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Lead Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia. (AP)
Last update - 19:23 04/06/2008
PA negotiator: Only a miracle will bring peace by the year's end
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Tags: EU, Salam Fayyad 

The lead Palestinian peace negotiator on Wednesday said that only a miracle would bring about a peace deal with Israel by the year-end target set at a U.S.-hosted regional peace summit last November.

The negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, said the two sides have been discussing all the key issues at the heart of their 60-year conflict, but stressed that gaps still exist.

Speaking in the West Bank on Wednesday, Qureia said while he believes progress can be made this year, it is unlikely a deal will be made by the target date unless there is a miracle.
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Meanwhile, the Palestinian prime minister has urged the European Union not to upgrade ties with Israel unless Israel halts settlement expansion and construction of the West Bank security fence.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad spoke Wednesday in the village of Bil'in. The small town has become a symbol of Palestinian protest against the barrier, which threatens to swallow almost 10 percent of the West Bank.

Fayyad has sent a letter to the EU asking it not to upgrade ties with Israel unless Israel freezes settlement construction. On Wednesday, he raised the issue publicly, saying the international community needs to take a firm stand againt settlement growth. He said that in this context came our call to the EU not to upgrade its relationship with Israel.

The Housing Ministry on Tuesday confirmed reports that 884 housing units are to be built in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians seek for their future capital. Despite U.S. and UN criticism of the plan, Israel insisted that the construction was going ahead in areas that it would retain in any future peace deal.

President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that if Israel wants to engage in serious peace talks, it must freeze settlement construction.

However, Abbas stopped short of issuing an ultimatum. Abbas spoke at the opening of a special Palestinian Cabinet meeting at his headquarters Wednesday.

Abbas met earlier in the week with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The two leaders spent the meeting criticizing each other. Abbas complained about settlement expansion, and Olmert was upset with Palestinian appeals to the EU not to upgrade its ties with Israel.

Abbas said he told Olmert that "if you want serious negotiations, you have to stop settlement expansion, release a significant number of prisoners and remove roadblocks."



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      1.   Sound request 14:42  |  Mark B. 04/06/08
      2.   I suggest that Europe doesn`t sustain the PA until terrror ceases 14:51  |  Geulah 04/06/08
      3.   What will Israel do without European Sex Workers..? 14:59  |  POP 04/06/08
      4.   The Oslo peace process didn`t have any chance to bring peace. 14:59  |  Jean Van Daem 04/06/08
      5.   Adults and children 15:06  |  Keops 04/06/08
      6.   for Mark B 15:11  |  Schotness 04/06/08
      7.   Geulah (2) - did you apply for Fayyad`s position? And what about 15:11  |  Sensible 04/06/08
      8.   To Mark B. in Amsterdam. 15:12  |  Peter 04/06/08
      9.   Good move 15:14  |  Ahmed the Aleppinian 04/06/08
      10.   At last a bit of backbone from the PA 15:28  |  Chanalau, Tova 04/06/08
      11.   No room for terror state 15:30  |  joe Smith 04/06/08
      12.   For Geulah 15:30  |  Ibou 04/06/08
      13.   To peter in the US 15:32  |  Ibou 04/06/08
      14.   Geulah # 2. I like your post. Thanks! 15:37  |  Yael 04/06/08
      15.   An answer to Abbas 15:42  |  Sam C 04/06/08
      16.   Since when the construction of buildings is a form of terror? It 15:55  |  Geulah 04/06/08
      17.   Abbas: Israel must stop settlement expansion if it wants serious 15:55  |  Joshua 04/06/08
      18.   Fayyad is also a dreamer like Assad. 16:03  |  Vital 04/06/08
      19.   To # 9 Ahmed and propaganda 16:17  |  Bengurion 04/06/08
      20.   Process did not have a chance from the start 16:19  |  Concerned individual 04/06/08
      21.   It`s the Palestinians looking for a state not Israel 16:25  |  Sam 04/06/08
      22.   Chanalau, Tova # 10 That`s Just Brilliant! 16:32  |  Jeff Northridge 04/06/08
      23.   There will never be peace! Israeli right wing controls. 16:33  |  Dax 04/06/08
      24.   Indeed, after having seen Olmert ... 16:35  |  Edith 04/06/08
      25.   translation: PA to Israel. We demand, you accept..blah blah bla 16:41  |  David 04/06/08
      26.   Jean Van Daem on resettlement 16:41  |  Ibrahim 04/06/08
      27.   It`s Foolish To Build 800 New Homes and to Continue to Inflame 16:42  |  Eli 04/06/08
      28.   Jews MUST live in Judea and Samaria for peace 16:43  |  David 04/06/08
      29.   Security fence 16:53  |  Leah 04/06/08
      30.   Peace doensn`t need a miracle 16:57  |  Kenny 04/06/08
      31.   two state solution is over. One state is inevitable 16:59  |  Khaled 04/06/08
      32.   A GREAT MIRACLE HAPPENED THERE... 17:03  |  Smadar 04/06/08
      33.   Of the Pals to accept the 91.8% offered to them´d be a miracle! 17:17  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/06/08
      34.   Ahmed Qureia Wakes Up 17:20  |  Jeff Northridge 04/06/08
      35.   Expect an anti-miracle 17:23  |  Tosefta 04/06/08
      36.   Khaled-Pals may have to settle for binational state on West Bank 17:23  |  Sam 04/06/08
      37.   if israel wants teh peace can be held tomorrow 17:30  |  dax 04/06/08
      38.   Hmm, I don`t really think is a smart request 17:31  |  Buzaglow 04/06/08
      39.   NO MIRACLE WHEN IT COMES TO ISRAEL 17:32  |  indrajaya 04/06/08
      40.   Khaled # 31 There Are Other Alternatives 17:45  |  Jeff Northridge 04/06/08
      41.   #38 DAx - try using English next time 17:45  |  * BEN JABO 04/06/08
      42.   #3 POP - Good question 17:55  |  Ibn Musa 04/06/08
      43.   How about, Mr. Palestinian Negotiator, standing up and stating: 17:57  |  Amihai 04/06/08
      44.   IF GOD TAKEN OUT FROM THIS FIGHT ! MIRACLE HAPPENS 18:11  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 04/06/08
      45.   Ibrahim - Jews have other countries to go to? 18:15  |  Jordan 04/06/08
      46.   Only a miracle will bring peace by year`s end? 18:16  |  Natallie Durson 04/06/08
      47.   Yes, it would take a miracle for Palestinians to ever compromise 18:17  |  McQueen 04/06/08
      48.   TRY TO GIVE A HAND TO RELIGIOUS JEWS FOR PEACE 18:27  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 04/06/08
      49.   WORLD LIFE IS FREE FROM ALLAH`S (C.C) DIRECT STOPS. 18:36  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 04/06/08
      50.   ANYTHING YOU CAN GET BY WORKING. BAD OR GOOD. 18:37  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 04/06/08
      51.   Buzaglow # 38 It Was A Pretty Weak Request 18:38  |  Jeff Northridge 04/06/08
      52.   Only accepting Israel will bring about peace 18:39  |  Jon 04/06/08
      53.   How do you define peace?? 18:43  |  Aba 04/06/08
      54.   Where are the PA`s concessions? 18:47  |  Missed the Point 04/06/08
      55.   #43 Amihai, which Israel are the Palestinians to recognize? 19:05  |  Ben Alofs 04/06/08
      56.   Not Lebanon or gaza, but a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria 19:05  |  Jean Van Daem 04/06/08
      57.   #40 Jeff Khaled offered "eternal conflict" 19:34  |  Aphemia 04/06/08
      58.   Jordan from Montreal 19:35  |  Ibrahim 04/06/08
      59.   Pals will not get statehood before they stop TERROR (QASSAMS too) 19:59  |  Vittorio 04/06/08
      60.   #31 Khaled: You should indicate that you are Amireh. Your........ 20:03  |  Vittorio 04/06/08
      61.   Dax you reason just as well as you spell 20:12  |  x-ray 04/06/08
      62.   Stop pretending - PA does not want "peace" 20:15  |  17 04/06/08
      63.   #60 You`re not giving your full name, are you? 20:19  |  Aphemia 04/06/08
      64.   Should Israel stop settlements ? 20:24  |  Altalena 04/06/08
      65.   To those who ask: The Palestinians should recognize in principle 20:25  |  Amihai 04/06/08
      66.   You need to beleive in reality, which none of you is going to go 20:29  |  Simon Mohammed 04/06/08
      67.   PA negotiator, will miracle bring peace? 20:32  |  Ricardo Kolbe 04/06/08
      68.   The Arabs of Eretz Israel/Palestine have had an opportunity to... 20:54  |  Amihai 04/06/08
      69.   get real 21:07  |  vik 04/06/08
      70.   @6 Schotness 21:07  |  Mark B. 04/06/08