Abbas to press Obama for a total freeze of Israeli illegal settlements, and Israeli acceptance of the two-states solution

Abbas to press Obama for settlement freeze

Date: 27 / 05 / 2009  Time:  11:14
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will press US President Barack Obama during talks on Thursday for a total freeze on construction of Israeli illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials say.

Abbas arrived in Washington early on Wednesday morning after spending two days in Canada, where he met Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other officials.

Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudaina said on Tuesday that a settlement freeze, in compliance with the 2003 US Backed Road Map peace plan, would be the top of the president’s agenda in his White House meeting with Obama.

The other issue on the agenda, Abu Rudaina said, is that the Israeli occupation government must accept the establishment of two states as the basis of peacemaking.

Abbas and other top officials say that these two factors are preconditions for reopening peace negotiations with Israel. Israel’s current right-wing government, however, has so far rejected both conditions.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would not halt settlement construction completely, instead opting to dismantle a handful unauthorized settler outposts.

Abu Rudaina said that President Abbas will tell Obama that the Palestinians do not just want to hear encouraging words, but they want to see action on the ground to save the region from instability and violence.

Top Palestinian negotiator Ahmad Qurei'a also stressed these conditions in an interview with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper published on Tuesday.

"There will be no negotiations without a complete cessation of the settlements, including what you call 'natural growth,'” said Qurei'a, “…There will be no negotiations without an evacuation of the outposts established since 2001, and [Defense Minister Ehud] Barak moves them from place to place. Before the negotiations, Israel will have to remove also all the internal roadblocks that dissect the West Bank.”

Abbas is in Washington with his prime minister, Salam Fayyad, who he recently reappointed at the head of a government dominated by his own Fatah movement.

The new government is still viewed as illegal by Fatah’s rival Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza. Hamas has also said that it will reject any agreements made between Abbas and Obama.

Abbas concludes visit to Canada, heads to Washington

Wednesday May 27, 2009 03:13 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, concluded Tuesday a two-day visit to Canada and headed to Washington for a meeting with the US President, Barack Obama, and a number of US officials.

During his visit to Canada, Abbas met a number of Canadian officials, including Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

Abbas said that he would hold talks with Obama on the peace process, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Road Map Peace Plan, and the issue of halting the illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He stated that Israel must halt its settlement activities, and should remove all illegal outposts.

During his speech in front of the Canadian-Palestinian Parliamentarian Committee in Ottawa, Abbas said that settlements are illegal and destroy the chances of peace.

He added that the Palestinians are seeking a just and comprehensive peace that brings stability and security to the region, and ensures the advancement of regional economy.

Abbas also demanded Israel to recognize a two-state solution, and to adhere to a number regional and local necessities for a comprehensive peace.  

Dr. Saeb Erekat, head of the Negotiations Department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Abed-Rabbo,  secretary-general of the PLO, and presidency spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rodeina, are accompanying Abbas in his tour.

Abbas headed a ceremony marking the opening of a new Palestinian representative office in Ottawa, and said that he is interested in developing the Palestinian-Canadian relations.