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Israel Must Evacuate Jewish Neighborhoods in East Jerusalem: A- Sanna
Israeli Arab lawmaker Taleb A- Sanna said on Tuesday that Israel must evacuate the Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem as part of the settlement of the Jerusalem issue.
East Jerusalem and the rights of return of the Palestinians are of utmost importance to the Palestinians and that they are non- negotiable, A-Sanna, Knesset (parliament) member of the five-seat United Arab List, told the Israel Radio.
A-Sanna said that the Israeli Arab Knesset members support the ongoing Camp David summit, but "will not automatically support any agreement" Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak signs with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the summit.
"There is a limit to concessions, and we also have red lines that we will not cross," he said, adding that at the summit "Barak is trying to squeeze further concessions from Arafat, but he must realize that in doing so he is losing support from the left."
A-Sanna said there is a need for a "just" agreement, and not one made by taking advantage of Arafat's weakness and affinity for peace.
The fate of Jerusalem is one of the key issues being discussed at the summit, which entered its 15th day on Tuesday.
Barak reportedly suggested at the summit that Israel will have total sovereignty over Jerusalem, giving the Palestinians autonomy over the Old City and other Palestinian neighborhoods and holy sites in East Jerusalem. But this proposal was rejected by Arafat.
Reports from Washington said that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, with the help of U.S. officials, are trying to put together a package of agreements to reach a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the key to a deal being resolving the status of Jerusalem, holy city ot Jews, Muslims and Christians.
Other key issues need to be settled at the summit are the size and powers of a Palestinian state, the treatment of Palestinian refugees, Jewish settlements on the occupied territories and security arrangement.
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