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Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. (Tess Scheflan / Jini) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 17:22 18/10/2007 Erekat: Palestinians want accord by start of U.S. presidential race By DPA tags: George W. Bush  Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have until the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions next summer to complete peace talks, Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said Thursday. President George W. Bush will be preoccupied with the presidential race after the conventions, Erekat told a news conference in Ramallah. "The Republican and Democratic parties will start their conventions for the presidency in August and therefore we have to conclude an agreement by then." "We have a timeline, whether Israel likes it or not," he said. Advertisement Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sees the negotiations with Israel in three stages, he said. The first stage begins now, he said, the period before the peace summit scheduled for next month in Annapolis, Maryland. The second stage would be the negotiations on a peace deal, and the final phase would be the implementation of the treaty. "We have to reach a joint document, and not a peace treaty, on the core issues with specific parameters for solving these issues before convening the conference," Erekat said. "We have not yet started even writing one word," he added. "We exchanged views but I cannot say that we have even started to discuss details," he added. He denied the meeting has been postponed, saying that no invitations to it have yet been issued, and therefore "it is too early to talk about going or not going without an invitation or when or where the meeting is going to take place." He also denied reports that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has placed any conditions on the Palestinians in order to reach a common document with Israel or that she has failed in her recent mission to the Middle East, which ended Wednesday night. "I am surprised to hear these conclusions regarding the visit," he said, explaining that "responsibility for reaching a document is a joint Palestinian-Israeli responsibility." "I cannot say there is an agreement and do not deny the fact that there is disparity" with Israel, he went on. "I cannot say that we have started to discuss the core issues or say that Rice has started to bridge the gap." Qureia: There is no crisis in talks with Israel Former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia, the chief negotiator leading the current talks ,on Thursday dismissed claims that peace momentum has stalled, saying Israel and the Palestinians still have their sights set on framing a shared vision of peace. "There is no crisis at all, said Ahmed Qureia, playing down Palestinian accusations that Israel has been undermining preparations for the upcoming U.S.-brokered peace summit." Qureia spoke a day after Rice wrapped up a four-day visit to the region meant to lay the groundwork for the conference. Throughout Rice's visit, which ended Thursday morning, Palestinian officials, including Abbas, accused Israel of being intransigent and damaging the pre-summit atmosphere. But on Thursday, Qureia said he remained hopeful a deal would be reached, though he acknowledged much work lay ahead. "We are still preparing for intensified negotiations that will take place before the conference in order to reach a joint document," he told The Associated Press. So far, we haven't discussed any issues. Related articles: Source: Joint Israel-PA statement to address 'all core issues' Livni: Talks aimed at reaching wide deal with PA before summit Peres: Government has no intention of dividing Jerusalem Rice: Timing of summit depends on Palestinian-Israeli progress Bookmark to del.icio.us Evangelists' warning Christian power-broker Gary Bauer warns of the dangers of 'islamofascism.' Iran is not afraid Iran's FM says Israel poses no threat to Iran and aggression will spark retaliation.   1.   Ought to be called Chief Palestinian Idiot 15:44  |  Scredley 18/10/07   2.   Can`t We Save Civilization Ourselves? 15:46  |  dyinglikeflies 18/10/07   3.   First stop terror if you`re setting deadline! 15:47  |  Dakkar 18/10/07   4.   Ratcheting Back 16:32  |  Ron 18/10/07   5.   Do what we want or else... 16:41  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 18/10/07   6.   squandered op 16:43  |  multiverse 18/10/07   7.   Arabs must specify what they OFFER in return for what they want 17:04  |  Uzi 18/10/07   8.   Relax, there can never be any separate Arab political entity 17:09  |  Uzi 18/10/07   9.   Accord for what? 17:09  |  Brod 18/10/07   10.   The cyclical behaviour pattern of the Arabs of Western Palestine: 17:11  |  Uzi 18/10/07   11.   Wishful thinking 17:15  |  Tosefta 18/10/07   12.   Israel wants the PA to end all terror by then, too 17:21  |  Polybios 18/10/07   13.   Quera plus equals no movement fron Arafat Erakat 17:34  |  Reuven 18/10/07   14.   Uzi, why is this? 17:52  |  Ibrahim 18/10/07   15.   Second Attempt- Definition of Ereket 18:15  |  Chick 18/10/07   16.   Ibrahim #14 Why indeed! 18:39  |  Polybios 18/10/07   17.   This would be the 2d time Qureia quit! 18:41  |  Polybios 18/10/07   18.   Erakat`s arrogance astounds me 19:15  |  Mark 18/10/07   19.   People Can Make a Difference 19:55  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/10/07   20.   Who do they think they are.. 20:26  |  Nemesis 18/10/07   21.   If Erakat wants a deal, let him make concessions 21:09  |  McQueen 18/10/07   22.   accord 21:12  |  colin 18/10/07   23.   Or what? 21:58  |  peter 18/10/07   24.   #21 McQueen, Erakat`s goal is not a "Deal", but a "State" 03:59  |  Johnboy 19/10/07

Today Online Israel to free up to 400 jailed Palestinians before summit Responses: 70 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' Responses: 158 Five said killed as Hamas, Fatah clash at rally for Arafat Responses: 72 Religious or secular, regulars mourn end of Jerusalem's gay bar Responses: 25 Haaretz.com TV: Arab family takes in homeless Jews Responses: 124 Rosner's Domain GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about The Ahmadinejad of the year (WTR) Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs More Headlines 17:23 At least 6 dead as Hamas, Fatah clash at Arafat rally 15:44 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' 15:10 IDF reservist dies in armored vehicle crash during Golan drill 15:39 Turkish President to Peres: Syria is interested in peace with Israel 17:23 VIEWPOINT / 'Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in U.K. 16:34 Arab ministers to meet in Cairo ahead of Annapolis conference 13:39 Netanyahu lobbies Ovadia Yosef in bid to stymie peace summit 16:48 Mazuz backs Lebanon war panel's decision not to warn individuals 14:26 Surgeons restore amputated fingers of basketball game guard 12:37 Knesset panel okays Western world's largest database for police use Previous Editions Select Day 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct

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