Palestinian Leaders Dispute Leaked Documents
A view of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel, according to a report by the Al-Jazeera TV channel quoting documents during peace talks in 2008, that Palestinians were prepared to compromise over two of the toughest issues, Jerusalem and refugees, 23 Jan 2011
Palestinian factions are expressing anger after the al-Jazeera network quoted what it says are hundreds of leaked documents that show Palestinian negotiators were ready to make significant concessions to Israel during negotiations in 2008.
The documents released by the al-Jazeera network say the Palestinians were ready to make concessions on the key issues of Jerusalem and refugees.
On one of the most sensitive of the issues, the network quoted the papers as saying Palestinian negotiators proposed allowing the compound the contains the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam＇s third holiest, come under international control temporarily while a permanent agreement is reached.
The Palestinian Fatah movement in Jerusalem was among the factions responding angrily to the report. Its leader, Hatem Abdel Khader, spoke on Palestinian radio.
He said this area is the most important place for Arab Muslims in Jerusalem. He said no one has a right to give up the land because it is ground that is holy to Islam.
Palestinian officials have denied the reports and are calling for independent verification of the papers, which one senior official described as being full of lies and half-truths.
The chief Palestinian negotiator at the time alleged that at least part of the documents had been made up.
The United States, a broker of the negotiations, said Washington could not vouch for the veracity of the documents.
The papers allegedly contain details of confidential discussions among Israeli, Palestinian, and U.S. officials, including some in which the Palestinians suggested they were ready to give up large sections of territory in Jerusalem, and two percent of the West Bank.
Reports on the documents have fueled the frustration that many Palestinians feel about the failure of President Mahmoud Abbas＇ leadership to reach an agreement to end the Israeli occupation.
Hamas, the rival militant Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, on Monday said the documents quoted by al-Jazeera show the Palestinian leadership under Mr. Abbas has surrendered to Israel.
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