Issue of right to return is main obstacle in talks between Olmert and Abbas

Date: 17 / 08 / 2007 Time: 18:09

MaanImages Bethlehem – Ma'an –

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz has quoted an unnamed international source as saying that the issue of the right of return is the basic problem that confronted the recent talks held between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The newspaper quoted the source as saying that Abbas refused to be flexible on this issue and that the two men came to certain understandings but were not able to draw up any firm agreements.

Quoting senior politicians in the Palestinian Authority, Ha'aretz said that the negotiations that have taken place between Olmert and Abbas over the last two months in utmost secrecy discussed the possibility of elaborating a one page document containing 4-5 general principles which have been agreed upon. The document is to be submitted to the peace conference in the Autumn, as a pre-condition of the Palestinian side's attendance at the conference. Olmert's office rejects this pre-condition, the newspaper said.

The newspaper also added that the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice will arrive in the region early next September to mediate between the two sides.

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