By Ryan Jones
Oct 14, 2005
The Palestinian Authority is none too happy over Israel's failure to follow its script of holding high-level negotiations leading to Israel's full and complete acquiescence to all Arab demands.
?The Israeli side is uninterested in promoting the peace process, and does not want the PA as its partner,? PA Information Minister Nabil Sha'ath told the regime-controlled WAFA news agency.
Sha'ath made the remarks in reaction to Israel's rejection earlier this week of sweeping preconditions PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas demanded Jerusalem agree to before he would sit with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The two leaders were scheduled to meet on Tuesday. That summit has been postponed until November.
?Israel is not interested in a serious summit, and simply wants to continue implementing unilateral moves, like its withdrawal from Gaza,? Sha'ath insisted.
The Sharon government, however, has indicated its keen interest to restart meaningful negotiations, but maintains that is only possible after the ?Palestinians? prove their willingness and ability to comply with their signed agreements.
Sha'ath said the Israel's insistence on reciprocity shows ?without a doubt the Israelis are not interested in concluding a peace agreement with us.?
He then pointed out the only acceptable agreement to the ?Palestinians,? of course, would be full Israeli capitulation.
?A settlement would mean complete withdrawal from the West Bank,? said Sha'ath.
The ?Palestinians? are hopeful Abbas will convince US President George W. Bush to put ?real pressure? on Israel when the two men meet later this month in Washington.
?We hope that this visit will lead Bush to pressure Israel into standing by its commitments to the Palestinians,? Sha'ath said.
Recent comments by Bush, however, indicate the American is, in the wake of Israel's ?disengagement? from Gaza, more interested in seeing the ?Palestinians? finally honor their numerous commitments to disarm the terror groups operating out of territories under their control.
The president is expected to suggest to Abbas he start with the armed ?military wings? of his own Fatah faction.
The Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Fatah Tanzim stand behind the murder and maiming of thousands of Israeli Jews over the past five years.