Jordan Times
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Abbas, in Amman, says pullout
must be part of roadmap
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said Palestinians were ready to take
over Gazan land Israelis are to evacuate, but added that any such pullout should
be in line with the roadmap.
“We must accept the withdrawal in any form, and we would tell [the Israelis]
goodbye,” Abbas told a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Hani Mulki.
Abbas, who arrived Sunday evening, urged Palestinians to “remain calm and work
on putting their house in order” ahead of an expected resumption of negotiations
with Israel. Abbas said a meeting between the Palestinian Authority and the
factions are expected to be held “soon” in Cairo to unite their position ahead
of talks with Israel. He did not elaborate.
Palestinian groups last week firmly rejected a call by Abbas to lay down their
weapons against Israel.
Abbas has previously criticised the “militarisation” of the struggle against
occupation but it was his most clear-cut condemnation of the armed factions'
tactics since taking the PLO helm after Yasser Arafat's death on November 11.
The PLO chief also called on Israel to stop killing civilians and bulldozing
Palestinian homes.
Violence has been rife in Palestinian territories over the weekend as Israeli
troops ended their deadliest raid on Gaza since last October.
Hamas chief Mahmoud Zahar threatened Monday to avenge the raid, during which at
least 11 Palestinians were killed.
However, since Arafat's passing, both Israelis and Palestinians expressed
willingness to resume negotiations and resuscitate the stalled roadmap to the
Middle East peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last week expressed hope for a breakthrough
in the ongoing conflict and insisted that his controversial unilateral
withdrawal from Gaza would be implemented next year.
Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia arrived in Amman Sunday
evening to brief Jordanian officials on the results of their tour last week to
Arab and Gulf states. The tour was aimed at informing Arab leaders on ongoing
preparations for the January 9 election.
Abbas, who discussed with Mulki British plans to hold an international
conference on the Middle East at the foreign ministers' level, said there were
continued consultations with Jordan and Egypt over the Palestinian track,
especially on the upcoming election.
Mulki, who said he briefed Abbas on His Majesty King Abdullah's tour of the US,
Japan and other states, expressed Jordan's support for any international meeting
that would serve the Palestinian cause.