Seeking answers

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DURING talks with President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) discussed the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip, which is scheduled for July.

Abbas is seeking more coordination between the Israelis and Palestinians vis-ˆ-vis the pullout, as well as clarification on the link between Israel's pullout and the roadmap to peace drafted by the US, EU, Russia and UN. "We must know where we are going, if the pullout is linked to the roadmap, and if it is a total pullout," Abbas told reporters after his talks in Sharm El-Sheikh. Speaking at the Red Sea resort before heading to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, Abbas said, "Palestinians are ready to coordinate with Israelis," on the withdrawal, but want additional details.

Egypt is expected to play a security role along the border with Gaza after the Israeli pullout. Cairo has been playing a mediating role between the Palestinians and Israelis since last February's peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. Only last week Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was in Cairo for consultations on the Palestinian track and other regional issues.

Abbas criticised Israel for moving too slowly in implementing a number of goodwill measures that were agreed upon in Sharm El-Sheikh, such as troop withdrawals from some West Bank towns, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees. "This process has begun, but was postponed because of Israel," Abbas said. "Israelis do not want to move forward on this matter."

On the issue of Palestinian legislative elections, Abbas said that they would take place on 17 July, as scheduled, although he said he was uncertain whether the militant group Hamas would disarm before running in the elections.