Palestinian Authorities: “Al-Jazeera Has Declared War On Palestinian Authority”
Al-Jazeera (knowledge.insead.edu)
A scandal broke out between the Palestinian Authority and famous Arab TV channel Al- Jazeera after the channel released a document on Sunday about Palestinian negotiation of the status of their nation with the Israeli counterpart.
Al-Jazeera began a three-day episodes release of the largest-ever confidential documents on the 11 years of negotiations between Palestinian Authority and Israel.
The release, already deemed as a “Palileaks,” said that the Palestinian Authority has agreed to the annexation by the Israel of east Jerusalem.
In a press conference in Ramallah, PLO official Abed Rabbo, said that Al-Jazeera has expressed doubts in the past over the policies of the former president of the Palestinian National Authority, Yasser Arafat, and now are doubting the policies of the new leadership.
Israel and Palestinian Territories (biglizards.net)
He added that the PNA did not agree to any proposal regarding the fate of the East Jerusalem. The only position we agree, Rabbo said, is that East Jerusalem belongs to us.
He said that Al-Jazeera is attempting to harm the Palestinian Authority, and that all that is being said in the document regarding land swap is wrong.
Rabbo said the PNA understood that in communication with the press they had to be more transparent and exercise professionalism and neutrality.
That is why, the talks between Israel and Palestinians are among the most transparent in history. He added that a commission should be formed to check the veracity of the documents released on Al-Jazeera.
On Monday, a Palestinian Legislative Council official, Mustafa Barghouti, affirmed that the Israelis are not interested in a two-state solution. He added that in spite of the concession offered by Palestinians, the Israelis remain inflexible because in fact they are not backing the idea of two states.
Speaking about Al-Jazeera’s release, the official said: “Al-Jazeera has declared war on Palestinian Authority.”
Olmert and Abbas (ivarfjeld.wordpress.com)
When asked about whether measures would be taken against Al-Jazeera, the official asked the rhetoric question if a station that wars against Palestinians can remain in the West Bank.
He said, however, that a decision would be made upon the return of the president from the visit in Cairo.
Saeb Erekat also said that the Palestinian Authority did not agree to any concession of East Jerusalem.
In a first statement, he expressed his astonishment at how the TV network got the documents, and why were they turned into something illicit, since the Palestinians do not hide anything from the Arab brothers.
Erekat added that the Palestinians and Israelis spoke about land swaps, but that East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
The document speaks of a proposition made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, made on 31 August 2008, in which is being said that Israel would annex 6.8% of West Bank and the settlements from East Jerusalem in exchange for 5.5% of the Israeli territory.
The document also speaks of the “safe passage,” the territory that leaks the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, which would be under Israeli sovereignty and Palestinian control.
Bethlehem would be connected, according to the same document, with Ramallah by a special road, bypassing East Jerusalem.
Olmert offered to recognize in the name of Israel the sufferings endured by Palestinians but they would not take the responsibility for it.
Israel would take 1,000 refugees per year for a period of five years, on “humanitarian” grounds.
The Palestinian authorities made it clear that Mahmoud Abbas never took Olmert’s offer. In fact, the former Israeli PM said this himself.
