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IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi attending a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session (Eli Tesma / Jini) Last update - 09:45 18/05/2008 Knesset panel demands account of talks with Palestinians, Syria By Barak Ravid and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Syria  Fifteen members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee are demanding an urgent session on the discussion of core issues with the Palestinian Authority. They are demanding reports from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and chief negotiator Brigadier General (Res.) Udi Dekel on the matter, and are demanding that Olmert report on the exchange of messages, via Turkey, with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Olmert is scheduled to brief the committee members next week, but he is not expected to provide information about peace talks. Advertisement "Prime ministers have always kept the details of state negotiations for the relevant echelon, and I assume that the prime minister will not deviate from this legitimate practice," committee chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi said. Hanegbi said he would check whether Olmert would provide more negotiation details to the secret services subcommittee, of which opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is a member. In a letter to Hanegbi, the MKs stated that there is no suitable parliamentary oversight of Israel's contacts with the PA and Syria. "We, 15 members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, appeal to you out of concern for the Knesset's position as supervisor of all government activities  and out of a sense that the prime minister, unlike his predecessor, is dictating an approach that ignores the committee in everything related to foreign affairs," they wrote. "For months, negotiations have been conducted with the Palestinians over issues affecting Israel's existence and future, with no parliamentary oversight," the letter said. "In addition, a negotiations department has been created with dozens of employees. It too does not report to the Knesset and has no parliamentary supervision of its composition, budget and methods of operation." Regarding the issue of Syria, the authors said, "Reports of direct or indirect negotiations with Syria are coming from Damascus  again, without even minimal parliamentary supervision." Last week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert noted in his speech to the presidential conference, "The discussions we are conducting with the Palestinian Authority are serious. Understandings and agreements have been reached on very important matters, although not on all of them," he said. Members of the Israeli negotiating team have expressed similar progress, but both the Palestinian and the Israeli sides are keeping mum about the content of the talks and about the understandings that have been reached so far. A Jerusalem official noted that the fact that there have been no press leaks "points to the seriousness and depth" of the talks. The driving force behind the demand for Olmert, Livni and Dekel to report to the Knesset committee is its former chairman, MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud). The signatories include both coalition and opposition MKs. While the committee chairman is not obligated to accede to the MKs' demands, the fact that a large majority of the committee's members have signed the letter will make it difficult for him to ignore them. Related articles: Report: U.S. asks Turkey to push harder for Israel-Syria talks PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe Officials: PM, Abbas made 'significant progress' on borders issue Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nothing to fear Nancy Pelosi in Israel: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel. Bonfire drama Mount Meron grave of famed rabbi at center of ownership row between rival Sephardic and Ashkenazic trusts.   1.   The Best Legacy for our Children 05:33  |  Shimon Cleopas 18/05/08   2.   Knesset wants answers? 05:48  |  Rav Harley 18/05/08   3.   Watching the Making of Sausage 07:43  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/05/08   4.   No! to an additional Arab state on the Land of Israel. 08:14  |  Jean Van Daem 18/05/08   5.   Olmert is not Prime Minister by Will of the People 08:57  |  Dolly 18/05/08   6.   Olmert must Go...... 09:06  |  Natasha 18/05/08   7.   Knesset Panel is well within its Rights 09:36  |  Onlooker 18/05/08   8.   #1, Mark of Lewiston, how sweet of you 09:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/08   9.   Good Morning 09:52  |  Paul 18/05/08   10.   #8 Perhaps you might like to reconsider, Cipora 12:00  |  Johnboy 18/05/08   11.   8 Not at All, Cipora 12:02  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/05/08   12.   #7 Care to quote the law that says this, Onlooker? 12:07  |  Johnboy 18/05/08   13.   The truth is that nothing serious is being discussed .. 13:01  |  redmike 18/05/08   14.   To redmike # 13 - Nothing serious being discussed..... 15:37  |  Natasha 18/05/08   15.   theres no need for secrecy unless you are hidding something 17:04  |  Like in Gaza 18/05/08   16.   To Johnboy # 12 - Pragmatically speaking 17:20  |  Dolly 18/05/08   17.   Cipora Kohn`s and Mark-of-Lewiston`s debate on democracy 18:32  |  christoph 18/05/08   18.   Secrecy leading to a fait accompli is just what he wants 22:33  |  Raymond in DC 18/05/08   19.   15 Like in Gaza - When It`s All Said and Done 23:02  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/05/08

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