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Mideast Talks Tackle 'Core Issues'

Two parties threaten to leave Olmert's governing coalition

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 14, 2008 10:45 AM CST

(Newser) – Talks opened today between high-level Israeli and Palestinian negotiators as leaders on both sides faced intensifying criticism from within their own camps. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert was threatened with the withdrawal of two political parties from his governing coalition if sensitive subjects such as a divided Jerusalem are broached, and Hamas called on Mahmoud Abbas to "stop giving away Palestinian blood and rights for free."

Israel's foreign minister and the chief Palestinian negotiator met for 2 hours in Jerusalem, the AP reports. Tasked with addressing what a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry called "core issues," they addressed such issues as borders of a Palestinian state, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Palestinian refugees. The meetings come after President Bush visited the region last week in an attempt to jumpstart negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the PLO Central Committee meeting at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.  At their next meeting, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will begin tackling the core issues that need to be resolved for a peace treaty, Palestinian President Mahmoud...
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the PLO Central Committee meeting at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008. At their next meeting, Israeli and Palestinian...   (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looks on during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, fresh off a visit by President George W. Bush, said Sunday he was assured by the president that any future peace deal with the Palestinians would include both...
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looks on during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, fresh off a visit by President George W. Bush, said Sunday...   (Associated Press)
President Bush waves as he boards Air Force One before leaving for Kuwait following an official departure ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel,  Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. U.S. President George W. Bush said Friday that he would return to the Mideast in May to continue...
President Bush waves as he boards Air Force One before leaving for Kuwait following an official departure ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. U.S....   (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament in Jerusalem, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators took on the most contentious issues in their 100-year conflict Monday, under a U.S.-backed effort to hammer out...
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament in Jerusalem, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators...   (Associated Press)
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