- Title: WEST BANK: PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL MAHMOUD ABBAS CONTINUES ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL
- Date: 30th December 2004
- Summary: (W6)QALQILYA, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV CARS IN CITY CENTRE; MV MAHMOUD ABBAS, LEADING PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANISATION (PLO) HEAD, ARRIVING FOR CAMPAIGN 0.05 2. SLV PEOPLE IN THE STREET; ABBAS POSTERS; SLV ABBAS CONVOY 0.35 3. SLV PAN ISRAELI SEPARATION BARRIER; MV ABBAS STANDING WITH PEOPLE IN FRONT OF BARRIER 0.51 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABBAS SAYING: "This wall won't bring peace and stability. This wall is racist and political and inhumane. If we want to exist, this siege should be removed. A normal life between us and Israelis, security and stability, will not come from building this wall, but by mutually respecting rights and by mutual recognition." 1.23 5. WIDE OF WATCHTOWER ON BARRIER 1.25 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABBAS SAYING: "We did our part. The Israelis have to recognise the Palestinian peoples' lives that were recognised by the international community. We choose the way of peace and we put our hands out to those who want peace - peace based on justice, either that or I am sorry to say there will be no peace for us or for the others. We remember here the Berlin Wall. It was the last racist wall that fell down in the last century. We hope to see this wall fall and to see peace, security and stability for all." 7. ABBAS WALKING AWAY 2.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th January 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: QALQILYA, WEST BANK
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVACO74YV6VLLHL2W4DVBFKSDKHS
- Story Text: Abbas continues on the campaign trail, reaching the
north of the West Bank.
Presidential hopeful Mahmoud Abbas continued on the
campaign trail on Wednesday (December 29, 2004) just 11 days
before a Palestinian presidential election which he is
anticipated to win.
Abbas toured the West Bank cities of Qalqilya, on his
second day of campaigning.
Addressing a crowd of supporters in Qalqilya in front
of Israel's controversial separation barrier, Abbas called
on Israel to break down the barrier and to open a way for
peace.
"This wall won't bring peace and stability. This wall
is racist and political and inhumane. If we want to exist,
this siege should be removed. A normal life between us and
Israelis, security and stability, will not come from
building this wall, but by mutually respecting rights and
by mutual recognition," Abbas said.
The campaign rallies drew cheers from the crowds in
both Tulkarm and Qalqilya.
Abbas has repeated Arafat's stand that Palestinians
will settle for no less than a state in all of the
Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip with East
Jerusalem as its capital and the "right of return" of
refugees to what is now Israel.
Israel rules out such an outcome. But after boycotting
Arafat as an alleged mastermind of bloodshed, Israel and
chief mediator the United States have warmed to Abbas as
someone they could deal with because he has condemned
violence as a mistake.
"We did our part. The Israelis have to recognise the
Palestinian peoples' lives that were recognised by the
international community. We choose the way of peace and we put our
hand
s out to those who want peace - peace based on
justice - either that or I am sorry to say there will be no
peace for us or for the others. We remember here the Berlin
Wall. It was the last racist wall that fell down in the
last century. We hope to see this wall fall and to see
peace, security and stability for all," Abbas said.
Arafat died at the age of 75 of an undisclosed illness
in a hospital near Paris on November 11.
Abbas has raised hopes for Middle East peace by quickly
becoming the overwhelming favourite to succeed Arafat in a
January 9 presidential election, riding a significant swing
in popular sentiment in favour of negotiations since his
death.
Security was very tight around Abbas because of fears
of threats from powerful militants who reject any ceasefire
and have insinuated he might "capitulate" in talks with
Israel.
Abbas's rise has stirred new optimism about peace and
diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations frozen since 2000.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called 2005 a
year of opportunity and offered to coordinate his plan to
quit tiny Gaza. But he rules out meaningful talks until
militant attacks cease and says Israel will keep part of
the West Bank forever.
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