I missed this Ha'aretz report saying that Mahmoud Abbas is ready to concede on one of the main stumbling blocks preventing an end of conflict solution.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will tell militant Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo Tuesday that the right of return of refugees should be looked upon "realistically," and that not all Palestinian exiles will return to former homes in Israel and the territories, Israel Radio said, quoting the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. Palestinian sources told the paper that Abbas will tell the participants in the Cairo parley that the right of return cannot be fully implemented, and that those who cannot return should be granted compensation.
Tuesday has come and gone, but unfortunately there were no reports confirming this announcement. This should still be considered a positive development since these reports condition the Palestinian public for what they will eventually need to concede on. In the lead-up to Camp David, Ehud Barak cunningly released a steady stream of leaks to the media, which readied the Israeli public for the concessions he was about to make.
Of course, no Israeli PM will ever concede on the refugees issue. The idea is to end up with one Palestinian state, not two. Barak however, did agree to the idea of compensating the refugees to the tune of US$30 Billion.
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