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November 7, 2003/Cheshvan 12 5764, Vol. 56, No. 7
Peace remains elusive
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - It looked like a remake of an all-too-familiar movie: so-called Palestinian moderates engage in political acrobatics to achieve peace at home, before once again trying to talk peace with the Zionist enemy.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei announced a two-stage strategy to end three years of Israeli-Palestinian violence: First, negotiate a truce with Palestinian terrorist groups. Then, ask Israel to match it.
Qurei pledged to travel to the Gaza Strip to speak with the terrorist groups about a possible cease-fire.
Qurei also was betting that he could push two important appointments through the ruling Fatah movement's central committee. Once it had elected a new chairman for the Palestinian Legislative Council, Qurei wanted the committee to overrule Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and back Gen. Nasser Yussuf as interior minister, who has responsibility for the security services.
Once all that was in place, Qurei planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss how to restart peace talks. Hope would once again lighten the dark skies of the Middle East.
Take one.
The first measures already have been taken: Fatah on Nov. 3 elected Rafik Natshe, 70, as the new Parliament chairman, replacing Qurei.
Natshe is one of the few Palestinian politicians who have not been reticent to criticize Arafat.
Qurei shelved his threat to resign by Nov. 4 on condition that Arafat consent to Nasser's appointment as interior minister.
It remains to be seen whether Arafat will give in on the crucial issue of Nasser's appointment. Nasser is considered one of Arafat's close associates, but giving him control of the security apparatus would mean taking it away from Arafat. Arafat has not been inclined to make such gestures.
Next on the agenda is a meeting between Qurei and Sharon, perhaps by week's end, according to reports.
Israel does not see any Palestinian attempts to eradicate terrorism and the Palestinians do not believe Israel will come up with new, constructive suggestions to move forward.
Hoping to improve the lives of Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan, Israel decided this week to allow 15,000 workers to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip.
But the major obstacles that have jeopardized positive moves in the past remain in place: Arafat's meddling, the terrorists' refusal to lay down their arms and the Palestinian Authority's unwillingness to force them to do so.
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