Palestine Times | Page 1 Thursday, November 30, 2006

Palestine Times Palestine's Daily Newspaper THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2006 FOUNDED IN 2006 WWW.TIMES.PS NIS 5.00 (ISRAEL 7.00) VOL 1, NO 04

Palestinians do not pin Meshal accepts Quartet high hopes on Rice visit conditions - sources by Mohammad Hawwash state based on the Jun. 4, Fawzi Barhoum neither RAMALLAH (Palestine so the Palestinians have to is in Abu Mazen’s court. 1967 ceasefire line, which confirmed nor denied the Times and Agencies) – Pal- move accordingly,” Pal- There is a pressure against RAMALLAH – High-level is the third condition placed report. He told Palestine estinian officials and ana- estinian political analyst him to do something. How- Palestinian sources de- by the Quartet and is an im- Times that “Hamas has al- lysts said yesterday they Ali Jarabawi told Palestine ever everyone expects clared to Palestine Times plicit recognition of Israel. ways denounced violence, expect little from visiting Times. miracles from him but his that Hamas politburo chief With this recognition, the terrorism and the killing of U.S. Secretary of State State Department spokes- choices are very limited,” Khaled Meshal granted in Hamas movement would civilians, but stressed that Condoleeza Rice during man Sean McCormack said Jarbawi said. Egypt the Islamic move- not need to form a new resistance is a legitimate her talks with Palestinian security issues would top Some Middle East ex- ment’s consent to shun vio- government. The sources right for our people.” President Mahmoud Abbas the agenda at the talks with perts doubt Rice can make lence and honor the agree- said that Prime Minister He said “the Palestinian in Jericho today. Abbas. Washington would much progress on this trip. ments signed between the Haniya’s first external tour factions have an agreement The meeting was an- offer suggestions on how “The question still is, how Palestinian Authority and since his assumption of du- regarding international res- nounced two days after Is- to beef up Abbas’s security much can you move when the international commu- ties, which started Tuesday, olutions and that they will raeli Prime Minister Ehud forces to prevent makeshift there really isn’t consen- nity. might last a month. be based on the national Olmert called on the Pal- Palestinian rockets being sus among the Palestinians This means the Hamas Several officials declared conciliation document.” estinians to return to peace fired from Gaza into Israel, or the Israelis on when or government accepts the that negotiations to form a “Hamas supports a Pales- talks, saying his country McCormack said. what to move to,” said Jon Quartet conditions to lift the national unity government tinian state within the 1967 would be willing to leave U.S. officials said Rice Alterman of the Center for DPA siege imposed on the move- have reached a dead end. borders with Jerusalem as most of the West Bank would call for movement Strategic and International ment. The disclosure of Hamas’ its capital,” Barhoum add- in exchange for a “real on breaking the impasse in Studies, a Washington- Haniyeh fears The sources, which de- acceptance of the conditions ed. peace.” forming a Palestinian unity based think tank. clined to reveal their identi- comes after President Mah- He said “we have agreed The United States is un- government with Hamas, Another expert, Shibley ties, indicated that Hamas’ moud Abbas and U.S. Sec- on these issues and there- der pressure from moder- the militant group that won Telhami, said the main collapse of truce acceptance also includes a retary of State Condoleezza fore there was no need to ate Arab allies and British elections last January and problem was a lack of U.S. formal approval on the es- Rice met in Jericho. hand in a paper on this re- Prime Minister Tony Blair whose administration has pressure on Israel. But he tablishment of a Palestinian Hamas spokesperson gard” to the Egyptians. to make tackling the Israeli- been shunned by the West. said Washington might be with Israel Palestinian issue a priority, “This (Hamas government) encouraged to push Israel while also trying to staunch is not working, it is broken. by the growing view that CAIRO (DPA) – Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail the violence in Iraq. We have encouraged Abu Arab-Israeli issues must Haniyeh said yesterday he fears the Israeli-Palestin- E.U. security head supports But Palestinians do not Mazen (Abbas) to find a be tackled if there is to be ian truce could collapse because of “the continuous pin big hopes on the visit, way out of this and if he any progress in Iraq. “It offensives (from Israel’s side),” adding that the “oc- planned at the last min- can’t then he has other op- is very hard to separate cupation” should show restraint towards the Palestin- expected unity government ute. “We do not expect tions available,” a senior the issues and I think they ian people. that much from her visit,” State Department official would stand to benefit (on Haniyeh was visiting Cairo as he begins a round of RAMALLAH (Palestine a senior Palestinian offi- told Reuters. “When you Iraq) by pushing on the talks with Arab leaders, his first such tour since taking Times) – Javier Solana, cial, who preferred not to strip all this stuff away, this Arab-Israeli issue,” said office in March. the European Union com- be named, told Palestine is a naked game of power,” Telhami of the University During talks with his Egyptian counterpart mon security policy head, Times. he said of the struggle be- of Maryland. Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Haniyeh said the Palestinian said yesterday that the The Bush administra- tween Abbas’s once domi- Part of Rice’s strategy situation is “deteriorating” because of both “the Is- international community, tion hopes to build on a nant Fatah movement and has been to secure more raeli blockade imposed on the Palestinians” and including Israel, should what he called “the nonstop (Israeli) offensive.” shaky ceasefire in the Gaza Hamas. cooperation on both Iraq respond positively to the “The Palestinians committed to a truce by ceasing rocket Strip and to capitalize on a Abbas has told Jordan and the Arab-Israeli issue expected new Palestinian attacks, however, the Israeli side should stop all forms speech this week in which talks on a unity government from moderate Arab na- government. Olmert called for peace be- have hit a dead end and he tions such as Egypt, Jordan of attacks against the Palestinians in return,” he said. On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that at least In an article sent ex- tween Israelis and Palestin- will pursue other options. and Saudi Arabia, which clusively to the Palestine ians. “The Americans want “After talks between Abu have been critical of the two rockets landed in Israel, defying a three-day-old Times (see full article to tell (Abbas) that Olmert Mazen and Hamas did not lack of U.S. engagement in ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in today on page 7) Solana had opened a new venue yield results, now the ball the Middle East. the Gaza Strip. The attacks were claimed by the al-Aqsa Martyrs writes, “we fully support Brigades, the militant arm of Palestinian President President Mahmoud Ab- Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement. bas’ efforts to form a new UN marks Palestinian Solidarity Earlier, Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip government which reflects had called on Israel to extend the truce to the the Quartet’s principles Day with calls for peace with Israel West Bank, hinting at a renewal of rocket fire and allows the interna- on the Jewish state from Gaza if it did not. tional community to fully 29 November 2006 – The credible action to prevent “Any Israeli breach of the partial ceasefire will endan- re-engage.” United Nations today attacks against them and ger it,” the spokesperson of Hamas’ political wing, marked the International their territory with constant Ismail Radwan, was quoted as saying. “When we have such a Day of Solidarity with the rocket attacks by Palestin- Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz had said that government, it is vital that Palestinian people with ur- ian militants against Israeli Israel would continue its arrest raids in the West Bank, the international com- gent calls for re-launching civilian targets that “are reiterating the truce applied to Gaza only. munity, including Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian peace unacceptable and should be Regarding discussions over the delayed Palestin- respond immediately and process, special meetings stopped at once,” he said. ian unity government, Haniyeh said that there is no concretely,” continued of the General Assembly He called on internation- dissension between the Palestinian factions over the Solana. and related committees and al donors to take immediate matter and he is hopeful that significant progress will Talks aimed at form- film shows and exhibitions. action to alleviate the acute be achieved soon. ing a Palestinian unity “Let us commit ourselves suffering in the West Bank According to the premier, the Palestinian Authority government have appar- to breathing new life into and Gaza but stressed that is in the process of “assigning positions and listing ently faltered because of names of the government members.” the peace process so that the two parties themselves disagreements over the of the Israeli-Palestinian Concerning ongoing negotiations over the Is- the goals of statehood for bore “the primary responsi- distribution of cabinet conflict remains heart- raeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in Gaza Palestinians, and security bility for finding their way seats between the rul- for the State of Israel, can rendingly elusive. Succes- out of their predicament, by and is still being held captive, Haniyeh said he is ing Islamist movement be realized before this trag- sive opportunities to move engaging in a viable politi- “hopeful” that this matter will be resolved soon. Hamas and its rival Fatah. edy takes too many more the peace process forward cal process that can lead to “It is both a political and humanitarian issue,” he said. Hamas, which enjoys a lives,” United Nations Sec- have not borne fruit. And the peace their peoples both The Palestinian premier said that Egyptian intel- retary-General Kofi Annan the situation on the ground yearn for.” ligence chief Omar Suleiman is expected to dis- parliamentary majority, said in a message for the is deeply troubling,” he The head of the main cuss the issue during his current visit to Israel as wants control of several Day. added. U.N. organization for Pal- part of Egyptian efforts to facilitate the release of key cabinet seats includ- “A peaceful settlement He noted that he had estinian refugees pledged Shalit and his swap with 10,000 Palestinians im- ing interior and finance, urged Israel to exercise continued support. “Today, prisoned in Israel as Hamas had earlier demanded. while Fatah insists that INDEX maximum restraint in the the challenges are as great “The issue of the captives is one of the most impor- independent personalities Gaza Strip, where its mili- as they have ever been,” tant issues that (Suleiman) is handling,” he said. “We head those ministries. sincerely wish to end the suffering of 10,000 Palestin- 1-4 .....News tary operations have re- U.N. Relief and Works Solana explains that ian captives in Israeli prisons. But we also know that 5 .....News & Features sulted “in a dramatic rise Agency (UNRWA) Com- once the Palestinians Israel will not let go of all this number.” 6 ..... Health & The Environment in civilian casualties and in missioner-General Karen Haniyeh is also set to visit Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, agree on a government 7 .....OP-ED the destruction of property Koning Abu Zayd said. Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to bolster based on the Quartet’s 8-9 .....Business and infrastructure.” “All aspects of Palestinian support for the Palestinian Authority and to discuss conditions, the European 10 .....Listing & Classifieds At the same time, Israelis life are affected by uncer- the potential unity government and the possible pris- Union will resume finan- 11 .....Sports “rightly demand” that the tainty, economic instability oners swap deal. cial and technical support 12 .....Last Page Palestinian Authority take and conflict.” of the Palestinians. MIDDLE EAST: PEACE IS A PRIORITY by Javier Solana,

The quest for a just and lasting solution to the Mid- dle East conflict has long been one of the European Union’s top foreign policy priorities, and never more so than today. Today, the people in Gaza are living with a daily reality of danger, uncertainty and deprivation. Israe- lis living near the border with Gaza are living with the daily threat of Qassam rocket attacks. Throughout the Palestinian territories, closures, restrictions on move- ment and access and economic hardship are prevent- ing the population from living a normal, decent life. This is an intolerable situation and it is incumbent upon all of us to work to change it. In the immediate term, that means we must do all we can to improve the daily lives of the Palestinian peo- ple. In my contacts with Israeli interlocutors, including during my recent visit to the region, I have continually stressed the importance of Israel fully respecting the Agreement on Movement and Access, and European Union officials are engaged in technical talks with the Israeli side to try to overcome the difficulties and bring about an improvement in the situation. There is a common misperception that the Euro- pean Union has imposed sanctions on the Palestinian people since the victory of Hamas in January’s elec- tions. This is completely untrue. In fact, the EU will contribute more to the Palestinians this year than in any other year, and our collective assistance to the Palestinians in 2006 already exceeds €650 million. The European Union continues to play a leading role in the political process, including through our participation in the Quartet. We fully support Presi- dent Abbas’s efforts to form a new government which reflects the Quartet principles and allows the interna- tional community to fully re-engage. When we have such a government, it is vital that all of us in the in- ternational community, including Israel, respond im- mediately and concretely. For our part, the European Union will immediately seek to resume and indeed enhance its cooperation with the Palestinians through a comprehensive range of financial and technical as- sistance programmes, aimed at laying the basis for creation of a viable Palestinian state. Looking further ahead, we want to provide the Palestinian people with a long-term perspective. We need to show that there is a viable, attainable solution to the conflict that is worth supporting. When people lose faith in the possibility of peace, it brings des- peration and drives them into the arms of those who advocate extremism and violence. In this context, the creation of facts on the ground which undermine the vision of a viable Palestinian state is of great concern to us. I take every opportunity to urge the Israelis to dismantle outposts and settlements and reroute the separation barrier. For their part, the Palestinians need to take action to bring an immediate end to Qas- sam rocket attacks. In order to achieve progress on all these matters, it is vital that direct negotiations between Israelis and Pal- estinians resume as soon as possible. We need to get back to the Roadmap, deliver tangible improvements in the lives of the Palestinians, and move forward to- wards a just and peaceful solution. I hope President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert will agree soon on an early and substantive meeting. We are particularly encouraged by the cease-fire agreed last week. This is excellent news and a very important first step that, we hope, will change the dynamics. The Palestinian people have endured a great deal over the years. We are determined that their sacri- fices should not be in vain. Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve the chance to achieve a just and durable peace. The European Union is committed to support- ing them.

Javier Solana is EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. He contributed this article special for the Palestine Times.