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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (AP)
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PA Chair Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinian borders
By The Associated Press

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday laid out his most specific demands for the borders of a future independent state, calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from all territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Abbas' claim comes as Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams are trying to hammer out a joint vision for a future peace deal in time for a U.S.-hosted conference next month.

With Israel seeking to retain parts of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Abbas' comments appeared to set the stage for tough negotiations, which are expected to include complicated arrangements such as land swaps and shared control over holy sites.
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In a television interview, Abbas said the Palestinians want to establish a state on 6,205 square kilometers of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was the first time he has given a precise number for the amount of land he is seeking.

"We have 6,205 square kilometers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," Abbas told Palestine TV. "We want it as it is."

According to Palestinian negotiating documents obtained by The Associated Press, the Palestinian demands include all of the Gaza Strip, West Bank, east Jerusalem and small areas along the West Bank frontier that were considered no-man's land before the Six-Day War.

But at the same time, Abbas left the door open for a land swap. "A border adjustment, on the basis of the same quality and the same amount, we have no objections," he said.

Palestinian officials confirmed that Abbas would be willing to adjust his claims, as long as they end up with the same amount of land. His aides have said he has agreed in recent talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to exchange West Bank land Israel wants to keep in a final peace deal with an equal amount of Israeli land. This would allow Israel to annex the West Bank area where the settlement blocs are located.

Abbas said his claim is backed by United Nations resolutions. "This is our vision for the Palestinian independent state with full sovereignty on its borders, water and resources."

David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's office, told Haaretz that "both sides are involved in a continuous dialogue to make as much progress as possible."

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held their first working meeting this week as they try to hammer out a joint declaration in time for next month's conference. The U.S. hopes the document will provide a launching ground for full-fledged negotiations on a final peace agreement.

Israel captured the territories in the Six-Day War and hopes in a final peace deal with the Palestinians to hold on to parts of the West Bank where settlement blocs are located. Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

As part of the proposal, Abbas offered Olmert about 2 percent of the West Bank, the aides said. Olmert is seeking some 6-8 percent of the West Bank, but has said the exact amount of territory should be decided in future negotiations. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters with the media.

In exchange for the West Bank land, Israel is reportedly considering transferring to the Palestinians a strip of area between the Gaza Strip and West Bank to allow for a connection between them. About 40 kilometers of Israeli territory separates the two Palestinian territories.

Abbas said the joint statement at the conference must deal with the main hurdles preventing a final peace agreement.

"The international conference must include the six major issues that are Jerusalem, refugees, borders, settlements, water and security," Abbas said.

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      1.   Israel agreeing to be carved into pieces by the "land corridor" 13:01  |  Absolute Sweden 10/10/07
      2.   beyond belief 13:06  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/10/07
      3.   Abbas and the Pals are in no position to demand 13:10  |  SystemF 10/10/07
      4.   Peace Partner Yea Right 13:18  |  ralphsrant1 10/10/07
      5.   System F 13:22  |  Tareq 10/10/07
      6.   Pal state as a nonsence. 13:22  |  Vital 10/10/07
      7.   Giving away Jerusalem and parts of the west Bank 13:24  |  Dr. John Sragowicz 10/10/07
      8.   Out of the haze.... 13:38  |  Esther 10/10/07
      9.   Give and Take 13:40  |  David 10/10/07
      10.   Lot`s of demands and nothing to offer 13:47  |  Ilan 10/10/07
      11.   David,Poland in 1939 &EU today were dumber than you 13:57  |  Absolute Sweden 10/10/07
      12.   SystemF - You are absolutely right.... 13:58  |  nm 10/10/07
      13.   Margie (response to disappeared thread) 14:02  |  Guido 10/10/07
      14.   gimme,gimme, gimme... 14:05  |  Dav Zee 10/10/07
      15.   Ilan #10 14:05  |  Guido 10/10/07
      16.   There Won`t Be Any PA State Here In OUR Land 14:09  |  Yishai Kohen 10/10/07
      17.   Palestinian State 14:10  |  Honest Observation 10/10/07
      18.   TIME FOR ELECTIONS IS NOW 14:11  |  M.Andate 10/10/07
      19.   Did Israel loose the 67 war? 14:16  |  Gilbert 10/10/07
      20.   start pacing your bags 14:16  |  chaim schonbrun 10/10/07
      21.   israel showed it was willing to leave gaza 14:17  |  roberta 10/10/07
      22.   If this is his starting position... 14:20  |  Avi Yerushalmi 10/10/07
      23.   What is Abbas committing to ? 14:25  |  redmike 10/10/07
      24.   ABBAS DEMANDS ISRAEL YIELDS 14:25  |  Mitch 10/10/07
      25.   Where are Abbas` words of outrage? 14:30  |  Clickfool 10/10/07
      26.   Forget the Peace Process if This is the Result 14:31  |  Daniel 10/10/07
      27.   The Israeli`s are amateurs compared to the Palestinans 14:31  |  Zev 10/10/07
      28.   The World Knows What Must Be Returned 14:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/10/07
      29.   Who voted for Olmert? 14:35  |  Mark 10/10/07
      30.   Land Lease Options 14:44  |  Rob Adler 10/10/07
      31.   Solutions 14:46  |  Joseba 10/10/07
      32.   Israel should also offer hi-speed trains to shuttle Qassams... 14:49  |  Richard S 10/10/07
      33.   Abbas Opening 14:50  |  Ron 10/10/07
      34.   Root of the problem, besides Zionism 14:53  |  Harold 10/10/07
      35.   Guido. if you think we are thieves leave us alone 14:54  |  Ilan 10/10/07
      36.   Dictating terms 14:56  |  Yoav Naor 10/10/07
      37.   Yes Gilbert 19, Israel is slowly losing the 67 war 14:57  |  Michael 10/10/07
      38.   SLICING ISRAEL IN 2 to 4 PARTS 14:59  |  BARRY S. ROFFMAN 10/10/07
      39.   every kassam 15:00  |  real vision 10/10/07
      40.   Clickfool -- Why do you hate the Palestinians? 15:00  |  bbl 10/10/07
      41.   ARAB ABBAS GIVE1/2" AND HE,LL TAKE AMILE 15:01  |  paul harris 10/10/07
      42.   Joseba`s Solutions 15:07  |  Daniel W 10/10/07
      43.   FULL COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL IS ONLY SOLUTION 15:09  |  TrippleJump 10/10/07
      44.   ISRAELIS SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL TO KEEP HAIFA, LOD etc. 15:10  |  Kokonot 10/10/07
      45.   Why not a tunnel? 15:13  |  Ben 10/10/07
      46.   It`s been a long time coming 15:15  |  Outsider 10/10/07
      47.   LATEST NEWS: HAARETZ MAKES TERRORIST DEMANDS HEADLINE NEWS 15:17  |  John a gentile 10/10/07
      48.   Where do I buy a GUN to protect my house 15:21  |  Avraham 10/10/07
      49.   Guido 15:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/10/07
      50.   Abbas is not realistic 15:25  |  Cynic #2 10/10/07
      51.   Excellent proposal 15:27  |  Steve 10/10/07
      52.   Israel doesn`t HAVE to do anything 15:27  |  Drew 10/10/07
      53.   Peace????? 15:31  |  Dilima 10/10/07
      54.   Give them back what was theirs 15:33  |  Murray of Montreal 10/10/07
      55.   Wiping Israel off the map, is this what Iran had in mind? 15:35  |  Drew 10/10/07
      56.   NO to the Usurpers 15:36  |  Brod 10/10/07
      57.   Jassmine Murphy on Cutting Israel in half 15:36  |  Ibrahim 10/10/07
      58.   What Abbas must do to combat Israeli intransigence 15:40  |  Ibrahim 10/10/07
      59.   A corridor between Gaza and the West Bank? 15:45  |  Ian Robertson 10/10/07
      60.   What does Israel get in return? 15:45  |  SystemF 10/10/07
      61.   Cuttign Israel in Half (Response to Ibrahim) 15:46  |  Drew 10/10/07
      62.   Land Swap 15:46  |  Chaimemet 10/10/07
      63.   Like Abbas demands are anything NEW! 15:47  |  Joe 10/10/07
      64.   ABBAS IS A TRAITOR SELLING PALESTINIAN LAND 15:48  |  Palestinian Forever 10/10/07
      65.   Abbas has no right making concessions 15:49  |  Rami 10/10/07
      66.   Abbas is talking non sense: Palestine is not for sale 15:50  |  Eiyad 10/10/07
      67.   Guido #15 15:52  |  Murray of Montreal 10/10/07
      68.   #45 Why not a tunnel? 15:59  |  Murray of Montreal 10/10/07
      69.   Give and take 2 15:59  |  David 10/10/07
      70.   The Beginning of a long-term process 16:00  |  Tzfonit 10/10/07
      71.   Gaza withdrawal 16:01  |  Faris 10/10/07
      72.   Response to Joe 16:01  |  Drew 10/10/07
      73.   Israel Doesnt Want Peace 16:06  |  dan 10/10/07
      74.   Drew, you are shortsighted 16:09  |  Ibrahim 10/10/07
      75.   zionizsts dont want peace 16:10  |  al 10/10/07
      76.   Drew on Israel Doing Nothing 16:13  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/10/07
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      78.   DIVIDE US TO CONNECT THEM 16:14  |  Nephtaly 10/10/07
      79.   Ron # 33 How Can One Tell? 16:18  |  Jeff Northridge 10/10/07
      80.   Talk about short sighted..... 16:19  |  Drew