Palestinians offer to renew Israel peace talks without settlement freeze, official says

[Jefferson23]

PA reportedly submits new Quartet offer to restart negotiations, demand Israel releases 100 Palestinian prisoners; Israel rejects offer fearing renewal of only low-grade talks.

By Barak Ravid

The Palestinian leadership submitted a proposal to renew peace talks with with Israel that drops their long-standing demand that Israel ceases all West Bank settlement construction, a top Israeli official said on Wednesday.

According to officials with knowledge of the proposal, the Palestinian Authority informed the Quartet two weeks ago that it would renege on its demand for a settlement freeze if Israel releases 100 prisoners as a show of good will.

The prisoners in question are reportedly all veteran inmates, incarcerated in Israeli prisons since before the Oslo accords.

The Palestinian proposal was reputedly the result of heavy pressure applied by Quartet members – the United States, the European Union, Russian, and the United Nations – on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to renew talks before January 26.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-offer-to-renew-israel-peace-talks-without-settlement-freeze-official-says-1.404201

[King_David]

1. Hopefully Israel and the USA will take them up on that nt

[vminfla]

3. really?

Another 100 killers and terrorists out on the streets?

Hopefully Abbas will show up with at the negotiation table in good faith as an honest arbiter without preconditions. But, that is never going to happen. He will continue to make one outrageous demand after another and never willingly become an honest broker for peace.

[Jefferson23]

2. Hamas forces ordered to cease attacks on Israeli targets, Palestinian sources say

Sources say Hamas leader Meshal issued order based on understandings between Palestinian President Abbas and Meshal during recent talks in Cairo.

By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal has instructed the group's military wing to cease attacks on Israeli targets, senior sources in Fatah say.

The sources say Meshal issued the order based on understandings between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Meshal during their recent talks in Cairo.

Israeli defense sources say they are unaware of such an order.

According to the sources in Fatah, the largest faction in the Palestine Liberation Organization, Meshal ordered a de facto cease-fire with Israel not only in the Gaza Strip, but also in the West Bank. Hamas had already refrained from launching rockets from Gaza.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/hamas-forces-ordered-to-cease-attacks-on-israeli-targets-palestinian-sources-say-1.404226