Likud submits bill to block Olmert negotiations with Syria, Abbas

Nov 3, 2008, 12:39 GMT

Jerusalem - The hardline opposition Likud party submitted a bill to parliament Monday, which if passed would make it illegal for any Israeli transitional government to conduct peace talks and give up territory.

The bill is another effort by the party to block attempts by Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to negotiate a peace treaty with the Palestinians and Syria during his final months in office at the head of a transitional government.

Likud legislator Limor Livnat also petitioned to Israel's Supreme Court of Justice, demanding that the court order Olmert to end his negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians immediately, Israel Radio reported.

Likud over the weekend already approached the government's top legal advisor, demanding he examine whether a transitional government has the authority to conduct binding negotiations.

The attorney general, however, ruled against its reservations, saying the talks could go on.

Olmert resigned last month to fight corruption allegations, but has vowed to continue both his direct negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his indirect talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for so long as he heads a transitional government until a new one is formed after elections due on February 10.

Abbas, however, said in Amman Sunday and in Bucharest Monday that he did not believe a peace deal was possible during Olmert's final months in office.

The two leaders stated at a US-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, that they would try to reach a deal by the end of 2008.

Meanwhile, Israel's indirect talks with Syria, mediated by Turkey, are in their initial stages, and Damascus has thus far rejected Olmert's calls for direct negotiations.