Bethlehem – Ma‘an – With US President George W. Bush scheduled to arrive in the region Wednesday, former Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouthi, also the head of the Palestinian National Initiative, says that Palestinians have little reason to hope that conditions will improve for Palestinians.
In an exclusive interview with Ma‘an News Agency, Barghouthi said, "I don‘t believe that there are high expectations [for Bush‘s visit] because after Annapolis there has been more killing of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and unrestrained expansion of settlements."
Asked if Palestinian leaders should boycott Bush or the peace negotiations, the Palestinian Legislative Council member said: "The PA should say that it will not negotiate until the international community does its duty … The negotiations are becoming a cover for the Israeli attacks, and also creating a situation where people are losing hope for the peace process."
By Barghouthi‘s count, 44 Palestinians have been killed since Annapolis. The weekend before Bush‘s visit was marred by deadly Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and a three-day invasion in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Asked whether Bush‘s visit would be different from a visit by then President Bill Clinton in 1998, Barghouthi recalled the words of an old Palestinian woman who said, "We had Clinton four times and nothing changed."
"The road to peace requires the application of international law," Barghouthi insisted.