Abbas Threatens to Quit Talks Over New Housing
Haaretz reports:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet in Sharm el-Sheikh Tuesday morning under the shadow of a Palestinian threat to walk away from the direct peace negotiations if Israel ends its construction freeze in the settlements.
The two leaders will discuss whether to open the talks with a debate on security arrangements or drafting the Palestinian state's borders with Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who will attend the meeting, will have the last word on this issue.
A senior Palestinian official in Sharm el-Sheikh told Haaretz that Abbas and Netanyahu had reached an agreement on the issues they are to discuss. But the main controversy remains the construction freeze in the settlements. PA spokespeople reiterated yesterday that if Israel resumes construction, even if only in the settlement blocs, the Palestinian delegation will quit the talks.
The talks will continue in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Abbas is scheduled to arrive in the capital to meet with Netanyahu - for the first time since the latter entered office. The meeting will probably take place in the Prime Minister's Residence, where former premier Ehud Olmert used to host the Palestinian president. Clinton and Mitchell will also attend.
Click here to read more.
