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U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier this year at Ben Gurion Airport. (Archives)
U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel, PA
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies

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The American proposal for a tripartite effort appears to have been raised by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Washington last Tuesday. The idea had been making the rounds of the State Department for several weeks.

Rice will fly here Saturday night to try to push negotiations forward, and is likely to visit the region again later this month.

The general feeling in the U.S. administration is that to date, neither side has shown maximum flexibility on the issues in dispute.

The American proposal calls for a meeting lasting several hours at which Rice or one of her senior aides would sit with the heads of the respective negotiating teams, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Qureia, or their representatives.

The Americans have also suggested not holding the meeting in Jerusalem; Europe and Washington are both possible venues.

At this stage, the Americans do not plan to present a "bridging document" to the parties; rather, they want to discuss various possible formulations verbally.

A senior Israeli source told Haaretz that the American proposal may be a way of pressuring the two sides to produce something that the Bush administration can point to as progress.

Israeli sources involved in the talks between Israel and the PA said there are still significant differences between the two sides, especially concerning borders, security arrangements and the refugees.

The sources confirmed that the parties have agreed to begin drafting their respective positions.

But "the fact that the parties' positions are being written down does not solve the disputes," noted one, adding: "Thus far, the main points that have been written down deal with peripheral issues, not the core issues of refugees, borders and security arrangements."

Qureia also stressed that the decision to begin drafting an agreement did not necessarily reflect accord on the major issues. However, this will the first time since negotiations resumed more than six months ago that anything on these divisive issues has been put to paper.

"We agreed with the Israelis to begin writing these positions down," Qureia said late Friday. "Should negotiators reach agreement on an issue, they will then draft a single provision. If not, they will lay their divergent views out on paper."

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      1.   what the zog siding with the jews against.... 03:54  |  jc 08/06/08
      2.   Bush getting desperate trying to forge a Israeli-Palestinian deal 03:59  |  MOE 08/06/08
      3.   more of the same 04:34  |  MenYaffa 08/06/08
      4.   You may be disappointed, MOE 05:14  |  Aphemia 08/06/08
      5.   Say goodbye to last friend 08:17  |  Giald 08/06/08
      6.   Let`s guess the joke? 08:17  |  Maureen Ann 08/06/08
      7.   Att. of Men Yaffa - Complicity. 08:45  |  Robert Bernier 08/06/08
      8.   A rational solution. 08:51  |  Jean Van Daem 08/06/2008
      9.   Cosy chat... why not...? 08:51  |  Esther 08/06/08
      10.   more of the same after 90 years of hot air 08:53  |  victor hardman 08/06/08
      11.   STOP EXPLOITING THE PALESTINIANS 09:20  |  Geed 08/06/08
      12.   jc 09:24  |  Connie 08/06/08
      13.   no hurry, Bush is out = Israel is out 10:20  |  klein 08/06/08
      14.   A LIGHT MOMENT OF TWO LOSERS 10:21  |  indrajaya 08/06/08
      15.   trilateral talks 10:26  |  Ralph 08/06/08
      16.   Robert Bernier @#7 10:28  |  Akiva P 08/06/08
      17.   The USA is no partner for peace given its Israeli bias. 10:57  |  Johan Odin 08/06/08
      18.   Warmonger talk peace 11:09  |  Dav 08/06/08
      19.   Noble Prize to the President G. Bush II? 11:27  |  Vital 08/06/08
      20.   PA wants an honest broker. Israel wants everything 12:01  |  Natallie Durson 08/06/08
      21.   Middle East peace could save western economy. 12:01  |  Michael 08/06/08
      22.   Nothing is going to happen until there is unity between fatah and 13:03  |  lakshmi 08/06/08
      23.   Decisions on Peace Deal with OLMERT is for the Trashcan 13:23  |  Dolly 08/06/08
      24.   Re Michael #21 13:24  |  Esther 08/06/08
      25.   How absurd... 13:25  |  Avi 08/06/08
      26.   ABBAS MUST RESIGN NOW, HE ALREADY FAILED 14:01  |  indrajaya 08/06/08
      27.   dont trust the us state dept 14:12  |  joe smith 08/06/08
      28.   Why not wait? 14:21  |  Ben Azai 08/06/08
      29.   Meaningless 14:24  |  Tosefta 08/06/08
      30.   #21 michael and more assumed nonsense 14:48  |  victor hardman 08/06/08
      31.   Rice the most Anxious to Strike a Deal..... 14:58  |  Natasha 08/06/08
      32.   The talks would be quatrilateral de facto 15:04  |  KUTW 08/06/08
      33.   Last kick at the can 15:19  |  Sam 08/06/08
      34.   #8 What an Irrational racist Solution 15:24  |  Ray 08/06/08
      35.   P.S. to previous post: 15:39  |  Amihai 08/06/08
      36.   PA just wants someone to pressure Israel 15:49  |  Sam 08/06/08
      37.   Try....Try....and Try again.... 15:54  |  Pathfinder 08/06/08
      38.   Natallie Durson - The truth is, the US, PA or Israel really 16:01  |  p 08/06/08
      39.   Misters Bush and Olmert, Do you know where you are going? 16:21  |  In God We Trust. 08/06/08
      40.   #17 To the swede. 16:42  |  John Allen 08/06/08
      41.   The proposal calls for same old stupidity 16:51  |  Sal 08/06/08
      42.   Secretary Rice once again is correct, the U.S. must be involved 16:54  |  Smadar 08/06/08
      43.   #35 How about this.. 17:03  |  John Allen 08/06/08
      44.   trilateral?? NO CHANCE 17:05  |  kivi 08/06/08
      45.   The U.S. Should Stay Out Of This Dogfight 17:42  |  Jeff Northridge 08/06/08
      46.   THOUSANDS of Jews Maimed & MURDERED for WICKED LIE of Occupation 18:15  |  Linda Rivera 08/06/08
      47.   Jew-HATERS WICKEDLY Ignore Justice for One Million JEWISH REFUGEE 18:17  |  Linda Rivera 08/06/08
      48.   Jew-HATERS DECEIVE for Expansionist Islam. Already ARAB Pal State 18:18  |  Linda Rivera 08/06/08
      49.   Israel must realize that Iran`s nukes can be adressed by...... 18:23  |  Yechiel 08/06/08
      50.   Doesn`t Rice have another crisis somewhere to deal with? 18:27  |  Raymond in DC 08/06/08
      51.   Talking heads to talking heads or a ray of hope? 19:00  |  Gray 08/06/08
      52.   American doesn`t expect Israel to polish Bush`s failed image 19:11  |  Dr. L. Brnd 08/06/08
      53.   Why not look at history 19:43  |  Jackie 08/06/08
      54.   Abbas double game 19:54  |  Eylo 08/06/08
      55.   #42 JeffNorthridge calls for selective interference 20:09  |  Labhras 08/06/08
      56.   2 against 1 20:16  |  Jan Elshout 08/06/08
      57.   English proverb= Two is company, three is a crowd 20:18  |  Alan SA 08/06/08
      58.   The Americans Need To Be Involved 21:11  |  Moshe 08/06/08
      59.   "wicked lies, Jew haters evil Muslims etc etc 21:27  |  Gray 08/06/08
      60.   Send me what you reach as of now, We will summarize for your mutu 21:53  |  Simon Mohammed 08/06/08
      61.   peace 21:53  |  azad 08/06/08
      62.   Jeff Northridge 21:55  |  examiner 08/06/08
      63.   Traps gave time to smuggle weapons 21:59  |  Eylo 08/06/08
      64.   Abbas and Meshaal agreement 22:02  |  Eylo 08/06/08
      65.   The agreement reached, this will be the situation: 22:05  |  Eylo 08/06/08
      66.   Oh LINDA RIVERA #46 22:08  |  W.Itch 08/06/08
      67.   Is that the LAST CHEAT? Please Stop the BS - Olbush and Bumert! 22:30  |  @ 08/06/08
      68.   50 Raymond D.C. the Palestinians already have a State,israel is 22:34  |  lakshmi 08/06/08
      69.   US out Russia in! 22:50  |  pakyaw 08/06/08
      70.   trilateral talks 00:03  |  Roberto 09/06/08
      71.   We must assure any coalition agreement gets trashed after the.... 00:39  |  Chaim 09/06/08
      72.   Labhras # 55 Selective Interference (part 1) 00:44  |  Jeff Northridge