By Xinhua
Ramallah : Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei said on Tuesday that the Palestinian leadership was not weak, responding to Israeli claims.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who marked the third anniversary of President Yasser Arafat’s death in Gaza Monday “have communicated a strong and important message to Israel and ourfriends,” Qurei added during a news conference with EU foreignpolicy envoy Javier Solana.
“This message means that these crowds were with the legitimate leadership and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) led by President Mahmoud Abbas,” Qurei said, condemning Hamas’ use of excessive force against Fatah supporters who participated in marking Arafat’s anniversary.
Last week, Israeli intelligence services said in a joint document that the President of the PNA Mahmoud Abbas was powerless to control the Palestinian territories.
“There is a total disconnection between the leadership and the Palestinian people,” said the document, noting that the PNA “has no security apparatus capable of implementing agreements. The existing (security) forces are totally corrupt.”
Meanwhile, Qurei has rejected the Israeli conditions to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. “The solution we see is two states live alongside each other in peace… a viable Palestinian statehood with sovereignty alongside the state of Israel,” said Qurei.
Qurei, who leads the Palestinian negotiation team, revealed that a limited progress was made in the talks with the Israeli negotiation crews “though no agreement has been reached on any case.”
He urged the EU to carry out its role as part of the international Quartet committee and push for the success of the newly-resumed talks between Israel and the PNA.
Israel and the PNA will participate in a U.S.-hosted peace conference designated to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Qurei said the Palestinians are “keen to engage in serious talks on every level after Annapolis conference is held.”
For his part, Solana expressed hope that the ongoing meetings between Israel and the PNA may help making the peace conference successful “despite the numerous difficulties.”
Though the conference will focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Solana urged the Arab countries to join the peace forum which is hoped to found a ground for peace.
Solana said the conference will last for two days and will focus on three issue, the political process, basics of supporting the Palestinian economy and improving circumstances of living.