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Qureia, dismissed?
Photo: AP
PA President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: AP

Report: Abbas dismisses chief negotiator

Palestinian president reportedly replaces peace talks negotiations head Ahmad Qureia with chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat. Asharq al-Awsat newspaper quotes Erekat's confirmation of report, saying 'Yes, I am head of the team'

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been on hold for some time now, due to the elections in Israel and Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. But within the Palestinian Authority, personal struggles between officials involved in the talks have been reported.

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the head of his negotiations team Ahmad Qureia, and appointed PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat in his place, London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday.

 

The report was confirmed by Erekat himself, who told the paper, "Yes, I am the head of the Palestinian negotiations team." Erekat refused to provide any explanation for Qureia's dismissal.

 

The paper further reported that Abbas did not publish the decision in writing, and simply dismissed Qureia verbally. Abbas has also refrained from joining Qureia in meetings with Israeli and American officials.

 

Qureia's office denied the report. A source said no decision in the matter was made, and only a new decision would annul Qureia's appointment as head of the Palestinian negotiations team.

 

In recent months there have been a number of reports that elections in the Palestinian Authority would soon be announced, and Abbas said that if reconciliation with Hamas fails, Palestinians will be sent to the polling stations.

 

Following reports that Abbas may not run in the possible upcoming elections, a number of candidates were named as his possible successors, including Qureia and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.17.09, 11:20