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Last update - 00:20 14/02/2008
Olmert to Shas: No talks underway on division of Jerusalem
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday evening assured Shas Chairman Eli Yishai that no secret talks on the division of Jerusalem were being held by anyone, referring to reports earlier Wednesday that secret talks were underway on core issues, including a plan to divide the capital.

"Foreign Minister [Tzipi] Livni and I are supervising the negotiations together. There have so far been no agreements on the fate of Jerusalem," Army Radio quoted the prime minister as saying.

Yishai also met with Cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel Wednesday in regard to the escalation in the party's threats to quit the coalition. Shas has declared repeatedly that the division of Jerusalem signifies a 'red line' for the party and that they would leave the government should the issue be raised.
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Olmert's associates later reported that they believed that Shas had been appeased, and that following his meeting with the prime minister, Yishai was convinced that the division of Jerusalem was in fact not on the agenda for negotiations.

Earlier Wednesday, Jerusalem's Municipal Board opposition leader Nir Bareket said that Vice Premier Haim Ramon and Fatah-linked Palestinian businessman Mohammed Rashid had agreed amongst themselves how Jerusalem should be divided, as part of secret talks the two have been conducting.

Bareket maintained that he had been informed of these secret talks by senior political and security officials.

Bareket added that Livni was well informed regarding the secret talks, and claimed that her refusal to expose these negotiations makes her an accomplice to the state's act of fraud, Army Radio reported.

Livni on Wednesday refused to respond to Bareket's remarks directly.

However, in a letter addressed to the Jerusalem opposition leader, Livni wrote "the Israeli and Palestinian negotiations are being conducted in agreement between the two sides, and until everything is agreed upon, nothing will be agreed upon, and the content [of the negotiations] is likewise not aimed for the public."

"Negotiations under the spotlight have not contributed in the past to achieving Israel's goals," Livni wrote, "and this decision falls under the lessons learned from from past mistakes."

"For this reason, I do not intend to address reports of alleged agreements in the negotiations. One mustn't infer anything from this lack of response in regard to the reports, just as the absence of a denial does not constitute a confirmation of any kind," Livni concluded.
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  1.   I think we have something to say about this 23:26  |  Iz Ray Leigh 13/02/08
  2.   Trial baloon,like one Yossi Katz was for Barak before the Camp D 23:47  |  Absolute Sweden 13/02/08
  3.   #1 - Just like at Khartoum in 1967?? 00:03  |  B`Galil 14/02/08
  4.   Jerusalem 00:11  |  Steve 14/02/08
  5.   The Oilymert and Shas scandal 00:52  |  EGW 14/02/08
  6.   Yishai. Better count your fingers after an Olmert handshake. 00:52  |  bat yam 14/02/08
  7.   This is the deal fair and square 01:11  |  AliciaYasmeen 14/02/08
  8.   Shas playing games 01:13  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 14/02/08
  9.   Shas olmert 01:18  |  daniel 14/02/08
  10.   Secret Talks....Would not be surprising.. 01:36  |  Stephen. 14/02/08
  11.   concessions 01:38  |  amihai 14/02/08
  12.   Little Osher has lost a leg 01:51  |  Yechiel 14/02/08
  13.   The problem of making one`s self 01:51  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/08
  14.   Absolute Sweden, always absolutely right! 02:32  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08
  15.   Would You buy a used car from Olmert? 02:45  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
  16.   The division of Jerusalem should signify a `red line`, for ALL! 02:46  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08
  17.   division of Jerusalem? 03:30  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08
  18.   The division of Jerusalem? Never again! 03:32  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08
  19.   Olmert=Shas-division of J`lem 03:40  |  Heatherross 14/02/08
  20.   If shas really believe that then I am Yasser Arafat 04:11  |  zionist forever 14/02/08
  21.   no agreements? 04:45  |  moshe 14/02/08
  22.   Haaretz censored this story for days 04:47  |  Gili 14/02/08
  23.   Pooh! 04:54  |  Jim 14/02/08
  24.   zionist forever 06:12  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08
  25.   Spendid politician-talk from Olmert! The work of a real Pro 07:36  |  Johnboy 14/02/08
  26.   Jerusalem the Only Holie place to Judaisn. 07:44  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/08
  27.   Olmert mafia gangster Bolshevik terrorist wants to destroy Israe 08:16  |  Joseph 14/02/08
  28.   No Talks ? Wanna Buy Some Land in Florida? 08:21  |  N. Gur 14/02/08
  29.   LIES,LIES AND MORE LIES!!!!! 09:28  |  Ben Uziel 14/02/08
  30.   Jerusalem NEVER to be split 15:09  |  Petra 14/02/08
  31.   Let us be pragmatic about it. 17:22  |  Arik 14/02/08
  32.   Jerusalem East to Palestinans =Peace for Israelis. 17:39  |  sandy. 14/02/08
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