MAY 2000
Wednesday May 31, 2000
President Arafat received at his office in Ramalah yesterday a British delegation headed by the head of the British Conservative Party. The discussion covered the latest developments in the peace process particularly on the Palestinian track and the obstacles laid by the Israeli government before its advancement in addition to the anticipated European role to push the peace talks forward.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Erekat and Dr. Sha'ath.
Dr. Sha'ath described the visit as important. He said president Arafat updated the British official on the prevailing status quo and the lack of progress in the peace talks, and asked the British government and the EU to contribute in backing and pushing the peace process forward.
Tuesday May 30, 2000
Arafat hands Itzik a letter to PM Barak
President Arafat received at his office in Ramallah yesterday the Israeli Minister of Environment Dalia Itzik during which he urged the Israeli government to comply with all peace agreements so far concluded with the Palestinians. He told Itzik "In order to give peace a chance, Israel should implement all its commitments prescribed by the peace agreements". Palestinian sources said President Arafat criticized PM Barak for reneging on his deadline set for the framework agreement. The sources told the German News Agency that President Arafat handed Mrs. Itzik a letter to PM Barak urging him for a serious progress in the Stockholm back-channel talks and to give the Israeli delegation a mandate to enter into serious negotiations with the Palestinian side in addition to implementing UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and all peace agreements.
Israel explores the possibility of erecting a wall separating Abu Dis - Azzereya from Jerusalem
Reliable Israeli sources said the Israeli security service is exploring the possibility of erecting a wall between Jerusalem and Abu Dis and Aizzereya, which were decided by the Israeli cabinet to be transformed to the full control of the PNA.
The Mayor of West Jerusalem Ehud Olmert said that in light of the bloody clashes which occurred in the territories recently when Palestinian police forces aimed their rifles at Israeli soldiers, the building of such a wall is of a top significance and an urgent security need.
On the other hand Jewish settlers in the West Bank began using dogs and horses in their armed patrols to horrify civilians
A report by Ma'ariv said it seems that the traditions of the West began entering the occupied territories as Jewish settlers in Qadumim began using horses and dogs in their patrols in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report said about 60 settlers joined the horse-riders unit and the idea is rapidly extended to other Jewish settlement. The spokesman of the so-called Jewish communities said these patrols make us feel that we control the area and we are not living in ghettos.
Israeli minister: The Palestinians have to abandon their dream for the right of return and full Israeli withdrawal
The Israeli internal security minister Shlomo Bin Ami, who
heads the Israeli delegation to the peace process negotiations in
Stockholm, announced yesterday that progress had been achieved
and that final decisions are awaited to be taken by the
Palestinian president and the Israeli premier.
Bin Ami pointed out that the Palestinians have to stop dreaming
about having their right of return or having Israeli withdrawal
to the pre-1967 borders.
Monday May 29, 2000
The weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah city yesterday under the chairmanship of President Arafat asked the Israeli government to cease proposing its scenarios in the negotiation which are rejected in advance. Instead the Palestinians asked the government to give mandate to the Israeli delegation to the Stockholm back-channel talks and to enter into serious talks.
A statement issued by the cabinet said the Israeli stance did not change at the Stockholm talks, which was behind the deadlock for the past few months.
On the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails the statement said "it needs a radical and importmp solution by the Israeli government based on implementing the agreements reached on the status of prisoners and detainees. In a separate statement, secretary general of the PLO Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas said the Stockholm will be resumed without giving a specific date for its resumption.
He said there will be more rounds. Abas told AFP that the Palestinian and Israeli delegations held two rounds of talks in Stockholm, which failed to score any progress.
He stressed that the ball is now in the Israeli court and Israel is required to carry out international legitimacy resolutions and the Oslo agreements.
Sunday May 28, 2000
President Yasser Arafat met with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak in Cairo yesterday within the framework of continued coordination and consultations between the two sides.
The discussions centered on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process particularly the Palestinian track ad the outcome of the back-channel talks held between the PNA and Israel in Stockholm.
The Jewish settlers of Ma'aleh Amos captured 200 dunums from Kisan village to expand their settlement illegally built in occupied Arab land.
According to local inhabitants, Israeli heavy tractors were deployed to level the annexed plots damaging many fields. The settlers also erected a fence around the seized plots.
In Hebron, three Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration organized in the city to express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Wednesday May 24, 2000
The Palestinian National Authority said in its first reaction to the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon that this withdrawal showed that occupation of other people's land will not last for good.
Tayib Abdulraheem, secretary general of President Arafat's office said in a statement that the PNA welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon and seize this opportunity to congratulate the Lebanese people for extending their sovereignty over South Lebanon.
For his part the Minster of Information and Culture Yaser Abed Rabbo said that the Israeli withdrawal is a good reason for a nation wide celebration by the Palestinian people because it is a strong evidence that occupation never lasts.
He added that the collapse of Lahd's militiamen backed by Israel in front of the solid resistance of Hizbullah fighters supported by Iran, is a shining evidence to the world at large to the failure of the Israeli policies and further clarifies the fate of collaborators with Israel at any other peace.
Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudineh said: "The Israeli withdrawal is an important step which should be ensued by other withdrawals from the occupied Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights in implementation to UN Security Council resoltuoitn 242."
For his part, Dr. Saeb Erekat, head of the Palestinian delegation to the interim talks, called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian areas occupied by Israel in June 1967 and from the Golan Heights in conformity with UN resolutions.
Tuesday May 23, 2000
President Arafat held important talks in San'a yesterday with his Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh on the fringes of Yemen's celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the reunification of both parts of Yemen. The two leaders discussed the peace process and means to advance the stalled talks in addition to the Israeli atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinian people and Israel's reluctance to carry out signed agreements. President Saleh renewed his country's support to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Arab Jerusalem as its capital . President Arafat also met with the Algerian President and the vice-president of Iraq Taha Yassin Ramadan in addition to the British ambassador to San'a.
Abed Rabo: Israel proposed bartering declaring statehood with skipping Jerusalem and refugees from the final status settlement
Head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks Yasser Abed Rabbo, disclosed yesterday that Israel offered the Palestinian delegation to declare a state in return for a series of Palestinian concessions covering all major issues on the agenda of these negotiations i.e. land, Jerusalem, and refugees.
Abed Rabbo said, the Israeli strategic vision to the Palestinian problem is based on a solution to barter our acceptance of the offered maps in exchange for its acceptance of declaring a Palestinian state provided that the Palestinians skip Jerusalem and the refugees issues from the final-status talks.
In a statement distributed to the media, Abed Rabbo said, this offer covers the annexation of Jewish settlements to Israeli sovereignty. Abed Rabbo added that Israel offered to lease other areas classified by Israel "green pasters" from the Palestinians. Israel also proposed to keep control of all areas adjoining the Jordanian River and the Dead Sea.
Concerning Jerusalem the Israeli offer was restricted to transferring some inhabited areas around Jerusalem to the Palestinian National Authority and granting the Palestinians administrative and civil jurisdictions in the fields of health, education, and communications etc, while keeping granting building licenses, zoning and urban planning in Israeli hands. Abed Rabbo said, Israel refused to admit to any material or moral responsibility for the catastrophe of Palestinian refugees.
Abed Rabbo added the Palestinian delegation rejected all these Israeli proposals.
The PNA warned the Israeli government against permission to construct a new Jewish settlement in Jerusalem following the approval of west Jerusalem municipality to build 200 housing units around Abu Dis. The PNA indicated that such a decision would lead to a renewal of conflict in the area.
Ehud Olmert said that the aim of the project is to separate Abu Dis from Jerusalem. Palestinian chief negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat described the approval decision as destructive.
Monday May 22, 2000
15-year old Sado Hawarin from Dahereya near Hebron died in hospital yesterday as a result of severe wounds he received last Monday during clashes with Israeli occupation soldiers at the northern entrance to Ramallah.
Hawarin received head injuries fired on him by an Israeli sniper.
The death of Hawarin came after scores of thousands of Palestinians in Ramallah and Al-Bireh mourned another martyr Isa Abed yesterday afternoon.
President Arafat left for Sana last night to attend celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of reunifying the northern and southern parts of Yemen. During his visit, President Arafat will meet his Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh and other heads of state.
Sunday May 21, 2000
29 year old Issa Qarakra from Qaddom refugee camp in Ramallah died yesterday from wounds received last Friday by a bullet fired by an Israeli sniper near the northern entrance of Ramallah.
The death of Qarakra led to a new wave of violent confrontations between scores of Palestinian youth and Israeli soldiers at the northern entrance to Ramallah after the death of Qarakra was made public. At least 50 Palestinian were wounded in the demonstration. The Israeli army used live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets against Palestinians resulting in injuring tens of demonstrators. In Hebron over fifty Palestinian demonstrators were wounded yesterday in renewed clashes near contact points between demonstrators and Israeli soldiers and settlers.
In Takou town, east of Bethlehem and on the peripherals of Bilal Ibn Rabah mosque, violent clashes flared up between angry demonstrators and Israeli soldiers culminating in wounding 30 Palestinian citizens 17 in Bethlehem and 13 in Takou.
In Gaza City, a massive demonstration thronged the main street of the city to express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on a hunger strike for three weeks now.
Clashes were renewed around Al-Shohada junction near Netsarim settlement in which ten Palestinians including three journalists were wounded.
In Nablus six Palestinians were wounded yesterday at the eastern entrance of the city.
For his part, the PNA Minister of State for prisoners Affairs Hisham Abdul Razeq said it is unreasonable to reach a frame-agreement with Israel without first releasing all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Within the same context the prisoners of Mageddo prison said the bloody events witnessed by the prison last Sunday followed threats by the head of Mageddo prison to burn the tents and its occupants.
The secretariat of the Islamic conference blamed Israel for its brutal activities in the occupied territories asking the international community to intervene and bring peace to the region.
President Arafat met in Ramallah City yesterday Sandy Burger President Clinton's advisor for national security.
The meeting took place at the residence of Yasser Abed Rabo, member of the PLO executive Committee, and was attended by the Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas.
The two sides discussed the Middle East peace process concentrating on the Palestinian track. Mr. Burger met yesterday PM Ehud Barak for the same purpose.
Saturday May 20, 2000
Scores of Palestinians injured in the Palestinian day of anger
Over 250 Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets fired against them by Israeli soldiers in the first day of anger, dedicated to express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
It has been noted that most casualties were hit in the head, chest, and abdomen.
Four Israeli soldiers including a senior officer were wounded in an exchange of fire between Palestinian security forces and Israeli soldiers in Gaza yesterday.
According to medical sources about 16 Palestinians received light to moderate wounds including 12 civilians and four security men when confronting Israeli military attempts to enter Palestinian areas and to control the martyrs junction south of Gaza city yesterday.
The highest causality toll among Palestinians estimated at 58 occurred during clashes at Ayyosh junction on the northern entrance of Al-Bireh City yesterday.
Within the same context, President Arafat reiterated the Palestinian leadership position towards the issue of Palestinian prisoners giving it the first priority.
In Jenin 13 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces yesterday in the city.
The PNA holds Israel responsible for supressing the prisoners-solidairty demonstrations
The PNA issued a statement yesterday following it's weekly cabinet meting, in the statement, the PNA held Israel responsible for the grave outcome of supresing the prisoners-solidarity demonstrations.
The President and Cabinet ministers observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of the fallen during the demonstrations held in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and those held to mark the 52nd anniversary of Al-Nakba.
The PNA affirmed its position on the Palestinian refugees right of return as guaranteed by UN resolution 194. It also stressed the need to implement UN resolutions 242, 338 and 252 that stress our national right to having Jerusalem as our capital.
Thursday May 18, 2000
The wave of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners expressed by the Palestinian masses throughout the homeland continued.
In Hebron, Palestinian demonstrators engaged Israeli occupation soldiers in Dora and near the road of Neghot settlement lasting until the late hours of night. Palestinian youth clashed with Jewish settlers escorted by Israeli occupation soldiers in Hebron and Halhoul when scores of Palestinian youth pelted Israeli military patrol and vehicles of settlers with stones and empty bottles. According to Palestinian sources ten people were wounded in these demonstrations.
In Tulkarm five Palestinians were wounded by rubber bullets fired by Israeli soldier against a peaceful demonstration to express solidarity with striking Palestinian prisoners.
In Arab East Jerusalem, Palestinian demonstrators wounded two Israeli soldiers during a similar demonstration.
In Gaza City, scores of Palestinian youth pelted settlers' cars with stones near Nitsarim settlement yesterday.
Another large demonstration took place in Khan Younis City.
President Arafat promised parents of Palestinian prisoners to exert more and more efforts to release all prisoners. The President said; By God's will all our prisoners will be released.
Wednesday May 17, 2000
Violent clashes yesterday erupted between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip culminating in wounding scores of Palestinian youth staging a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners who started a hunger strike 17 days ago.
In Al-Bireh City, twenty demonstrators were wounded near the City Inn Hotel, which was evacuated and over taken by Israeli occupation soldiers.
In Hebron and Al-Fawar refugee camps, hundreds of Palestinian citizens and school students took part in massive demonstrations. Another 13 Palestinians were wounded during violent clashes with Israeli soldiers near the northern entrance to Bethlehem.
In another development demonstrators stormed into Qalandia airport, north of Arab Jerusalem.
Russia, France and the US deplored in separate statements the bloody clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.
In Cairo Arab ambassadors to the Arab league will hold a meeting today to discuss the serious developments in the occupied territories.
Tuesday May 16, 2000
Three Palestinian killed and over 600 wounded in yesterday's violent clashes
The commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the Palestinian catastrophe (nakba) turned into violent clashes recalling to memory the tunnel uprising in Jerusalem city in 1996.
The Israeli soldiers used rubber-coated metal bullets and live fire to disperse demonstrators culminating in the death of three martyrs and the wounding of 600 others.
Among the three killed was a policeman identified as Ahmed Odeh, 20, who was killed near the northern entrance of Ramallah. The Israeli occupation authority announced some of its soldiers were wounded as well.
The Israeli airforce used helicopters to attack demonstrators with gas bombs at Al-Baloa area in Al-Bireh City.
The violent clashes flared up at almost all Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank including Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. Over 60 people were admitted to Ramallah hospital for treatment.
Medical sources at the hospital listed five wounded in critical conditions.
Eyewitnesses said three Israeli soldiers received different injuries while Palestinian security sources said an Israeli soldiers was wounded during the exchange of fire between national security forces and Israeli soldiers. This was described the most violent since the 1996 tunnel events. In Bethlehem 122 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli soldiers near Bilal Ibn Rabbah Mosque while staging a similar demonstration.
In Hebron medical sources said at least 51 demonstrators were wounded by live ammunition and rubber bullets. They listed five in serious and critical conditions.
In Gaza City about 40 people were wounded during violent clashes with Israeli soldiers near Nitsarim junction. In Nablus two Palestinians were killed and 22 others wounded by rubber coated bullets.
The first martyr was identified as 18-year old Ayad Safadi who received a neck injury from a sniper shooting against demonstrators from the roof of a building located on the Nablus -Jerusalem road.
The second martyr identified as 21-year old Bashar Shanir, from Askar refugee camp. He was killed near Josiph tomb.
In Qalqilia City a Jewish settler killed two Palestinian brothers aging 6 and 8 years identified as Mahmoud and Mohamad Al-Aqra.
The settler was driving a bus and ran into the two brothers killing them instantly. The accident was a "deliberate" and heinous attack by a settler and not a road accident as claimed by Israel.
The two brothers were killed near Alfe Minashe settlement illegally built along with other Jewish settlement in the occupied territories after the occupation of the West Bank in the June 1967 Arab -Israeli war.
In Tulkarm, 88 Palestinian were wounded by bullets fired against them by Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian merchants observed commercial strike in the Palestinian territories to sympathize with striking Palestinian prisoners and to commemorate the nakba day.
Secretary General of President Arafat's office Tayib Abdul Raheem described yesterday's clashes as unjustified Israeli escalation
The PLO Executive Committee praised yesterday's popular uprising and denounced during a meeting held in Ramallah City under the chairmanship of President Arafat the Israeli provocative actions against the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile an Israeli military spokesman put the number of causalities among the Israelis at 14 wounded soldiers. He said two of them received moderate injureis and the others were received light injuries.
Sunday May 14, 2000
Large demonstrations took place throughout the Palestinian territories yesterday to express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails observing a hunger strike for the 13th consecutive day.
In Tulkarm, around 70 Palestinians including women and children, were wounded by metal-coated rubber bullets fired against the crowed by Israeli occupation soldiers.
The demonstration occurred on the western road in the city near Khadouri College.
In Hebron, Israeli soldiers during a similar demonstration wounded at least 11 Palestinians.
Five Palestinians were injured in Jenin in a demonstration of anger.
In Gaza city, a big demonstration was staged yesterday and over 60 Palestinians decided to go on hunger strike in a gesture of sympathy with Palestinian prisoners, and Ramallah will organize a demonstration today while tomorrow it will observe a commercial strike in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners.
Head of the Palestinian delegation to the "interim" status negotiation Dr. Saeb Erekat confirmed the existence of secret contacts with Israel on final-status issue including Jerusalem, refugees, dismantling of Jewish settlement, and borders. Dr. Erekat told Palestinian Radio yesterday there he is still waiting for Israeli replies concerning outstanding issues of the interim agreement.
He also called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank to the June 1967 borders including Arab East Jerusalem.
Saturday May 13, 2000
The Palestinian leadership said in a statement issued at the end of its weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah city yesterday, that the Palestinian - Israeli negotiations did not score any tangible results since it began nine months ago, indicating that the Israeli government is not serious in its negotiations.
The statement said, despite the participation of US peace envoy Dennis Ross in the last round of the final-status talks, nothing has been achieved.
The statement added that the continuation of such a situation will create unavoidable damage to the peace process and accused Israel of failing to honor its commitment's prescribed by Sharm el-Sheikh memorandum. It also blamed the Israeli side for not observing the 13th of May deadline set for the conclusion of a framework agreement. At the beginning of the cabinet session, President Arafat talked about the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and hailed their struggle for freedom.
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are observing a hunger strike that began twelve days ago. The Cabinet statement called for the release of Palestinian prisoners according to Oslo and Taba agreements.
President Arafat also talked about the 52nd anniversary of the Palestinian catastrophe.
Other topics discussed by the Palestinian leadership included the peace negotiations
As the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails continue their hunger strike in demand for their freedom, the media reported many of them are suffering from deteriorating health conditions. Many of the prisoners had to be hospitalized due to loss of weight and lack of balance and ability to stand. Large segments of the Palestinian public are demonstrating in support of the prisoners' struggle, and confrontations with Israeli occupation forces are continuing.
In Bethlehem near the Bilal Ibn Rabah mosque, Palestinian demonstrators were faced by dozens of Israeli soldiers bristling with weapons and tear gas guns, and when the soldiers attempted to cordon a building in which some Palestinians were taking refuge from Israeli live bullets and teargas bombs, the demonstrators took four Israeli soldiers hostage. The four-hour confrontations in Bethlehem lead to 15 citizens injured by rubber coated bullets; four of whom are small children, while dozens of others suffered suffocation due to inhaling teargas fired by the Israeli soldiers. In Ramalah, the confrontations with the Israeli occupation soldiers continued as a Palestinian seven-year-old boy named Moh'd Faisal lost his left eye when an Israeli bullet hit him.
Thursday May 11, 2000
President Yasser Arafat denies any progress whatsoever in the peace talks with Israel
President Yasser Arafat denied yesterday press reports published by the French Le Monde newspaper speculating a Palestinian - Israeli agreement to establish a Palestinian entity over 80 - 90% 0f the West Bank in return for a Palestinian flexibility on the Jerusalem issue. Palestinian officials described the Le Monde newspaper report as baseless. President Arafat said: This is no more than journalists' speculations.
Other Palestinian official said it appeared to be an Israeli test balloon.
Arafat response came after Le Monde reported Monday that the two sides reached a draft accord according to which Israel would give the Palestinians 80 - 90% of the West Bank.
Yesterday, the Palestinian leader held important talks with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak that was described as very important. President Arafat updated the Egyptian leader on the new crisis in the peace talks and obstacles still impeding progress on the Palestinian track.
Activities continue in solidarity with the prisoners
Palestinian citizens continued their supportive activities in an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The Israeli occupation forces violently faced the citizens, and injured nine in Bethlehem one of them a young woman who was hit by rubber bullets.
In Qalqilia demonstrations took place, and twenty people went on hunger strike in solidarity with the prisoners whom Israel is refusing to free despite signed agreements.
In the same context, the Prisoners Friends Society reported that the health of the prisoners who are on a hunger strike is deteriorating at the Israeli Nafha and Beir Shiva prisons. In Hadarim prison, twenty-five Palestinian prisoners had to be taken to hospital after their health deteriorated.
Wednesday May 10, 2000
President Arafat is due to meet in Cairo today with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak within the framework of the continuing coordination and consultation between the two countries.
Prior to that, the President met the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mousa and the UN special peace envoy Terry Larson separately.
Palestinian prisoners at the Meggido, Shata, Nafha and Ashkelon jails joined the empty-stomach hunger strike that began by their comrades a week ago.
In response to this escalation, the Israeli Prison Authority started to take a number of procedures to break the strike. Palestinian official and popular marches and rallies were organized throughout the Palestinian provinces to express solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners.
In Maggido, 750 Palestinian prisoners decided to join the
hunger strike while another 15 prisoners at Ramlah military
hospital announced their decision to stop receiving medications.
In Nafha and Ashkelon prisons, 909 prisoners joined the hunger
strike initiated by Beir Sab'a and Hadarim prisoners.
Reliable Israeli sources said PM Ehud Barak gave the green light recently for building more than one thousand apartments for Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Ha'aretz newspaper quoted in its edition published yesterday- members of the Israeli National Religious party (NRP)- as saying, they were assured by Housing Minister Yitzhak Levy that PM Barak has given the green light for his ministry to commence work on building one thousand new housing units in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
According to Ha'aretz, Levy told a meeting of his party held last week, that PM Barak approved the construction of 1,000 apartments in Jewish settlements majority of which located near Jerusalem.
Monday May 8, 2000
Arafat and Barak agreed in Ramallah to keep up their contacts until outstanding issues are settled
A High ranking Palestinian official noted that last night's meeting held by President Arafat and Barak in Ramalah did not produce tangible results, yet the two leaders agreed on keeping up the negotiations until outstanding issues are settled.
Arafat - Barak meeting was held in Ramallah at Abu Mazen's house where all the outstanding interim period issued in addition to that of the final status were discussed. The Palestinian official pointed out that President Arafat explicitly discussed the Israeli settlement with Barak and asked him to immediately halt all the settlement activities. The Palestinian official added that President Arafat discussed the Israeli redeployment from three Palestinian towns around Jerusalem.
Abed Rabbo: land issues are the central ones in the final status agreement
Head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status negotiations Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the Israeli-created obstacles in discussing issues such as land and withdrawal to the June 4th 1967 borders, is the cause for not reaching an agreement in the near future.
Following his meeting with the American peace coordinator Dennis Ross, Abed Rabbo pointed out that land issue that include Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and borders are the central ones in the final status agreement.
Israeli settlers plan aggression against Palestinians
The Israeli daily newspaper Ma'ariv quoted Israeli sources at the General Security Service as expressing their concern over the possibility of the forming of Jewish terrorists militia who's members are from settlers. The said militia would attack Palestinian citizens with the hope that this could foil the ongoing negotiations for reaching a final status agreement.
The newspaper said that the security apparatus has submitted a report to the political leadership in which it expressed deep concerns in regard to meetings being held in the settlements with the attendance of ex-army and intelligence officers who plan to set up patrols and militias that operate on the roads that are around or lead to the settlements throughout the Palestinian territories.
A likely summit today between President Arafat sand PM Barak in the presence of Ross
According to reliable Palestinian sources, a summit meeting is expected today between President Arafat and PM Barak to discuss the main reasons prompting the Israeli PM to postpone the transfer of three Palestinian villages adjoining Jerusalem to full control of the Palestinians.
During the last summit between President Arafat and PM Barak, Barak is said to have promised to transfer three villages around Jerusalem to the full control of the Palestinian National Authority. However a meeting was held in Jerusalem yesterday between the head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks Yasser Abed Rabbo and his Israeli counterpart Odid Eran in the presence of US peace envoy Dennis Ross lasting for about two and a half hours to discuss obstacles creating a negotiation crisis with special emphasis on Israeli map presented during the last round of Eilat talks which was completely inconsistent with the basis of the peace process calling for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 242 asking Israel to withdraw from all the occupied Arab territories in June 1967 including Arab East Jerusalem. According to Palestinian political sources the Palestinians rejected an Israeli proposal for interim statehood in 66 % of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in exchange for postponing negotiations over final borders and the Jerusalem issue beyond next Sept.
The Palestinian leader received at his office yesterday the president of the UN General Assembly and discussed with him the latest developments in the peace process.
For his part Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, who attended this meeting told reporters that the Palestinians will continue to reject any Israeli maps unless they cover all territories occupied by Israeli in 1967 including Arab East Jerusalem, adding that the Israeli proposals so far are unsuitable for discussion.
They throw stones at young kids
The notorious Israeli settlers hiding in fortified confiscated Palestinian houses in Hebron threw stones at a Palestinian kid named Husam Sharabati and hurt him in the head. On the other hand, Israeli soldiers guarding the settlers attacked Palestinian citizen Abdulsalam Abu Haikal and caused him serious injuries.
The settlers attack was committed just one day after they attacked the Haikal's home with machine guns following which the Israeli police arrested the victim Mr. Abu Hakal 57 and his two sons Shihada 22 and Ala' 20. The settlers who attacked the Haikal's home were not arrested by the Israeli police and are still at large.
The Palestinian leadership blames Israel for the collapse of Eilat talks
The Palestinian leadership stated in its weekly cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of President Arafat in Ramallah city yesterday, that the failure to make any progress in the three rounds of the final status talks so far, is mainly due to the Israeli government's reluctance to comply with international legitimacy resolutions, particularly 242 and 338 which were approved by Israel during the Oslo Accords and Sharm el-Shiekh memorandum.
The Palestinian leadership reiterated its position based on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions and the land for peace principles and rejected all Israeli attempts aimed at circumventing the signed agreements.
The first week of the Eilat talks ended without scoring any progress except to meet again next week.
On the domestic level, the Palestinian cabinet decided to continue its deliberations on the enforcement of the Palestinian Civil Law. Earlier yesterday the Palestinian leadership met the UN special envoy Denis Ross and discussed with him the latest developments in the peace process and Israel's reluctance to carry out its commitments.
President Arafat informed the US envoy of the Palestinian position rejecting the Israeli maps presented to the Palestinian delegation last Thursday. The maps totally contradict the basis upon which the peace process was initiated.
The President told Ross that Israel should recognize the June 1967 borderline and to implement singed agreements in order to achieve a Just and durable peace.
The next Palestinian Israeli round of talks will be held in a different location.
Settlements
Israeli settlers led by the extremist settler Barouch Marzel and his wife attacked the Palestinian family of Abu Haikel in Hebron.
The attack was aimed at taking control of Haikel's home and land in down town Hebron to build an Israeli settlement out post.
In reaction and to protect the life and property of members of the Haikel's family, dozens of Palestinian citizens fought for hours in self defense against the settlers aggression which was supported and encouraged by the Israeli occupation army and police.
As a result many Palestinian citizens were injured by the intruders and had to be hospitalized. The Israeli occupation army sealed the area in a bid to prevent Palestinians from arriving to support the Haikels family.
Clouds of failure left its shadows over the Eilat talks due to be suspended tomorrow and Saturday to be resumed on Sunday.
Palestinian sources voiced pessimistic views on the possibility of scoring a breakthrough in the stalled talks due to the inflexibility of the Israeli side which insists to ignore the United Nations Security council Resolutions 242 and 338 forming the basis for the peace talks.
The two sides have even failed to agree on topics to be inserted in the framework agreement. The sources added that the presence of US envoy Dennis Ross in the last two sessions didn't create so far any difference in the prevailing atmosphere of the talks. The two delegations ended their meetings in Eilat yesterday without realizing any tangible outcome.
For his part the head of the Palestinian delegation to the final-status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said holding a summit between President Arafat and PM Barak is contingent to scoring real progress and a suspension to fattening Jewish settlements. Dr. Erekat also said there are differences between the two sides almost over all issues and Israel wishes to redraft the Oslo Accords.
A Palestinian paper on statehood and the Palestinian vision to the final settlement with Israel will be completed soon as disclosed yesterday by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Nabil Shaath.
The paper was requested by President Clinton during his meeting with President Arafat in Washington two weeks ago. Dr. Shaath said the requirements for statehood were also requested by the President of the World Bank during his meeting with the Palestinian leader.
In a separate announcement Dr. Shaath said the Palestinian National Authority will not allow Israel to annex any Palestinian land . He also urged for suspending settlement activities in the occupied territories if the peace process wants to survive and progress.
The Israli government decided to postpone for indefinite period the transfer of power in three Palestinian villages to the Palestinian National Authority.
The villages are Abu Dis, Aizerrya and Sawahra. According to Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy the file on this issue is not ripe yet and we've to make sure before transferring power to the Palestinians that " they are prepared to reach agreement on the basic matters of interest to us".
Levy's announcement came after some Israeli cabinet ministers said earlier that PM Barak will give the green light for transferring these three Arab villages to the Palestinian Authority.
In a separate incident Israeli military warplanes prevented an Egyptian Boeing 737 airline from landing at Gaza International Airport forcing it to return back to Cairo.
Two other journeys by the Palestine Airways were also canceled.
An Israeli military aircraft was seen flying at low altitude near the airport to prevent any airplane from landing or flying at the airport. One day before a Moroccan plane carrying an official delegation were ordered to return back by Israel.
President Yasser Arafat emphatically announced that the declaration of the Palestinian state is a natural right for the Palestinian people which was secured by all peace agreements.
This was supposed to be declared last year, but we've received advice from friends to postpone this announcement until the end of the Israeli elections, he said.
President Arafat insisted that the 13 of September is the deadline for declaring the statehood.
This right was stressed by Sharm e Sheikh agreement and by the two American letters of assurances and the European guarantees. On the other side, the head of the Palestinian delegation to the final-status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told reporters that the issue of the statehood is not on the agenda of the Eilat talks nor it was or will be on the negotiating table.
In Eilat, where the peace talks goes on between Palestinian and Israeli delegations to hammer out a framework agreement, US peace envoy Dennis Ross is expected to attend today's session.
The talks which started two days ago is expected to witness during the next few days intensified US efforts with both sides with the possibility of arranging a summit meeting between President Arafat and PM Barak.
According to Palestinian sources at the peace talks, the Israeli side did not submit so far the Israeli government's reply to a Palestinian demand to rescind its decision to build 174 housing units at Maaleh Adumim settlement and freeze other settlement projects in the occupied territories.
Simultaneously, the Palestinians rejected Israeli hints to maintain some areas classified as areas (B) on the same status even after Israel implements the third withdrawal from the West Bank.
Dr. Erekat said on this issue that Israel is going to carry out the last withdrawal next June though their remain some controversial issues to be solved concerning the military positions and settlements.
However head of the Palestinian Preventive Security System in Gaza Col, Mohammad Dahlan said that a summit meeting between President Arafat and PM Barak is likely to be held next Thursday without naming the location of such summit.
Col. Dahlan told France Press that the Eilat talks could be relocated to another destination, may be to Taba in Egypt.
A 13-year old Palestinian child identified as Bassam Tamimi from Hebron, received serious head injury by an Israeli military patrol at the city's old town under the Israeli security control.
According to eyewitnesses, four Israeli soldiers stopped Tamimi near the central vegetable market and brutally attacked him without giving reason for this barbaric attack.
Palestinian prisoners at the Israeli Hadarim prison started yesterday a hunger strike to press for their release from Israeli jails. The Prisoners said in a statement they've decided to start what they termed empty-stomach strike until their release or death. The strike will be ensued by other prisoners in Israeli jails were over 3,000 Palestinians are still held.