Palestinian Prime Minister Qurei' Demands Bush Administration to Reconsider Guarantees for Sharon

GAZA, May 4, 2004 (IPC + Agencies)--

The Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei’ demanded Bush’s administration to reconsider the unprecedented guarantees set forth to the Israeli premier Sharon in terms of the unilateral disengagement plan that faced a resounding refusal from the rightist Likud party.

“I think it’s a must for the Quartet to broker in the Middle East and the USA to go back over all the previous attempts to put pressure on the Palestinians," Qurei' said at his Rammallah office.

PM Qurei’ called upon the international community to pressure Israel to commit to the signed agreements, abandon all unilateral steps and resume negotiations. He called for an international peace conference at which both sides should discuss all issues immediately to reach a final-status deal.

Middle East Quartet

The Quartet of Middle East mediators (USA, Russia, United Nations and European Union) met today in New York to revive the "Road Map" peace plan, the first meeting to be held ever since the American President George W. Bush endorsed the Israeli premier Sharon’s disengagement plan.

The quartet is expected to re-emphasize the significance of implementing the internationally sponsored "Road Map" and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

Diplomats described Tuesday’s meeting as "the most important [meeting] the Quartet has ever held."

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will host Tuesday's gathering of Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU external relations chief Chris Patten and Foreign Minister Brian Cowan of Ireland, the current EU president.

Sharon Fails

At the same time, the Israeli premier Sharon said on Monday he would amend the proposal, which Likud voted down by 60-40 percent in a referendum on Sunday. He also said he would amend his proposed blueprint in terms of the disengagement plan.

Sharon said before the Likud parliamentary committee, “everyone believe that the Likud refusal would halt the efforts to the reconciliation with the Palestinians are wrong, I am intended to include some amendments.”

Israeli Settlers

In the aftermath of the blow dealt to the premier Sharon over the disengagement plan, the ultra extremist Jewish settlers reined off loose in attacking the Palestinians. They announced yesterday the establishing of a new terror organization to kill more and more Palestinians in Gaza Strip and the expansion of the illegitimate settlements there.

Also, a mob of Jewish settlers occupied on Monday two houses in Jerusalem as Sharon promised to change his plan and shrink his withdrawal less than proposed earlier.

The Palestinian National Authority demanded Washington to withdraw its pledges made to Sharon, but Washington announced, despite the overwhelming opposition to the plan by the Likud party, its backing to Sharon and his plan.

At the same time, hundreds of the Israeli settlers of the illegitimate settlement of “Neve Dekalim” celebrated on Monday Sharon’s defeat and placed the cornerstone for building 22 new housing units.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python (Alquds, 1/25/03.

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