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George W Bush reveals Abbas rejected secret peace deal

November 11, 2010 15:17

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

Much has been written about former US president George W Bush's new book, Decision Points, but one section has remained largely under the media radar.

According to Mr Bush, a peace deal was put together in secret talks between former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, including the handing over of the "vast majority" of the West Bank to a Palestinian state, but with some areas close to the pre-1967 borders that include Israeli settlements to remain within Israel.

The deal included an agreement on sharing sovereignty in Jerusalem, allowing a "limited number" of Palestinian refugees to live in Israel and
a tunnel connecting the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Mr Bush writes that both leaders accepted the details of the plan but Mr Abbas decided not to endorse it publicly when his Israeli counterpart resigned.