Israelis, Palestinians make some progress in Taba talks

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From CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel

TABA, Egypt (CNN) -- Israeli negotiators returned to Jerusalem on Tuesday to personally brief Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak after what sources described as "significant progress" on territorial issues in talks with the Palestinians.

On the third day of talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba, sources said that prospects existed for positive developments by the end of the week, although no one went so far as to say a breakthrough was in the offing.

The Israelis and Palestinians have been at loggerheads for months over four core issues -- Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, security and territory, including borders and settlements. On Tuesday, maps of the West Bank appeared to be emerging as the key to loosening the jam.

AUDIO CNN's Jerrold Kessel: Israel scales down West Bank proposals. 195K/35 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    MESSAGE BOARD Mideast Peace    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  •  Bombings  •  Activist deaths    RESOURCES Key issues: U.S., Israeli and Palestinian views    RESOURCES In-Depth: Israel Election 2001    ALSO Settler fined for killing Palestinian boy

In a series of proposed bridging agreements, former U.S. President Bill Clinton suggested that Israel keep between 4 and 6 percent of the West Bank. But the Israelis said they wanted 11 percent.

But Israeli maps presented at the talks had scaled down the 11 percent to 7 percent in the context of a peace deal, the sources told CNN. The Palestinians provided counter maps.

Parties could start outline draft

No movement was reported on the other key issues -- particularly Jerusalem, including who will have control of contested holy sites in east Jerusalem, and the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to the lands they left since 1948, when Israel became an independent state.

Still, sources said that the progress reported was such that if it continues, the drafting of some parts of an outline agreement might begin.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said the negotiators had divided into four teams to discuss the key issues separating the two sides.

"We are having serious, in-depth negotiations," Erakat said. "Gaps still do exist on all issues. We are exerting maximum efforts, but at the end of the day, the gaps are still there."

In Jerusalem, Barak told Israeli high school students that he believed a joint administration of the holy sites in the Old City would provide access to all religious groups but would not affect Israel's sovereignty over the Western Wall, the Mount of Olives and the City of David.

"In order not to have a split and divided city and in order to have free access to everyone to the sacred places, we need to respect the right of the believers and we have to find a way that the practical day-to-day administration of the Old City will be shared administratively," Barak said.

On Israeli radio, Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami acknowledged "an especially great willingness and seriousness from the Palestinian side" in the talks.

Israeli election looms

The talks were being conducted under the deadline of Israeli elections on February 6.

Barak is trying to strike a deal that could reverse his sagging fortunes in the polls, where he is trailing hawkish Likud leader Ariel Sharon by 16 to 20 percent.

Sharon has said if he wins he will not honor any deal negotiated by Barak. But both Israeli and Palestinian observers have said that if a deal is struck, Sharon will have difficulties ignoring it.

"The next government can of course wiggle out of an agreement," Shlomo Avineri, a former Israeli Foreign Ministry director-general told Reuters news service, "but it will find it extremely difficult to do it."

Palestinian political analyst Ghassan al-Khatib was more pointed in his assessment.

"No Israeli government can ignore that," he told Reuters. "The other side will not accept anything less."

Reuters contributed to this report.

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