The Ehud Olmert-Mahmoud Abbas talks in Jericho, West Bank

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The Ehud Olmert-Mahmoud Abbas talks in jericho, West Bank

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  Yesterday, Ehud Olmert Israeli PM and Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian Authority Chairman, hold historic talks in Jericho in the West Bank. Despite  the generous accolades on both sides, the core issues needs more than the usual scenario of talks. The following quotes from from Israeli and arab press highligt the point.

From "Aljeezira" (Qatar).   "..Israeli officials had baulked at describing the session as an attempt to adress so-called final-status issues such as borders and the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, saying the two leaders would seek instead an agreement on principles". (see here)

From the "Jerusalem Post".   "Israeli officials stressed, however, that when Olmert says " fundamental issues," he is referring to building accountable Palestinian governing institutions and an effective PA security apparatus, the Palestinian believe the fundamental issues includes discussions on the borders of the future Palestinian state, the Palestinian refugees, the state of settlements in the Wet Bank and the future of Jerusalem". (see here)

From "Arab News" (Saudi).  ".. Yet Despite the good will, the two sides have very different ideas about what should happen next. The Palestinian said that after years of delay, it's now time to start talking about the terms of Palestinian statehood, including final borders. removal of Israeli settllements and how to divide Jerusalem". (see here)

From "Ynet".   ".. Prior to the meeting Israeli sources indicated that it would touch on Palestinian requests regarding border crossing , checkpoints and humanitarian aid. Palestinian sources said that Abbas intended to raise more sensitive issues, as well, including Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and borders". (see here)

From "Daily Time" (Pakistan).   "..Such a sequence - and a conference whose harmless aim is "to review progress toward building Palestinian institutions,  look for ways to support further reforms, and support the effort going on between the parties" - fits perfectly with the Israeli view. But Palestinian militias have shown time and again that they will not given up the armed struggle before they see a Palestinian state along the lines of the 1967 borders, with arab Jerusalem as its capital". (see here)

And from Ismail Haniya in the Gaza strip, and Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank  repectively, .."[He] will not talk with the Hamas " and "..The Jericho meeting a public relations gimmick that would yield nothing for the Palestinians" . (From Jpost and Aljeezira above quotes).

So factually the talks really take place in Jericho, but will they succeed with such a Rashumon scenario?