PMO: Terms of freeze deal will not include J'lem building

Clinton refuses to comment, says US working closely with 2 sides towards creating conditions to enable renewed talks.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS, TOVAH LAZAROFF
building311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
building311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The PMO on Wednesday evening stated clearly the terms of an incentives package in exchange for a 90-day settlement freeze would not involve east Jerusalem construction.
"Jerusalem is not part of the discussions on this topics. The Israeli stance on this issue was clear from the beginning that building in Jerusalem will continue," a PMO statement read.
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declined to comment on Israel's request for written guarantees from Washington regarding the agreement.
She said she could not go into details, but that the US is working closely with the two sides towards creating conditions that would enable renewed talks.
Earlier on Wednesday Israeli officials tried to defuse speculation that a disagreement between Israel and the US over east Jerusalem construction had delayed the anticipated the US document.
Israeli officials said that during last Thursday's meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netnayhu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, where they discussed the 90-day freeze deal, it was understood that east Jerusalem would not be mentioned in the document.
The Shas party's expected abstention from the Security Cabinet vote on the deal — a stance which is critical to its passage — is linked to its understanding that the document would clarify that east Jerusalem construction is not included in the settlement freeze.
Israel has continuously explained to the US that east Jerusalem is part of Israel's united capital and that it does not intend to halt construction there, Israeli officials said.
The Palestinians in contrast, have insisted that all Jewish construction must be halted both in West Bank settlements and in east Jerusalem, before they would agree to return to the negotiating table.
Earlier Wednesday, Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told Army Radio that the PA will only learn the details regarding the new US freeze proposal during a meeting between the assistant of US Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell and PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
"All Israeli claims that Palestinians are torpedoing the [new] understanding between Washington and Jerusalem are just part of the regular Israeli machinations in the blame game," Erekat told Army Radio.
Erekat alsosaid during the interview that the key to peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians is in the hands of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
"The Israelis know our position...we will negotiate beginning with borders and security...all other core issues...will be dealt with after 90 days," he stated.
The Palestinian official also called for a two-state solution along 1967 borders.
"I am under your [the Israeli] occupation...we want to reach a two-state solution with 1967 borders...we have recognized your existence," Erekat said.