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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (file)
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| By Israel Insider staff July 16, 2007 |
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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon. The leaders are expected to discuss Israel-Palestinian relations and Olmert's controversial package of goodwill gestures aimed at bolstering Abbas.
Olmert's concessions come in the wake of Hamas' conquest of the Gaza Strip. The prime minister is looking to create a moderate partner in the Palestinian Authority chairman, but his strategy is highly contentious inside Israel. Among the measures he is taking is the release of 250 members of Fatah and other factions of the PLO, granting amnesty to 178 wanted Fatah men, and rescinding an entry ban on notorious terrorist leaders.
"Olmert will demand of Abbas to genuinely combat terror. The prime minister will demand intensive PA action to bring Judea and Samaria under Abbas' complete control. Meanwhile we are willing to make these gestures to prove that Israel means what it says," Olmert's aide said.
Many in government officials, however sharply criticize Olmert's plan as short-sighted and dangerously unrealistic.
"Any attempt to strengthen Abbas is doomed to fail," said Deputy Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, according to Ynet.
"We need to look beyond Abbas toward the future leadership, the next generation in the territories," he said.
In private talks, Lieberman continued to knock the negotiations. "Name one thing Abbas has done to deserve such grand gestures. Has he arrested wanted men? Rounded up firearms? Fought against terrorism? You can't strengthen a zero, it will always equal zero."
Olmert is expected to warn Abbas on Monday not to reunify with Hamas, a radical Islamic group considered to be a terrorist organization by the US, Israel and the European Union. Hamas currently has full control over the Gaza strip following a coup on June 20 in which they ousted Abbas' Fatah party.
There is no guarentee, however, that Fatah will not once again join forces with Hamas, despite Olmert's concessions. Many doubt Abbas' ability to win favor among the majority of Palestinians, and view Olmert's plan as futile at best.
Abbas is expected to push for talks on final negotiations for a Palestinian state.
"We took a very progressive step in matters of security, on the matter of the wanted militants and the armed militias. But we also need political talks," Nabil Amar, one of Abbas' aides said Sunday, Haaretz reported.
Despite Olmert's reassurances, there is significant opposition to his plan among the right wing and centrists.
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