Kerry proposes return of 80,000 Palestinian refugees to Israel

January 07, 2014 07:56 AM

Ramallah, Jan 7

US Secretary of State John Kerry proposed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the return of 80,000 Palestinian refugees to Israel, a well-informed Palestinian official said Monday.

Kerry's proposal on the return of Palestinian refugees was part of his ideas presented to the Palestinian side to reach a framework peace agreement, Xinhua quoted a senior official of the Palestinian government as saying.

Kerry, who is visiting the region, had held talks Friday and Saturday with Abbas in Ramallah.

Kerry, who is visiting the region, had held talks Friday and Saturday with Abbas in Ramallah.

"Kerry's proposal on the return of refugees is the same proposal offered by former US president Bill Clinton during Camp David peace talks held in the United States in 2000," said the official.

He added that during their meetings, Abbas wants to increase the number of Palestinian refugees returning to Israel to 200,000, and the demand is still under discussion with Kerry.

As for the issue of Jerusalem, the official said, "Kerry's recent ideas focus on handing over parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinian National Authority and that Jordan will have the jurisdiction on holy sites and places in the city."

However, Israel still refuses to recognize east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state, and insists that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel, according to the official.

On the other hand, the Palestinian side opposes the proposal of recognising Israel as a Jewish state, the official said, adding that "gaps are still wide concerning the permanent status issues of the refugees, Jerusalem, borders, settlements and the Jewish state."

by:IANS

Emergency relief delivered to families in South Sudan Fires destroy tens of thousands of acres in Chile

Entertainment NewsMore »

Margarita, With A Straw movie review: This tasty slice of life is Kalki Koechlin’s best performance EVER!

Teacher student affairs in Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan and Warrior High – Yay or Nay?

Hit-and-run case: Salman Khan’s lawyer claims that the prosecution’s evidence was fabricated!

Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, Jenifer Lopez, Marilyn Monroe – 4 times when Sunny Leone aped a famous celebrity!

India NewsMore »

Sixty percent of burn patients in Jammu are women

Net neutrality gets support from Times Group, Sam Pitroda

PM Modi calls for '4-coloured' revolution in India

NGT stays order on diesel vehicles 'in larger public interest'

TechnologyMore »

Five most spacious cars under Rs 4 lakhs

Xiaomi launches Redmi 2, first tablet Mi Pad in India

The best hybrid supercars that money can buy

Our ancestors arrived much earlier than thought

Life StyleMore »

What makes your healthy food unhealthy?

Diet soda increases belly fat: Study

Combining lettuce varieties gives maximum health benefits

Why regular exercise is good for health

'Some progress' made in peace talks: John Kerry

Kerry warns of potential instability in Iraq

Have something to say? Post your comment

More World

US presidential race: Hillary Clinton vs the rest

Obama, Kerry wish Bengalis 'Shubho Nobo Borsho!

Two students arrested a month after video-recorded gang rape on crowded US beach

Billionaires who decided to give away their fortune

Gunmen kill 20 labourers in Pakistan

Obama hails Iran nuclear accord as 'historic'