Posted on 07/14/2005 4:26:37 PM PDT by SJackson
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sharply rebuked the Palestinian leadership on Thursday, telling the prime minister the Palestinians will never have an independent state until "violence and terrorism" end.
Fischer's unusually strong comments came two days after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed five Israelis in an attack in the coastal city of Netanya.
"Terrorism will have no positive results, and there will be no chance to establish an independent Palestinian state as long as violence and terrorism continue," Fischer said after meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.
Israel and the United States have long demanded that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rein in and disarm militants, a move he has so far been reluctant to take.
After the bombing, Israel said Abbas' refusal to confront the militants allowed them to continue waging attacks. But Fischer assured the Palestinians that Israel's withdrawal next month from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements would not be the end of international efforts to bring peace to the region.
"Our policy is not fixated on Gaza, but seeks an independent, peaceful and democratic Palestinian state. This is the objective of the 'road map,'" Fischer said referring to an internationally backed peace plan.
Qureia said the Palestinians would help ensure the Gaza withdrawal passes quietly, and told Fischer Palestinian security forces were "ready to impose law and order after the withdrawal."
Abbas said he was going to Gaza later Thursday to help plan the upcoming pullout. There are fears Palestinians could loot the abandoned Jewish property.
"We are preparing for the day after the withdrawal," Abbas said, reiterating his desire that the withdrawal lead to the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map peace plan, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Fischer met with Israeli leaders on Wednesday. He said he told them he was concerned about the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank to separate Palestinians from Israel.
Israel says the barrier is needed to prevent militant attacks. The Palestinians say the winding path of walls, trenches, fences and razor wire de facto annexes land they want for a future state and separates thousands of Palestinians from fields, schools and clinics.
"We expressed our concerns to the Israelis about the wall, about the route of the wall, and the humanitarian consequences, as well as the settlement activities," he said.
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If he's right, then there indeed will never be a Palestinian state, because you cannot separate the two. Palestinians are nothing but Arabs, there are plenty of other Arab states they can move to.
and this little speech does not happen unfortunately if London was not bombed which is a shame.
Abbas is reluctant to take that step because if he did he'd be killed. Our "demands" that Abbas crack down are a joke -- the "peace process" outlined by the ridiculous "roadmap" marches on, despite the fact that the Palestinians are completely incapable of living up to the most basic conditions.
That's great talk, but the reality shows that the Palestinians make great advancements while they carry out terror. All they have to do is promise for a few months that they'll be good, and they get a lot of concessions. Than they're right back at it none the worse for wear.
What concessions does Israel get for not carrying out acts of terrorism?
If Germnay wants to take that stand, I commend them for it, but they are going to have to stick to it, and get their European allies to join in.
I think it is nice to hear from Europe at all. Isn't this a first?
Pretty much. Did you hear one peep out of them while 1,000 plus Israeli grandmothers, mothers and children were blown to bits afther the 2000 intifada was instituted.
Europe is a basket case.
Well, it has been somewhat quiter, but I pretty much agree with your comment.
you have pinpointed the crux of the whole frickin' issue.
Jordan is the "other" Palestinian state, so they all ready have one state, where Palestinians out number the Jordanians. Arabs have 99% of the Middle East, and they want tiny Israel too. It will do NO good to cave into their demands, for they will only want more land. USA is doing harm to Israel out of our cowardice.
Oops, Herr Fischer. You have just drawn the eyes of the Jihad with your comment. Germany is next.
I guess we ALL have to just shutupandtakeit... even old Commies like Joschka.
Let's see, why was the modern country of Israel created?
"Israel says the barrier is needed to prevent militant attacks."
I'm sure Israel said no such thing. Israel knows they are terrorists not militants.
Well there's more than a hint of truth in that, but at least this guy is sounding the right tone (for now).
Yes, I agree.
But I do admit to more than a little cynical skepticism when I hear a German politician talking about Israel and the Jews, and I also wonder if this is just political posturing after the London attacks.
Well time will tell. Someone stated this guy has been pretty good over time. I understand your skepticism though.
Not to worry, everything that is red-hot or nailed down will be be safe.
This is a "DOH" moment....
If Fischer is right (for the first time), then there will never be a Palestinian state, and anyone can bet their last Saudi Riyal on that.
Well Jaochim may be a slow learner, but he's caught on to at least one thing.
Uh, I guess I meant "Joschka." How could I forget that name? As an Army medic in a woefully undermanned medical unit in German in 1972, Fischer's terrorist friends in Baader-Meinhof caused our unit to add around-the-clock security to our motorpool of ambulances, even though we we're surrounded by the tanks of 3rd Brigade/3ID.
The result? Thanks to Fischer's friends, In one year, I had 7 weekends in 12 months.
-------Which is 7 more than my kid in Iraq has had, so I'll shut up now.
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