Palestinians deny great progress in the final status talks with Israel

The Israelis and the Palestinians negated that the existing negotiations between the two sides concerning the final status of the occupied Palestinian lands had achieved great progress, while the Palestinian negotiators said they refused to discuss security arrangements with Israel before determining the limits of the Palestinian state.

Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed Qrei who is leading the current negotiations with the Israel said "the gaps are still large in the issues which form the key for solving the Palestinian causes which are Jerusalem, the refugees and the land."

He stated that the stances between the two sides concerning Jerusalem and the Palestinian refugees' issue are apart while he depicted the stance toward the "land" as witnessing a slow progress - yet emphasizing the depth of the gap between the two sides concerning this matter.