Livni with reported backer Qureia
Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO
Report: Qureia supports Livni
Kuwaiti paper claims chief Palestinian negotiator is in cahoots with foreign minister in attempt to secure position of Kadima chairman. 'Livni will give Palestinians what others have not,' report says
Just before the Kadima primary elections, the Kuwaiti Al-Jarida newspaper has announced that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, running against Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz for party chairmanship, has a new fan: Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia.
According to the report, Qureia convinced Livni to grant an interview with Al Arabiya in order to enable him to respond aggressively to her policies. This will surround Livni with a "radical right-wing" aura, eventually assisting her in defeating her opponent.
Who Supports Mofaz?
Attila Somfalvi
Sources in foreign minister's election campaign estimate real gap between foreign minister, her main rival smaller than presented in polls
According to Al-Jarida, Qureia believes Livni is the best option for the Palestinians, as she is "willing to give them what others have not."
The report also said the Palestinian negotiator had established sturdy ties with Livni, citing the example of Qureia's daughter, who had reportedly been afforded Israeli identification by these ties. Livni's office had denied reports at the time of the occurrence.
Qureia was also reported to have told his aides that he would not sign the agreement forming on the issue of Jerusalem, allowing the capital to become "an Israeli military camp", as he desired 7-8 million Muslims to flock to the city annually.
The Palestinian negotiator said he believed the talks would amount to nothing, prompting Palestinian commentators to assume that preparations for "a new intifada" were imminent.
The report dealt mostly with the issue of the inheritance of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office, scheduled to terminate shortly. It said that Qureia had already "bought" most of the armed brigades, including some of Hamas' armed cells, in order to conquer the desired position.
