Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 21, 2007 Kislev 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Magazine Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meeting recently with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 07:24 21/11/2007 Annapolis joint declaration to focus on goals of final status talks By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Palestinian Authority  Israel and the Palestinian Authority's joint declaration at the Annapolis summit will focus on the format and goals of negotiations on a permanent settlement. The declaration will reference previous decisions, such as United Nations Security Council resolutions and the road map. It will also present the sides' goals for a solution, and will address the so-called "core issues": permanent borders, Jerusalem, security arrangements, Palestinian refugees and water sources. Advertisement The two negotiating teams, headed respectively by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, met again Tuesday to discuss the joint declaration. Disagreements arose over most of the issues. Qureia insists the declaration present core principles for a solution, such as an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, and state that East Jerusalem will be the capital of the future Palestinian state. Israel has rebuffed his demands, and is willing to relate only in general terms to the core issues, without presenting any solutions. In light of the disagreement, Israel has asked the U.S. government to pressure the Palestinians into being flexible and to go ahead and hold the Annapolis summit as planned on November 26-27. Israel will announce a series of gestures, including the freeing of Palestinian prisoners and the freezing of settlement construction, in keeping with the spirit of the summit. The debate over the joint declaration, and the drafts passing between the two parties, started after a deal was reached last weekend. The deal stated that the Annapolis agreement would be implemented in keeping with the stages of the road map. This means a Palestinian state could be established only after PA institutions are rebuilt and the PA fights the terror organizations in the territories. Meanwhile, Israel will be required to freeze the settlements and dismantle illegal outposts. The questions still open to debate include whether to set a timetable for reaching an agreement; how to supervise the implementation of the road map; whether a tripartite (U.S., Israel and Palestinian Authority) committee will be established for such a purpose, as the Palestinians have demanded, or whether the Americans will be the sole arbiter, as the Israelis want; and whether the negotiation goals will include "ending the dispute and all [Palestinian] claims," as Israel wants. Israel made it clear that it considers Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state to be a precondition to flexibility on the core issues, and that the establishment of a Palestinian state constitutes a solution to Palestinian national demands. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced this week that he will raise the demand that Israel be recognized as the Jewish state during the post-summit negotiations. This means Israel will not allow this demand to block the summit. Bookmark to del.icio.us The reek of hatred An ex-chief rabbi's recent remarks on Conservative Judaism may spark a legal fight. Natural bombardment A hailstorm set off hundreds of cluster bombs lying in the soil of southern Lebanese soil.   1.   core issues and Shas 04:56  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 14/11/07   2.   Wow! All this progress the last minute is like cramming before... 05:59  |  Smadar 14/11/07   3.   Israel is being Sold Out by the US 06:01  |  ralphsrant1 14/11/07   4.   If the Pals get a state, they are extremely 06:26  |  jay 14/11/07   5.   Bush to Olmert: Promises are made to be broken 10:13  |  Natallie Durson 14/11/07   6.   Olmert has agreed to pal "return", now he needs to ambush Israeli 10:26  |  Absolute Sweden 14/11/07   7.   Annapolis: Defeating Israel 10:31  |  Nora 14/11/07   8.   Any join declaration must include the fact that Israel is 11:14  |  Udi 14/11/07   9.   Is Annapolis equal to Delphi? 11:50  |  H.H.M 14/11/07   10.   And Palestinians have to wait for a thousand years. 13:15  |  El-Birawi 14/11/07   11.   What if the Palestinian negotiating team... 13:55  |  J.M.Jordan 14/11/07   12.   To El Birawi # 10 - Israel has no Committment whatsoever 14:06  |  Dagma 14/11/07   13.   # 12 dagma 15:32  |  Axel 14/11/07   14.   To Axel # 12 - Israel`s committment is one of Generosity 18:44  |  Dagma 14/11/07   15.   # 14 dagma 20:17  |  Axel 14/11/07

Today Online Burston: Dying of occupation - a case of cancer and the right Responses: 181 Mourners of terror victim block entrance to Palestinian village Responses: 235 Israel's Conservative movement threatens to sue ex-chief rabbi Responses: 133 Settlers: Palestinians vandalizing Jewish farmers' property Responses: 116 Rosner: Fewer Americans think Israel ready to make peace Responses: 65 Rosner's Domain More Americans ready to abandon Israel if support means more terror Guest: America's universities are failing a generation of students The Democrats are struggling with Iran (WTR) Poll: Should Israel "get used" to the Iranian bomb? More Headlines 07:03 Annapolis date Nov. 27; Saudi Arabia, Syria to attend 04:40 ANALYSIS: The importance of who attends Annapolis from Arab states 06:45 Olmert approves provision of 50 armored vehicles to PA security forces 07:19 Group 'Judaizing' E. Jerusalem accused of withholding donor information 05:25 Holocaust hero Bielski accused of stealing $250,000 from elderly neighbor 06:48 German officials deny plans to reopen talks on WWII reparations 06:54 Israel offers to implement social service system for Palestinians 05:39 U.K. left wing sees one-state solution to Israel-Palestinian conflict 05:47 Liberian leader tells Haaretz: Africa is gaining power, hope 02:58 Education Min.: Striking teachers are 'stuck in the past' Previous Editions Select Day 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov

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