RAMALLAH, West Bank, 20 July 2003 — Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas readied a diplomatic offensive yesterday that would take him to Egypt, Jordan and the United States, desperate for concessions from Israel to bolster domestic support for his policy of moderation. Ahead of his tour, Abbas is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today.
More popular in Washington than at home, according to polls, Abbas is under pressure to prove to Palestinians that his pragmatic approach and the cease-fire agreement he succeeded in extracting from militant groups is bringing Israeli concessions.
Most notably, observers say, Palestinians must see an improvement in their daily lives through an easing of occupation policies such as a restoration of freedom of movement in the territories, and a pullout of Israeli troops.
Palestinian factions have hinged the cease-fire declared in late June on Israel releasing the estimated 6,000 Palestinian prisoners. Abbas’ failure to convince Israel to release more than 350 of the prisoners led him to fall out temporarily with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and members of their Fatah party, who also criticized his moderate approach toward Israel.
Israel, however, is not due to release any of the 350 prisoners before a special committee meeting to discuss the issue and give the go-ahead. It has also so far refused to free any members of militant groups but Israeli newspapers said Friday that Sharon could recommend that between 40 and 60 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad not implicated in anti-Israeli attacks be included among the 350.
Another important gain for Abbas would be to see Israel pressured to withdraw from West Bank towns occupied since the intifada began in September 2000. The withdrawals are required from Israel under the US-backed “roadmap” for peace.
An Israeli government spokesman said Sharon intended to press Abbas to “dismantle terrorist infrastructures,” a demand repeatedly put forward by the Israeli premier with US backing.
Palestinian sources said the talks would focus on further Israeli withdrawals and on the prisoners issue. They said Abbas expected an Israeli withdrawal to the September 2000 lines to be completed within six months. Israel has so far only withdrawn from the West Bank town of Bethlehem and most of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian officials said Abbas would head to Egypt late today following his meeting with Sharon and then travel to Jordan the next day for talks, ahead of his first official visit to Washington. The Palestinian premier is due to arrive in the United States on Wednesday and is expected to meet President George W. Bush on July 25.
Meanwhile, UN special coordinator for the Middle East Terje Roed-Larsen yesterday denied a Tel Aviv newspaper report that he had received an offer from Syrian President Bashar Assad to broker the release of Israelis missing in Lebanon. “Basically the quotes attributed on missing Israelis ... are not true,” a statement released by Roed-Larsen’s office said.
On Thursday, the right-wing daily Ma’ariv quoted Roed-Larsen as saying that the Syrian president had told him during July 9 talks in Damascus that a group of Israelis missing in Lebanon were still alive.
