Israeli Ambassador Outlines Priorities in Peace Talks

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. outlined for Jewish leaders his country’s list of priorities in framing peace talks with the Palestinians.

Ambassador Michael Oren, speaking Thursday in a conference call, said Israel was ready to accept President Obama’s outline on May 19 of renewed talks, based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps, as long as it was framed by what he called the “terms of reference”: the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state; no return of Palestinian refugees; and a long-term military presence for Israel along the Jordan-West Bank border. Also, that an agreement would end all claims.

He offered the terms after describing the recent intensive shuttle diplomacy aimed at restarting direct talks, with negotiators and U.S. facilitators traveling back and forth in recent weeks between Washington, Jerusalem and Ramallah.

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