Abbas ready to work on 'declaration of principles' for peace with Israel
U.S. Sec. of State says Olmert ready to discuss 'fundamental issues' leading to creation of Palestinian state.
By The Associated PressPalestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he was ready to work with Israel on a declaration of principles as a step toward a full peace agreement.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had floated the idea last week. Such a declaration, as envisioned by Israel, would outline the contours of a future Palestinian state, without immediately tackling the most explosive issues, such as final borders and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
Abbas suggested Thursday he is ready to consider the idea.
Israeli-Palestinian talks would focus on implementing what was mentioned in the road map, he said, referring to the international peace plan that envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
"Then we could end in a declaration of principles," Abbas said during a joint news conference with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "The important thing here is that we reach results, and that we know the ceiling [final stage], but the stages of implementation can be agreed upon."
Earlier Thursday, Rice said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is ready to discuss fundamental issues leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.
The top U.S. diplomat met with Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah and signed an agreement granting the Palestinians $80 million for reform of their security services.
Rice said an international peace conference being promoted by the Bush administration for this fall is not to get people together for a photo op but rather so that we can really advance Palestinian statehood.
Immediately before meeting separately with Abbas, Rice met with the entire Palestinian cabinet in a gesture of support for the team of moderates that replaced the Hamas government after the Islamic militants seized Gaza by force.
Hamas considers the West Bank-based government, led by Prime Minister Salam Fayad, to be illegitimate.
Rice also met separately with Fayad before being introduced to his team of ministers. Rice addressed the cabinet in the room where it holds its regular meetings.
Hamas, whose government was dismissed by Abbas after the Gaza takeover, accused Rice of trying to deepen the divisions among Palestinians.
"Rice did not come to the region to establish a Palestinian state, as she and her master, Bush, have claimed. Instead, she came to support one Palestinian party against another, and to support the Zionist occupation," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Palestinian officials said the key item on the Rice-Abbas agenda is a Mideast peace conference set for the fall. The officials said they want the conference, announced last month by U.S. President George W. Bush, to yield real results, not just agreement on holding more meetings.
The Palestinians have been pushing for a resumption of negotiations with Israel on a final peace deal, something Israel has been reluctant to agree to.
Instead, Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have been talking in general about the contours of a future Palestinian state.
"We don't want another meeting void of implementing mechanisms," Palestinian negotiator and senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said of the fall conference. "What we need to see is timelines and mechanisms for implementation."
Palestinian officials said they will also tell Rice that Israel must start withdrawing troops from West Bank cities and restore the control of the Palestinian security forces there.
In previous meetings, Abbas and Olmert agreed in principle to the idea, but the Israeli military is concerned a troop pullback will increase risks of renewed attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants.
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Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah on Thursday. (AP) |
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The amount of negativism is overwhelming! So what is the solution, the current state? We want everything and compromise on nothing, so we end up in a deadly stalemate? I know I don't live with the daily threats as do the Palestinians and Israelis, but you have to start somewhere!
"As long as there R "militants" around-its no peace prospect!" The word "militants" is such a vague word that you really need to explain what you mean by it. The Mirriam Webster dictionary defines the word as follows: 1 : engaged in warfare or combat : FIGHTING 2 : aggressively active (as in a cause) : COMBATIVE (militant conservationists), (a militant attitude). The first meaning includes all the armies of the world. The second meaning talks about a personal characteristic that is usually associated with pro-active political activity. So, according to you there will NEVER be "peace prospect" because the above two will always be with us and on all sides. You also need to specify what you mean by "around" since no one knows where SA is located)!
Israel is interested in annexing the West Bank not in peace - anybody who spent half a day in WB knows it. US does not give a damn about Palestinians - they want to enlist Arab countries' support for an attack on Iran. So there will be another fake "peace-peace" party followed by bloodletting ("we wanted to offer them peace but they are such terrorists.. so let us take another chunk of their land - for Israel's security needs of course".) Pity Abbas is willing to play along this dirty game.
You can pay now or pay later, but you will pay. Giving money to Abbas is like repaying a loan to someone who you don't owe money too while the real creditor plans to take action to reclaim what's theirs.
Rice, again, gave 80 million $$$ to Abbas against his empty promesses asking for ever more. Ein li = I don`t have, Ten li = Give me, Kah klum = Get nothing (in return) has long been the perpetuum mobile and tactic of Abbas. Arms and money that keep flowing to the PA, keep melting and disappearing to be replaced by more and more "Give me"s.
My forecast of things to come, should this conference go ahead: 1. Establishment of Palestine, with limited refugee return to Israel. 2. Arab states remain cool, terrorism continues, due to continued feeling of unjust treatment of refugees. Israel allows more refugees. 3. Return to step 2.
Before spending a single cent on invitations, Condi should check whether the Palestinians would entertain the idea of refugees returning to Palestine only. If they don't agree, then there is no point to the conference.
"What we are witnessing is very similar to what happened in Northern Ireland during the beginning of the peace process there. A series of carefully choreographed moves which are taking the IP`s towards a final settlement without them realising it." I was just thinking something rather similar.
"Olmert told Rice that currently, the Palestinians are unable to implement a final-status deal, and therefore, it is necessary to proceed cautiously. "The Americans and the Palestinians also understand this," the source said." "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is ready to discuss fundamental issues leading to the creation of a Palestinian state." Interetsing. Olmert's little sources are attempting to show Rice agreeing with Olmert that it's too soon for a final status agreement. Rice, on the other hand, is trying to portray Olmert as ready to move towards a final status agreement. Looks like the US has finally got tired of having its Middle East policy dictated by Tel Aviv. Mind you, with the US Army being in such a dire situation in Iraq, Rice desperately needs progress on Palestine. Looks like AIPAC are just going to have to keep quiet for once.
That sounds great-finally, getting together to really set up a pali state. And if Israel should "eat it" along the way, that's fine too. I'm sure olmert won't mind-I think he can move to Brooklyn? The big "o" must see himself as the great peacemaker-another illusion. And as usual condie rice, representing the US state dept. has Israel's best interests at heart.
"Earlier Thursday, Rice met with the entire Palestinian cabinet in Ramallah in a gesture of support for the team of moderates" Every last one an unelected placeman and toady.
co operation of Hamas.Condi had best listen to her own senators(the Feinstein-Lugar resolution).Who is she kidding? The elephant in the room Condi, don't be silly.
What we are witnessing is very similar to what happened in Northern Ireland during the beginning of the peace process there. A series of carefully choreographed moves which are taking the IP's towards a final settlement without them realising it. Looks like the deal has already been done, it is just down to the timing of when it is going to be implemented.