• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Palestinian Minister, Arab Knesset Member Discuss Sharon's Address to UN

Posted on: Sunday, 18 September 2005, 12:00 CDT

Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nasir al-Qudwah and Muhammad Barakah, Arab member of the Israeli Knesset are interviewed on Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya TV's "Panorama" programme on 16 September. Najwa Qasim, in the Dubai studio, interviewed Al- Qudwah, via satellite from New York, and Barakah, via satellite from Nazareth, on the topic of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's speech at the UN in New York.

Qasim begins by saying Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon went to the UN General Assembly to obtain the highest possible number of "diplomatic gains" from the Arab and Muslim worlds in particular, and to secure more US pressure and support. Sharon went with the "Gaza card in hand" in addition to "other steps on the ground", she notes.

Addressing Dr Nasir al-Qudwah, Qasim asks about the Palestinian reaction, and steps to be taken in the next stage. Al-Qudwah says indeed, Sharon wanted to achieve the "highest possible number of political gains by taking advantage of what took place in Gaza". Although Sharon may have achieved some progress in this direction, Al-Qudwah says, he cautions against any "exaggeration" in assessing what took place. Al-Qudwah says that many Israeli "expectations were not achieved". Explaining the reasons for this, Al-Qudwah says the world has seen what Israel did in the Gaza Strip prior to its withdrawal in terms of "massive destruction", closing the international crossing, and failing to reach agreement on the issues of the airport, the port and contiguity between Gaza and the West Bank. He notes that the world has seen all these issues and "comprehended their political and practical" connotations. Al- Qudwah notes that currently there is "international accord" over waiting to see what Israel will do next, for the world, he says, wants Gaza to be the "first step," not the last.

Qasim questions the impact of meetings held between some Arab and Muslim countries with Israel in addition to calls for "normalization" of the image portrayed to the Western world. Al- Qudwah says the Palestinian side "does not support such contacts", arguing that they are not conducive to achieving Arab or Palestinian goals. "Nevertheless, we respect the decisions of the various countries," he says, adding there must not be any "infringement upon Palestinian interests". He urges caution in dealing with this issue so that Israeli intentions can become clear to all.

Addressing Muhammad Barakah, Qasim says Hebrew newspapers publish analyses, which say that the issue of maintaining the West Bank can be discussed because Israel is very advanced technologically and militarily, so it can use means other than occupation to guarantee its security. Nevertheless, it is trying to maintain control over areas of the Gaza Strip as buffer zones, she notes. Commenting on this issue, Barakah cautions against "applauding Sharon". He says that on the anniversary of the massacres in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Sabra and Shatila, "there are some who applaud the engineering of that massacre". Barakah says Sharon's speech is a "Torah speech" because it says that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and that the land of Israel belongs to Jews. Hence, the Israelis are simply "being kind" to the Palestinians by granting them some sort of "ambiguous right to self-determination". Barakah says that Sharon's speech refrains from tackling final-status issues. Therefore, he argues, it is "impossible" to be optimistic for the future just because Sharon says he supports the Palestinians' right to establish their land. Barakah says that the current developments on the ground in Gaza in terms of establishing a buffer zone, and in the West Bank in terms of the security barrier and settlement activity do not encourage optimism. Barakah also argues that Sharon's "Torah speech" indicates that all future steps are to be unilateral, "based on Israel's interests". He says that the unilateral step taken in Gaza will be a policy pursued by Sharon. He adds that Sharon has made any future talks or progress with the Palestinian side contingent upon "the issue of terrorism".

Addressing Al-Qudwah, Qasim asks: "To what extent has Sharon managed to secure some sort of international cover for any provocative or military steps, on which he could embark in the coming months, especially in light of the forthcoming elections?" Al- Qudwah says he does not believe Sharon has secured "any international cover" for any future "adventures". In fact, Al- Qudwah notes the "world will closely watch" the Israeli government, because it wants to see "serious steps in the West Bank. It wants to see an end to settlement activity and an end to the construction of the wall. It wants to see the resumption of the road map."

"We will push strongly in this direction," he notes, to reach "reasonable and serious political developments with regard to reaching a settlement between the two sides."

Addressing Barakah, Qasim asks if Sharon's speech was intended for "propaganda" purposes on the domestic front in light of internal pressure on him. Barakah says that Sharon has serious considerations to make regarding his political career. Hence, his activities on the international level, his UN speech, and his meetings with various world leaders serve to show that "Israel is not suffering isolation, that the international community accepts it, and that the Gaza withdrawal has proven its worth." Barakah adds that Sharon has made contacts with Arab and Muslim nations such as Pakistan and Qatar. Interrupting, Qasim notes several "secret meetings" with Sharon. Barakah notes that all this can be employed to "serve his political status" in Israel.

Asked about a Palestinian strategy for a diplomatic battle that must be launched after the Gaza withdrawal, Al-Qudwah says: "The situation in the UN within the framework of the international community is clearly in favour of the Palestinian side, in light of the justice of their cause and Israeli policies and practices that violate international law and many UN resolutions." Hence, he says, the Palestinian side has "strong cards" with regard to international action, particularly at the UN, to which Palestinians can always resort "to intensify pressure on the Israeli side", he says. He says this is clear and "we are proud of the continued international support".

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

More News in this Category