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Unilateral Withdrawal Will Turn Gaza into Biggest Prison in History, Says Erekat

13/04/2005

Palestine Media Center – PMC

Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat warned on Tuesday that Israel’s position to carry out the “disengagement” plan without coordinating with the Palestine National Authority (PNA) will turn the Gaza Strip into “the biggest prison in history,” stressing that peace can only be achieved through a comprehensive agreement based on a two state-solution and UN resolutions.

“[The Israeli government] is restraining us and throwing us to the sea,” the senior Palestinian official slammed Israel’s go-it-alone plan in a press conference held at the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv.

Reacting to Israeli “Defense” Minister Shaul Mofaz’s plan to phase out Palestinian permits to enter Israel, Erekat said that he was afraid that following disengagement, Israel would try to control all exits from the Strip by land, air and sea.

Erekat further warned that the Israel’s policies are pushing the Palestinians to the edge. “The Israelis are trying to lock the Palestinians in Gaza and keep the key in their hands,” Erekat said.

“If you want to leave Gaza, we are not going to stop you. But if you want a partner, questions will have to be answered regarding the border with Egypt, the passage between Gaza and the West Bank, the transition of the Gaza Strip economy away from its dependence on labor in Israel, and on third party control of borders and airports,” he added.

Erekat praised US President George W. Bush for stressing in his summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that disengagement should lead into the implementation of the roadmap peace plan.

He said that he believes that a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians could be reached within six months.

“Israel has nothing to lose by telling the Palestinians now that the day after disengagement, permanent-status negotiations will begin,” Erekat said. “Tell us that disengagement is part of the road map and not an alternative to it, because that is what we fear.”

Rice Reiterates US Opposition to Settlement Activity

In another development, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday afternoon to brief him on the Sharon-Bush talks, and on the American position regarding expansion of illegal Israeli colonies in the occupied Palestinian Territory.

According to senior Palestinian sources, Rice made it clear to Abbas that Washington is against settlement expansion, and that the President’s position is that the settlements issue will be resolved in the final status negotiations and not by creating a new status quo on the ground.

The Palestinian government, convened Tuesday by PNA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, demanded that the US explicitly state its opposition to construction in the settlement blocs and demand immediate action against the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The government stated that the PNA does not recognize the legitimacy of the settlement blocs, and regards any understandings between Israel and the US on the matter to be prejudicial to the discussions for a final status agreement.

An official Palestinian spokesman was quoted as saying by WAFA on Tuesday that the government welcomed Bush’s statement in which he said that “Israel should not undertake any activity that contravenes roadmap obligations or prejudices final status negotiations.”

The spokesman reiterated that the issues of borders, Jerusalem and refugees are only settled through final status negotiations. Moreover, the spokesman affirmed that such negotiations should be based on international legitimacy, the roadmap and President Bush’s statement in June 2002.

The government expressed hope that the US will pressure Israel into ending settlement activities, especially around Jerusalem, and ending the construction of the Apartheid Wall.

The PNA also reiterated its commitment to the peace process based on the roadmap plan, despite the “ongoing Israeli attacks and the murder of Palestinian children.”

During their Monday meeting in Texas, US President George W. Bush urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to abandon plans to expand a major Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

Bush also praised the Palestinian leadership. “I appreciate the fact that they've taken some action on security,” Bush said of the Palestinians. “We want to continue to work with them on consolidating security forces.”

”I told the [Israeli] prime minister not to undertake any activity that contravenes the Roadmap or prejudices final status obligations,” Bush added.