WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Israel brushes aside pressure over statehood deal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-16 20:41 Commenting on Regev's remarks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team and a top aide to Abbas, said: "There won't be an agreement without Jerusalem. The Israelis know that very well." Israeli officials said the chances of reaching any joint document had diminished considerably because of the political uncertainty surrounding Olmert. If a document is agreed, it will focus almost exclusively on statehood borders, with cursory references to Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees, the officials said. During her visit, Rice warned Israel that its continued settlement building was harming the peace negotiations. Israeli officials said the government was unfazed by the criticism and told Washington that the settlement projects were consistent with long-standing policies that do not contradict peace efforts because Israel intends to hold onto those areas. Palestinians fear the enclaves will deny them a viable state. The Jerusalem municipality announced on Sunday that a regional planning board had authorized building at least 2,550 new homes by 2020 in the occupied West Bank in areas that Israel considers part of Jerusalem. |
