WORLD / Middle East
Olmert urges Palestinians to seek peace
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-28 09:46
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reached out to the Palestinians on
Monday in one of his most conciliatory speeches yet, saying he was
prepared to grant them a state, release desperately needed funds and free
prisoners if they choose the path of peace.
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looks through a pair of binoculars
during a meeting with former Gaza Strip settlers near Avshalom, in the
Negev Desert, November 27, 2006 in this picture released by the Israeli
Government Press Office (GPO). [Reuters]
Olmert's remarks sealed a dramatic policy shift and built on a day-old
truce meant to end five months of violence in the Gaza Strip. But new
rocket attacks by Palestinian militants threatened the latest
rapprochement.
"I hold out my hand in peace to our Palestinian neighbors in the hope
that it won't be returned empty," Olmert said.
"We cannot change the past and we will not be able to bring back the
victims on both sides of the borders," he said. "All that we can do today
is stop additional tragedies."
Olmert appealed to the Palestinians to form a new, moderate Cabinet
committed to carrying out a U.S.-backed peace plan and securing the
release of a captured Israeli soldier.
Once such a government was established, Olmert said, he would call for an
immediate meeting with the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas,
"to have a real, open, honest, serious dialogue between us."
Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat, a top Abbas aide, said the
Palestinians were ready to negotiate a final peace deal.
"I believe Mr. Olmert knows he has a partner, and that is President
Abbas. He knows that to achieve peace and security for all, we need to
shoot for the end game," Erekat said.
But the Palestinian Cabinet, led by Hamas militants who reject Israel's
right to exist, accused Olmert of posturing.
"This is a conspiracy. This is a new maneuver. Olmert is speaking about
the Palestinian state without giving details about the borders," said
Ghazi Hamad, a government spokesman.
Olmert's speech raised the diplomatic stakes ahead of President Bush's
scheduled trip to neighboring Jordan this week for talks with Iraqi
leaders.
Erekat said it was possible Abbas would meet with Bush there, but Israeli
officials denied that Abbas and Olmert might meet on the sidelines of the
Bush visit.
1 2
Top World News
� Bush broadens diplomatic efforts on Iraq
� Iraqis call for end to sectarian killing
� Bush to go overseas again for key talks
� Thousands in Turkey denounce papal visit
� Israeli military leave coast, attacks from Gaza continue
Today's Top News
� Pension fund woes could mean rise in retirement age
� Wall Street has worst day in 4 months
� Food safety tops the menu
� Mine bosses, officials come under fire
� Experts: Renminbi rise no surprise
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Free Chinese Lesson, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment