Sunday, September 07, 2008, Ramazan 6, 1429    

‘No agreement acceptable without Jerusalem as Palestinian capital’

Abn deis— Ahmad Qurei’, Head of the Palestinian negotiations team to the final status negotiations and general commissioner of Fatah Organization and Mobilization Office, said the Palestinian leadership will not give up East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state and will not sign any political agreement that does not include this. Qurei’ affirmed that the Palestinian leadership rejects any postponement or exclusion of any of the final status issues. He stressed that the political agreement must include all issues, mainly Jerusalem and the refugees.

The statement came during a meeting with the Quartet Committee Envoy Tony Blair in Abu Deis. They discussed the latest developments on the Palestinian arena and the latest on the negotiations with the Israeli side. Qurei’ stated that he briefed Blair on the Palestinian leadership position rejecting any interim or partial agreements or delaying any of the final status issues, stressing on the need to conclude a political agreement as one package without any exceptions. Qurei’ also briefed Blair on the Israeli destructive measures against the peace process and the attempts to create new facts on the ground, especially in the area of settlements in the city of Jerusalem where they are building additional housing units in the existing settlements aiming to Judaize the Holy City, in addition to the ongoing works and digging beneath al-Aqsa Mosque and in the area of Magharbeh Gate. Qurei’ talked once again about the several options of the Palestinian people, mainly a unilateral declaration of the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said Israel continues in its policies which undermine the principles of the peace process and this opens the door wide open for the continuation of the conflict.

He called on the Quartet Committee and all relevant parties to work seriously and effectively towards a political agreement that ends the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands in 1967 and to establish the independent state with al-Quds as its capital and to solve the cause of the refugees according to UN resolution 194. Blair said he understands the Palestinian position which rejects fragmenting the core issues and reiterated his rejection to Israeli continuation of expansion and building of new settlements.

He affirmed that achieving a just peace requires concrete measures on the ground, mainly ending the occupation and granting the Palestinians the real chance to build their democratic state. He stressed on the need to help revive the economy in the Palestinian lands. Meanwhile, Israeli media sources revealed proposals on the settlement with Olmert saying the current chances were the best for Israel. Olmert was quoted saying that the current phase is the best for Israel to reach a settlement with the PA pointing out that the United States Administration will change in January 2009 and the current US President Bush is interested to end his term with a political solution in the Middle East.

The following are the main points in the settlement proposal: - Palestinians receive 93% of the West Bank area in addition to Gaza Strip where they establish the Palestinian state - Palestinians will get from Israel alternative lands in the area of Gaza Strip in exchange for the lands that Israel will annex in the West Bank - Olmert proposed a solution to the refugees’ issue that does not allow return of the refugees to their homes inside Israel The Jordan Valley will be transferred partially to the Palestinian control in a manner that allows the Palestinian state to have a border crossing between Palestine and Jordan.