President Abbas and Israeli PM Olmert are exerting all efforts to reach an agreement of principles before holding the international peace conference called for by President Bush next November. Informed sources confirmed that the Saudi King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz is satisfied regarding the deliberations between President Abbas and PM Olmert and that he personally participates in preparing for the conference. The sources said the Saudi King received reports about the understandings and agreements that have been reached between Abbas and Olmert and that he is granted access to the results of the meetings and that he decided to join in the peace efforts and is personally involved in the secret preparations for the international conference. The sources added that Olmert wants to be known in history as a PM of a peace government and not of a war government and that he seeks to reach an agreement of principles over the permanent settlement of the Palestinian cause within two months. The sources said that on the Palestinian side, there is a leader who doesn't have much to lose, especially after losing Gaza Strip and that Olmert and Abbas decided, upon American request, to use the joint working hours in the bilateral meetings to push forward in holding serious deliberations on core issues of dispute, such as Jerusalem, the refugees and the permanent borders. Both sides intend to present the document they are preparing to the international conference in November in Washington and will demand from the participants in the conference to ratify the principles and to provide the climate for a serious peace process. Israeli sources said the bilateral secret talks held between Abu Mazen and Olmert in the recent months can be understood as serious talks and an attempt by both men to tackle in a daring manner the basic issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to the recordings of a meeting between Olmert and US Congressmen delegation, Olmert briefed the delegation on the results of his secret talks with Abu Mazen. According to the recordings of the meeting, Olmert said he has been holding talks with Abu Mazen for several months on the core issues in order to reach an agreed upon principles on the basic issues that could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state next to the state of Israel: the borders, Jerusalem, the refugees and the exchange of regions and the corridor between the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the nature of relations between Israel and the Palestinian state. Olmert told the delegation that very few of the Israelis believe that it is possible to reach a settlement with the Palestinians and to implement on the ground, but despite this, it is worth a try to reach agreements with Abu Mazen on the core issues. Olmert admitted that the understanding to be reached will not be implemented right away but he believes that Abu Mazen can present the principles of the agreement in a referendum to the Palestinian public. He said: Abu Mazen is the first Palestinian leader since the start of the dialogue with the Palestinian leadership who shows interest and readiness to replace the current reality. Abu Mazen wants peace with Israel but on his terms which are not agreed upon. Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper said Olmert recommended to Abu Mazen to keep Hamas outside the game because Hamas is an enemy to peace and that Israel will not cooperate with Abu Mazen if a Palestinian unity government is formed with Hamas. The recordings of the meeting didn’t reveal what is the final position of Olmert on the issues reached with Abu Mazen, but one can assume that based on the past statements of Olmert and Livni, that they are talking about withdrawing from 90% of the West Bank and Israel will accept to erect an upper corridor or a tunnel to link the West Bank with Gaza Strip and Olmert seeks to keep control over the major settlements in the West Bank in exchange for handing the Palestinians regions in the Negev. Olmert did hint in the past on readiness to hand over to the Palestinian side some areas in the outskirts of East Jerusalem and one can estimate that Olmert will give in to Abu Mazen on joint control or responsibility over al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Olmert is also expected to accept the proposal posed by Livni on the Palestinian refugees issue meaning that refugees can return only to the Palestinian state and not inside the Green Line. It should be noted that even if a written understanding is reached, Olmert can maintain control over the timetable of implementation at least until Palestinians prove their capabilities to control their state.

Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper said that another letter reached Israel saying that the Saudi King explained that the level of the Saudi delegation to the international conference will depend on the level of progress in the Palestinian-Israeli channel and that Saudi King got an assurance from the United States not to invite Syria to the conference.

Published at Al Quds NewsPaper on August 17, 2007