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08:32 GMT
GAZA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Palestinian officials called on the United States to
play an effective role in the Middle East peace process noting Israel should
be solely blamed for the stalemate in the peace efforts.
The US is currently facing "an explicit test" in the eyes of the peoples of
the Middle East and the world, and should prove that it can play an effective
role for reaching a peaceful settlement, otherwise it may appear as a party
that has given in to the parties of extremism in Israel," said Yasser Abed
Rabbo, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), on Sunday.
The peace process needs to be based on "clear basis" or it may appear as
mere diplomatic chattering with no contents, said Abed Rabbo in the telephone
interview with the Kuwaiti news network.
He explained that the process should be based on specific factors such as
the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, otherwise it would be
"mere media rhetoric and empty diplomacy."
Abed Rabbo made the statement after Washington declared that it was halting
its efforts to pressure Israel shelve its settlement schemes. However, it
vowed to pursue the peace process on other foundations.
Asked on proposals that may be conveyed by the US envoy, George Mitchell,
Abed Rabbo stated that the Americans "are quite aware of the Palestinian
stance which is based on the necessity of halting the settlements'
construction, which is a vital and basic issue.
"Negotiations with Israel cannot be held in the shadow of continuing the
settlement activities."
The Palestinian official alluded to recent remarks, uttered by the
ultra-Orthodox Israeli leader, Avigdor Lieberman, who expressed satisfaction
at the US declaration to stop the bids to coerce Tel Aviv suspend the
settlement activities.
Abed Rabbo added that the Palestinian side would discuss with Mitchell a
framework for reaching a settlement, "so that the negotiations would not be a
waste of time."
Meanwhile, Dr. Nabil Shaath, the member of the Central Committee of the
mainstream Palestinian organization, Fatah, in remarks published by the
Palestinian daily newspaper, "Al-Ayyam," criticized the US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton for equally blaming the Palestinians and the Israelis for the
deadlock in the peace efforts, stressing that it was Tel Aviv that undermined
the US bids to reach a solution.
Shaath indicated that Clinton expressed insistence on resolving "final
solution issues," such as determining the status of Jerusalem, the demarcation
of the border, the settlements, the refugees, the water and Israel's security.
"However the US secretary of state treats us an equal party and refrains from
holding the Israeli side responsible for the failure of the American efforts
as a result of continuing the construction of the settlements."
He added that the Palestinian side should not resume the peace talks unless
Israel suspended all forms of settlement construction and activities, noting
that the Palestinian leadership would examine proposals that might be carried
by Mitchell, expected in the Middle East on Monday.
Late on Friday, Clinton confirmed that the US would renew the efforts to
start direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on the core issues
of the final status agreement.
"The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and
Arab neighbors is a source of tension and an obstacle to prosperity and
opportunity for all the people of the region. It denies the legitimate
aspirations of the Palestinian people and it poses a threat to Israel's future
security. It is at odds also with the interests of the United States" said
Clinton in remarks at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East
Policy Seventh Annual Forum.
She asked Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "help build confidence, work
to minimize distractions, and focus on the core questions, even in a period
when they are not talking directly" and urged them to "stop trying to assign
blame for the next failure, and focus instead on what they need to do to make
these efforts succeed."
Clinton affirmed that the United States is "serious about peace" and "will
be persistent and press forward" on the ground " to continue laying the
foundations for a future Palestinian state. And we will redouble our regional
diplomacy. When one way is blocked, we will seek another. We will not lose
hope and neither should the people of the region."
She affirmed that it was time to tackle the core issues of the conflict on
borders and security; settlements, water and refugees; and on Jerusalem itself
saying that the differences between both sides "are real and they are
persistent. But the way to get there is by engaging, in good faith, with the
full complexities of the core issues and by working to narrow the gaps between
the two sides." (end)
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