Israel News
print
Sun. Sept. 21, 2008
Olmert Expresses Sorrow Over Refugees
JTA Wire Service
Ehud Olmert expressed sorrow for Palestinian refugees who fled Israel in 1948. “I join in expressing sorrow for what happened to the Palestinians and also for what happened to the Jews who were expelled from Arab states,” the Israeli prime minister said.
The comments, made at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, came a day before Olmert was scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to try to reach a peace deal before Olmert steps down following Kadima Party elections.
Olmert has been pushing for a partial peace deal, but Abbas wants a complete agreement. The sides have been stalled over issues such as the right of return for Palestinian refugees and the future of Jerusalem. Olmert asserted that the right of return could be deal-breaker. “Under absolutely no circumstances will there be a right of return,” Olmert declared, “but we are prepared to be part of an international mechanism that will work to solve the problem.”
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.