MIDDLE EAST: Most Palestinians seem pessimistic over peace prospects because of new Israeli government

Record ID: 349260

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Most Palestinians seem pessimistic over peace prospects because of new Israeli government
  • Date: 1st April 2009
  • Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (FILE, FEBRUARY 21, 2007) (REUTERS) HAMAS LEADER IN GAZA AND PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD HAVING TALKS
  • Embargoed: 16th April 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2NURS9476MZ0SU3FNGOB2VAFM
  • Story Text: Palestinians appear pessimistic about prospects for peace because of new Israeli government.
    Most Palestinians seem pessimistic about the prospects for Middle East because of Israel's new government led by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu.
    Although Netanyahu pledged on Monday (March 30) to make every effort to achieve peace with Israel's neighbours and the Arab world, he made no mention of Palestinian aspirations to statehood.
    Concern has also been raised both internationally and from Arab Israelis by Netanyahu's appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister.
    Lieberman, leader of the ultra nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, advocates trading parts of Israel, where many of its 1.5 million Arab citizens live, to a future Palestinian state, in return for Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
    Although Lieberman pledged in elections to test the loyalty of the Jewish state's Arab minority and deport those who don't pass, he went to the polls on February 10 wishing Israelis "of all faiths" the best and later tried to soften his policy proposals.
    Reactions from Umm el-Fahem, a recent scene of violence between Jewish ultra nationalists and Arabs, differed.
    Israeli Arab Doctor Raed Hallal said the government's policies would remain unchanged.

    "We have not seen a big difference between the decisions taken by the (Israeli) right or the left, especially when it comes to relations with the Arabs in general and Arab-Israelis in particular," said Dr Hallal.
    Last week, violence erupted when ultra nationalist Jews marched through the outskirts of Umm El-Fahem. Israel Arab residents declared a general strike and vowed to bar the demonstrators, who had received High Court approval.
    Police blocked local protesters and in ensuing clashes at least 16 residents and 15 police were injured.
    Arab Israeli resident Munther Khalayle appeared more optimistic and said history has proven that the Israeli right wing can take strategic decisions.

    "Over the course of the history of the Israeli state, the right has proven that it has the ability and the courage to take strategic decisions," said Khalayle.
    Netanyahu has said he will negotiate with the Palestinians, but wants to focus on shoring up their economy rather than on territorial issues that have blocked progress in negotiations, which are currently frozen.
    He has shied away from a direct commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, which is the main goal of U.S.-backed peace efforts.
    Palestinian officials say peacemaking stands no chance without an explicit Israeli commitment to statehood.

    "The victory of the right wing in Israel will reinforce the radicalisation process in Palestinian society and vice-versa unless the international community intervenes strongly to try to bring back the hope of possibly ending the (Israeli) occupation by peaceful means," said political analyst and former Palestinian Authority official Ghassan Al-Khatib.
    Netanyahu has threatened to topple the Hamas leadership, whose spokesman Mushir Al-Masri described the new government as the most extreme ever.

    "This government is the most extremist and terrorist so far. And it comes and announces its war not on Hamas and the Palestinian people, but on mankind. And (Israeli ultra nationalist Avigdor) Lieberman's statements will still stand," said Musri.
    Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs Ashraf Al-Ajrami commented: "The peace process will remain frozen and we will enter into a phase of deterioration, especially since this (Israeli) government does not recognise the foundations of political process; does not recognise the two-state solution; continues settlement building and the occupation. Thus we only expect changes in the negative and deteriorating direction."
    Israel has been pressing ahead with construction of new homes in Jewish settlements within West Bank areas which it says it plans to keep in any peace agreement with the Palestinians.
    Netanyahu said his government would not construct new settlements but would, like its predecessor, build within existing ones to accommodate the "natural growth" of their populations.
    A U.S.-backed peace 'road map' calls for a halt to settlement activity, including natural growth.
    The goal of Palestinian statehood was reaffirmed last week by U.S.
    President Barack Obama. Israeli political sources said Netanyahu was trying to arrange a meeting with Obama in early May in Washington.
    On paper, Netanyahu commands up to 69 parliamentary seats -- 13 of them held by Labour -- in the 120-member parliament. The margin could be cut if Labour legislators opposed to its coalition deal with Likud vote with the opposition.
    Netanyahu's government was due to be sworn in at a parliamentary session starting at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday.
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