Mideast Peace Talks Confront Core Issues

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Core Issue

Israel

Palestinian Authority

Barriers to Trust

In their own words

Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Post reports 68% of Israelis favor a united Jerusalem under Israeli rule.

Consistent with their demand that Israel return all "occupied" territory, Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital.

Palestinian leaders deny that the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) existed.

Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and its suburbs, estimated at 184,000, continues to grow.

"An eternal covenant exists between the people of Israel and Jerusalem. It will remain uniquely ours." (Olmert, 2006)

"They claim that 2000 years ago they had a temple. I challenge the claim that this is so." (Abbas, 2000)

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Ehud Olmert

From The Jewish Virtual Library:
Following Ariel Sharon's decision to leave the Likud Party in November 2005, Olmert joined with Sharon and several other former Likud ministers to form the new centrist party, Kadima. On January 4, 2006, Sharon suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to perform his dutires as prime minister. On January 5, Olmert was given acting prime ministerial duties to keep the government running effectively in Sharon's absence…Olmert remained acting Prime Minister until the Israeli elections, which took place on March 28, 2006. Following elections… Ehud Olmert became Prime Minister of the 31st Government of Israel.

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Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) was part of Yasser Arafat's trusted inner circle and served in many leadership roles within Fatah, Arafat's powerful faction. Abbas was an architect of the Oslo Accords. He became President of the Palestinian Authority in January 2005, following Arafat's death.

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