According to officials, Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has urged Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to stop the expansion of the Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem. Israel had said that the new homes are within the existing boundaries.
The issue had stopped the follow-up to the Annapolis talks sponsored by the United States. Israelis have been accused by the Palestinians of trying to impale the peace deal and called for a complete freeze of the settlement building taking place in both East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
East Jerusalem was occupied during the 1967 war. However, the state of Israel is not recognized internationally.
In regards to the building, no official statements were released after the two-hour meeting at Mr. Olmert’s residence.
“Both parties agreed not to take any steps that may pre-empt or prejudice the issues reserved for the permanent status negotiations,” according to Saeb Erakat, Palestinian negotiator.
The issues of the meeting were: Jerusalem, settlements, borders, water, refuges and the security.
It was deemed positive from both sides.
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