OLMERT OFFERS HUGE CONCESSIONS

Olmert Offers Wide-Ranging Concessions if Palestinians Turn Away from Violence

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered wide-ranging peace concessions to Palestinians on Monday if they turned away from violence, saying they would be able to achieve an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in real peace talks with Israel. Olmert promised to reduce checkpoints, release frozen funds, and free prisoners in exchange for a serious Palestinian push for peace. In exchange, Olmert said Palestinians would have to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to live in peace and security, and give up demands to allow refugees from the 1948 Mideast War to return to what is now Israel. (AP/International Herald Tribune)