Status of Jerusalem Sticking Point in Talks, Says PA Source

The status of Jerusalem is one of the biggest points of dissension in  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s “framework” that he failed to publicize before returning to Washington on Monday, according to an official in the Palestinian Authority.

“Negotiators for the PA disagreed with several of Kerry’s suggestions in the negotiations with Israel, especially concerning the future of Jerusalem, the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press.

He explained that Kerry’s proposal to note that there is a “Palestinian aim” at making Jerusalem the capital of a new PA state does not meet Mahmoud Abbas’ demand that it be explicitly stated that eastern Jerusalem would be the capital.

A Kuwaiti newspaper reported that the Palestinian Authority is considering allowing  an Israeli military presence in the  Jordan Valley  but that the PA also would deploy forces there.