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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and chief PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia (GPO) Last update - 04:17 18/03/2008 PA downgrades renewed talks to protest settlement construction By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters Tags: peace process, Israel  Israeli and Palestinian negotiators resumed halted peace talks on Monday, but the meeting was overshadowed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announcement that Israel would not cease disputed construction in a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Ahmed Qureia, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said he downgraded the meeting to unofficial as a protest against the Israeli construction plans. "We completely reject the building, not only one room, but also one brick in any of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem," he said. Advertisement As the two sides prepared Monday to resume the negotiations, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said that terror could not be used as an excuse to suspend talks. "I am going to meet with the chief Palestinian negotiator," Livni said, after the Yisrael Beiteinu proposed a motion of no-confidence on the matter prior to the talks. "Terror will not be an excuse to suspend negotiations." The foreign minister also said that Hamas was responsible for all attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, regardless of which organization actually carried them out. "Hamas is responsible for everything that happens [in Gaza] and we need to respond to all threats, including that which creates a terror government," she said, adding that negotiations would not give license for further attacks against Israel just as it would not provide immunity to terrorists. Meanwhile, Israeli officials said Monday that Livni and Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia met secretly some 10 days ago, even after a deadly Israel Defense Forces offensive in the Gaza Strip led to a brief suspension of official talks. The negotiations, led by Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Qureia, have shown little sign of progress since they were launched at a peace U.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November. "There will be a meeting today between the foreign minister ... who heads the negotiating team in order to continue the negotiations with the Palestinian side led by Abu Ala [Qureia]" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Jerusalem. "We haven't stopped, we aren't stopping and we won't stop the peace talks, not until we achieve the essential results we so strongly believe in," Olmert told reporters. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas temporarily suspended the negotiations earlier this month after an Israeli offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip killed more than 120 Palestinians, many of them civilians. Israel said the incursion was meant to counter cross-border rocket fire by militants. During the press conference, the prime minister also addressed the issue of implementing the long-stalled 2003 road map peace plan, saying that Israel has commitments that are part of the Annapolis process, and that he has every intention to live up to his commitments. "We don't intend to weasel out or avoid our commitments. However, the first commitment, which is a prerequisite for moving forward, is an end to terror. You can't compare [terror] to any of the other issues in the road map," he said. Regarding the issue of unauthorized outposts in the West Bank, the dismantling of which is stipulated in the road map, Olmert said that Israel is debating how to reconcile between improving the Palestinians' freedom of movement in the West Bank on the one hand and maintaining Israel's security on the other. "It is not a coincidence that in areas where IDF troops are deployed, there is less terror. We want to improve the Palestinians' quality of life, but if there is a threat of terror we have to find the correct balance between things," the prime minister added. Olmert also said that he and Merkel had discussed at length the issue of the outposts. "I told her that Israel is not building new settlements in the West Bank and isn't appropriating land for state use. Only last week, the defense minister, after speaking with me, dismantled two illegal outposts in the West Bank and we even announced it," he said. Related articles: PM: No chance Israel will cede E. Jerusalem areas like Har Homa U.S.: Peace talks must continue despite J'lem terror attack PM: Peace talks to continue, but so will strikes against Hamas PA suspends peace talks with Israel over Gaza violence Bookmark to del.icio.us   Facebook face-off Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine. Shin Bet.com The covert agency has deployed a new weapon: the blog.   1.   Who is Livni & the quisling fooling? 17:06  |  lakshmi 17/03/08   2.   Livni: Terror is no excuse for halting peace talks 17:35  |  Natallie Durson 17/03/08   3.   The only excuses is to have Livni as FM or Olmert as PM 17:40  |  Sal 17/03/08   4.   ""Terror will not be an excuse to suspend negotiations." ???? 17:48  |  ZADOK 17/03/08   5.   PLAYING POLITIC WITH PEOPLE LIVES 17:49  |  indrajaya 17/03/08   6.   Well said Tzipi Rabin..... 17:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/03/08   7.   More settlements=less terror 17:59  |  IW 17/03/08   8.   Futility? 18:05  |  MichaelF 17/03/08   9.   What planet is she on? 18:11  |  rob 17/03/08   10.   why? 18:16  |  Gabriel 17/03/08   11.   # 8, MICHAELF 18:17  |  indrajaya 17/03/08   12.   pease Talks 18:18  |  Duke 17/03/08   13.   #11 18:24  |  Salty 17/03/08   14.   #11 - indrajaya 18:27  |  MichaelF 17/03/08   15.   #11 - indrajaya (P.S.) 18:29  |  MichaelF 17/03/08   16.   Excuse for halting Peace Talks 18:37  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 17/03/08   17.   Negotiations continue 18:44  |  Michael Walsingham 17/03/08   18.   N.D 18:56  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 17/03/08   19.   # 14, MICHAELIF 18:59  |  indrajaya 17/03/08   20.   To #1 Lakshmi 19:00  |  Michael 17/03/08   21.   Surprising 19:02  |  Sadiq M 17/03/08   22.   Livni: terror is no excuse for haltong peace negotiations 19:13  |  martin list, m.d. 17/03/08   23.   She is right 19:15  |  ARI 17/03/08   24.   HAMAS: Hudna talks are no excuse for halting qassams ! 19:18  |  Fortuna Benmayor 17/03/08   25.   sadiq m... 19:29  |  Gabriel 17/03/08   26.   Livni does not get it 19:35  |  Brod 17/03/08   27.   # 13, SALTY 19:37  |  indrajaya 17/03/08   28.   Abbas cannot be trusted. 19:46  |  Jean Van Daem 17/03/08   29.   peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 19:49  |  erez 17/03/08   30.   stupid woman. Stupid. 19:59  |  Jewish State 17/03/08   31.   Livni right, don`t give terrorists veto power over peace talks 20:17  |  Realist 17/03/08   32.   Livni - She May Even Be More Incompetent than Olmert 20:20  |  Tod Zuckerman 17/03/08   33.   #28: Jean Van Daem cannot be trusted 20:20  |  Observer 17/03/08   34.   There is one solution for this conflict move the Arabs to Jordan 20:33  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 17/03/08   35.   Downgrading :good idea !!! 20:37  |  troumpeldor 17/03/08   36.   #34 21:46  |  MichaelF 17/03/08   37.   There is no beauty with the "Palestinian" people & their terror 23:09  |  Terror Victim 17/03/08   38.   There is no beauty with the "Palestinian" people & their terror 23:09  |  Terror Victim 17/03/08   39.   PA freeze 23:17  |  alex 17/03/08   40.   Go Ahead, Ahmed Qureia, Make My Day 23:44  |  Jeff Northridge 17/03/08   41.   its not yet april the 1st , so why this article ? 00:13  |  v hardman 18/03/08   42.   Why the Pals are still talking to these liars 00:13  |  Bobby 18/03/08   43.   GIVE THEM ALL OUT WAR IF YOU WANT PEACE. 01:42  |  John the Priest 18/03/08   44.   #38;Bobby, Oh I guess for the same reason Israel is 04:41  |  Doc Holliday 18/03/08   45.   Value management 05:01  |  Ilya 18/03/08   46.   pals again shot self in the foot. rejected before famous no`s now 05:24  |  ralph 18/03/08   47.   Dear PA. Punish us more. Cancel the talks altogether! 05:45  |  Chaim 18/03/08   48.   Mutually Exclusive Minimal Positions 05:45  |  Straight Talk 18/03/08   49.   The impertinence of the Arabs. 08:58  |  Jean Van Daem 18/03/08

Today Online Amir Oren: John McCain - For Israel, best of all candidates Responses: 1 Editorial: Facing pogrom by rightist Jews, police go limp Responses: 1 Slain Jihad leader's son: My entire family has turned Hezbollah Responses: 26 Haredi man lightly hurt in E. J`lem in apparent terror stabbing Send response Rosner's Domain From "Hussein" to "Murray" (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Jeremiah Wright: did Obama explain enough? If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? More Headlines 10:46 Man lightly hurt in East J`lem terror stabbing 10:59 Israeli stocks rebound after latest tumble, dollar does not 03:48 ANALYSIS: U.S. economy in crisis as it pays price for greed 09:21 Slain Jihad operative's son: My entire family has turned Hezbollah 09:26 Shin Bet mulls rightists' attack on yeshiva gunman's home 09:55 ANALYSIS: Bethlehem operation meant to send a clear message 07:15 McCain rep to Jews: Christian right a 'serious problem' 22:40 MKs seek pardon for Omri Sharon 'to sit at father's bedside' 01:59 Merkel offers 'tough, decisive' language on Iran nuke program 05:06 Women bring green revolution to Arab sector 10:00 Meretz set to hit polls in search of new leader to save party 01:21 Mazuz weighs indicting judge for fraud and breach of trust Previous Editions Select Day 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar

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