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Middle East peace talks |
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The latest round of West Asia peace talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba has ended with both sides claiming that they made progress. The talks at one time were suspended by Israel on January 24 after two Israelis were kidnapped by two masked Palestinians and then shot dead. But, Prime Minister Barak who recalled his negotiators in protest, agreed to continue the parleys after the Palestinians partially fulfilled his demand by promptly arresting the perpetrators of the crime. The talks are expected to resume after Israeli election for the post of the Prime Minister.
The two sides were engaged in crucial peace effort to clinch the outline for a peace deal before the Israeli election on Feb. 6 which polls show is expected to bring right winger Ariel Sharon to power. The Taba talks, headed by Saeb Erakat from the Palestinian side and Israeli Foreign Minister Slmo Ben-Ami, based on a plan from departed US President Clinton, amounted to the biggest pus for peace since a wave of violence erupted in the Palestinian territories on Sept. 28, leaving over 380 dead so far. A peace deal could boost Israeli Prime Minister Barak’s re-election chances in a race which opinion polls predict he will loser to right winger, Ariel Sharon. But, an accord might hurt Barak if voters believe he made too many concessions. Also, observers said even if an agreement was reached, it could be nullified if Sharon won the election. Sharon rejects Barak’s compromise offers to the Palestinians and says he would not honour an agreement Mr. Barak reaches before the elections.
The Taba talks took place in the backdrop of the Palestinians demand that all refugees and their descendants, about four million people, be allowed to return to their original homes in Israel. But, Israel has rejected that. Barak rejects this fundamental Palestinian demands and says all the four million Palestinian refugees and their descendants will not be given the right to return to Israel as Israel with just 6 million citizens fears such a return would destroy the country’s Jewish character. Other issues are the future of Jerusalem, border and security matters. Barak says he will never transfer sovereignty over Jerusalem’s most contested holy site to the Palestinians. The site,Temple Mount to Jews and Haram al-Sharif to the Palestinians is revered by both Jews and Muslims. Israel claims sovereignty over the shrine inside Jerusalem’s Walled Old City. The Palestinians have effective day-to-day control, but are seeking full sovereignty. On its online site, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported Israel has proposed international sovereignty for the Old City of Jerusalem in order to prevent “divisions within its walls”. But, Israeli negotiators denied that this proposal was discussed at Taba talks. In addition, the Israeli government insists that 80 per cent or about 160,000 of the nearly 200,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank ad the Gaza Strip be allowed to remain under Israeli sovereignty. The Palestinian negotiator, Nabil Shaath was quoted in Taba as saying the two sides were close to an agreement about borders of a Palestinian State. He said, Israel would get about 4 per cent of the West Bank and the Palestinians would receive some Israeli territory in return. Solution of the West bank border issue would imply agreement about the settlements as well. In public upto now, the Palestinians have been demanding a state in all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and removal of all the settlements.
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