Last update - 00:00 15/11/2007
Abbas urges Israelis to support peace moves ahead of summit
By The Associated Press and DPA
Eleven days before a key Middle East conference in the United States, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas urged Israelis Thursday to support peace moves, saying that continued occupation would not bring them security.
"I want on this day, to address the people of Israel and their government and tell them that we are determined to achieve a genuine peace for the sake of our future generations," Abbas said in a radio address marking the 19th anniversary of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's declaration of independence in Algiers.
He also urged Israel to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank, lift restrictions on movement and release Palestinian militants jailed in Israeli prisons.
"I want to assure you on this glorious day of independence that we are working very hard to make the upcoming peace conference a serious and crucial launching point toward a just solution that can guarantee the rights of all our people," Abbas said.
Abbas called on Thursday for the overthrow of Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers - his first explicit demand that they be removed.
Abbas, of the secular Fatah, slammed the rival Islamic Hamas movement controlling Gaza for its killing of eight civilians during a rally in Gaza City Monday commemorating the third anniversary of Arafat's death.
"We have to bring down this bunch that took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people," Abbas said in a speech in Ramallah.
In the past, the Palestinian leader, who has set up a separate government in the West Bank, has not gone beyond demanding that Hamas apologize for overrunning Gaza and reverse the takeover.
"I know the pain in all your hearts because of the criminal acts committed by the outlawed gangs that belong to Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said, referring to Gazans. "I say to you, be patient, dawn will come soon," he pledged.
Hamas also rounded up more than 400 Fatah activists, and on Wednesday announced media restrictions and plans to curb public gatherings.
Discontent in the strip is growing, in part because Israel's closure of Gaza's borders immediately after the Hamas takeover has shut down many factories, cost tens of thousands of jobs and driven up prices.
Hamas' efforts to cement its grip on Gaza coincides with efforts by Abbas and Israel to bridge differences ahead of a high-profile summit in the U.S. this month. The conference is aimed at relaunching peace talks and bolstering Abbas in his struggle with Hamas, which does not recognize his mandate to negotiate.
Abbas said in his speech that his government was working relentlessly to make the gathering a decisive-launching pad for establishing a Palestinian state.
But he demanded that Israel halt all settlement construction, release Palestinian prisoners, and end its assassinations of Palestinian wanted men.
Abbas added he would travel to Saudi Arabia Friday for talks with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on the upcoming conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
In his speech, Abbas lashed out against the outlawed gangs affiliated with Hamas in Gaza City, where forces loyal to the Islamic group opened fire on a mass rally by his Fatah movement on Monday. Eight civilians were killed and dozens were wounded in the strongest Fatah challenge to Hamas rule since the Hamas takeover.
Hamas also rounded up more than 400 Fatah activists, and on Wednesday announced media restrictions and plans to curb public gatherings.
Discontent in the strip is growing, in part because Israel's closure of Gaza's borders immediately after the Hamas takeover has shut down many factories, cost tens of thousands of jobs and driven up prices.
Hamas' efforts to cement its grip on Gaza coincides with efforts by Abbas and Israel to bridge differences ahead of a high-profile summit in the U.S. this month. The conference is aimed at relaunching peace talks and bolstering Abbas in his struggle with Hamas, which does not recognize his mandate to negotiate.
Abbas said in his speech that his government was working relentlessly to make the gathering a decisive-launching pad for establishing a Palestinian state.
But he demanded that Israel halt all settlement construction, release Palestinian prisoners, and end its assassinations of Palestinian wanted men.
Abbas spoke on the 19th anniversary of the Palestinians' declaration of independence at a meeting in Algeria. The declaration has not brought about the establishment of a Palestinian state, but is regarded as important because it implicitly recognized Israel's right to exist.
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