Israeli PM accepts to tackle all main issues for Annapolis conference
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/6/2007

Spokesperson of the Palestinian Presidency, Nabil Abu Rdeina, said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accepted the final negotiations after Annapolis conference to include all main issues.

In a statement to al-Hayat based London, Abu Rdeina stated that the US Secretary of states, Condoleezza Rice told President Mahmoud Abbas during her visit to Ramallah that Olmert has accepted all major issues to be tackled during negotiations, including the statehood, Jerusalem. Refugees, borders, settlements and water.

Abu Rdeina considered Olmert's approval as a great development in Rice's visit to the region.

Meantime, Olmert was quoted by the Israeli Mministry Of Foreign Affairs saying on Sunday that "Annapolis is a landmark, it is an international seal of approval, on the path to negotiations and of the genuine effort to achieve the realization of the vision of two nations: the State of Israel - the nation of the Jewish people; and the Palestinian state - the nation of the Palestinian people."

Olmert added in his address that "Now is the time. The Palestinian leadership is headed by men committed to all the agreements previously signed with the State of Israel. We do not ignore their weaknesses; we are completely aware of the failures of the Palestinian Authority – of the lack of stable governing mechanisms, of the total disintegration of the security mechanisms in Judea and Samaria, of the Hamas rule over the Palestinian parliament and of the violent control of the murderous organizations in the Gaza Strip. Their control allows for unceasing firing of Qassam missiles at residents in the south of the country. We have abundant reasons to postpone Annapolis; we have very convincing arguments – why the conditions are not yet ripe in the Palestinian Authority to take practical and comprehensive responsibility to implement the understandings with the State of Israel which have yet to be enacted."

Olmert continued "However, ladies and gentlemen, we are capable of facing these constraints. Under the existing circumstances, we have a partner and we are not willing to postpone negotiations to a later date, at which point our partner might not be capable of fulfilling the mission."

Olmert said "Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, and Salaam Fayyad, its Prime Minister, publicly state – without hesitation and despite the inherent difficulties of the complex relations within Palestinian society – that they want to live with us in peace. This is an opportunity – it should be taken. We agreed that if and when we reach an understanding with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, this understanding will be implemented according to the Roadmap, with all its phases and its sequence. The Palestinians are obligated to fight terrorism and to completely change their internal reality. It should be remembered that the Roadmap sets out a series of steps for the State of Israel. These steps, like the obligations of the Palestinians, have yet to be implemented. We will not concede to the Palestinians on any of the obligations outlined in the Roadmap, and we will not avoid fulfilling our own obligations to the letter. Some of them are difficult, some will create considerable political hardships – and I have no intention, no matter how difficult it is, of attempting to escape the obligations imposed on the State of Israel."

That same day, Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in a press conference with US Secretary Of State Rice was quoted by the ministry saying "Part of the trust that we have between the Israelis and the Palestinians is based on the understanding that the negotiations and the dialogue are in closed rooms and we are not sharing, unfortunately, with the press and the public - not the success nor the problems that we have. But basically, we are just at the beginning of the process and the dialogue and there is a need to understand that even though we need to find the common ground with the pragmatic leaders, they need to understand that future understandings would be implemented only according to the phases of the Roadmap - meaning security to Israel first and then the establishment of a Palestinian state, because nobody wants to see another terror state in the region. It's not the international interest, nor the Israeli one nor the Palestinian one."

Olmert said "I recommend to each of the leaders and involved parties to deal bravely and unhesitatingly with all the components of this opportunity, this chance. Be open to hope and face the genuine and clear risks and difficulties so that the process may move ahead. What next? After Annapolis, we will enter into vigorous, ongoing and continuing negotiations. If we and the Palestinians act with determination, there is a chance that we can achieve real accomplishments perhaps even before the end of President Bush's term in office. There is no intention of dragging the negotiations on endlessly; there is no reason to suffer the same foot-dragging which previously characterized our discussions. There is no basis for the assumption that someone will attempt to circumvent dealing with the fundamental issues which are a condition for realizing the vision of two states living side-by-side in security and peace."

Previous Stories:
  Archbishop Hanna calls to place Jerusalem status at top of Annapolis Conference   (10/30/2007)
  Ashrawi: Peace with Israel is Only Answer   (10/30/2007)
  Palestinian dies of wounds in Nablus   (10/30/2007)

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