PM Olmert in a 'Rush' to Sign a Shelf Document with Palestinians?

donsutherland1 · 08-31-08, 08:47 AM

Today, The Jerusalem Post reported:

Ministers expressed their anger during Sunday's cabinet meeting at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan to try and convince Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to sign a document outlining all the clauses in which agreements had been reached in peace talks thus far...

Olmert would like to have the sides sign a document outlining agreement on some of the key issues before he leaves office, a so-called "shelf agreement" that would not be immediately implemented, officials from Olmert's office said. A vague agreement of this kind would show what progress has been made and indicate where the negotiations would be picked up by the next prime minister. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the goal had not been officially made public.

This expression of haste is another approach that is likely to stiffen or increase Palestinian demands. When a negotiator is in a rush, the other side typically increases or stiffens its demands, as it expects the other side to make concessions to serve its timeframe.

Tashah · 08-31-08, 09:28 AM

Don't sign anything until all issues are settled and agreed upon by the negotiators. If and when that should happen, I fully expect a referendum to be placed before both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples for either their acceptance or rejection of the settlement points.

donsutherland1 · 08-31-08, 09:53 AM

I strongly agree with you, Tashah.

Tashah · 08-31-08, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

I strongly agree with you, Tashah.

I would make a mutual referendum a binding point in any proposed final settlement. No i’s get dotted and no t’s get crossed unless both peoples willingly agree to accept what is before them. No ambiguous language, secret protocols or “unspoken understandings”. I want it all there before me in black and white. I also want English to be the determinant language to avoid any lingual misunderstandings between Hebrew and Arabic.

donsutherland1 · 08-31-08, 04:27 PM

I again agree with you Tashah. It will be crucial that the two peoples buy into the agreement and that there be no ambiguity or secret understandings that could create obstacles for performance later on.