Olmert, Abbas agree to start talks on core issues

"The two leaders decided to allow negotiating teams to conduct direct talks on all core issues," Olmert`s spokesman Mark Regev said, adding, "We expect the process will begin shortly."
The three-level model is comprised of talks on the following levels: Firstly, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and head of the Palestinian negotiations team Ahmed Qureia will discuss the core issues in a direct dialogue. The negotiating teams will then discuss the issues in detail. In case of a disagreement, Abbas and Olmert will intervene.
According to a report by local daily Ha`aretz on Sunday, negotiations over the core issues - refugees, Jerusalem and borders - will begin after Bush`s visit to the region this week, while the remaining issues will be discussed in other committees.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced earlier this week that he would quit the government and pull Israel Beiteinu out of the coalition once core issues - refugees, Jerusalem and borders - were raised for negotiation.