Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are meeting Sunday to discuss the continuation of peace talks, aiming at achieving a Memorandum of Understanding within the next two weeks.
The Media Line has learned that ‘Abbas is expected to demand the return of Palestinians who were exiled in 2002 after the Nativity Church siege in Bethlehem.
During an Israeli military operation, Palestinian armed men entrenched themselves in the church and held priests hostage, while Israeli forces besieged the church compound.
An agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel determined that some of the hostage-takers would be exiled to Europe, while others would be transferred to the Gaza Strip.
Olmert will try to convince ‘Abbas to accept a plan he formulated a few weeks ago, including a land swap and an arrangement regarding the status of Jerusalem.
Olmert is expected to ask a number of foreign governments and institutions to participate in the negotiations regarding Jerusalem, Israeli and Palestinian press reported Sunday morning.
The papers further reported Olmert would set a schedule of five years to complete the arrangement regarding Jerusalem.
The Palestinian negotiating team has expressed many doubts regarding Olmert’s ability to achieve a Memorandum of Understanding before he steps down in two weeks time, The Media Line has learned.
The Palestinian team regards Olmert as a "lame duck" because of his legal entanglements.
As a result of the ongoing investigations against him, Olmert announced he would step down from his office as prime minister after the election of a new chairman for the ruling party, Qadima.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai said Olmert had no legal or public legitimacy to take any decisions regarding an agreement with the Palestinians.
He said the Palestinian Authority was "virtual" and that any agreement with it would bring about terrorism against Israel.