Party meetings to begin again after PLO rejects Hamas' possible draft for agreement with Israelis

Fadi Yacoub
10 January 2007

Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Salah Rafat, told PNN that the draft proposal for a provisional “peace agreement” with Israel is being rejected by all Palestinian parties.

The draft allows for the continuation of Israeli settling in the West Bank with virtual cantons for the Palestinians, while the state of Palestine would have only provisional borders. The draft was reportedly approved by Prime Minister Haniya during his meetings with several Arab states, however the PLO rejected the terms outright.

Rafat told PNN that the matter is the prerogative of the PLO and that a meeting will be held within the next few days within the framework of the Palestinian national dialogue's National Accord Document that all parties agreed to. This should allow for two weeks of dialogue with comprehensive participation.

Islamic Jihad spokesperson, Daoud Shihab, pointed out that extensive efforts are, and will continue to be, made by other Palestinian parties to curtail internal Fateh – Hamas fighting and to reach a point of unity with which to face the occupation at the same time as ending the internal conflict.

Radwan Al Ahkras of Fateh in the PLC said that Hamas lacks the dynamic political ability to change its attitudes and will continue fighting. He said what drove Hamas to the original fights was “the bankruptcy of the programs and lack of political vision.”

Hamas bloc spokesperson in the Legislative Council, Salah Bardaweil, said he answered the call advocated by many officials in the Palestinian street; that “except for the dialogue, what is needed is to reach a political agreement in order to face the Israeli aggression.”