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Olmert pledges quest for peace | Olmert pledges quest for peace |
(40 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will devote the next year to pursuing peace with the Palestinians, he has told Israeli MPs. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will devote the next year to pursuing peace with the Palestinians, he has told Israeli MPs. |
The Palestinian leadership of Mahmoud Abbas was serious about reaching a deal, he said. | The Palestinian leadership of Mahmoud Abbas was serious about reaching a deal, he said. |
To angry heckling from opposition MPs, he said the goodwill of Mr Abbas's Western-leaning Palestinian government must not be squandered. | To angry heckling from opposition MPs, he said the goodwill of Mr Abbas's Western-leaning Palestinian government must not be squandered. |
He would not, he said, seek "excuses in order to avoid a peace process". | He would not, he said, seek "excuses in order to avoid a peace process". |
I do not intend to look for excuses in order to avoid a peace process Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister | I do not intend to look for excuses in order to avoid a peace process Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister |
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed Mr Olmert's remarks and said they emphasised the need to move quickly. | Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed Mr Olmert's remarks and said they emphasised the need to move quickly. |
"Everyone, including Mr Olmert, realizes that time is of the essence, and that it's time for decisions," he said. | "Everyone, including Mr Olmert, realizes that time is of the essence, and that it's time for decisions," he said. |
While Mr Abbas's government controls the West Bank, the Gaza Strip remains in control of its Palestinian rival, Hamas. | While Mr Abbas's government controls the West Bank, the Gaza Strip remains in control of its Palestinian rival, Hamas. |
Mutual trust | Mutual trust |
Speaking at the opening of parliament's winter session, Mr Olmert said an atmosphere of mutual trust had been nurtured during a series of recent one-on-one meetings with President Abbas, although he conceded no firm steps had yet had been agreed. | Speaking at the opening of parliament's winter session, Mr Olmert said an atmosphere of mutual trust had been nurtured during a series of recent one-on-one meetings with President Abbas, although he conceded no firm steps had yet had been agreed. |
Israel has an interest to get recognition of all of Jerusalem's Jewish neighbourhoods, and to hand over control of Arab neighbourhoods to the Palestinians Haim RamonIsraeli vice-premier Key issue: Jerusalem | Israel has an interest to get recognition of all of Jerusalem's Jewish neighbourhoods, and to hand over control of Arab neighbourhoods to the Palestinians Haim RamonIsraeli vice-premier Key issue: Jerusalem |
He warned that the alternative to the peace process was a "bloody and tearful demographic struggle which will not serve Israel". | He warned that the alternative to the peace process was a "bloody and tearful demographic struggle which will not serve Israel". |
Israel, he added, would have to give up some of its deepest desires in order to build a future of peace and security. | Israel, he added, would have to give up some of its deepest desires in order to build a future of peace and security. |
The statement prompted an angry response from opposition MPs demanding whether he planned to cede sovereignty of certain parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. | The statement prompted an angry response from opposition MPs demanding whether he planned to cede sovereignty of certain parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. |
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu argued that conceding control of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians would pose a deadly threat to the Jews living in the western part of the city. | Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu argued that conceding control of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians would pose a deadly threat to the Jews living in the western part of the city. |
"If Israel leaves it will open the door to al-Qaeda," he said. | "If Israel leaves it will open the door to al-Qaeda," he said. |
Earlier, Israeli Vice-Premier Haim Ramon said the future status of Jerusalem would be on the agenda at next month's planned Middle East peace conference. | Earlier, Israeli Vice-Premier Haim Ramon said the future status of Jerusalem would be on the agenda at next month's planned Middle East peace conference. |
Palestinians want the talks to tackle "final-status" issues, including Jerusalem, though Israel is reluctant. | Palestinians want the talks to tackle "final-status" issues, including Jerusalem, though Israel is reluctant. |
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, now home to 240,000 Palestinians, in 1967. | Israel occupied East Jerusalem, now home to 240,000 Palestinians, in 1967. |
Dividing the Holy City | Dividing the Holy City |
Since its victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, it has settled hundreds of thousands of its citizens there and claims the entire city as its "eternal, indivisible" capital. | Since its victory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, it has settled hundreds of thousands of its citizens there and claims the entire city as its "eternal, indivisible" capital. |
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_should_jerusalem_be_divided0/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_should_jerusalem_be_divided0/html/1.stm', '1191857505', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Israeli and Palestinian views on the future status of Jerusalem href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_should_jerusalem_be_divided0/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_should_jerusalem_be_divided0/html/1.stm', '1191857505', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures | |
"Israel has an interest to get recognition of all of Jerusalem's Jewish neighbourhoods, and to hand over control of Arab neighbourhoods to the Palestinians," Mr Ramon said. | "Israel has an interest to get recognition of all of Jerusalem's Jewish neighbourhoods, and to hand over control of Arab neighbourhoods to the Palestinians," Mr Ramon said. |
"When we speak of a diplomatic horizon, these are the subjects we are referring to." | "When we speak of a diplomatic horizon, these are the subjects we are referring to." |
However, he said Israel would not transfer control of the Old City with its holy places and surrounding neighbourhoods to the Palestinians. | However, he said Israel would not transfer control of the Old City with its holy places and surrounding neighbourhoods to the Palestinians. |
Mr Ramon has previously backed "special sovereignty" over the city's holy sites, while the Western Wall and Jewish Quarter would come under Israeli sovereignty. | Mr Ramon has previously backed "special sovereignty" over the city's holy sites, while the Western Wall and Jewish Quarter would come under Israeli sovereignty. |
The Kadima party of Mr Ramon and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert won last year's elections with a programme that favoured unilaterally demarcating Israel's borders with the Palestinians. | The Kadima party of Mr Ramon and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert won last year's elections with a programme that favoured unilaterally demarcating Israel's borders with the Palestinians. |
Kadima colleagues have criticised his position, arguing that the whole of Jerusalem must remain under Israeli control. | Kadima colleagues have criticised his position, arguing that the whole of Jerusalem must remain under Israeli control. |
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