Abbas: Netanyahu presents obstacles to peace

Palestinian president's spokesman Abu Rudeina rejects PM's remarks on division of J'lem, military presence in Jordan Valley. Another aide calls Netanyahu's statements 'declaration of war'

Elior Levy|Published: 05.24.11 , 20:12

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements in Congress will not lead to peace but rather present more obstacles to peace.

Netanyahu stressed that Jerusalem will never be divided again. Abu Rudeina replied: "For us the Palestinians, peace is the establishment of a Palestinian state along 1967 borders whose capital is east Jerusalem."

Referring to Netanyahu's remarks about military presence in the Jordan Valley, the Palestinian spokesman said: "We shall not accept any Israeli presence in a Palestinian state, particularly not along the Jordan River." He stressed that "peace must be based on international law and negotiations, and not preconditions and obstacles to the peace process."

Despite rejecting many Palestinian demands, Netanyahu did express willingness to make "painful compromises."

Fatah Central Committee Member Saeb Erekat said: "Netanyahu's speech proved to us as Palestinians and Arabs that we have no peace partner."

He rejected Netanyahu's call to cancel the reconciliation agreement with Hamas. "Talking about peace under Netanyahu's terms is a waste of time," he said.

He added that the PA will not accept a scenario in which Israel will not return to the 1967 borders and stressed that the Palestinian state's capital will be Jerusalem.

Erekat described the prime minister's speech as a "public relations address" and stressed that the PA does not accept the terms he set.

'Declaration of war'

Nabil Shaath, an aide to Mahmoud Abbas, also responded to the address, saying Netanyahu's insistence on keeping key parts of the territories the Palestinians want for their state is a "declaration of war against the Palestinians."

Shaath said the Palestinians would continue to pursue a UN recognition bid. "We have nothing but to continue our struggle in the international arena and to continue building our state and to continue our popular struggle," he said, referring to demonstrations and protests against Israel. "We don't have a partner for peace," he said.

Hamas fiercely criticized Netanyahu's speech. "The Palestinian Authority should tear up the agreements with Israel in response to Netanyahu's address, he is trying to blemish the face of the Palestinian people," Hamas' Gaza spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

"Netanyahu's failure to recognize the Palestinian people's rights renders the negotiations and peace process an absurdity."

Hassan Abu Hashish, head of Hamas' media office, said that the appropriate response to Netanyahu's speech should be "creating a comprehensive strategy to maintain our rights and principles and harden our positions against this obvious attack which wipes us off the political map."

Abu Hashish added that Hamas views the speech a challenge to international law.

The Islamic Jihad also issued a statement in response saying the address is further evidence of Israel's policy of deception and lie. The Palestinian response must be a creation of a national vision based on resistance, the group said.