Abbas: No partial peace agreements to be made
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said today that Israel had decided to release 250 Palestinian prisoners before Al-Adha Holiday and affirmed the necessity of a continued ceasefire between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to help ease the suffering of Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
In a joint Press Conference with the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Miliband President Abbas stated that "no partial agreements are to be accepted. The only agreement to be made is a comprehensive peace deal that includes the six issues on the agenda which are; Jerusalem, water issues, releasing all prisoners, demolishing settlements, setting borders, refugees issue and security."
He added that the path of peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis is not in conflict with the Palestinian national path.
On his side, David Miliband said that he was pleased to renew conversations with President Abbas in search of an independent viable Palestinian state.
He stated that the life of Palestinians in West Bank and in Gaza is of great importance in terms of peace talks, seeking for a final settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He stated, "the ceasefire is very vital and is contributing to the talks in a very constructive manner."
Miliband reiterated what has been said in the Quartet meeting in Egypt, that what is to be said in negotiations is irreversible. He expressed the UK's concern about the commitment to the so-called Roadmap peace plan, including settlements removal.
He said that comprehensive peace is important for the Middle East as a whole, stressing that the partnership between President Abbas and Gordon Brown was a very strong, constructive one that has taken forward, and enforced President Abbas drive towards peace.
He expected that 2009 is going to be a very important year, especially with the formation of the new American administration, the new Israeli government, and the ongoing efforts exerted by President Abbas.
Miliband finally stated that the two-state solution is the only solution that brings justice for the Palestinians and security for Israelis. He stressed that Israel has a commitment under the Roadmap to demolish all settlements and to establish a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.
"The American people want to see the Palestinian people living in their own state, and that is a shared goal,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had said at a November 8 briefing in the West Bank town of Jenin in the Palestinian territories.
President Abbas said, Saturday, that, “The course of time will not make us give in, or give up one single inch of our Palestinian Territory, where we will, according to all the laws, build our independent Palestinian State.”
In a letter President Abbas delivered to the Palestinian people, on the Palestinian Independence day, he said that if the Israeli Government wanted peace, it has to withdraw from the Arab and Palestinian Territory occupied in 1967, including East-Jerusalem. He added that peace will not be achieved while illegal settlement activities are taking place.
President Abbas concluded, that the ongoing talks and negotiations aren’t but a means of confirming our rights, and our efforts towards just and comprehensive peace, and to put and end to Israeli illusions about dominating Jerusalem, and the settlements existence on our Palestinian territory.
