Ramallah: Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, MP for Independent Palestine and General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, met today with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch.
Dr. Barghouthi briefed Mr. Welch on the latest developments in the region, focusing particularly on the recent escalation in violence by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilian areas in Nablus’ Balata Refugee Camp, Jericho, and the Gaza Strip.
He stated that such measures are known to be used by the Israeli government to score political points in light of upcoming Israeli elections in March 2006.
Dr. Barghouthi urged the US to exert all efforts to calm the current situation, warning that such attacks are perceived as methods of collective punishment against the Palestinian people.
He also stressed the need to respect the process of democracy in Palestine, and the democratic choice made by Palestinians in recent legislative elections.
Mr. Welch reiterated the position of the US congress on the well-known conditions that have to be met by any future Palestinian government, but added that the US will not interfere with the democratic choice of the Palestinian people. He also addressed the difficulties the US was facing in sustaining humanitarian aid to Palestine.
Dr. Barghouthi raised the issue of an international peace conference to bring the Palestine question back to its basis in international law and United Nations resolutions, and as a means of re-establishing a productive and effective peace process.