Official: Israeli Practices on Ground Weaken PNA Ability 17:34, March 20, 2008

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Official: Israeli practices on ground weaken PNA ability 17:34, March 20, 2008 Yasser Abed Rabbo, member of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, accused Israel on Thursday for acting to weaken the ability of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). "The Israeli government has been always seeking to beat the Palestinian National Authority and acting to weaken it," Abed Rabbo told the "Voice of Palestine" Radio. Abed Rabbo said the proof that Israel acts to weaken the PNA "is what has happened on the ground of blockade and siege in the West Bank and Gaza, in addition to settlement activities, arrests and raids on towns and villages." He added that Israel "is using all possible means to weaken the PNA, keeping in mind to avoid any international condemnation for such behavior." Meanwhile, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat warned in a news conference in east Jerusalem on Wednesday that if a peace agreement is not reached by the end of 2008, the PNA might collapse. "Israel apparently doesn't need a Palestinian partner to achieve a just peace," Abed Rabbo said, adding "Israel wants to see the Palestinians divided in order to impose temporary solutions to win more time." Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated on Monday that his government is not intending to stop construction of settlement, a main obstacle to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. In early March, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas temporarily suspended the peace talks with Israel after an Israeli offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip killed more than 120 Palestinians. "Source:Xinhua" .

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