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Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. (Daniel Bar On / Jini)
Last update - 04:36 08/04/2008
Erekat: Peace process credibility 'eaten up' by settlement activity
By Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies
Tags: Egypt, Mahmoud Abbas 

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Monday cautioned that West Bank settlement construction undermined the chances of a peace deal being reached, speaking on the same day the highest level talks were held between Israel and the Palestinians since February.

"The peace process has credibility that needs to be restored. The continuation of settlement activities eats up this credibility and undermines the possibility of reaching a peace agreement," Erekat said.

Erakat's comments came as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met on Monday to discuss the future of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
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The two leaders hadn't met since February 19. Abbas suspended the talks last month to protest an Israel Defense Forces ground forces operation in Gaza.

Abbas and Olmert spent much of the three-hour meeting at Olmert's Jerusalem residence discussing settlements, but basic disagreements remained, Erekat said. He stated that Abbas showed Olmert documents, maps in emphasizing the need to stop the construction.

Erekat also said that restrictions on the ground in the West Bank remained the same, despite Israel's announcement last week that it had removed 50 roadblocks accross the region.

During Monday's meeting, Olmert said that Israel was committed to preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

For their part, the Palestinians present expressed their fears over the humanitarian situation in the coastal Strip, upon which Israel has enforced a blockade in response to militants' rocket fire at Israeli communities.

Both sides stressed their commitment to continue implementing the first stage of the road map peace plan.

A source in the prime minister's bureau said Olmert and Abbas were updated on talks being held by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, and that the leaders declared their support for maintaining the negotiations.

Olmert and Abbas decided during the meeting to continue the intensive talks in order to reach a peace deal before the end of 2008, despite each side's opposing arguments about the situation on the ground - namely over lack of Palestinian action to combat terror, and Israel's ongoing construction in West Bank settlements.

A senior Israeli official said Olmert stressed that Palestinian security forces were not doing enough to rein in militants opposed to Abbas's peace moves.

"It was agreed that despite concerns that both parties have concerning issues on the ground ... the negotiations will continue with the goal of reaching an historic agreement by the end of the year," said Mark Regev, an Olmert spokesman.

The United States has stepped up pressure on both sides to take confidence-building steps ahead of a visit by President George W. Bush in May. Washington hopes they can clinch a Palestinian statehood deal before Bush leaves office in January.

"That will require hard work," Regev said.

On Sunday, Abbas said that he intends to hold a referendum on any peace treaty reached with Israel. He also announced that he would permit the prosecution of any teacher who takes part in sanctions called by the Palestinian teachers' union in the wake of announced public sector salary cuts. The union said in response that it intended to hold strikes in schools this week.

Diskin: Egypt steps up efforts to halt smuggling
Meanwhile, Shin Bet security services chief Yuval Diskin told cabinet ministers on Sunday that Egypt is doing more to prevent weapons smuggling from Sinai into the Gaza Strip along the Philadephi strip. "The Egyptian activity isn't perfect and much more must be done but they are preventing more smuggling attempts," Diskin said.

Diskin told the cabinet that Palestinian terror organizations are constantly attempting to dispatch suicide bombers to Israel via Sinai and the Negev. He said both Egyptian and Israeli forces had successfully foiled many such attacks since the breaching of the border between Gaza and Egypt earlier this year.

Regarding Egypt's mediation of talks between Hamas and Fatah, Diskin said, "Hamas links the talks with Fatah to actions it wants Israel to take, such as opening the Rafah border crossing or announcing a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank." He added, "It doesn't appear
that Hamas has, or will have, any real intention of enforcing that truce on other organizations, which will continue to carry out terror attacks."

When the discussion turned to the removal of roadblocks in the West Bank, Vice Premier Haim Ramon voiced support for the measure and said Israel must announce a unilateral cease-fire in order to test the intentions of Hamas. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel removed 10 of its roadblocks in the West Bank. "Even if we remove all of them it won't guarantee that all the Palestinians will suddenly make peace with us," Barak said.

When the ministers asked Diskin for his opinion on the matter, he said the best solution is to finish building the separation barrier. "If the fence were completed, including in the area around Jerusalem and in all the other areas, I'd recommend removing roadblocks in order to make life easier," he said. "But without the roadblocks between the various areas of the West Bank it's easier for terrorists to reach the places where there is no fence."

Go directly to jail
Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian official urged a dozen Palestinian gunmen to return to a lockup in the West Bank city of Nablus, where they had been serving time as part of an amnesty deal with Israel. The gunmen of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades fled the Palestinian-run Jneid Prison on Friday, after complaining that they had been beaten by guards.

Israel has not commented on the breakout.

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      1.   Egypt cannot be trusted. 08:13  |  Jean Van Daem 07/04/08
      2.   to # 1 Jean Van Daem "ignorant" 11:50  |  Omar 07/04/08
      3.   to discuss ways of keeping their welfare flowing 13:26  |  oh i know 07/04/08
      4.   Everybody knows that peace talks are a farce 13:31  |  Natallie Durson 07/04/08
      5.   Talks about talks 13:49  |  JW 07/04/08
      6.   4.Natalie Durson,the international community bears the responsibi 13:55  |  lakshmi 07/04/08
      7.   Dumb Abbas still does not he is a lame duck 14:26  |  Brown 07/04/08
      8.   Bravo Omar!! 17:13  |  Robert 07/04/08
      9.   Natalie Durson#4 I asked you once but you have no answer 17:54  |  Robert/Montreal 07/04/08
      10.   Omar Israelis Vacation in Egypt#2 17:57  |  Robert/Montreal 07/04/08
      11.   Robert Fellow Montrealer Correct in your assesment#8 17:59  |  Robert/Montreal 07/04/08
      12.   KUDOS to Shin Bet Security Chief and his people 18:08  |  The Archives 07/04/08
      13.   Ultimately Israel will give up... 18:11  |  Ibrahim 07/04/08
      14.   #6 lakshmo/ehud the troll 19:10  |  casual observer 07/04/08
      15.   For the millionth time, Erakat,compromise and there will be peace 19:35  |  McQueen 07/04/08
      16.   Jews WILL Live Here In OUR Land No Matter What Terrorists Want 19:38  |  Yishai Kohen 07/04/08
      17.   Juden rein 19:49  |  Marc 07/04/08
      18.   Correct Erekat, BUT......... 19:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/04/08
      19.   I guess Kassam 20:58  |  andres 07/04/08
      20.   Erekat translation: Arabs dont want peace, or Jews living in J&S 21:00  |  David 07/04/08
      21.   Erekat`s Peaceable Destruction 21:12  |  Zev 07/04/08
      22.   ... the negotiations will continue with the goal" 21:23  |  Pyu K. Ville 07/04/08
      23.   Get a grip Omar 21:25  |  MaryRose 07/04/08
      24.   Ibrahim 21:28  |  Danite 07/04/08
      25.   Peace is Possible! 21:28  |  E. Optemist 07/04/08
      26.   erakat 21:42  |  andy 07/04/08
      27.   #13 Or Israel could do exactly what she has been doing 21:43  |  MaryRose 07/04/08
      28.   Ibrahim 21:43  |  vik 07/04/08
      29.   Omar, no. 2, WHY? 22:02  |  Sam 07/04/08
      30.   Ibrahim is a poor salesman 22:23  |  peter 07/04/08
      31.   McQueen-Pal and Israeli leaders afraid of being shot 22:27  |  Sam 07/04/08
      32.   #9 Oh dear! 22:27  |  Outsider 07/04/08
      33.   Imagine 22:29  |  Gee 07/04/08
      34.   #1 Jean Van Daem = Jean Van Copy Paste 22:38  |  Observer 07/04/08
      35.   #1 Omar - Cairo 22:46  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08
      36.   #29 in your dreams 22:52  |  Yasir 07/04/08
      37.   #13, IBrahim, already 2 states: Israel and Jordan Palestine. 22:54  |  David 07/04/08
      38.   #2, Omar. Egypt is in violation of peace agreement 22:59  |  David 07/04/08
      39.   Saeb, time for you to get lost 23:13  |  El-Birawi 07/04/08
      40.   Credibility? 23:29  |  Frank 07/04/08
      41.   No problem, no good, put the 50 dirt barriers back 23:48  |  Zionist 07/04/08
      42.   What peace process? 23:48  |  Malone 07/04/08
      43.   It couldn`t be the Palestinians fault - no never... 23:53  |  Avi 07/04/08
      44.   #13 ibrahim 23:54  |  Malone 07/04/08
      45.   14 casual observer,you have been lawless for so long you have 00:19  |  lakshmi 08/04/08
      46.   How much longer will Abbas, Fayed, and Erekat be around 00:26  |  Harold 08/04/08
      47.   Danite, is it any different than here? 00:32  |  Ibrahim 08/04/08
      48.   vik, you are pathetically wrong 00:34  |  Ibrahim 08/04/08
      49.   peter, you are as gullable as they come 00:38  |  Ibrahim 08/04/08
      50.   Ant Israeli Party/Candidates Running on Road Map Platform is to 01:01  |  Joseph . E 08/04/08
      51.   Settlements are effective tools against Jihad 01:04  |  Joseph . E 08/04/08
      52.   lakshmo/ shin bet troll 01:25  |  casual observer 08/04/08
      53.   Ibrahim`s bubble 01:37  |  peter 08/04/08
      54.   Blablabla. Bottom line: no PA state until rockets stop for good. 01:47  |  Dr. L. Brnd 08/04/08
      55.   #48 Ibrahim - You forgot a few things 02:01  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      56.   It will not work! 02:09  |  Gary Schroeder 08/04/08
      57.   52 casual observer,alas your 3 years getting a law degree were 02:22  |  lakshmi 08/04/08
      58.   #46 Harold 02:40  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      59.   Arab nations culturally genocided Jews 02:43  |  Joe 08/04/08
      60.   Peace process credibility `eaten up` by terror!!!!! 02:59  |  Brad 08/04/08
      61.   Notice how it is ALWAYS Israel making concessions. 03:22  |  Chaim 08/04/08
      62.   #4, Natallie D.... 03:26  |  Silvienne 08/04/08
      63.   peter`s self serving babbles. 03:36  |  Ibrahim 08/04/08
      64.   BEN JABO spare me... 03:40  |  Ibrahim 08/04/08
      65.   #57 Poor Lakshmi 04:01  |  JP 08/04/08
      66.   lashkmi 04:20  |  Jeff Ward 08/04/08
      67.   58 Ben J. wow,`Hamas`s pretensions of honesty`! 04:25  |  lakshmi 08/04/08
      68.   Lakshmi, the four armed bandit: Ipso and Factless 04:37  |  Panther Jet 08/04/08
      69.   #61 An odd concept of "negotiation" and "concession". 05:00  |  Johnboy 08/04/08
      70.   65 JP.once you do your homework we`ll have a chat! 05:08  |  lakshmi 08/04/08
      71.   What`s the Difference Between Erekat`s Jihad Statement and 05:10  |  Joseph . E 08/04/08
      72.   Peace process credibility `eaten up` by INTIFADAH, TERROR, HAMAS 05:38  |  Vittorio 08/04/08
      73.   Peace process incredibility 05:46  |  Morris Valentine 08/04/08
      74.   #64 Ibrahim - try focusing on some facts 06:07  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      75.   #67 Lakshmi - There is no doubt of Hamas` honesty 06:14  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      76.   Ibrahim - you forgot something 16:03  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      77.   The Palestinians shouldn`t this said the Justices at the Hague 18:19  |  Dutch 08/04/08
      78.   Robert/Montreal 18:19  |  Shalom 08/04/08
      79.   What goes up can come down faster 18:22  |  Dutch 08/04/08
      80.   #79 Dutch - that hold true for your hot air balloons 19:57  |  * BEN JABO 08/04/08
      81.   #79, Dutch...how long must they wait? 00:45  |  Silvienne 09/04/08
      82.   81 Silvienne 01:50  |  Malach HaMavet 09/04/08
      83.   #4 Natallie. I totally agree with you about "THE Farce" 01:56  |  Becky 09/04/08
      84.   #78 Shalom.Olmerrt should be honest in saying 02:08  |  David Stein 09/04/08
      85.   Silvienne, I believe things will happen soon.... 02:31  |  Dutch 09/04/08
      86.   Dutch....I hope so... 05:32  |  Silvienne 09/04/08
      87.   #82, Malach HaMavet... 05:36  |  Silvienne 09/04/08
      88.   87 2nd REPLY Silvienne 00:06  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/08
      89.   87 Silvienne - Ben Jabo said it for me 03:46  |  Malach HaMavet 10/04/08
      90.   #85 Demented Dutch is Hallucinating again 03:48  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/08
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