LOC20:22
17:22 GMT
RAMALLAH, Jan 27 (KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he was opposed to Israel disclaiming security
responsibility for the Gaza Strip.
This took place during a two-hour meeting between both leaders at Olmert's
residence in Jerusalem earlier Sunday.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Abbas had told Olmert that
the Israeli occupation of Gaza still existed and that the occupiers were
responsible for the strip.
Speaking to reporters at the Palestinian presidential headquarters in
Ramallah, Erekat said the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem were a congruous
geographical unit where the occupation should end completely.
He rejected any bids by Israel or anybody else to circumvent such strategic
issues as a "very serious matter", vowing that the Palestinians would never
condone the West Bank being isolated from Gaza.
He also condemned as "unacceptable" Israeli attempts to find pretexts to
disclaim legal responsibility for Gaza, or to embarrass Egypt by demanding it
to ensure security there.
Erekat also quoted the Palestinian leader as having requested Olmert not to
use such humanitarian needs as fuel, food and medicine to exert pressure on 1.
5 million Gazans.
Abbas also told Olmert that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was
willing to take over responsibility for the Rafah crossing just as was the
case before Hamas controlled Gaza, Erekat said, failing to give any further
details.
He added that Abbas would travel to Cairo later this week to meet Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak to mull over all details of the crossing. (end)
nq.mt
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