Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that he was sorry for the plight of Palestinians and Jews who became refugees as a result of Israel's establishment in 1948.
"I join in expressing sorrow for what happened to the Palestinians and also for what happened to the Jews who were expelled from Arab states," the prime minister was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as saying before a meeting of the Knesset (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Olmert made the comments in reference to the key Palestinian demand for a "right of return" in peace negotiations with Israel, said Ha'aretz, adding that it was "unusual" for an Israeli prime minister to say Israel will participate in expressing sorrow for what happened to Palestinian refugees.
However, Olmert said "under absolutely no circumstances will there be a right of return," though adding that "We are prepared to be part of an international mechanism that will work to solve the problem."
Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged at a U.S.-hosted peace conference in Annapolis last November to reach a comprehensive peace deal by the end of 2008, yet little tangible progress has since been achieved, leading to lowering expectations for the two neighbors to realize the ambitious goal.
On Friday, Abbas expressed his doubt in an interview with Ha'aretz that any peace agreement could be reached with Israel within2008, citing the fact that none of the key issues in the sluggish process has been solved, including the return of Palestinian refugees.
Abbas said the refugees would not all have to return to Israel, yet the Jewish state must discuss both its responsibility for the refugee problem and a practical right of return.
"We understand that if all the five million refugees return to their homes, the State of Israel will be destroyed," he said, adding that "Palestinians who do not return to Israel will be able to return to Palestine."
Demographic concerns exist in Israel that should all the Palestinian refugees return to Israel, it would lose the nature of a Jewish state.
Source:Xinhua
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