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Cache of Palestinian documents leaked to media, PA denies their veracity

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Al Jazeera and the Guardian newspaper yesterday have begun publication of excerpts from a cache of 1,600 documents leaked from the Palestinian Authority. The documents contain details of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority over the last decade. They are set to be published in full over the coming days. The documents show details of PA proposals made at various times on core issues of the conflict, including Jerusalem and refugees. According to the Guardian, the papers also indicate the close cooperation between Israeli and PA security forces, and show that the PA was warned in advance before the launching of Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza in late 2008. Among the details revealed by the papers are a PA proposal to cede Israel most of the Jewish neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem, except Har Homa. The offer was rejected because it did not include Har Homa, Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem’s east, Givat Ze’ev and Ariel. Then-foreign minister Tzipi Livni expressed her ‘appreciation’ of this offer, according to the leaked Palestinian documents. The documents also show details of the offer made by then-prime minister Ehud Olmert to the PA “according to information provided by Saeb Erekat.” The document suggests that Olmert wanted to cede the greater part of the West Bank to the PA. 6.8% of the area would be annexed to Israel, in return for the equivalent of 5.5% to be ceded to the Palestinians from adjacent Israeli territory.

The leaked Palestinian papers are causing a political firestorm in the Palestinian Authority, as speculation rises regarding who was responsible for providing them to the Guardian and al-Jazeera. Israeli analyst Tzvi Yehezkeli yesterday suggested the name of former Gaza Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan, as one who may be responsible for the leak. Dahlan is currently involved in a power struggle with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Senior PA figures, meanwhile, are disputing the veracity of the documents, with Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat calling them a “theatre” and a “pack of lies.” Erekat said that the documents were part of a campaign being waged against PA President Abbas. Abbas himself also disputed their veracity. The details revealed are of particular sensitivity to the PA as they portray a leadership apparently willing to make far-reaching concessions to Israel, which is unlikely to play well in Palestinian politics, and will enable opponents of the current PA leadership to portray them as excessively pliant.