PALESTINIANS REJECT ISRAELI OFFER TO HAND OVER 91.5% OF WEST BANK
Palestinian officials close to peace talks said Sunday that
Israel has offered a West Bank withdrawal map that leaves about 8.5 percent of
the territory in Israeli hands, less than a previous plan but still more than
the Palestinians are ready to accept.
Also Sunday, Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as telling backers that the negotiations have achieved
no progress since they were restarted last November with a pledge to U.S.
President George W. Bush to try for a full peace treaty by the end of the year
The Palestinian officials said Israel presented its new map three days ago in a negotiating session. The last map Israel offered had 12 percent of the West Bank remaining in Israel. Israel wants to keep West Bank land with its main settlement blocs, offering land inside Israel in exchange.