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Israel Radio Previews Sharon-Abbas Talks, Peres, Foreign Minister Comment

Posted on: Friday, 7 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

Israel radio's political correspondent Shmuel Tal reported on the expectations of the Israeli and Palestinian sides for the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, which some sources have reported will take place on 11 October.

Tal said that Sharon "will demand that the Palestinians honour their pledge to disband the terrorist organizations. The demand is backed by the Americans and was emphasized in President Bush's speech last night and in the remarks Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made in various forums. In addition, Abbas will be informed of Israel's categorical rejection of Hamas's participation in the elections as long as it remains an armed organization engaged in terrorism".

As regards the Palestinian side, Tal said: "The Palestinians want gestures which, they say, will strengthen Abu-Mazin [Abbas]. Their primary demand is the release of veteran prisoners, mainly women. Although most of them are not included in the category of those Israel can release, the Palestinians insist that, to build up his standing, Abu-Mazin needs as many prisoners freed as possible.

"In addition, the Palestinians are demanding weapons and ammunitions for their troops in Gaza, but Israel says they have sufficient quantities of both." He added that "Israel is likewise inclined to turn down the demand to allow aircraft landings and takeoffs from the Al-Dahaniyah airport".

Tal then said that Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres had said that "the Palestinians should definitely control the territory of the crossings between the PNA [Palestinian National Authority] and Egypt, but Israel has to protect its own security concerns too".

In recorded remarks broadcast by the radio, Peres said: "The pullout from Gaza will not end unless we wrap up the issue of crossings. The most important crossing is the Rafah one. This serious, crucial issue is yet to be finalized... and of course, nothing is final unless the Rafah issue is concluded."

Tal went on to report that "the issue of movement from Gaza to the West Bank will be also addressed at the meeting. There are several options: One, the Palestinians want a sunken road, which they will control. Two, a suspension road. Three, a railway. The latter solution is the only one acceptable to Prime Minister Sharon.

Tal added: "Shimon Peres says the issue will be decided when he meets the prime minister and the defence minister, and he believes a railway will be endorsed."

In further recorded remarks, Peres said: "In my opinion, the problem can be solved by building a railway between Gaza and Tarqumiyah [in Hebron Governorate in the West Bank], because all the other solutions either cost a fortune or pass through Israel. There is a railway from Ashdod to Qiryat Gat that can be added to to go all the way to Tarqumiyah. That's the most economically viable solution, and I believe it is the one that will eventually be endorsed."

The radio's party affairs correspondent Yoav Krakowsky then reported on remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on the Sharon-Abbas talks at a meeting with Likud activists on 6 October. Krakowsky said: "The foreign minister's speech started with political remarks. Palestinians are dissatisfied even before Sharon and Abu-Mazin have met, Shalom said, stressing that Israel will oppose the release of prisoners with blood on their hands and that there will be no further unilateral moves."

The radio then broadcast recorded remarks by Shalom in which he said: "I've heard that they want us to release terrorists with blood on their hands. Can we agree to something like that? Israel cannot and will not release terrorists with blood on their hands!"

Shalom continued: "The prime minister's remarks on this issue were unequivocal: There will be no further unilateral moves; there will be none."

In a later news bulletin, the radio reported that "the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] and the defence establishment are checking additional measures designed to ease Palestinians' lives and help the PNA's counterterrorism efforts. Our army affairs correspondent Karmela Menashe reports that military officials will advise the political echelons to weigh the possibility of supplying the Palestinian security services with ammunition".

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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