Saturday, October 13, 2007

Reports: Abbas relinquishes the right of return



"NAZARETH, (PIC)-- The PA President Mahmoud Abbas has practically relinquished the Palestinian refugees' right of return during meetings with Israeli leaders, according to a close associate of Abbas.

The Israeli radio reported on Friday that a member of Palestinian negotiating team with the Israelis stated that the Palestinian side has accepted the Israeli offers that were made six years ago during the Taba conference and were rejected at the time by the them PA President Yaser Arafat.

According to the Israeli radio, their source mentioned the issue of the return of refugees pointing out that the Israelis should allow the return of refugees to the lands of the state of Palestine when it is established and to allow a symbolic number of them return to their homes in 1948 occupied Palestine.

In practice this means the abandonment of a cardinal Palestinian right which is the return of refugees to their homes.

The radio also quoted the same source as saying that the gap between Ehud Olmert's views and those of Mahmoud Abbas are not major but the Israeli negotiators are hesitant.

The PA Presidency has not denied this reports or others like it which indicate that the Rammallah PA government is giving up much of the Palestinian rights at the negotiating table."

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