Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' reported endorsement Wednesday of acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for this month's Israeli election brought a cautious response from Olmert's party and glee from his rivals in the hawkish Likud.
In an interview in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Abbas was asked about the March 28 election.
‘I hope Olmert wins,’ Abbas was quoted as saying. ‘I know him well. I believe that with him we could work in a productive way.’
Late Wednesday, Abbas' office issued a statement saying he had been misunderstood. It said Abbas told the reporter, ‘I would be happy to negotiate with Olmert if the polls are correct,’ and he did not endorse anyone. Kadima maintains a wide lead in the polls.
Olmert heads the Kadima Party, founded by Ariel Sharon after he led a walkout from Likud. Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke on Jan. 4.
Party activists were uncomfortable with Abbas' blessing, fearing it could hurt Olmert's candidacy, with many Israeli voters convinced the Palestinian leadership is hostile to Israel's interests.
Kadima spokeswoman Maya Jacobs said Abbas ‘first needs to make sure that the incoming Hamas government renounces ‘terrorism’, changes its charter and recognizes Israel's right to exist before anything else. Then we'll talk.’
Hamas is poised to form the next government after sweeping Palestinian parliamentary elections in January. The group is sworn to Israel's destruction and refuses to renounce violence.
Likud lawmaker Gideon Saar linked the comments by Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, with a statement by an Olmert aide Sunday saying that if Kadima wins the election, it would dismantle more West Bank settlements.
‘One can understand why Abu Mazen has in interest in gains for the left and for Kadima,’ Saar told Israel's Channel 2 TV. ‘Abu Mazen takes care of Palestinian interests. If he says such a thing, he believes that a Kadima victory, a victory for Ehud Olmert, serves the Palestinian interest.’
Israeli media reported the dovish Labor Party was angry over the reported endorsement because Labor leader Amir Peretz went out of his way to have a public meeting with Abbas last week, while Kadima and Likud officials refuse to see him.
Peretz promised Wednesday to remove all unauthorized West Bank settlement outposts if his party wins next month's election, staking out a much bolder position against the maverick communities than the current government.
‘The law is the law, and we need to implement it,’ Peretz told a news conference. ‘We promise to dismantle all illegal outposts within a year of my being elected prime minister. All 105 outposts will be dismantled.’ Labor is running far behind Kadima, but is a logical coalition partner after the election.
Settlers began setting up outposts more than a decade ago to break up Palestinian areas and try to prevent establishment of a Palestinian state. The more than 100 outposts range from isolated hilltop trailers to permanent buildings. Many are near authorized settlements, in effect extending their reach.
The Israeli government has repeatedly promised Washington, under the terms of the U.S.-backed ‘road map’ peace plan, to dismantle about two dozen outposts erected after Sharon came to power in March 2001. Israel has removed only a few, however, citing legal difficulties and higher priorities, such as the Gaza Strip pullout last summer.
Last month, Olmert ordered the demolition of part of Amona outpost, which turned violent as settlers and their supporters clashed with security forces. More than 200 people, including many police, were hurt in the confrontation.
A new U.N. report, meanwhile, criticized Israel for making movement harder for Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli military has increased the number of roadblocks in the West Bank by 25 percent since last summer, to 471, making it tougher for Palestinians to reach properties, markets and medical services, the report said.
Israel says its network of permanent checkpoints, concrete barriers and temporary mobile roadblocks is needed to protect Israeli cities and West Bank settlements from Palestinian attacks.
Israeli officials said Wednesday the vital Karni cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza would reopen Thursday. The crossing has been closed for most of the past month, with Israel citing security alerts.