Largest jail in history?
Former Palestinian Minister Erekat slams Israel over pullout, says Palestinian questions remain unanswered
TEL AVIV - Palestinians are facing growing uncertainty over the future as the disengagement plan’s implementation nears, former Palestinian Minister Saeb Erekat told Israelis Tuesday.
“We don’t know what will happen the day after,” Erekat said during a convention at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv. “Does Israel plan to leave Gaza and turn it into the largest prison in history?”
Palestinian questions remain unanswered, but Israel nonetheless demands that the Gaza pullout be coordinated with the Palestinian Authority, Erekat said, and added the Palestinians are tired of intermediary agreements.
“There’s no need to reinvent the wheel,” he said, and added there is no other solution except for two states, in accordance with the 1967 borders.
“I don’t understand why we cannot renew negotiations,” he said.
Erekat said he is not optimistic when looking into the future.
“Everything was destroyed during the years of intifadah,” he said. “It’s time for you to define what exactly you want from us.”
‘We must end the occupation’
Meanwhile, Minister Haim Ramon (Labor,) who also took part in the session, presented his vision for the day after disengagement.
The Gaza pullout must be followed by another withdrawal that would see Israel pull back from West Bank territory, in accordance with the security fence route, he said.
“Most importantly we must end the occupation,” Ramon said. “If we don’t end the occupation, it would end us,” militarily, politically, and economically.
Fellow Labor party member Shimon Peres chose to focus on the economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
“I’m very concerned about what would happen the day after the withdrawal from Gaza,” he said. “If the IDF leaves, but the hunger and bitterness remain, there won’t be quiet in Gaza.
