Israel ‘likely’ to reopen talks with PA

[bemildred]

Some interesting bits among the babble.

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“We will start negotiations with the Palestinians in the very near future,” indicating that it could be at beginning of next year. Mr Peres is in favour of the creation on an independent Palestinian state and at one point referred to the Palestinian territory as a “country” on par with Israel and Jordan. He made the comments on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Workshop in Cernobbio, on Italy’s lake Como.

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The Arab League is also hopeful that Europe will take a leading role in the talks. “Europe is in a position to help resume negotiations. It has the confidence of all the parties,” Mr Moussa said.

He also said that the Arab League’s offer, tabled in 2000, to recognise Israel in return for an end to the occupation of the West Bank and the creation of a Palestinian state “remains valid.”

“We have just one problem with Israel, which is the occupation and the absence of a Palestinian state. There would be no further problem with Israel after that,” he said.

FT