Israeli and Palestinian Leaders Meet Amid Clashes in Gaza
26 October 2007 Guardian Unlimited
Israeli and Palestinian leaders renewed efforts today to narrow their differences ahead of a US-sponsored conference despite fierce clashes in Gaza.
As the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, met the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, Israeli troops killed at least three Palestinian gunmen in separate clashes in Gaza, which has been under the control of Hamas since June.
Before the meeting, aides to Mr Abbas criticised Israel over its plan to counter the almost daily rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israel's plan to start cutting energy supplies to Gaza represented a "provocation" that would "double the suffering" of those living in the coastal enclave, Palestinian officials said.
Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Mr Abbas, called on the international community to "intervene immediately to protect the Palestinian people and compel Israel to comply with international humanitarian law".
Exasperated by rocket attacks on southern Israel, the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak, approved the new plan to cut off electricity to the territory for longer periods each time a rocket falls. The plan hopes to pressure the militants into halting the attacks.
Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert were meeting over lunch, seeking common ground before next month's planned conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
Yesterday, Mr Olmert again sought to lower expectations for the conference, saying it would not result in a final peace deal.
Addressing Jewish fundraisers from Europe and north America in Jerusalem, Mr Olmert sounded less than sure that the conference would even go ahead.
"If all goes well, hopefully, we will meet in Annapolis," he said. "(But) Annapolis is not made to be the event for the declaration of peace."
The Palestinians, meanwhile, are pushing for a pre-conference statement that addresses the issues at the heart of the conflict: final borders, the status of disputed Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
They also want a timeline for the creation of a Palestinian state. Israel wants a more general document, saying it is premature to address many of these issues.
The US wants both sides to present the joint statement at the conference to pave the way for peace talks.
"Today we expect the Israelis to stop putting obstacles preventing us from reaching a joint statement for the fall summit," Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an Abbas spokesman, said.
"Today they will evaluate what the negotiation teams have achieved and they will try to narrow the gaps."
In Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas government, said the meetings between Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert were aimed at diverting attention from Israeli attacks and sanctions against Gaza.
He said the conference would offer nothing to the Palestinians.
"These meetings have become a cover for the continued aggression against the Palestinian people," Mr Haniyeh said after Friday prayers in Gaza City. "We warn against the dangers of falling into the traps of American-Israeli policies."
Before the meeting, aides to Mr Abbas criticised Israel over its plan to counter the almost daily rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israel's plan to start cutting energy supplies to Gaza represented a "provocation" that would "double the suffering" of those living in the coastal enclave, Palestinian officials said.
Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Mr Abbas, called on the international community to "intervene immediately to protect the Palestinian people and compel Israel to comply with international humanitarian law".
Exasperated by rocket attacks on southern Israel, the Israeli defence minister, Ehud Barak, approved the new plan to cut off electricity to the territory for longer periods each time a rocket falls. The plan hopes to pressure the militants into halting the attacks.
Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert were meeting over lunch, seeking common ground before next month's planned conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
Yesterday, Mr Olmert again sought to lower expectations for the conference, saying it would not result in a final peace deal.
Addressing Jewish fundraisers from Europe and north America in Jerusalem, Mr Olmert sounded less than sure that the conference would even go ahead.
"If all goes well, hopefully, we will meet in Annapolis," he said. "(But) Annapolis is not made to be the event for the declaration of peace."
The Palestinians, meanwhile, are pushing for a pre-conference statement that addresses the issues at the heart of the conflict: final borders, the status of disputed Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
They also want a timeline for the creation of a Palestinian state. Israel wants a more general document, saying it is premature to address many of these issues.
The US wants both sides to present the joint statement at the conference to pave the way for peace talks.
"Today we expect the Israelis to stop putting obstacles preventing us from reaching a joint statement for the fall summit," Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an Abbas spokesman, said.
"Today they will evaluate what the negotiation teams have achieved and they will try to narrow the gaps."
In Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas government, said the meetings between Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert were aimed at diverting attention from Israeli attacks and sanctions against Gaza.
He said the conference would offer nothing to the Palestinians.
"These meetings have become a cover for the continued aggression against the Palestinian people," Mr Haniyeh said after Friday prayers in Gaza City. "We warn against the dangers of falling into the traps of American-Israeli policies."
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 5:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home