The Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency published comments by senior Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat on Sunday that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his predecessor, Yasir Arafat, could have signed agreements with Israel in the past but refused to make concession. For example, Abbas was offered all of Judea and Samaria, but would not concede on Jerusalem and the right of Arabs who left in 1948 to return.
On Saturday, Ma'an cited Dr. Erekat as saying that the PA rejected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's proposal to create 12 joint committees dealing with central issues. Erakat said the leaders had to make decisions first and turn the details over to committees. He added that the issues up for discussion, as determined in Washington last week, were Jerusalem, Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, borders, refugees, water, security and release of prisoners.