Palestinian Statehood Plan Said Positive

16/03/2003| IslamWeb

Palestinian legislators said Saturday the U.S. administration's promise to adhere to last year's "road map" for Palestinian statehood was a positive sign, signaling that President Bush would push for the plan's implementation without any changes. Still, some argue the plan has yet to clear its biggest hurdle: getting the Israelis and Palestinians to agree on how and when it is to be implemented.

Bush said Friday he would present the "road map" once a credible Palestinian prime minister took power. The Palestinian Legislative Council is expected to decide later this week whether to approve Yasser Arafat's choice of Mahmoud Abbas, an executive in the PLO, for the new position. Palestinians have clearly said it will be Arafat who retains control in negotiations and security.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said U.S. Mideast envoy David Satterfield reassured him Saturday that the United States would stick to the draft plan presented last year. He also said it was time to talk about implementation, Erekat said.

The so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, put the three-phase plan together. Although Bush said he would present it soon, a draft already was presented last year.

Hamas & Jihad Reject Bush's Remarks

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two leading Palestinian resistance groups, rejected Bush's remarks and called them a "bribe" to pursue military action against Iraq. The two groups are against negotiating with Israel.

On Saturday, thousands of Palestinians gathered in the Gaza Strip - considered a stronghold of Hamas - and the West Bank town of Hebron to protest possible war against Iraq.

Occupation Army Tightens Closure

The Israeli occupation army tightened its closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Saturday night. An occupation army statement said no Palestinians would be allowed to enter Israel for fear of attacks by resistance men against Israelis during the Jewish holiday of Purim, which starts Tuesday.

The closure took effect at midnight and was to continue until further notice, the statement said, adding that the border between the West Bank and Jordan would remain open.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (C) reads a statement agreeing to appoint a Palestinian prime minister, as UN envoy to the Middle East Terje Larsen (R) and Palestinian Local Government Minister Saeb Erekat (L) look on at Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank City of Ramallah February 14, 2003. Photo by Osama Silwadi/Reuters - Feb 14 2:32