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'Peace process on borrowed time.' Erekat
Photo: AFP
'Series of disconnected cantons.' Netanyahu
Photo: AP

Israel's commitment to peace in doubt, Erekat says

In op-ed published by Washington Post, chief Palestinian negotiator says 'peace is not a word that sits comfortably with the Israeli right, which will dominate Israel's new government,' urges Likud-led coalition to 'unequivocally affirm its support for two-state solution, establishment of independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders

"America's renewed commitment to brokering a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis offers a measure of hope to Palestinians living under the weight of occupation, but it also comes at a time when Israel's own commitment to peace is in doubt after the formation of a right-wing coalition government," Saeb Erekat said.

 

In an op-ed published by the Washington Post on Saturday, the chief Palestinian negotiator said, "Peace is not a word that sits comfortably with the Israeli right, which will dominate Israel's new government, even with Labor's decision this week to join it. Among its ranks are those who have long opposed peace with Palestinians, no matter the cost; who use the cover of religion to advocate extremist views; and who have supported the expulsion of Palestinians or now devise loyalty tests designed to achieve the same result.

 

"Many of this government's members exemplify some of the worst traditions in Israeli politics, traditions that find common cause in advocating the expansion of Israel at the expense of Palestinian rights and independence," he said.

 

Erekat continued to say that Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu "rejects virtually all the preconditions that the international community demanded of the newly elected Palestinian unity government in 2007, given his refusal to formally endorse the two-state solution and commit to implementing past agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

 

"Rather than ending the occupation, Netanyahu has proposed an 'economic peace' that would seek to normalize and better manage it. Instead of a viable Palestinian state, his vision extends no further than a series of disconnected cantons with limited self-rule," the Palestinian negotiator added.

 

In his article, Erekat stated that new Israeli government must "unequivocally affirm its support for the two-state solution and the establishment of a viable, independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, and it must commit to past agreements between Israel and the PLO. Without these commitments, Palestinians have no partner for peace."

 

He concluded by saying that "the peace process lives on borrowed time. With its credibility at stake, it will not survive another round of failed negotiations - and neither will the two-state solution. It is in this context that the choices made by Netanyahu will be judged." 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.28.09, 10:14
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