- Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian hopes for peace with Israel
- Date: 12th February 2009
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (FEBRUARY 11, 2009) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD WALKING INTO CONFERENCE ROOM FAYYAD LOOKING AT DOCUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD SAYING: "Regardless of the form of government, kind of government that will emerge as a consequence of the elections that took place yesterday in Israel, we have the same expectations of that government. "These expectations can be summarised in one sentence. Steps have to be taken, tangible steps have to be taken to end the occupation that began in 1967." PALESTINIAN SECURITY OFFICER AT MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD SAYING: "Namely again, ending the occupation that began in 1967, an establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. "That's been the goal since the start of this peace process. It has not yet been realised, and what has yet been realised are adverse facts on the ground inconsistent with the viability of the solution, with the need to attain that goal. "These are our expectations of the necessary government - whichever - however it might be formed. I hope that will be also the expectation of the international community of the next government of Israel." FAYYAD STANDING UP AND WALKING FROM ROOM
- Embargoed: 27th February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA73X7JF1NMK410UKCYDBORQX3I
- Story Text: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad voices hope that the new Israeli leader will pursue peace talks with the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday (February 11) urged the next Israeli government to meet international obligations on a peace process with the Palestinians.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said those expectations would be the same whatever the shape of the new administration.
"Tangible steps have to be taken to end the occupation that began in 1967," he told reporters.
Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima party both claimed victory late on Tuesday night after a tight Israeli parliamentary election.
But the bloc of right-wing parties appeared to have secured a majority, including Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party which surged into third place on anti-Arab rhetoric.
Fayyad said an end to the occupation and a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital had been the goal since the start of the peace process, but had yet to be realised.
Netanyahu's Likud and other right-wing Israeli parties reject out of hand most of the Palestinian demands.
The Palestinian position is complicated by a sharp divide between by Abbas' Fatah faction and the Islamist group Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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