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Last update - 14:22 12/09/2007
Official: PA demand for timetable major sticking point in talks
By Reuters

Israel is resisting pressure from the Palestinians to set a strict timetable for implementing any statehood principles agreed at a U.S.-sponsored conference, Israeli officials said on Wednesday.

The debate over deadlines comes amid signs of progress this week in talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas over the outlines of an agreement that would be presented at the conference, to be held as early as November 15.

Israeli officials said Olmert would be open to rough timelines so long as the Israeli steps are tied to reciprocal moves by the Palestinians on matters like disarming militants, as called for under the long-stalled U.S.-backed roadmap for Middle East peace.

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"These are negotiations and, in the end, you compromise," said an official close to Olmert.

"There has been progress. Both sides know they need success and they need a document," said a senior Israeli official familiar with the deliberations.

But the official added: "It [the conference] is one step in a very long process."

A major sticking point, the official said, was over Abbas's call for a timeline for implementing the agreements that are reached.

"They [the Palestinians] want a tight and strict schedule for implementation. Naturally we can't commit to a tight and strict schedule," the official said.

A Foreign Ministry official said Israel wanted any timetables to be "performance-based."

"A timeline that ignores performance is not effective and when you don't meet a specific target date it can only create more problems and frustration," the official said.

"We believe that artificial timelines have been just that. We're very much supportive of the sort of timelines in the
'roadmap', which means its a performance-based process," the official added.
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  1.   Resisting Pressure? 14:52  |  Adam 12/09/07
  2.   It means Olmert has betrayed Israel and agreed to pal "return" 14:53  |  Absolute Sweden 12/09/07
  3.   THE MAJOR STICKING POINT IS A NEED 15:01  |  PAUL HARRIS 12/09/07
  4.   Nothing to do with schedules,abbas needs this worthless offer 15:21  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  5.   when will abbas learn ? 15:38  |  VIPER 12/09/07
  6.   When Have the Pals "performed"? 16:05  |  Jimbo 12/09/07
  7.   Timetables are such awkward things 16:16  |  Natallie Durson 12/09/07
  8.   Abbas is lucky to get anyting at all 16:31  |  Ben 12/09/07
  9.   #2 16:37  |  Moshe 12/09/07
  10.   #4: Hve no fear... 16:52  |  Ben 12/09/07
  11.   Timetable is a great idea 16:53  |  peter 12/09/07
  12.   Palestinians are not obliged by agreements, Israel is 16:53  |  Shlomo from Tel Aviv 12/09/07
  13.   Understandable that it`s a dilemma now 16:57  |  Smadar 12/09/07
  14.   Paul H: 2 + 2 = Ethnic cleansing 17:14  |  PAUL 12/09/07
  15.   Jews & Arabs are equals 17:20  |  PAUL 12/09/07
  16.   Abbas demands timetable for Israeli surrender 17:33  |  Chick 12/09/07
  17.   12Shlomo from tel aviv,my,my,and israel has kept its promises & 17:47  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  18.   Conference is a Waste 17:48  |  MB 12/09/07
  19.   Anyone who thinks that Hamas is going to accept this useless 17:49  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  20.   A different timetable is needed 17:50  |  Yossi Mahran 12/09/07
  21.   gaza 17:53  |  vik 12/09/07
  22.   What about a timetable for the Arabs? 18:30  |  Gee 12/09/07
  23.   #13 18:30  |  B 12/09/07
  24.   A Timetable of task duration and dependencies can ba acceptable 18:47  |  David Israel 12/09/07
  25.   One Million JEWISH Refugees&Their Descendants Must be COMPENSATED 19:06  |  Linda Rivera 12/09/07
  26.   The WICKED LIE of Occupation 19:09  |  Linda Rivera 12/09/07
  27.   #19 lakshmi 19:16  |  Smadar 12/09/07
  28.   absolute sweden 2 19:23  |  realism 12/09/07
  29.   jimbo 6 19:26  |  realism 12/09/07
  30.   @17, sweet dreams yossy mahran. 19:27  |  vladimir 12/09/07
  31.   Israeli Government timelines mean put off delivering.. 19:33  |  Don Camillo 12/09/07
  32.   19Smadar,you raise many questions of historical fact,but let me 19:46  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  33.   Prevarication, Delay and Deception 19:58  |  chet 12/09/07
  34.   33chet,agree with your analysis,but if you have seen the CNN 21:20  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  35.   #25, 26 Linda Rivera 21:24  |  Boycott 12/09/07
  36.   Realism # 27 21:32  |  David Israel 12/09/07
  37.   What self determination, back in 1947?? 21:37  |  Smadar 12/09/07
  38.   Adam ignorant of all but apples? 21:41  |  Jasmine Murphy 12/09/07
  39.   What self determination, back in 1947, Part2?? 21:52  |  Smadar 12/09/07
  40.   Haaretz staff - where is part I to lakshmi? 22:11  |  Smadar 12/09/07
  41.   We mustn`t allow Israel to ruin the process. 22:23  |  Ibrahim 12/09/07
  42.   #31don speaks for the world again 22:26  |  victor hardman 12/09/07
  43.   40 Smadar, irrelevant whether Palestine was an agrarian society 22:43  |  lakshmi 12/09/07
  44.   Another plan for rapid and painless end to the Israeli occupation 22:50  |  Uzi 12/09/07
  45.   There can never be any separate Arab political entity 22:53  |  Uzi 12/09/07
  46.   Uzi, wake up 23:19  |  Ibrahim 12/09/07
  47.   We have boycotted Izrail for 60 years, hav no need for imitations 23:29  |  Arab Boycott 12/09/07
  48.   Abbas Wise to Not Trust Israel as Lying is Part of Israeli Life 23:44  |  Mr. Knowitall 12/09/07
  49.   THE SHELL GAME:Abbas will NEVER end terrorism NOR CAN NOR WANT... 23:58  |  Pavel 12/09/07
  50.   Dear Ibrahim, could you please consider some facts? 00:01  |  Uzi 13/09/07
  51.   Dear Ibrahim, could you please consider more facts? 00:05  |  Uzi 13/09/07
  52.   #43 lakshmi, right now must get ready for Rosh Hashana 00:20  |  Smadar 13/09/07
  53.   Dear Ibrahim, considering Arab achievements since 1917, could you 00:32  |  Uzi 13/09/07
  54.   48Mr.Knowitall,agreed,do read my posts 19,32,34,43,to get the 00:47  |  lakshmi 13/09/07
  55.   why a timetable when he hasn;t kept one...whether 02:02  |  r 13/09/07
  56.   The last time the Palestinians accepted 02:18  |  Mark Lincoln 13/09/07
  57.   "demand for a timeline" 03:34  |  eymanamen 13/09/07
  58.   UN RESOLUTIONS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED 05:51  |  nobodysacred 13/09/07
  59.   #43 lakshmi, well I looked at D`Amato`s opinion.... 06:47  |  Smadar 13/09/07
  60.   Don Camillo 06:48  |  Danite 13/09/07
  61.   Ibrahim 06:51  |  Danite 13/09/07
  62.   #43 lakshmi, con`t of D`Amato`s opinion.... 06:55  |  Smadar 13/09/07
  63.   Israel is demanding actions and comitments, why can`t Palestinian 07:48  |  Petteri 13/09/07
  64.   How can timetables be set for people to govern the disputed 09:00  |  Robert 13/09/07
  65.   Timetables are fine, as long as they include 10:36  |  David Teich 13/09/07
  66.   46: Ibrahim`s dreams of jihad 10:41  |  David Teich 13/09/07
  67.   #14, PAUL, jews and arabs are the same 14:09  |  VIPER 13/09/07
  68.   Carter and D`Amato (Smadar #62; re Lakshmi) 18:50  |  Tosefta 15/09/07
  69.   67: Viper`s confused by mirrors 17:38  |  David Teich 17/09/07
  70.   David T, #65, one more item... 17:48  |  Polybios 21/09/07
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