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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Getty Images)
Last update - 15:57 20/09/2008
Abbas: Failure to reach peace will 'change parameters of debate'
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz U.S. Correspondent, Haaretz Service and DPA
Tags: peace talks, Mahmoud Abbas 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Friday that if Israel and the Palestinians fail to reach a peace accord soon, "the parameters of the debate are apt to shift dramatically."

In an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, Abbas said he agrees with Israeli leaders who insist that Jerusalem cannot be physically divided. He does believe, however, that "the city itself can be shared as the capital of two states - east for Palestine and west for Israel."

Abbas is to visit U.S. President George W. Bush next Thursday, the White House announced Friday.
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As Bush enters his last four months in office, his administration is pushing to bring about the plan that has been mapped out by the quartet - Russia, the U.S., the European Union and the United Nations - for peace in the Middle East.

Bush sought to re-energize the process with a summit that included Arab leaders last November in Annapolis, Maryland.

Abbas said that he continues to believe a lasting peace can be achieved between the two sides and urged a continuation of the process begun by President Bush in Annapolis. "History will judge none of us kindly if we squander this opportunity," wrote Abbas.

The Palestinian leader acknowledged the hardships Israelis face, saying that no Israeli child should go to sleep in fear. But he added, the "lesson of the last 15 years is that only a just peace can bring true security to Israel and Palestine."

Abbas reiterated that he seeks not a partial outcome, but a comprehensive plan that will result in what he calls "two viable and sovereign states based on 1967 borders, including a Jerusalem that is the capital of two states and a just resolution that honors the rights of the Palestinian refugees."

These comments were echoed by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki at a conference discussing the future of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Virginia on Friday.

"We believe that the creation of the Palestinian state is a common
interest of Israel and the international community. Both peoples have
suffered tremendously," said Malki. "We should accelerate the negotiations. We might meet every day. We should not talk about transitional solutions, but an agreement that will put an end to the conflict."

Malki added that Abbas's interview last week in Haaretz - in which he said the Palestinians would be willing to compromise on the subject of refugees - caused a stir among Palestinians who thought Abbas was forgoing the right of return.

In his opinion piece, however, Abbas said that he cannot subject Palestinians to "an Israeli state and a Palestinian canton," adding that the Palestinians have already made great concessions in the name of peace.

"What is often overlooked is the enormous historic compromise we already made in accepting the two-state solution and the creation of our state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on only 22% of our historic homeland," wrote Abbas. "No responsible leader could agree to a peace that further erodes this tiny territory and strips away even more of its natural resources, historic sites and beautiful landscapes. And no responsible leader will accept a 'peace plan' that repackages the occupation and makes it permanent."

Abbas pledged his full cooperation in the effort to reach an accord and urged Israeli leaders "to make a choice that ensures a secure and prosperous future for both our peoples."

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      1.   Is that another Threat? 03:09  |  dp 20/09/08
      2.   sounds reasonable 03:21  |  Reasonable 20/09/08
      3.   Jordan is palestine... 03:35  |  real vision 20/09/08
      4.   Historic Homeland? 03:47  |  Edifice 20/09/08
      5.   Right of Palestinian "refugees" 03:54  |  fiona 20/09/08
      6.   Guess and twist! 04:45  |  Paul 20/09/08
      7.   Just another day 04:45  |  Arie 20/09/08
      8.   PA President Abbas reminds us about compromise being mutual 05:30  |  Smadar 20/09/08
      9.   Give Abbas a little credit 05:34  |  Ben 20/09/08
      10.   and about the refugees... 05:37  |  Ben 20/09/08
      11.   Ben 06:18  |  Michael 20/09/08
      12.   Other paradygms are even harder to impose. 06:50  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/09/08
      13.   NO OTHER WAY 07:20  |  indrajaya 20/09/08
      14.   Israel already offered this to the Pals, their answer was... 08:12  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 20/09/08
      15.   Palestinians have not made a SINGLE concession. what a joke 08:16  |  McQueen 20/09/08
      16.   Idrajaya 09:00  |  Daniela 20/09/08
      17.   historic opportunity 09:09  |  smadar 20/09/08
      18.   Indrajaya 09:25  |  Michael T 20/09/08
      19.   A just solution is in our interests 09:27  |  Miche Norman 20/09/08
      20.   last throw of the dice 09:39  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 20/09/08
      21.   Abbas trying it on 10:09  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/09/08
      22.   # 16, DANIELA 10:36  |  indrajaya 20/09/08
      23.   # 17, SMADAR 10:39  |  indrajaya 20/09/08
      24.   to DP - Not a threat but a fact 10:47  |  Rational 20/09/08
      25.   #15 Simply untrue, McQueen 10:47  |  Johnboy 20/09/08
      26.   Thanks to Oslo Process - we have this enemy speaking from Ramala 10:53  |  Gabriel 20/09/08
      27.   #22 Margie tries it on Part 1 10:55  |  Johnboy 20/09/08
      28.   #22 Margie tries it on Part 2 11:02  |  Johnboy 20/09/08
      29.   Peace ? 11:30  |  Steve A 20/09/08
      30.   #17 pocohantas wanders from the tribal lands to seek solace 11:53  |  victor hardman 20/09/08
      31.   #25 JB PART 2 PARTITION OF MANDATE 11:58  |  victor hardman 20/09/08
      32.   Abbas tries to "save" Israel, but does Israel really......... 12:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/09/08
      33.   Johnboy picks cherries, discarding the rotten ones 13:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/09/08
      34.   Mr.Abbas goes to Washington. 13:54  |  Stephen. 20/09/08
      35.   22 Indrajaya 14:12  |  Daniela 20/09/08
      36.   Give him a chance 16:00  |  Moshe Aharon 20/09/08
      37.   #33 Excuse me, Margie??? 16:17  |  Johnboy 20/09/08
      38.   Margie #21 (she has trouble understanding) 16:17  |  Guido 20/09/08
      39.   Abu firas al yerushalmi 16:20  |  Miche Norman 20/09/08
      40.   #30 victor hardman How can a smadar be in Toronto & Tel Aviv? 16:28  |  Smadar 20/09/08
      41.   The US Effect 16:29  |  Mark Lincoln 20/09/08
      42.   Abbas is stupid 16:56  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      43.   This makes me sick 16:58  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      44.   smadar 17:10  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      45.   Reading what Abbas said makes me feel dirty. 17:13  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      46.   change parameters 17:19  |  Joseph.E 20/09/08
      47.   Rational 17:21  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      48.   Johnboy 17:24  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      49.   Deal or no deal 17:25  |  Shimon Cleopas 20/09/08
      50.   Swiss (Dino) 17:27  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      51.   Mark Lincoln 17:32  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      52.   #35 Mark Lincoln So you believe President Bush & Republicans 17:34  |  Smadar 20/09/08
      53.   #42 lady from USA 17:51  |  Smadar 20/09/08
      54.   Reality 17:52  |  Dave Duncan 20/09/08
      55.   Abu Firas Al Qudsi # 20 Snake Eyes, You Lose! 18:04  |  Jeff Northridge 20/09/08
      56.   # 51, LADY FROM USA 18:11  |  indrajaya 20/09/08
      57.   FAILURE TO REJECT FATAH LIES WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER OSLO DISASTER 18:11  |  G Marcus 20/09/08
      58.   # 45 lady from USA 18:23  |  Joseph.E 20/09/08
      59.   Moshe Ahararon #36 18:23  |  Guido 20/09/08
      60.   Let`s be honest here. PLEASE 18:38  |  Harriet 20/09/08
      61.   Johnboy and friends 18:46  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/09/08
      62.   Smadar again 18:52  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      63.   The Parameters of Palestinian Debate 19:18  |  Tex 20/09/08
      64.   Lessons of the Last 15 Years 19:25  |  Tex 20/09/08
      65.   Smadar - Lady`s Bizarre Views 19:44  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/09/08
      66.   Tex 20:10  |  Dave Duncan 20/09/08
      67.   indrajaya 20:14  |  lady from USA 20/09/08
      68.   # 50 lady from USA 20:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/09/08
      69.   to McQueen on concessions 20:22  |  Betty 20/09/08
      70.   #65 Mar