Palestinians refuse Israeli stance toward negotiations
Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced today the Palestinian leadership's refusal to allow Israel to specify maps and areas of redeployment in the West Bank without any consideration of Palestinian demands, contrary to the items of accords between the two sides.
He also emphasized adherence to UN Security Council resolution 242 as the Palestinian basis for reaching a final solution concerning Jerusalem and the Palestinian lands and the importance that the redeployment take place from inhabited areas that provide links and the geographical approach among the Palestinian cities.
He said that what is repeated by the Israeli side concerning its absolute right to specify the areas and draw up the maps is not based on any item in the accords whether in Oslo, Wye River or Sharm El-Sheikh.
Meantime, Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Egypt thinks the Palestinians are dissatisfied with Palestinian-Israeli talks and attributed such sentiment to the constant delay on the part of the Israelis to implement the signed agreements.
"The peace negotiations are going through a crisis, he told reporters," adding that the delay is not of the benefit of the peace process and does not forge ahead the Palestinian or any other track.
In response to Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy's and Minister of Regional cooperation Shimon Peres's claims that Egypt's stand on regional Cooperation has changed, Moussa said Egypt is not against regional cooperation. He made it clear that progress in the peace march is a condition to proceeding with such cooperation.
"Foreign peace ahead is important and it will open the door for cooperation and more positive relations," he said. "It is illogical to deal positively with one aspect while being negative with all other ones," he remarked.
Answering a question about David Levy's statement that the Palestinians should accept what they are being offered, Moussa replied that Levy's position reflects his solid negative attitude towards the peace process. "It is also a statement that destroys the principle of talks altogether," he said, pointing out that the situation will become clearer during the coming weeks.
Regarding Levy's recent request in Cairo calling on Egypt to push forward peace without taking sides, Moussa said Egypt's stand will be declared. Levy was quoted as asking Egypt to push peace ahead by Israel radio. Moussa also reiterated that Egypt cannot accept a unilateral peace, which cancels out everything agreed on in Madrid.
The Israel stand is inappropriate, Moussa remarked, adding that Egypt disagrees with it and in case of suggestions that are unfair to the Palestinians, Egypt will certainly support the Palestinians. On the possibility of resuming Israel-Syria talks, he added that there is still a possibility that the Syria-Israel peace talks be resumed.