Leaked Documents Corner Palestinian Leadership

A document leaked by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV has revealed the mistrust between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.Analysts say it will cast more shadow on the future of the Middle East peace process. Our correspondent Xiaoyu has more details.

Al-Jazeera broadcast what it said were leaked documents during the past decade, showing Palestinian leaders agreed to make huge concessions to Israel in the purpose of establishing a Palestinian state.

Al-Jazeera said the Palestinians offered to let Israel keep all but one of the Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem.

The documents also said that Palestinians proposed international control of a holy site in Jerusalem as a temporary measure, and that only a limited number of the 5 million Palestinian refugees would be allowed to return.

The news has drawn harsh criticism from the Palestinian leadership.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Al-Jazeera of "intentionally" mixing things up.

"What is meant is to mix things up. I have seen what the TV channel (Al-Jazeera) broadcast, I say here expressly that we have nothing to hide. This is what all the Arab countries, altogether and unilaterally know. Things have been mixed up between Israeli proposals and Palestinian positions. That happens intentionally and it is really shameful."

The chief Palestinian negotiator in the 2008 talks, Ahmed Qureia, told local media that "many parts of the documents were fabricated, as part of the incitement against the Palestinian Authority." The current chief negotiator Saeb Erekat also denied the Palestinian offer to limit the return of refugees shown in the leaked documents.

Abbas' political rival Hamas called for him to resign, claiming his government is "misleading the public" and was "giving up the rights of the Palestinian people."

An expert from a Palestinian think tank Mahdi Abdul Hadi, said that the leak would probably kill the already stalled peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

"I think this is the last bullet on the peace process and the negotiations. You will not find after this bullet Palestinian and Israelis sitting and negotiating."

The 1,600 leaked documents give a clue of a weak Palestinian leadership and strong mistrust between the two top leaders, therefore may further hinder the already stalled peace talks.

For CRI, this is Xiaoyu in Jerusalem.