DATE=9/9/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-307291

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: New Palestinian prime minister nominee Ahmed Korei has been holding talks with Palestinian political leaders and foreign envoys. Mr. Korei insists he will not accept the position without strong guarantees of support from the international community and changes in Israeli policy towards the Palestinians. V-O-A's Sonja Pace reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Talks have been going on in the West Bank city of Ramallah for the past two days. Few details have been made public, but it appears that Mr. Korei has not yet committed himself to accepting the post of prime minister.

Mr. Arafat nominated Mr. Korei as the new prime minister on Sunday, following the resignation a day earlier of Mahmoud Abbas.

Mr. Korei has said he will not accept the job unless Israel changes some of its policies and begins to fully implement the Roadmap to Peace. He is also demanding guarantees of support from Europe and the United States.

The European Union has said it will support Mr. Korei, while Washington has said it expects the new prime minister to continue political reforms and fight terrorism. Israeli comments have been mixed, with some officials reportedly indicating cooperation with Mr. Korei might be possible and others rejecting it. (SIGNED)

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