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Olmert with Blair in Jerusalem on Tuesday
Photo: GPO

Fatah-Hamas cooperation will sabotage peace process, Olmert tells Blair

Prime minister meets with Quartet envoy Tony Blair in Jerusalem, says international community must continue to isolate Hamas for the sake of the peace process

"Cooperation between Fatah and Hamas may harm the diplomatic process. We must continue to isolate Hamas while strengthening Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his prime minister, Salam Fayyad," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Quartet's Middle Eastern envoy Tony Blair Tuesday night.

 

Olmert said he saw Blair's visit as an opportunity for advancement. "The mission we face is a great challenge. We see the issues you have been appointed to handle as greatly important," Olmert told Blair over dinner at the prime minister's Jerusalem residence.

 

After Olmert dined with the visiting delegation, he met with Blair behind closed doors for a two-hour meeting. The two agreed on full cooperation and total transparency.

 

Olmert stressed to the former British premier the importance of Israeli security. He also noted that the current Palestinian leadership, headed by Abbas and Fayyad, offers a chance for change and progress of diplomatic processes.

 

The two discussed the possibility of recruiting the private sector to encourage economic processes between the two sides.

 

Olmert and Blair also agreed on the importance of harnessing moderate Arab nations to advance negotiations. Among the countries considered moderate are Egypt and Jordan, whose foreign ministers are expected to arrive in Israel Wednesday morning to meet with Olmert as well as Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, President Shimon Peres, Knesset chair Dalia Itzik and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

Arab foreign ministers in historic visit

The arrival of Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and his Jordanian counterpart, Abed el Ailla El Hatib, is considered a historic event in the region. Never before have two representatives from the Arab League visited Jerusalem.

 

The two are expected to hold a series of political meetings in an attempt to promote the Arab League's initiative. Jerusalem officials have said they would address their proposal seriously, but made no promises to accept it. For the time being it appears that the top brass is favoring the Saudi initiative.

 

The ministers will meet with the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and their appearance is highly anticipated, particularly by committee member MK Effie Eitam (National Union-National Religious Party).

 

Eitam plans to present his own political initiative to the ministers, which he drafted after Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip. According to the proposal Israel and Jordan will take shared responsibility over resolving

Palestinian issues.

 

Jordan, said Eitam, must grant Jordanian citizenship to any Palestinian interested in it who has passed a screening process.

 

Amnon Meranda contributed to this report

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.25.07, 00:36
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