Jerusalem - The hardline opposition Likud party submitted a
bill to parliament Monday, which if passed would make it illegal for
any Israeli transitional government to conduct peace talks and give
up territory.
The bill is another effort by the party to block attempts by
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to negotiate a peace
treaty with the Palestinians and Syria during his final months in
office at the head of a transitional government.
Likud legislator Limor Livnat also petitioned to Israel's Supreme
Court of Justice, demanding that the court order Olmert to end his
negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians immediately, Israel
Radio reported.
Likud over the weekend already approached the government's top
legal advisor, demanding he examine whether a transitional government
has the authority to conduct binding negotiations.
The attorney general, however, ruled against its reservations,
saying the talks could go on.
Olmert resigned last month to fight corruption allegations, but
has vowed to continue both his direct negotiations with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas and his indirect talks with Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad for so long as he heads a transitional government
until a new one is formed after elections due on February 10.
Abbas, however, said in Amman Sunday and in Bucharest Monday that
he did not believe a peace deal was possible during Olmert's final
months in office.
The two leaders stated at a US-hosted conference in Annapolis,
Maryland, that they would try to reach a deal by the end of 2008.
Meanwhile, Israel's indirect talks with Syria, mediated by Turkey,
are in their initial stages, and Damascus has thus far rejected
Olmert's calls for direct negotiations.
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