So Palestinian leadership is complaining that they don't want to start negotiations from scratch with Netanyahu, but rather want to pick up where they left off with Olmert. Good luck with that. But let's revisit exactly where Olmert did leave off and what new information has just come to light regarding that point.
Netanyahu's predecessor, Ehud Olmert, directed a year of wide-ranging negotiations with the Palestinians that touched on a series of sensitive issues. No agreements were made public, and Israeli and Palestinian officials disagree on the scope of the understandings.
Yes, Olmert and Abbas had been negotiating for a year! Sensitive issues were on the table, one of them being Jerusalem. How do I know? The Palestinians just said so.
Netanyahu says Israel is ready to resume negotiations but refuses to be bound to Olmert's reported concessions. Palestinians say they turned down his offer of a state in Gaza, more than 90 percent of the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem.
In a major policy speech Sunday, Netanyahu confirmed that such an offer was rejected.
http://www.haaretz.com/...
Ah so! Yes indeed, Olmert made an outstanding offer. And note the statement by Palestinians that Olmert offered "parts of Jerusalem."
Yes this statement dovetails perfectly with Washington Post columnist Diehl's account (Diehl is known for his criticism of Israel) of his recent conversation with Abbas in Washington. Diehl recounted that Abbas said he turned down Olmert's offer for 97% of the WB and some limited right of return. What he left out and what I speculated Olmert offered in this diary, - "parts of Jerusalem" - has now been confirmed by Palestinians.
So revisiting Diehl's account of his conversation with Abbas:
In our meeting Wednesday, Abbas acknowledged that Olmert had shown him a map proposing a Palestinian state on 97 percent of the West Bank -- though he complained that the Israeli leader refused to give him a copy of the plan. He confirmed that Olmert "accepted the principle" of the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees -- something no previous Israeli prime minister had done -- and offered to resettle thousands in Israel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
So now we have a better picture of Olmert's offer which Abbas rejected out of hand - 97% of the West Bank, limited right of return and parts of Jerusalem. Olmert offered everything and got turned down flat. Remember, Olmert wanted to go down in history as the prime minister who made peace with Palestinians, he was no doubt begging them to take this incredible offer!
And now the Palestinians want to go back to that point with Netanyahu. bonk! never gonna happen. Abbas should have taken Olmert's offer, or made a counter offer, or at the very least realized he was at the door of a golden opportunity for Palestinian Statehood. But he didn't. He rejected it , overplayed his hand and now Palestinians are back at square one.
Sersely, what did they expect?
moon