Ayalon: Mideast turmoil threatens PA
Deputy foreign minister urges Palestinians to launch negotiations for interim peace agreement with Israel, saying it will 'guarantee stability and economic growth'. Settlers' 'day of rage' morally wrong and harmful, he says
"The Palestinian leadership is repeating its historic mistakes of maximum demands and minimum compromises," Ayalon said during an event in the central city of Ramat Gan. He spoke just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas clarified that he would not discuss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's initiative to advance an interim deal instead of permanent once in light of the stalemated peace process.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said in response to the Palestinian objection that Netanyahu would likely abandon the idea.
Ayalon implied that it was quite possible that the recent Middle Eastern uprisings would reach the Palestinian Authority. "There is no guarantee that regional forces of change will not hit the Palestinian Authority's leadership as well," he said.
"Therefore, it is in the Palestinian interest to create economic and social security which can only be fulfilled through an interim agreement with Israel, which will guarantee stability and economic growth while continuing the peace process."
Addressing the Mideast turmoil, the deputy foreign minister said that the world must guarantee that the Islamic Revolution which took place in Iran would not repeat itself elsewhere.
"The international community must initiate a social-civilian Marshall Plan which would bolster the moderate forces," he said. "At the same time the pressure on Iran must be increased, and it should not be allowed to take advantage of the transition period to promote terrorism and an extreme ideology."
The Yisrael Beiteinu minister also addressed the extreme right-wing protests following clashes with the security forces at the illegal West Bank outpost of Havat Gilad.
"The phenomenon of rioting by the radical minority among the settler public, which is called 'day of rage', is morally wrong from a Jewish perspective and harmful in terms of peace and security," he clarified.
"I call on the Judea and Samaria leadership to show responsibility and leadership and end the violence. Acting against the rule of law is a red line which no society must be allowed to cross."
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