TEL AVIV - A senior Palestinian official slammed Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz in a talk with Ynet, a day after Mofaz spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and demanded action be taken to curb Gaza mortar attacks.
“We don’t work for the Israelis,” the official told Ynet. “Just like many Israelis, Mofaz refuses to forego the perception that the Palestinians work for him.”
“Reports of an incisive talk and the defense minister reprimanding the president constitute chutzpa and arrogance,” he said. “Abu-Mazen (Abbas) is only bound by his nation’s interests.”
The Palestinian leader continues to face numerous obstacles in his efforts to bring about calm, the official said.
“Since the Sharm summit anduntil now, Israel has not changed its attitude toward the Palestinians,” he charged. “The roadblocks have remained the same, land expropriations are the same, and the humiliating treatment of the (Palestinian) population remained the same.”
“The army (IDF) is the same army, perhaps with less Apache (helicopters) in the air - but with the same number of roadblocks and (Palestinian) prisoners in jail,” the official said.
While Israel says the Palestinians have failed to deliver on their obligations, the Palestinian official says Israel is the one not to abide by its pledges.
“Mofaz’s promises to Abu-Mazen are broken a day after they are made. Reports on pretend-concessions are false,” he said.
‘Palestinian forces are doing their job’
However, the Palestinians are still interested in maintaining the lull in violence, the official said.
“There is no doubt we are interested in the continuation of the calm,” he said. “Abu-Mazen and all of us are working to that end under impossible conditions.”
The Palestinian leadership is trying to show achievements when it comes to prisoner release and removal of roadblocks, the source said, but added Israel is the one to prevent the PA from succeeding.
“Mofaz knows this well,” the official said.
Meanwhile, senior Palestinian security official Musa Arafat also dismissed Mofaz’s works.
“Israeli claims that the Palestinians have lost control over the security situation in the Strip are false,” he said. “Palestinian forces are doing their job…despite all the Israeli violations in the past 24 hours.”
First published: 10:49, 04.11.5