'Israel offering us nothing more than mini-state of cantons'

Jerusalem Post ^ | May 5, 2008 | Khaled Abu Toameh

[Alouette]

Palestinian Authority officials said Monday that Israel was offering the Palestinians nothing more than a "mini-state of cantons" in parts of the West Bank.

The officials told The Jerusalem Post that Israel's proposals were "completely unacceptable" and "provocative." They also claimed that the US Administration was supporting the Israeli position.

"Today, it's clear to us that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from all the territories that were occupied in 1967," said one official.

"If the Israelis and Americans think that they will ever find a Palestinian leader who would accept less than the 1967 borders, they are living under an illusion."

Another top PA official said that maps presented by the Israeli government to the Palestinians in the past few weeks showed that Israel is planning to retain control over nearly half of the West Bank and large parts of eastern Jerusalem.

The Israeli maps, he said, "turn the Palestinian communities in the West Bank into cantons surrounded by Israeli military bases and large settlement blocs."

The official added: "We have made it clear to both the Israelis and Americans that they should throw away these maps. No Palestinian will ever agree to the presence of settlements or Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. This is in violation of [US President George W.] Bush's vision of two states living next to each other in peace."

The officials said they were unaware of dramatic changes in Israel's position regarding final status issues, adding that it was "premature" to talk about progress in the negotiations between the two parties.

They said they were surprised to hear reports in the Israeli media about certain progress that was ostensibly achieved during Monday's summit between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"Apparently Olmert's office is spreading these rumors to divert attention from the problems he's facing at home," the officials said, referring to the latest police investigation against Olmert.

"The Israeli government is not serious about the peace talks," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior PLO official closely associated with Abbas. "We don't believe that we can reach an agreement [with Israel] before the end of this year."

Abed Rabbo accused Israel of "deceiving" the Palestinians by continuing to build settlements while talking about the need to reach a peace deal.

"Israel does not want to change its policy," he added. "Israel wants to continue settlement expansion and the construction of the separation wall."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat described the talks between Abbas and Olmert as "serious and thorough."

Erekat said Monday's talks focused on the final status issues. He said Abbas demanded an end to construction in the West Bank settlements and the reopening of closed PLO institutions in Jerusalem.

He said Abbas also demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, especially those who have been in prison for more than 20 years, as well as women, minors and political leaders such as Marwan Barghouti.

According to Erekat, Israel has agreed to grant residency status to 10,000 Palestinians who entered the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the past decade.

[Alouette]

And here are some pictures of Gaza Palestinians swimming in their own s##t

Palestinians walk along a street flooded with sewage water in Gaza City April 30, 2008. Palestinian officials said they ran out of fuel to operate the sewage treatment facility during a daylight power cut. Gaza has been in the grips of a fuel shortage for weeks, the result of sharp Israeli cutbacks in supplies to the Hamas-controlled territory as well as a strike by an association of Palestinian petrol owners over Israeli supply

A Palestinian rides a bicycle in a street flooded with sewage water in Gaza City April 30, 2008. Palestinian officials said they ran out of fuel to operate the sewage treatment facility during a daylight power cut.

[Alouette]

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Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[rmlew]

I offer them Gaza as well as 3/4 of 1922 Palestine. They should move to Jordan.

[buccaneer81]

'Israel offering us nothing more than mini-state of cantons'

Gee, when I think of a "Mini State of Cantons," I see a nation called Switzerland.

They seem to have done okay.

[cowdog77]

Very simple..........
Saudi’s put pressure on US for suicidal concessions from Israel, US puts pressure on Israel for concessions to keep the oil flowing, Israel gives up land and is pushed into the sea.

[hinckley buzzard]

"If the Israelis and Americans think that they will ever find a Palestinian leader who would accept less than the 1967 borders, they are living under an illusion."

Good luck Condi. Maybe you can tell them more tales of how much American Blacks have in common with Palestinians. That ought to help. You know, earn their trust a little bit. I'm sure it will work...someday. After all, we only have been talking with these mongrels for sixty years or so with zilch to show for it.

[Slings and Arrows]

I offer them a 6’ x 3’ x 6’ plot apiece. No takebacks.

[MarkL]

I'd like to remind everyone that when Israel and Egypt signed the treaty that returned the Sinai to Egypt, Israel WANTED to include Gaza, but Egypt REFUSED to take it!

Anyone want to guess why?

Mark

[Convert from ECUSA]

:) A man after my own heart!

[Convert from ECUSA]

If Egypt had taken the offer and gotten Gaza, you could bet they would have taken very appropriate measures if troublemakers started stirring up crap, and the U-damn-N, mainslime media, Defartment of State, lefty-bolshie groups, and all the whiners would not have said boo. Nobody said boo when King Hussein sent his Bedouin army into the PLO camps in September 1970 and took care of business. The whiners and troublemakers and handwringers only make in their drawers when Israel or the US take action. If muslims take action against other muslims, nary a peep is heard. Hypocrites!

[reagan_fanatic]

"If the Israelis and Americans think that they will ever find a Palestinian leader who would accept less than the 1967 borders, they are living under an illusion."

If the palestinians think Israel would pull back to such boundaries and set themselves up for a final arab drive to finish the Israelis off once and for all, then I submit that it is the arabs who are living under an illusion.

[L,TOWM]

Not gonna happen — Jordan got their bag limit of Pali scum for the century in 1970. Google “black september+1970”. Jordan had enough of the filthy buggers after 20 years. But, since the Jordanians are’nt Jewish, no one snivelled at them for taking care of business.

[Edgerunner]

It's gonna be a bloody summer in the ME...same ol' same ol'

Send in Carter! that will fix it!

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

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[Slings and Arrows]

The scary thing is, on Free Republic I’m a moderate. ;^)

[Convert from ECUSA]

LOL!