Annapolis Fast Facts IV - Weekly Roundup

Israel

• In a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the purpose of the Annapolis meeting is "To provide an umbrella of international support for the efforts that the Palestinians and (we) are making […] Annapolis will not provide a solution but it will set the direction." Olmert added: "No-one seriously can expect that within this short span of time between now and the end of November we can achieve what we haven't been doing in the last 40 years, which is to agree on a comprehensive solution of all the core issues outstanding between us and the Palestinians." [1] 

• In a Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Labor Party meeting on Oct. 23, Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed his support for the Annapolis conference and for Olmert's efforts to reach agreement on a joint document with the Palestinians before the Annapolis conference.[2]   

Palestinian Authority

• Ahmad Qurei, chief Palestinian negotiator, stated that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will discontinue its peace negotiations with Israel in the absence of an agreed-upon timetable. "A document without defined priorities will not lead to negotiations, because there must be a timetable and agenda with clear priorities," said Qurei. He added that "Without seriousness and clarity there is no point in the conference." The US, for its part, refused PA President Mahmoud Abbas's proposal to limit negotiations with Israel to six months following the Annapolis conference. [3]

• In an interview with A-Sharq Al-Awsat news agency on Oct. 31, Abbas said he proposed a limited timetable for negotiations following the Annapolis summit."We have suggested a period of no more than six months, but have so far agreed neither with the Israelis nor with the Americans on this period, although we see it as sufficient," said Abbas. He stressed that "Six months are sufficient to discuss an agreement on all final status issues" adding, he [Abbas] "Will not agree to leave these issues open for infinity." [4]

• On Oct. 31 Abbas stated he will not deliver any concessions in the Annapolis conference. In an interview from Cairo, Abbas appealed to all Arab and Islamic countries not to normalize relations with Israel or recognize it until Israel withdraws to its 1967 borders and implements UN resolution 194. Abbas defined the Annapolis conference as an "Opportunity for us which we must seize and benefit from. We must place the ball in the other side's court, and if the Israeli side does not want peace, this is the test, as things become clear in a month or so." [5]

• Abbas said in an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai published Oct. 28 that "When we negotiate with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert we sense and see that he is serious in his intentions to reach an agreement […] The Israelis have their vision and we have ours." He added, "Now it's important that we reach a joint agreement." [6]

• Before departing for the Sultanate of Brunei on Oct. 24, Abbas said "We [Palestinians] will go to this conference [in Annapolis] optimistic regarding [the prospects] of reaching a positive and tangible result for our people."[7] 

• Abbas said that Israeli and Palestinian teams are working on a document to serve as the basis for negotiations in Annapolis and which will include six main points:[8]  

             - Borders; 
             - Jerusalem; 
             - Settlements; 
             - Refugees;
             - Security;
             - Water.

Abbas said these points were "complicated" but added "We are determined to do all that we can to reach an agreement, but even if we fail, at least we would have tried to define the fundamentals which are essential in dealing with these issues." [9]

• The official Palestinian Authority daily Al-Ayam reported on Oct. 23 that during Abbas's visit to Indonesia, he said that Hamas "Perpetrated a revolution against the legitimate government, and this may divide and weaken our efforts to reach a resolution. They must return to their origins, as we can actually not move unless we work together." [10]

• Al-Ayam also reported on Oct. 23 that Abbas said the Annapolis conference may be useless if it ends without achieving progress on core issues such as "The occupied land, the status of Jerusalem and the return of millions of refugees." [11]

Hamas

• The Gaza-based Hamas government, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, expressed concern regarding the establishment of the Israeli-Palestinian-American security committee, set up to implement the first stage of the Road Map. The government stated "The objective of the committee is to strike the Palestinian resistance in order to break the will of our people." [12]

• Senior Hamas officials and the leadership of other militant Palestinian factions, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met Oct. 29 in Damascus to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the U.S.-hosted Mideast conference planned for November or December.[13]  The meeting occurred one week before another gathering in Syria planned for Nov. 7, to be attended by Palestinians who reject the Arab-Israeli peace process. The two-day conference is intended to counter the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians to be held in Annapolis, Md. Said a senior Palestinian official, "Their declared goal is to foil the Annapolis conference."  [14]

United States

• In a speech before the U.S. Congress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated on Oct. 25 that the purpose of the Annapolis summit is to strengthen the position of Arab moderates in the face of the rising influence of extremists who oppose any compromise with Israel.[15]  

To read Annapolis Summit Fast Facts I

To read Annapolis Summit Fast Facts II

To read Annapolis Summit Fast Facts III

 

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Footnotes

[1] Joint Press Conference: PM Ehud Olmert and British PM Gordon Brown," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oct. 23, 2007, http://www.tiny.cc/8Go6U 
[2] Livni: Israeli and Palestinian leadership have similar views, but diverging interests," Palestinian News Network, Oct. 24, 2007, http://arabic.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20161&Itemid=1  
[3] Qurei ties continuation of peace talks to defined timetable," Aljazeera, October 31, 2007,
http://www.al-ayyam.com/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx?did=69307&Date=10/31/2007 
[4] President calls on Arab and Islamic countries to avoid normalization with Israel," Alhayat Aljadida, Oct. 31, 2007, http://www.alhayat-j.com/details.php?opt=2&id=53961&cid=963
[5] Abu-Mazen: We shall not deliver any concession in the Annapolis conference and no Arab or Islamic normalization before implementing just solution," Alayam, Oct. 31, 2007,
http://www.al-ayyam.com/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx?did=69307&Date=10/31/2007  
[6] Nahmias, Roee, "Abbas: Olmert is a serious partner" YnetNews, Oct. 28, 2007, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3464761,00.html
[7] President: we will go to peace conference optimistic about reaching a tangible and positive result for our people," Al-hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 24, 2007,
http://www.alhayat-j.com/details.php?opt=2&id=53495&cid=956
[8] President: we will go to peace conference optimistic about reaching a tangible and positive result for our people," Al-hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 24, 2007,
http://www.alhayat-j.com/details.php?opt=2&id=53495&cid=956
[9] President: we will go to peace conference optimistic about reaching a tangible and positive result for our people," Al-hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 24, 2007,
http://www.alhayat-j.com/details.php?opt=2&id=53495&cid=956 
[10] President hopes for a final peace agreement at the end of next year…there is no point in a conference that will not deal with core issues," Al-Ayam, Oct. 23, 2007,
http://www.al-ayyam.com/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx?did=68581&Date=10/23/2007  
[11] President hopes for a final peace agreement at the end of next year…there is no point in a conference that will not deal with core issues," Al-Ayam, Oct. 23, 2007,
http://www.al-ayyam.com/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx?did=68581&Date=10/23/2007  
[12] Sabbah, Fathi, "Hammas government expresses concern about establishment of tri-lateral security committee," Alhayat, October 31, 2007
http://www.alhayat.com/arab_news/levant_news/10-2007/Item-20071030-f24efe6b-c0a8-10ed-0004-613638b87081/story.html  
[13] Iranian foreign minister meets Hamas officials in Syrian capital," The Associated Press via Haaretz, Oct. 30, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/918238.html
[14] Abu Toameh, Khaled, "PA trying to stop parley hosted by Syria," The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 29, 2007, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380685006&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[15] Abbas-Olmert meeting tomorrow, and Rice warns of peace failure," Aljazeera, Oct. 25, 2007,
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/080AA7AF-E3D2-4EB4-AA6C-F1A745773609.htm