Israeli politicians should stop floating ideas about a “territorial exchange” between lands in pre-1967 Israel and an Arab state that would be set up on areas liberated by Israel during the Six Day War, Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas told Arab MK Mohammed Barakeh (Hadash) in a meeting in Ramallah Saturday. Abbas wants all the land east of the 1948 cease fire lines for his state – and if Israel wants to “donate” land on the western side of the line, it is welcome to do so, he said.

Abbas was referring to reports that appeared in the Israeli press last week that Israeli officials, including President Shimon Peres and officials in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, have been holding “secret” talks with PA officials over the possible territorial exchanges. The Israelis proposed annexing land in Judea and Samaria within the confines of the security fence – about 8% of the total area – in exchange for an equal amount of territory in pre-1967 Israel, such as the “triangle” area, which abuts Tulkarem and Kalkilye. Barakeh praised Abbas' position, telling him that “Israeli Arabs are not territorial assets to be used in negotiations to justify the occupation.”