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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Palestinian leader affirms commitment to "national constants" |
| 2010-11-12 |
| (KUNA) -- Paleostinian President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas affirmed on Thursday that his authority adheres to the national principles whatever the challenges might be. "The Paleostinian National Authority will never cede any of the national constants (rights) outlined in 1988," he said, apparently referring to the Algiers Declaration of the Paleostinian State by the Paleostine Liberation Organization (PLO). Abbas made the remarks in an address to a mass rally held to commemorate the anniversary of late PLO chairman Yasser Arafat. "The Paleostinian position is firm - we seek a state without settlements and Jerusalem as our capital. We press also for unconditional return of the refugees to our homeland and the release of (Paleostinian) prisoners at the prisons of the (Israeli) occupation," he underscored, noting that peace is the main prerequisite of stability in the Middle East region. Abbas wondered why Israel refuses the Arab peace initiative which provides for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Paleostinian territories, the Syrian Golan Heights and Leb's Ghajar village. He accused the government of Tel Aviv of planting obstacles before the peace processor through insistence on continued settlement activity as well as the demand (for the Paleostinians) to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. "This will never happen. We will never achieve their goals and dreams," he stressed, warning that the Israeli government closed all doors for peace. "The Arab Peace Initiative is an opportunity which is still on the table. Yet, the Paleostinian leaders still believe in the peaceful popular resistance, " he said, adding that he supports resistance as long as there are settlements and the separation wall. He explained that the Paleostinian Authority was seeking to end the Paleostinian division and achieve reconciliation, noting that the authority is waiting what will come of the ongoing Damascus dialogues. Abbas reiterated the desire of his Fatah movement to continue the dialogue with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, and to achieve reconciliation away from personal or partisan agendas of both sides. In his speech, Abbas spoke about the late President Arafat and praised him, saying, "He dreamt for just and comprehensive peace in the holy land." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 "and a pony!" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-11-12 10:07 |