Sources say PA refusing to return to negotiating table even if new 90-day freeze implemented; opposition is responsible for delay in Israel receiving letter outlining terms of deal.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFMitchell with Erekat and Abbas 311(photo credit: Associated Press)
Palestinian refusal to return to the negotiating table even if a 90-day settlement freeze is in place has delayed the anticipated agreement between Israel and the US for a package of incentives in exchange for such a moratorium, The Jerusalem Post has learned from sources close to the issue.As a result, there is no formal document to date which sets out the terms of the incentive package which was hammered out last Thursday in a day long meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.RELATED:'No cabinet freeze vote until US gives proposal in writing'US refuses to confirm offer of 20 F-35 fighter jetsCoalition likely to survive vote on incentive packageNetanyahu has insisted that only once he has such a document, will he bring it to the 15-member Security Cabinet for approval.The Cabinet is set to hold its weekly meeting on Wednesday, but at present, the 90-day freeze is not on the agenda.Terms of the proposed deal, as presented to the Cabinet by Netanyahu were:An Israeli insistence on receiving written guarantees that Jewish construction can continue in east Jerusalem, even during the 90-day freeze; the US would pledge not to pressure Israel into extending the freeze or imposing a new one; the US would promise to veto any Palestinian unilateral initiatives in the United Nations Security Council; the US would clarify that during the negotiations, the issue of borders would be dealt with in the context of other cores issues and not become a separate issue.
