|
|
| By Associated Press May 19, 2006 |
|
| |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied there is a "humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza Strip, but said Israel would buy medicine and other necessities for the Palestinians to prevent a deterioration of the situation, The New York Times reported Friday.
"We wouldn't allow one baby to suffer one night because of a lack of dialysis," Olmert was quoted as saying in an interview with the newspaper.
International sanctions, including Israel's refusal to transfer $55 million in monthly tax revenues it collects for the Palestinians, has made it impossible for the Hamas-led government to pay salaries for the past two months to its 165,000 employees, about one-third of Palestinian households.
Already in dire financial straits, the current crisis has reportedly put the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority on the verge of complete economic collapse.
Despite the lack of money, Hamas has so far stubbornly rejected international demands that it recognize Israel, accept past Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements and renounce violence.
The United States and the European Union, which list Hamas as a terrorist organization, are currently looking for ways to circumvent the Islamic group and get humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
Olmert said that any medicines purchased by Israel would be given directly to hospitals, also a means of bypassing Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction.
"We will pay, if necessary,out of our own pockets," Olmert was quoted as saying.
Olmert's interview to the New York Times was given just days before he heads to Washington for his first meeting as prime minister with U.S. President George W. Bush.
At the White House meeting on May 23, Olmert is expected to for the first time present his plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank and draw Israel's final borders, unilaterally if necessary.
But in the newspaper interview, Olmert remained vague about the details of the plan -- which is meant to annex the three largest West Bank settlement blocs to Israel -- reportedly because the U.S. remains wary that the plan could be too ambitious.
"What I can talk about at this point is the basic desire to set borders for Israel, to separate from the Palestinians and to create a contiguous territory that will allow the Palestinians to fulfill their national dreams and establish their own independent state alongside the state of Israel," Olmert said.
"We have to set borders and to define strict lines of what is right and what is wrong. It's not just a political issue, it's a social issue, it's a cultural issue," Olmert was quoted as saying.
The plan, Olmert said, would be closely coordinated with the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia -- the four members of the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators.
In the interview, Olmert appeared to leave the door open for possible talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the ousted Fatah Party and Hamas' chief rival.
Olmert has said he will not hold peace talks with Abbas so long as Hamas remains in power, saying the Palestinian leader does not have the ability to implement any agreements.
Abbas, however, still wields significant authority, even though his party lost the January parliamentary election to Hamas, and the United States remains in favor of Israel holding peace talks with the president.
Abbas, Olmert said, must disarm Hamas and other "terrorist organizations," saying such a scenario would not necessarily lead to civil war.
Since Hamas' election victory, Fatah and Hamas have come increasingly close to a civil confrontation, especially in recent days when each sent their armed forces out to Gaza's streets, finally leading to a gunfight overnight Friday.
"I have to say, how can any political entity tolerate the existence of many armed groups fighting against each other in the streets?" Olmert said.
Abbas "has to force Hamas to change, has to impose on Hamas the acceptance of Israel and the recognition of all agreements signed with Israel and the disarming of its militant groups, because if not, then the damage threatening the Palestinian Authority is devastating," he said.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
