Saturday 28 August 2010

Khreisha: Abbas's position on direct talks is political suicide

[ 28/08/2010 - 10:55 AM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Second deputy speaker of the Palestinian legislative council Hasan Khreisha stated that the decision taken by de facto president Mahmoud Abbas to engage in direct negotiations with Israelis is political suicide and a victory for premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a press statement on Friday, Khreisha stressed that Abbas's authority accepted to enter into negotiations because of US-Israeli pressures and to save its existence, although it is fully aware that it would take nothing from its talks with Israelis.

He expressed his strong belief that the direct talks would miserably fail especially after Netanyahu imposed his conditions on the international quartet and Abbas, noting that the Israeli government is composed of rightist parties considering the killing of Palestinians legitimate.

The lawmaker underlined that Abbas pursues the principle of "the financer is the one who decides" in his negotiation policy, pointing out that US envoy George Mitchell linked any financial aid given to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to achieving progress in its talks with Israelis.

The lawmaker also accused the Palestinian factions of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO), which claim to oppose the direct talks, of lying to their people, asserting that leaders of these factions agree on something in their closed meeting and declare something else through the media because their interests are associated with the PA's and they are afraid to lose their financial privileges.

For his part, member of Hamas's political bureau Khalil Hayya stated that Abbas's negotiations would provide the Israeli occupation with a cover to liquidate the reminder of the Palestinian cause and its constants.

Hayya added, in a ceremony organized Friday evening in Gaza for the support of the Aqsa Mosque, that Abbas and his entourage do not represent the Palestinian people and refugees, and warned the negotiators of making any concessions on behalf of the Palestinians.

In the same context, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu told the American administration that he wants to hold bilateral meetings with Abbas once every two weeks in an effort to reach understandings on various fundamental issues, according to the Hebrew radio on Friday.

Netanyahu started Thursday to select members of his negotiation team, according to a statement issued by his office. The team will be led by his representative and lawyer Yitzhak Molsho, who was designated a few months ago to coordinate with Washington regarding the restart of the direct talks with Abbas.

Kufaisheh: The PA barred 17 religious figures from preaching in mosques

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

No comments: