The PA seems to be thrashing incoherently, with a new (empty) threat every day. I swear, historians are going to devote a lot of effort to figuring out how Arafat could attach the Pals to himself so firmly that they all went over the cliff with him. I'm watching it happen, and I don't get it.
The Pals are plainly terrified of an Israeli withdrawal behind the wall. I suppose, because they won't be able to carry on suicide bombing and they'll fall into chaos at once. But isn't an Israeli withdrawal what they wanted? Shouldn't they be happy? What exactly is going on here? You mean it's not about "occupation"?
PA threatens to declare state
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH AND HERB KEINON
Back to back Palestinian threats - the first to push for a binational state, and a day later the threat to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state - is a sign of the desperation gripping the Palestinian Authority, senior Israeli diplomatic officials said Saturday night
The PA on Friday threatened to unilaterally declare a "democratic" Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with Jerusalem as its capital.
On Thursday, echoing Palestinian fears of an Israeli unilateral pullout from parts of the West Bank and Gaza, PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei threatened to push for a "binational" state unless Israel halted the construction of the separation fence.
The threat to unilaterally declare a state was made in a statement following a meeting of the PLO Executive Committee and representatives of various Palestinian factions that was chaired by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat in his office in Ramallah.
The statement said the Palestinian leadership "believes that it has the right, in accordance with international resolutions and agreements signed [with Israel], to declare a democratic Palestinian state on all the territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem as its capital."
Referring to the recent IDF operations in the West Bank and Gaza, the PA said that the Israeli government aims at "raising the tension, and not creating the climate that helps a return to the negotiating table, and evading the (implementation of) obligations that dictate the revival of the peace process."
The statement said the decision was taken in light of the continued construction of the separation fence and the Israeli military escalation. "The Palestinian leadership discussed the current political situation and the continued dangerous escalation by the Israeli occupation forces, as well as fresh acts of aggression against the Palestinians," it added. "The destructive Israeli practices are unilateral moves that are unacceptable."
The PA accused Sharon of trying to avoid the implementation of the road map by expanding settlements, assassinations, incursions, and collective punishment. It also accused Israel of stealing 58 percent of Palestinian land to build the security fence.
The PA made a similar threat to unilaterally declare a state in September 2000, the date fixed by the Oslo Accord to reach a final settlement, but backed off under both Israeli and international pressure.
PA officials have expressed deep concern that Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan would leave the Palestinians with less than 50 percent of the West Bank and Gaza land, rendering it impossible to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Senior officials in the Prime Minister's office dismissed the threats, saying all the threats and declarations are merely an attempt by the Palestinians to divert attention from the fact that they are unable to fulfill their basic commitment under the road map, dismantling the terror infrastructure.
"Declarations cannot serve as a shortcut to achieving a Palestinian state or achieving peace," the official said. "The only way is the road map, which the Palestinians are trying to avoid implementing by all means."
If the PA does declare a state, the official said, it is an action that will render "null and void" all agreements and understandings with Israel.
The PA is currently beset by near chaos, the official said, warning that if a state is declared it will likely be controlled by Hamas and Islamic Jihad
"If they declare a state and it is controlled by gang of terrorists, then Israel will see it as a declaration of war," the officials said. "Israel will never accept a terror state on its borders."
Asked to spell out the differences between the unilateral disengagement that Israel is considering and the unilateral declaration of a state the Palestinians are threatening, the official said "there is a big difference between security measures taken to defend yourself, and a political step that stands in complete contradiction to all previous agreements."
jpost.com |
