
  56.   Bitin Dawgs 41 21:14  |  ChanahS 15/09/08
  57.   Keith T 45 - like what? 21:16  |  ChanahS 15/09/08
  58.   Nick Ferriman 47 21:18  |  ChanahS 15/09/08
  59.   No Maria - the Arab Leaders are. (end) 21:19  |  ChanahS 15/09/08
  60.   Nick Ferriman help me with this 21:29  |  x-ray 15/09/08
  61.   #2 Rewing Girl the ignorant 21:38  |  Adrian de Klerk 15/09/08
  62.   #47 Lies that Iraqi Jews wanted to leave 22:15  |  JewfromIraq 15/09/08
  63.   Sorry isn`t enough a right is a right and should be implemented 22:17  |  Dutch 15/09/08
  64.   Nick Ferriman - Jews of Iraq 22:19  |  David Israel 15/09/08
  65.   people are connected to the land of their ancestors 22:23  |  Ruth 15/09/08
  66.   Nick Ferriman and UGLY LIES 22:32  |  judith 15/09/08
  67.   Nearly there, but a good starter from the Israelis. 22:36  |  JustMe 15/09/08
  68.   To all the above 22:45  |  x 15/09/08
  69.   Jewish refugees 22:46  |  Yoav 15/09/08
  70.   Ramzi - Olmert said no such "arab refugees" there for NO Case 22:49  |  Rachel in USA 15/09/08
  71.   From a reporter not fighter this is a disgrace 4 all fallen vets 22:54  |  Israel 15/09/08
  72.   Jewish Refugees#2 22:54  |  Yoav 15/09/08
  73.   E. OLMERT AND E. BARAK IN TORAH CODE 22:55  |  Barry S. Roffman 15/09/08
  74.   Jewish Refugees#3 23:01  |  Yoav 15/09/08
  75.   Jewish Refugees#4 23:08  |  Yoav 15/09/08
  76.   x one guy had a gripe against Israel 23:10  |  Marva 15/09/08
  77.   P.S. TO MY #49 00:22  |  Ian 16/09/08
  78.   347 Ferriman...not according to the testimonies at the UN 00:24  |  Lynn 16/09/08
  79.   #62 Demented Dutch 00:34  |  * BEN JABO 16/09/08
  80.   How about Mr. large at public expense cede own house by example 00:36  |  cruel 2 the merciful 16/09/08
  81.   RUSSISN JEWISH REFUGEES? 00:36  |  Duh 16/09/08
  82.   x # 67 - chip on your shoulder, eh? 00:43  |  ChanahS 16/09/08
  83.   It is odd to hear a PM of Israel express regret over the plight 01:40  |  Diane 16/09/08
  84.   Yoav - Make yourself a millionaire! 02:02  |  Diane 16/09/08
  85.   DORIS When are you leaving the USA? 02:58  |  PETER SM 16/09/08
  86.   ALMOST 100 years since the Arab pogrom at Sfad.No sorry yet 03:07  |  PETER SM 16/09/08
  87.   DUH Actually Jews were expelled from Arab countries,a million & 03:37  |  PETER SM 16/09/08
  88.   olmert joins long list of vaunted world leaders 03:46  |  Arie 16/09/08
  89.   Israel will fail as a member state 04:09  |  Dutch 16/09/08
  90.   It`s commendable that PM Olmert acknowledges past... 05:54  |  Smadar 16/09/08
  91.   Hello Lynn (re FERRI-MAN`s laughable FAIRY TALE) 06:27  |  CK Tan 16/09/08
  92.   To Ferriman, re `myths` 06:33  |  Morris Valentine 16/09/08
  93.   To Moderators - Please ,,,,,,,, 07:21  |  Dagma 16/09/08
  94.   THIS IS A PROGRESS 07:22  |  indrajaya 16/09/08
  95.   DIANE Quote from Morris`s book as per NY times Sept 16 2008 08:03  |  PETER SM 16/09/08
  96.   DIANE first hand experience of Egyptians setting fire to Jewish 08:25  |  PETER SM 16/09/08
  97.   Only sincere when there is money in it 08:37  |  Ilan 16/09/08
  98.   Why do the Palestinians have to pay for Jewish "refugees"? 08:42  |  Palestinian Prince 16/09/08
  99.   DAVID ISRAEL on cultivating Gaza 08:46  |  Palestinian Prince 16/09/08
  100.   DIANE #83 BINGO! 08:50  |  Palestinian Prince 16/09/08
  101.   Lost Cause 11:19  |  Bill Fandango 16/09/08
  102.   Palestinian prince , Excellent point Re Jewish Terror 12:12  |  Dutch 16/09/08
  103.   Palestinian Prince - Does not change the facts 15:54  |  David Israel 16/09/08
  104.   Sam, Nick, Keith, maria – It is time Arabs Lders give citizenship 22:06  |  RW 16/09/08
  105.   104 RW , The real propaganda lies with those who come to Israel 03:12  |  Dutch 17/09/08
  106.   RW, # 104 - I agree! 03:56  |  Ramzi 17/09/08
  107.   Gray old fellow//gal 18:18  |  * BEN JABO 17/09/08
  108.   #98 Palestinian Prince 17:45  |  * BEN JABO 20/09/08
 Read & React
Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: How much time does the IDF have left in Gaza?
Responses: 69
Sarkozy: Hamas to blame for suffering of Palestinians in Gaza
Responses: 47
Amira Hass: Wounded Gaza family lay bleeding for 20 hours
Responses: 77
'We lost our homes for nothing,' says reservist from former Gaza settlement
Responses: 59
Amir Oren: What's happening in Gaza is neither war nor occupation
Responses: 32


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