Israel Presented No Position at Talks: Palestinians

The only document Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far presented to the Palestinians during the recent peace talks in Amman is a list of 21 topics for discussion in negotiations on a final-status agreement, Haaretz has learned.

Dr. Mohammad Shtayeh, a senior member of the Palestinian delegation to the talks in Jordan and one of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ close advisers, told Haaretz on Thursday that the Israeli delegation has submitted no position or offer. “We are still waiting for one. What the Israelis did was to present a list of parameters that look more like a plan to consolidate the current reality of Bantustans than ending the Israeli occupation,” he said.

Shtayeh said the Palestinian position presented in Amman is in keeping with international law and has been submitted to the members of the Quartet.

According to the Israeli document, which Haaretz has obtained, Israel’s sole condition before final-status talks start is Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish people’s state. Abbas has rejected this demand several times.

“This was added as part of a sham grocery list of 21 topics Netanyahu refers to as ‘a comprehensive document’ for negotiations,” said Shtayeh of the demand to recognize Israel as the Jewish people’s state. “We have recognized Israel 24 years ago on the 1967 borders just as other countries like the U.S. and Micronesia have.”

For more, go to Haaretz.com