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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Books Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters No Peace with settlements
By Rasha Saad
In an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Palestinian Minister of Planning Nabil Shaath said that relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis over the past three years have been marred by constant confrontation. This situation will continue unless newly elected Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, halts the building of settlements and implements the Wye River agreement. Below are extracts from an interview with the Palestinian minister who was in Cairo this week to meet with Arab League officials and draft a constitution for an independent Palestinian State. Shaath has played a key role in talks with Israel since the signing of the 1993 Oslo agreement.
How do you perceive the future of the peace process in the light of Ehud Barak's rise to power?
The heavy defeat of former Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies clearly shows that the Israeli public feels that their country's interests and future are in the peace process and not outside it. However, Barak has already given many negative signals particularly his three 'Nos' pronouncement. His statements regarding the settlements are unsatisfactory as is his preference for an alliance with the Likud even if the alliance never comes off. We will have to wait for the formation of the new government and hope that Barak will show his commitment to the Israeli public's preference for peace.On what basis will the Palestinians judge the new Israeli government?
The Palestinians are expecting the new premier to deliver positive signals such as the halting of settlements, the end of harassment of Arabs in Jerusalem, the implementation of interim agreements and the Wye River accord. Only then could we feel any sense of optimism. If this does not happen then we will be back to the kind of political confrontation that prevailed under Netanyahu.What is your comment on the Arab failure to hold a five-way summit before the formation of the Israeli government?
The Arab response is a disappointment. We feel that such a meeting is needed now more than ever in order to coordinate Arab policies before Barak starts to play one track against the other. The Syrian response, however, is that they prefer to hold such a summit after the new Israeli government is formed. We disagree because we want to take the initiative and force Barak to react to our proposals rather than the other way around which is what usually happens. We are still hopeful that Syria will go along with the proposal for a five-way summit as we cannot blame the Israelis for exploiting divisions within our ranks if we do not coordinate ourselves.How do you describe Palestinian-Syrian relations at the present time?
We would like to see these relations improve significantly and we would like to see them reach a stage of full coordination and cooperation. In a few months we will be engaged in permanent status negotiations with Israel and thus reach the same stage as Syria and Lebanon. This should make working together easier.There are reports that Israel is offering to grant the Palestinians a capital just outside Jerusalem at the town of Abu Dees. To what extent is this true?
This does not represent our position which is as follows. There can be no peace without a total end to settlements and the return of East Jerusalem to Palestinian sovereignty as our capital. We are willing to negotiate the terms regarding open borders between East and West Jerusalem but an agreement must be based on the premise that what was occupied in 1967 must be returned.But the Israelis are establishing a fait accompli by allowing new settlements in East Jerusalem.
There are no fait accomplis in this question. We are not only against settlements being built now but also those that were built as long as 30 years ago. Negotiations and re-negotiations will lead to an agreement based on resolution 242.It is believed that war with Israel is more economic than political. What is the impact of Israeli policies on your economy?
Israeli economic policies have had drastic consequences for the Palestinians. Israel has damaged our economy. Our community has been subject to economic siege and frequent closures have subjected workers to economic hardship. One of the most important aspects of the peace process has been to try and end this Israeli policy.How does the Palestinian economy survive amidst such circumstances?
It would not have been possible without the extensive assistance of the Palestinians living outside Palestine. They have sent money to construct homes and to invest in agricultural and industrial projects. In addition, foreign assistance of about $500 million dollars a year has helped alleviate some economic hardship. The Israeli siege of our economy costs us a minimum of $5-6 million a day. In spite of this the Palestinians have been able to rebuild the infrastructure, construct homes and carry out several projects. Gaza looks better today than it did during the occupation, but the real economic breakthrough will only happen when Israel halts its siege.
