Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have agreed to start drafting elements of a proposed peace agreement, the chief Palestinian negotiator said late Friday. Ahmed Qurei, the negotiator heading the Palestinian side, noted the decision did not necessarily reflect agreement on major issues. But this would be the first time since negotiations resumed more than six months ago that anything would be committed to paper.
"We agreed with the Israelis to begin writing the positions," Qurei told reporters.
According to the AP, Qurei did not say what issue the two sides would begin with. If they reach agreement on any issue, then they will draft a single provision, he said. If not, they will lay out on paper their divergent views, he added.
Qurei confirmed that Israeli peace negotiators have offered the Palestinians land in exchange for territory where major West Bank settlements lie, but he termed their offer "unacceptable." "The Israelis presented a land swap offer, but this offer is unacceptable to us," he said.
