WEST BANK: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT ACCUSES ISRAEL OF NOT MEETING DEMANDS OF ROADMAP TO PEACE

Record ID: 646014

  • Title: WEST BANK: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT ACCUSES ISRAEL OF NOT MEETING DEMANDS OF ROADMAP TO PEACE
  • Date: 31st July 2003
  • Summary: (U6)RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 29, 2003) (REUTERS) MV PALESTINIAN LABOUR MINISTER GHASSAN AL-KHATIB TALKING TO JOURNALISTS AT OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GHASSAN AL-KHATIB SAYING "Well, we were encouraged on the one hand by the American continuous commitment to the road map and to the peace process and also the reiteration of President Bush to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. But, on the other hand, we were very disappointed by the absence in the speech of Sharon of any commitment to implementing the specific obligations on Israel that came in the road map, such as the necessity to stop settlement expansion, including the separation wall and the ending of the Israeli road blocks which are spreading all over the Palestinian territories." SCU AL-KHATIB'S HANDS; MV AL-KHATIB SITTING IN OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5JNUOIBFKR6Y0UFE0L0FSAYO
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat accused Israel of not meeting demands of roadmap.
    Palestinian President Yasser Arafat accused Israel on Tuesday (July 29) of insufficiently meeting the demands of the "road map" to peace which outlines reciprocal steps to end 34 months of violence and establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel by 2005.
    Arafat spoke to reporters before the end of U.S.
    President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke to the press in Washington about the results of their talks on Tuesday at the White House.
    "The accurate implementation of the road map, and not what the Israelis are insisting to implement, because as you are following their declarations, that they have 14 points against the road map, and they want to change the road map and for this what had been implemented until now, is something cannot call it progress or the peace of the brave," said Arafat.
    Meanwhile, Ghassan Al-Khatib, the Palestinian Labour Minister, said Sharon's speech was a disappointment for the Palestinians.
    "We were very disappointed by the absence in the speech of Sharon of any commitment to implementing the specific obligations on Israel that came in the road map, such as the necessity to stop settlement expansion, including the separation wall and the ending of the Israeli road blocks which are spreading all over the Palestinian territories."
    Ghassan said.
    Al-Khatib added he was pleased with the American position.
    "Well, we were encouraged on the one hand by the American continuous commitment to the road map and to the peace process and also the reiteration of President Bush to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State," he added.
    Israel has said it needs the fence to keep suicide bombers from entering its cities, where hundreds of Israelis have been killed in attacks during a 34 month Palestinian uprising for statehood.
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