In Bethlehem, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators reached agreement Tuesday that 27 Palestinian civilians and a policeman would leave the besieged Church of the Nativity later in the day, a Palestinian official said.
An agreement to end Israel's siege in Bethlehem is likely soon, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday. "I think there is a solution," Powell said, providing no details.
However, Palestinians played down U.S. assertions that the two sides were close to a deal on the fate of nearly two dozen wanted Palestinians.
U.S. and Israeli officials said privately it probably would be based on Israel's proposal to offer the activists holed up in the Church of the Nativity a choice of exile or trial in Israel. "I think it will be resolved in the near future," Powell said.
While difficult discussions remain, Powell said at a news conference, all the elements of an accord are in place.
Talks between the sides were deadlocked Monday and the Palestinian negotiators were less optimistic compared to Powell.
A Palestinian negotiator said early Tuesday that neither side had yet altered its position on the core dispute: Israel demands exile or trial in Israel for the wanted men and the Palestinians seek their safe transfer to the Gaza Strip, where accusations against them would be handled in the Palestinian legal system. "We haven't reached a deal yet," the negotiator told AP.
Late Monday, Palestinian negotiator Imad Natshe said the two sides would meet again on Tuesday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
