Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., September 22, 2008 Elul 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:39 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Abbas says 'no' to Olmert By Aluf Benn In diplomatic life, tension is always present between leaders' public statements and their privately expressed positions. Experience in the Israeli-Arab peace process teaches that what is said "outside" is more important. Politicians and diplomats can share a secret and be flexible when the door is closed, but the position that obligates them is the one they present to the TV cameras and in response to reporters' questions. The article by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in The Wall Street Journal, published Friday, before what is possibly his last meeting with President George W. Bush, should be taken with the utmost seriousness. That is his latest platform, and it can be understood as a "no" to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposals. Abbas does not mention Olmert in the article, but it is clear whom he means: "Partial peace, as proposed again by my current interlocutors, is not the way forward. Partial freedom is a contradiction in terms. Either a Palestinian lives free or continues to live under the yoke of Israeli military occupation." Advertisement Olmert has tried to persuade Abbas over the past few weeks to accept his proposal for a "shelf agreement" that would present the outlines of a future Palestinian state. He revealed the principles of his proposal to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and to foreign statesmen. "The territorial price of an agreement with the Palestinians will bring us very close to a formula of 'one to one.' This should be said honestly and courageously," Olmert told MKs. "If we do not reach an agreement quickly, the price may be intolerable. The price of exchanging equal territories is less than what we will have to pay in the future." Olmert went even further than his predecessors in his willingness to withdraw from the West Bank, but Abbas is not impressed. From his article, it may be understood that he utterly rejects Israel's security demands. Abbas views these demands as an attempt at continued Israeli control over the territories. Abbas insists on full Palestinian sovereignty and independence for Palestine, and sharply criticizes continued construction in the settlements, which has been accelerated since the Annapolis conference. Sovereignty in Jerusalem must be divided, and the refugees should receive their "rights." Abbas warns against missing the opportunity for an agreement, but avoids denouncing terror. The Oslo Accords failed, he writes, because of the Israeli settlements, roadblocks and "correspondingly, by violent resistance to occupation by some Palestinians." The apparent conclusion is the maximum Israel is willing to offer is still far from the Palestinian minimum. Under such conditions, there is no chance of an agreement in the short time Olmert, Abbas and Bush have left in office. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Pilobolus in Israel' Now Israel's most beautiful sites can be visited in New York City. West Bank violence Palestinian woman dies after being shoved to the ground by IDF troops.

Read & React Olmert hands in his formal resignation to President Peres Responses: 78 Report: Palestinian woman dies after shoved to the ground by IDF troops Responses: 167 Hamas accuses Israel of back-pedaling in Shalit negotiations Responses: 113 Ex-IDF chief: Military confrontation with Iran is unavoidable Responses: 116 Yossi Sarid: Economic crisis forces us to rethink 'American dream' Responses: 88 More Headlines 01:38 Livni offers Barak 'full partnership' in new gov't 00:18 Netanyahu asks Shas to back bid for early general elections 00:08 Ex-IDF chief: Israel can't avoid a military confrontation with Iran 22:53 Iranian groups to stage rally in N.Y. titled 'Ahmadinejad, why do you execute children?' 23:39 Diplomats: Syria may have buried evidence of nuclear reactor 22:45 Report: Palestinian woman dies after shoved to the ground by IDF troops 12:49 Calcutta's dwindling Jewish community has one last guardian 23:21 Peres to miss General Assembly reception held by President Bush 08:20 ANALYSIS / Even Assad has a better opinion of Livni than Barak 22:09 Israeli tennis team through to Davis Cup World Group 19:39 Three school children injured after awning collapses 17:07 Now Israel's most beautiful sites can be visited in New York 18:51 Man traumatized by Gaza evacuation gets lenient sentence for stabbing wife 22:55 DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein, in critical condition after plane crash 16:41 Haniyeh: Hamas is creating a new history Previous Editions Select Day 21 sep 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved