With fewer excuses left to employ for dodging dealings with the Palestinians, the Israeli Prime Minister is calling for a meeting with Arab officials.
Minister of Information, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, said this is an attempt to avoid a just peace by normalizing relations with Arab states.
Dr. Barghouthi pointed out that yesterday‘s call for the meeting is Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert‘s latest move to sidestep honoring the rights of the Palestinian people.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Israelis to give pretext for not ending the occupation or adhering to international law and United Nations resolutions as President Abbas wins the confidence of the European Union.
To add insult to injury, says Dr. Barghouthi, the Israeli Prime Minister is attempting to drive a wedge between the Palestinians and other Arab states. By normalizing relations instead of allowing for a comprehensive solution, the divide and conquer technique is in play. Dr. Barghouthi pointed out Olmert‘s evasiveness regarding the Arab Peace Initiative.
Written in Beirut in 2002, the Initiative, which the European Union declared it accepts, calls for an end to the 1967 portion of the Israeli occupation, particularly of Jerusalem as it is to be the capital of the sovereign Palestinian state. The issue of refugees would be solved if international law and United Nations resolutions were adhered to, which also clearly state that occupation and settlements are illegal.
Dr. Barghouthi also pointed out that the Israeli Prime Minister has yet to release monies belonging to the Palestinian people which he has frozen, funds which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Information Minister said that there are no positive trends coming from Olmert.