Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the most serious peace talks in seven years would begin on Monday and the final deal must address all the sensitive issues including Jerusalem.Abbas went on to explain that the timing of the talks is particularly favorable because the question of Israel's continued existence is going to be settled at the Oxford Union debate between Norman Finkelstein and Ilan Pappe with Finkelstein assuming the role of Israel's defender. "If it happens to be determined that Israel is entitled to a final status that involves its continued existence," he explained, "then we can discuss what that final status should look like." (h/t: Martin Kramer)
Abbas said his chief negotiator, former Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, would meet his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, as part of U.S. President George W. Bush's push for a statehood agreement before leaving office.
"All the issues will be discussed ... We told Bush that we will not accept delaying any of the final-status issues," Abbas said in a speech, referring to state borders, the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, and Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. [...]
Crossposted on Soccer Dad
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