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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attending a Kadima party meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on Monday. (Reuters)
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PA official: Barak, Livni holding Olmert back on peace process
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
tags: Israel, Palestinians 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are preventing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from moving forward on a joint declaration with the Palestinian Authority, a senior PA official said Tuesday.

The official, who is currently accompanying PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on a visit to Ankara, Turkey, said disagreements on the Israeli side are to blame for the lack of progress on drafting a declaration ahead of the U.S-sponsored Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

"Olmert is willing but the problem is with Livni and Barak," said the official, who asked to remain anonymous. "As of yet he haven't been able to reach an agreement on anything, and there has been absolutely no progress."
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"There needs to be a clear decision by the political echelon in Israel, and only then will we be able to move forward," he said, adding that he believes Olmert and Abbas will ultimately have to personally close the deal on the declaration in a face-to-face meeting.

PM: Final status talks to be held before first stage of road map

Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to begin talks on a final status agreement before the implementation of the first stage of the road map - eliminating terror and dismantling the settlements - according to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in his appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Since the unveiling of the road map in 2002, Israel has been opposed to negotiations on a final-status agreement before the first stage of the road map was implemented. However last week the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams agreed that following the Annapolis summit scheduled for the end of the month, negotiations on a final-status arrangement would begin. The agreement states that if a final-status accord is reached, it would be subject to the implementation of the road map by the parties.

Israel and the Palestinians entered an intensive stage of the negotiations on Monday in a bid to formulate a declaration to be presented at the Annapolis conference. The negotiating teams, headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Ahmad Qureia for the Palestinian Authority, met in Jerusalem and were to meet again Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice will decide based on the progress of the parties whether to come to the region again next week.

"I concluded that we can permit ourselves to somewhat change our traditional position," Olmert told the Knesset committee. He added that time was working against the diplomatic process, and so "we will try to reach an understanding on all elements of the solution. But we will not have to implement anything before the fulfillment of the first stage of the road map," he added.

Olmert said there would be a period of time, which he called a "buffer zone," between the agreement and its implementation. "If stage one of the road map is implemented - if the Palestinians dismantle terror infrastructure - then and only then will Israel have to implement the agreement."

Olmert and Prime Minister Tzipi Livni appeared at different Knesset forums on Monday, and explained that the Annapolis summit would last for one day.

Livni revealed to the Kadima faction that Israel had pressed the Palestinians into committing the agreement to writing.

Government sources in Jerusalem said the summit would begin on November 26, with meetings of the foreign ministers in Annapolis. That evening President George W. Bush will host Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for a dinner at the White House. The next day, Olmert and Abbas will speak at the formal opening of the conference, which would last a few hours.

According to Olmert, "the starting point of the negotiations will be the recognition that Israel is the state of the Jewish people.

"I have no doubt that Abu Mazen and and [PA Prime Minister] Salam Fayad are obligated to agreements and want to make peace with Israel as a Jewish state, and I have good reason to say this," Olmert also said.

The end point of the talks, Olmert said, would be the declaration of the end of the conflict and demands.

Olmert plans to bring the agreement reached at the end of the negotiations to the United Nations Security Council, the U.S. and the Quartet, to ensure the widest possible international support.

Olmert also told the Knesset committee that the U.S. has not prohibited Israel from conducting talks with Syria, but rather is asking in another way that Israel avoid such talks.

"A formula can be found for Syria to participate in the conference," Olmert told the committee. "I believe that the Annapolis summit could, under certain conditions, bring about a renewal of talks with Syria when the time comes, and that is of value for
Israel."

Last week Defense Minister Ehud Barak told a meeting of the Saban Forum of economic, political and academic leaders from the U.S. and Israel that he supported renewing talks with Syria. He said another round of conflict might break out between Israel and Syria, in which case "we would have to look our soldiers in the eyes and tell them we had done everything we could to obtain an agreement.

Mazal Mualem adds: Barak told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week that based on recent intelligence, Syria might be seeking to remove itself from "the axis of evil," and this might constitute an opportunity to renew talks between Syria and Israel. Barak's associates said promoting the Syrian channel did not contradict the channel of talks with the Palestinians.

Related articles:
  • Israel, PA agree future deals hinge on implementing road map
  • Palestinian PM says will work with Barak to revive road map
  • Livni: Israel will not remove outposts until PA fights terror
  • Ariel Sharon approves road map, Israel has reservations
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      1.   Forward Momentum 03:06  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/07
      2.   Canned story: "In Egypt, calls for peace bring waves of rebuke" 04:13  |  Genuine Tosefta 13/11/07
      3.   Mark of Lewiston. They did it!!! 04:45  |  Lynn 13/11/07
      4.   Well, Tosefta was right to question first stage it seems... 04:46  |  Smadar 13/11/07
      5.   How Absurd 04:59  |  Baz Mann 13/11/07
      6.   Palestinian Prince- Don`t hold your breath 05:22  |  Sam 13/11/07
      7.   Shahar Ilan, you are wrong, and/or superbiased 06:02  |  Rob 13/11/07
      8.   Olmert Demands Writing In Exchange For Sacrifices 06:12  |  Efox 13/11/07
      9.   The first stage of the Roadmap to Peace is the disarming of 06:46  |  Edna 13/11/07
      10.   "Jewish State" A RIDICULOUS Demand! Israel/Israelis GROW UP!!!! 07:08  |  Proud Pal Defender 13/11/07
      11.   Even now Olmert won`t accept there are Israeli obligations 07:10  |  Johnboy 13/11/07
      12.   Dismanteling Settlements 07:14  |  Marc 13/11/07
      13.   What sort of summit lasts ONE SINGLE DAY? 07:16  |  Johnboy 13/11/07
      14.   SURRENDER AFTER SURRENDER, OLMERT, WHY DON`T YOU COMMIT SUICIDE? 07:18  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 13/11/07
      15.   ALL THEIR "AGREEMENTS" WILL GO THE WAY OF OSLO:STRAIT INTO GARBAG 07:21  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 13/11/07
      16.   Great news 07:27  |  Choni Davidowitz 13/11/07
      17.   Israel continues to squirm 07:40  |  Natallie Durson 13/11/07
      18.   Abbas can agree to the right of israel to exist...But... 08:01  |  Galut 13/11/07
      19.   olmert, the pied piper of fools 08:11  |  Mark 13/11/07
      20.   its wonderful to see complete bloody idiots at work 08:27  |  victor hardman 13/11/07
      21.   Starting Point of the Negotartions...... 08:33  |  Dagma 13/11/07
      22.   Tosefta gets the news direct from Syria 08:50  |  mimeni 13/11/07
      23.   Skipping steps 09:00  |  Frank 13/11/07
      24.   Lynn # 3 09:10  |  Philippe 13/11/07
      25.   Genuine Tosefta # 2 09:14  |  Philippe 13/11/07
      26.   Edna # 5, you hit the nail on its head. If they refuse to 09:20  |  Ravit Yaroni 13/11/07
      27.   Now that first stage is skipped let`s skip all other stages too 09:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 13/11/07
      28.   Canned story: "In Egypt, calls for peace bring waves of rebuke" 09:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 13/11/07
      29.   Gimme, Gimme, Gimmee, Gimmee 09:32  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      30.   For Voice of Moshiach # 10 09:37  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      31.   to #9 Johnboy - What Summit Lasts One Day? 09:37  |  B`Galil 13/11/07
      32.   Bravo for progress! 09:39  |  Ivar 13/11/07
      33.   Just enough time for those nice photo-ops 09:39  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      34.   3 - Lynn 09:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/07
      35.   5 Edna - Still the First Phase 10:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/07
      36.   Can you recognise Israel please ? 10:15  |  Elia 13/11/07
      37.   listen good you arabs 10:20  |  yirmiyahu 13/11/07
      38.   the highlands of the west bank control the coastal plain where 10:24  |  amnon reshef 13/11/07
      39.   For Elia, om recognition of Israel # 36 10:40  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      40.   #29 the yellow streak has an eyesight problem 10:44  |  victor hardman 13/11/07
      41.   life in the dan region would be impossible 10:45  |  natke nir 13/11/07
      42.   For Amnon Reshef # 38 10:46  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      43.   the water aquifers are also in the hills 10:49  |  yaya 13/11/07
      44.   To Natallie Durson # 17 - And Ar abs begin their prevaricating 10:52  |  Dagma 13/11/07
      45.   Listen good you Jews # 37 10:55  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      46.   Let me explain what it means 11:00  |  Linguist 13/11/07
      47.   Olmert - Why not skip everything and just pack your bags??? 11:06  |  Zev 13/11/07
      48.   Re 32 Bravo for progress 11:13  |  Galut 13/11/07
      49.   Re Click #29...as usual... 11:22  |  Esther 13/11/07
      50.   Hopefully The Police Will Arrest Him Prior To Annapolis !! 11:24  |  F.Raudulent 13/11/07
      51.   THIS MOSHIACH CRAZY...#14 11:29  |  Esther 13/11/07
      52.   Re Natallie #17 11:34  |  Esther 13/11/07
      53.   Re Raudulent #49 11:44  |  Esther 13/11/07
      54.   For Lynn # 48 11:48  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      55.   My apologies to Lynn # 48 11:49  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      56.   HOW NUTTY CAN YOU GET? 11:53  |  Lila 13/11/07
      57.   YOU BETTER ASK SHARON FIRST, OLD MAN 12:18  |  indrajaya 13/11/07
      58.   open your atlases 12:52  |  yaya 13/11/07
      59.   various leftists sitting in toronto and elsewhere 12:55  |  benzion 13/11/07
      60.   clickfool i will not discuss israel 13:00  |  amnon reshef 13/11/07
      61.   clickfool think also of this 13:04  |  amnon reshef 13/11/07
      62.   No to any deal and any practical move unless and until 13:08  |  Rivqah Halevi 13/11/07
      63.   Interesting view of a discussion board # 60 13:17  |  Clickfool 13/11/07
      64.   #11 johnboy making up stories. AGAIN. 13:23  |  CK Tan 13/11/07
      65.   Natallie D # 17 - More and More excuses 13:23  |  Dolly 13/11/07
      66.   #1 if you see something serious here then .. 13:39  |  redmike 13/11/07
      67.   Phillipe in LA 13:43  |  Jackie 13/11/07
      68.   Labour-Barak holding back Ex-Likudnik Olmert...???? 14:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/07
      69.   Only the Recognition that Israel is the State.... 14:04  |  Natasha 13/11/07
      70.   Olmert is the best asset of Ahmadinejad 14:16  |  Jonathan S 13/11/07
      71.   Natallie Durson QUE?!!! 14:19  |  notblackorwhite 13/11/07
      72.   MODERATES/Those Who Want Peace MUST WIN/PREVAIL! 14:23  |  Proud Pal Defender 13/11/07
      73.   Conference is TRAP 14:39  |  ralphsrant1 13/11/07
      74.   Silly man with not grasp of the situation ! 14:41  |  redmike 13/11/07
      75.   #68 - seems like you don`t understand that life is good here ! 14:51  |  redmike 13/11/07
      76.   #11more of johnboy on his own at the helm 14:58  |  victor hardman 13/11/07
      77.   durson, you disappoint me yet again 15:01  |  natan