Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Date: 27 / 08 / 2008 Time: 11:57
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=31563

Ramallah - Ma'an - The editor of a leading Palestinian newspaper believes
that Condoleezza Rice is preparing a political surprise.

Hafith Barghouthi, the chief editor of the daily Hayat Al-Jadidah, wrote in
an editorial published on Wednesday that Rice's seemingly unjustifiable
optimism about the US-backed Palestinian-Israeli peace talks may be
attributable to developments in the negotiations themselves.

"It seems a political 'meal' is being cooked on fire behind the scenes as
the statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and the
US secretary of state shows unprecedented optimism about reaching agreement
before the end of this year," the article said.

Under the title "Comprehensive Peace", Barghouthi said that the number and
apparent intensity of the meetings Rice held with Palestinian and Israeli
negotiators may yet yield results.

"The fact that Rice met with both negotiation teams separately, then
together proves what she said in the press conference about both sides
abstaining from negotiating in front of the media. All this indicates that
the negotiations are serious," he wrote.

"It is regrettable that the Israelis leak what they have to media while we
[Palestinians] don't. That is why you find us frustrated as nothing comes
out of the negotiation process," Barghouthi added. He was referring to last
week's leak of an Israeli proposal for borders that would give Palestinians
93% of the west bank while annexing land now occupied by settlements.

Barghouthi highlighted that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for
the continuation of negotiations even after US President George W Bush steps
down in January, "in order to avoid waiting another seven years." Abbas was
referring to the perception that it took Bush seven years of his presidency
to show interest in the Palestinian question.

According to Barghouthi, President Abbas plans to reach a final,
comprehensive, solution rather than an interim agreement that again
postpones resolution of the final status issues: Jerusalem, borders, and
refugees.

He said Palestinians would reject a mere "declaration of principles" that
Rice was rumored to be seeking from the negotiators.

Barghouthi added that if Palestinians do not shift their attitudes (perhaps
reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah could help this) they could find
themselves once again facing Israeli accusations that they are not "real
partners" in the peace process.