Report: Israel-Palestinian deal includes refugees, east Jerusalem

Qatari paper reports Israel will grant up to 20,000 refugees right of return, transfer east Jerusalem neighborhoods to Palestinian sovereignty in deal steadily forming between State, Palestinians

Roee Nahmias|Published: 09.13.08 , 14:35

According to a report by the Qatari Al-Sharq, the new agreement taking form between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will include the admittance of 20,000 Palestinian refugees into Israel, as well as the annexing of a number of east Jerusalem neighborhoods to the new Palestinian capital.

Al-Sharq reported that the agreement is comprised of 12 clauses, and scheduled to be made public before the end of 2008, possible even before the US November elections.

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Regarding the right of return Al-Sharq reported that both sides had agreed to admit 15-20 thousand refugees within ten years. The refugees discussed are those who uprooted in 1948, and they were said to be eligible for the right of return without their children and without the right to "unite families".

The refugees, aged 60-80, will be allowed to return to the areas in which they were born in order to live out the rest of their lives in their birthplace, the report said. The claim negated Palestinian announcements declaring the matter unresolved.

Regarding border issues Al-Sharq reported that Israel is interested in keeping 5% of the West Bank, aside from Jerusalem, in return for land that will constitute a "safe passageway" between Gaza and the West Bank.

But Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to give up only 1.8%, the paper reported. In addition, it said Israel would keep certain West Bank settlements in exchange for territory that would be annexed to Gaza.

Regarding Jerusalem, Al-Sharq reported that Defense Minister Ehud Barak objects to discussing the issue while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has agreed to establish the new Palestinian capital among east Jerusalem neighborhoods. Israel has denied these claims.

The paper also said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged both sides to reach a general agreement on the issues of the Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem and the city's holy sites, in order to assist in the signing of a deal prior to the end of 2008.