Maariv: Amman talks to collapse

Israeli daily paper Maariv reported on Monday that the Palestinian authorities threaten to end the preliminary negotiations with Israel in the Jordanian capital on Thursday. The Hebrew daily stated that the PA is to launch a propaganda campaign against Israel to UN organisations. Maariv also pointed that the proposal currently put forward to save the negotiations is for Israel to agree to free “heavyweight prisoners” and to freeze the construction of more settlements in the West Bank, stating that if negotiations are resumed, the PA would not resort to the United Nations.   According to the Israeli daily, PM Benjamin Netanyahu believes in the necessity of enhancing the status of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his ability to continue the talks, however, Netanyahu is going through a difficult political situation, as he cannot announce the freeze of settlements’ building, due to “internal political complications.” Maariv highlighted that the Amman's meetings between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations, scheduled this week, will be decisive and mentioned that both parties will attempt to reach mutual understandings. The Palestinian authorities officially submitted last Wednesday a list of prisoners demanding their release. The list included Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, Secretary General of the Popular Front, as well as other123 names from Fatah, arrested before the Oslo agreement, and 23 Hamas MPs, including the head of the Legislative Council Aziz Dweik. Maariv earlier quoted a 'high-ranking Palestinian source' as saying that 'If Israel consents to free heavyweight prisoners, there is a good chance that Abbas will back down from the demand for a freeze.'