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Last update - 10:34 20/02/2008 ANALYSIS: When it comes to Jerusalem, both sides are right By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: palestinian authority  In the most recent dispute between Israel and the Palestinian Authority about beginning negotiations over Jerusalem, both parties are in the right. It's true that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed during their last meeting that the subject of Jerusalem would be deferred until the end of negotiations, after other issues are resolved, like borders and the settelements. Even Abbas' associates confirmed that he had agreed to Olmert's request on the matter, taking into account the prime minister's sensitive political position. But those associates are not satisfied, to say the least, with Olmert's policy of running off to tell everyone last week about the understandings he reached with Abbas - understandings that were supposed to remain secret. Olmert, presumably, had his own considerations. In light of the slim chance that the negotiations will actually pan out, he preferred once again to damage Abbas' standing among the Palestinian public in order to strengthen his unstable coalition, even if just a little bit. Advertisement It must be said that the Palestinians have almost no expectations for the negotiations to be successful. Most of the Palestinian journalists and opinion-shapers believe the current talks are not going anywhere and that both sides are trying to create an appearance of a political process in order to pacify the American administration. Nonetheless, the exposure of the agreement to defer talks on Jerusalem caused great consternation in the Muqata and among the PA negotiators. For months, they have been saying that the talks address all the issues, certainly including Jerusalem. Ultimately, they say, any final-status agreement will include Palestinian sovereignty over the Temple Mount. And so Olmert's rush to the media exposed Abbas and his associates to criticism from their own Fatah movement and the rival Hamas, and they were seen as spineless when it comes to talks with Israel. This led Abbas' advisers and spokesmen to issue a spate of denials regarding any such agreement. All the same, the Palestinians were right when they said that discussions over Jerusalem had not been taken off the agenda. The heads of the negotiation teams, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei, are discussing everything, including Jerusalem. But Palestinian sources say their talks deal in generalizations and that the real negotiations have yet to begin. One Palestinian analyst said Abbas realized a bit late that deferring talks on Jerusalem delays the negotiations as a whole, especially on the settlements and borders. But it could be that both leaders, aware of the limits of their power, find it easier to continue negotiations without bringing them to a decisive point on any issue. Abbas and Olmert realize that they won't be able to push through a deal that includes dramatic concessions - because of Gaza and Shas - so leaving Jerusalem off the agenda will ensure that the negotiations never reach a dangerous intersection. It seems Jerusalem and Ramallah are still trying to figure out how to be not just right, but also clever. Related articles: Shas escalates threat to quit Olmert gov't over Jerusalem talks PM meets Abbas, but Jerusalem not on agenda PM: Delay talks on Jerusalem to avoid derailing peace process Israel, PA negotiators oppose PM's bid to delay talks on Jerusalem Bookmark to del.icio.us   Meeting Carter Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial. Family pressure Shin Bet admits using relatives to pressure jailed Palestinians.   1.   Jerusalem 05:44  |  Gerris L. 20/02/08   2.   They Call Peace To Reburry On T.M. the Archterrorist Arafat Rat 06:07  |  Joseph . E 20/02/08   3.   Christians or Jews should control Jerusalem but not Muslims 06:43  |  Gili 20/02/08   4.   The Palestinians should insist that Jerusalem is on the table! 07:15  |  redmike 20/02/08   5.   Jerusalem the Only Holie place to Judaisn. 07:34  |  Jean Van Daem 20/02/08   6.   The Arab Usurpers Will Own NO Part Of OUR Jerusalem 09:07  |  Yishai Kohen 20/02/08   7.   Israel gives up lands, Palestinians keep fighting? 09:34  |  Ben Menachem 20/02/08   8.   Jerusalem`s HOUDINI 10:17  |  Avraham 20/02/08   9.   How can you say both sides are right when Israel is left 10:35  |  Rightie 20/02/08   10.   Red Mike 10:51  |  danny 20/02/08   11.   I agree with no°1 11:57  |  Joey 20/02/08   12.   10 - but Olmert can`t deliver anything .. 12:54  |  redmike 20/02/08   13.   JERUSALEM. International city 00:54  |  Jim Anderson 14/04/08

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