Gaps revealed in Israel, PA positions in negotiations

According to a report in Ynetnews today, significant gaps remain in the negotiating positions of Israel and the PA, in the ongoing negotiations between teams led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and PA minister Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala). The report, which has been confirmed by Israeli and Palestinian officials, revealed that the Palestinians are insisting that the PA be permitted to establish a regular army within the context of a final status accord between the sides. In the past it has been suggested that a Palestinian state would be demilitarised, and this remains the position of the government of Israel. The demand for an army further complicates an already troubled process, in which the sides have failed to reach agreement on the issues of borders and refugees, and have not yet begun discussing the question of Jerusalem.

Despite the difficulties, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters that Israel and the Palestinians will be resuming intensive talk soon and that she believes substantial progress will be made in the coming months. Secretary of State Rice was speaking to reporters after her esit to the region with US President George Bush.

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