Report: Olmert offered land swap for settlements

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered to swap territory near the Gaza Strip and West Bank in exchange for settlement blocs in the West Bank, the Haaretz newspaper claimed today.

The Palestinians did not respond to the September 2008 proposal, submitted at a time when Mr Olmert’s ability to negotiate a peace deal was compromised by corruption allegations that eventually forced him to step down. Talks broke down after Israel’s war against Gaza militants last winter and have not resumed.