Palestinians pull out of talks: Row over release of prisoners
JERUSALEM, Aug 5: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called off a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying Israel was not doing enough to implement a US-backed peace “road map”.
The decision, taken amid a row over how many prisoners Israel should free to build confidence between the two sides, was a fresh setback to hopes of forging trust between the two sides and implementing the peace plan rapidly.
The meeting had been due to take place on Wednesday, when Israel is scheduled to release 342 Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians were disappointed by the figure because Israeli officials had earlier said 540 would go free.
Israel, for its part, accuses Abbas of holding up the peace plan by failing to crack down on militants. It had already ruled out any further troop withdrawals from West Bank cities after an ambush that wounded a Jewish settler and her three children.
“Abu Mazen cancelled the meeting because it will only be ceremonial on the day prisoners are released, and he believes the Israelis are not doing enough to promote the road map,” a senior Palestinian official said, using Mr Abbas’s nom de guerre.
A source in Mr Sharon’s office confirmed the meeting had been cancelled because of Palestinian “displeasure” at Israel’s prisoner-release roster.
Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon have met several times in recent weeks in talks that have helped build confidence and promote the road map, although deep mistrust remains between the two sides.
MISTRUST OVER PRISONER RELEASE: The road map does not specifically mention a prisoner release but requires implementation of a previous plan which called for release of “all Palestinians arrested in security sweeps who have no association with terrorist activities”.
The Palestinians want an amnesty for all 6,000 of their jailed compatriots, saying this would show Israel is committed to the road map leading to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005 in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
Mr Sharon says he favours a limited release to boost Mr Abbas, who faces internal opposition to peacemaking.
“I am for taking chances in order to reach an agreement,” Mr Sharon told a parliamentary committee on Monday.
“In my opinion, certain types of prisoners should be released — an important step to strengthen the current Palestinian leadership which does not believe in using terror to bring Israel to yield.”
The publication of the prisoners list on Monday containing only 342 names had the Palestinians crying foul.
Militants say Israel’s failure to release more prisoners, and continued raids and killings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, threaten a three-month truce they declared on June 29. But despite the ceasefire, Palestinian attacks continue sporadically.
The gun ambush that wounded a Jewish settler and her three children on Sunday prompted new calls by Israel for a crackdown on the militants, who have killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks in an uprising for independence that began in September 2000.
Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz on Monday ruled out handing over control of any more Palestinian cities “until we see that the necessary steps are being taken against the terror”.—Reuters
JERUSALEM, Aug 5: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called off a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying Israel was not doing enough to implement a US-backed peace “road map”.
