ISRAEL:Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni declared yesterday that Israel was "prepared to make significant territorial concessions" as talks got under way with the Palestinians for the first time in seven years on the issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict.
Ms Livni, who met chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Korei in a Jerusalem hotel to begin the negotiations, made her comments to parliament, arguing that ceding territory was in Israel's interests. She said she would not, however, divulge the content of the meeting with Mr Korei.
The "glare of the cameras", the foreign minister said, had in the past led to "raised expectations" and to "disappointment and violence".
Mr Korei was a little more forthcoming. "We started today talking about all the core issues: Jerusalem, refugees, borders, settlements. We talked about these issues in general. The talks were positive but the path ahead is difficult."
The talks come a few days after President Bush paid a visit to Israel and the West Bank in a bid to promote the renewal of negotiations.
Prime minister Ehud Olmert confirmed yesterday that all the core issues would be on the table, but he sounded less optimistic about the timeline for a deal and about Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's ability to implement any agreement that is reached.
"I'm not sure the man leading the Palestinian Authority will have the power to bring about the implementation of the agreement," Mr Olmert was quoted as saying, in a reference to the fact that Hamas, and not Mr Abbas, controls the Gaza Strip. Hamas officials in Gaza attacked the talks. "This is a failed meeting that is going to provide a cover for the occupation crimes against our people," said Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the Islamic movement.
Mr Olmert, though, could soon be facing his own political crisis. Two hardline parties in his ruling coalition have threatened to bolt over his readiness to discuss issues like Jerusalem, borders and refugees. He is also waiting to see how Labor Party leader and defence minister Ehud Barak will react to a report by an inquest into the military campaign launched by Mr Olmert in Lebanon in the summer of 2006.
Mr Barak had said that if the report, which is expected to be published at the end of the month, was critical of Mr Olmert, he would resign and lead Labor out of the coalition - a move that would precipitate early elections.
But with negotiations now under way with the Palestinians, it will be difficult for Mr Barak to justify leaving the government to supporters of his centre-left party.