Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat Picture: Nati Shohat/Flash90/JTA

The well reported 21 point document given to the PA in Jordan this week by lead Israeli negotiators echoed Israeli PM Netanyahu’s remarks during his visit to Washington D.C. in May.

“In essence, it repeats all the points Netanyahu made in his speech to Congress”, a source tells The Algemeiner.

Issues include the Palestinian Authority demand for the ‘right of return’ of Palestinian refugees, which Israel says will occur outside the borders of Israel, a sustained Israeli military presence along the Jordan River, and that some West Bank developments would remain inhabited by Israeli residents.

What attracted attention from the Israeli government, including a flat out denial that the report was true, was a story from Al-Quds Al-Arabi – a daily newspaper based in London – that said Israel would consider withdrawing from certain Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Post quotes a senior diplomatic source who said “It never happened,”.

A U.S. State Department Spokesperson told reporters “we are encouraged that they are both coming to the table and they are talking directly”.

The two sides will meet again next week in Jordan.