U.S. backs down from position that Palestinian PM must control security

Haaretz ^ | 11/11/2003 | Akiva Eldar

[yonif]

The United States stepped back on Monday from its long-standing position a Palestinian prime minister must control all security forces and said it would judge a new Palestinian cabinet on its performance.

Bowing to the reality the Palestinians were unlikely to choose a government more to Washington's liking, the State Department said the only criterion was whether the new cabinet would crack down on Palestinian militants.

Meanwhile, Palestinian legislators warned that Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia's new government would face stiff opposition in parliament, because it looks similar to earlier ones. Qureia's cabinet is expected to win parliamentary approval on Wednesday, but then its problems would only begin. Alongside internal dissatisfaction over the cabinet's makeup, Israel and the United States are unhappy with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's continued control over security forces, throwing Mideast peace moves into disarray.

Qureia announced a deal on Sunday to form a government that would leave security powers in the hands of Arafat.

The United States had long pressed for an "empowered" prime minister who controlled the security forces and was willing to use them against militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

A senior State Department official, who asked not to be identified, added: "We're going to talk to these guys. We're seeing what they do. If they don't do [anything], it doesn't matter what kind of government they've got, what kind of organization they've got. If they do stuff, then they do stuff. That's what matters."

But State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "Whatever the structure, good or bad, the only criterion that matters is dismantling the terrorist groups."

However, Qureia himself has said he will not order a confrontation with the violent groups, preferring to negotiate an end to the attacks.

Israel-Palestinian contacts were expected to resume as soon as Qureia's government is installed, but now Israeli officials complain that essentially, Arafat remains in charge, and Israel is resolved not to deal with him.

Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Monday evening that after the new government is installed, talks with Israel will be possible, the Itim news agency reported. He said such meetings would have to be based on previous agreements and the will to carry out the road map.

"We are ready to continue with negotiations," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday, while setting a key condition: starting the process of dismantling violent groups. "On this there can be no compromise," Sharon told visiting French Jewish leaders.

Qureia 'personally supports' Geneva Accords Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia announced Monday he "personally supports" the Geneva Accords as a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, but a leaflet allegedly issued by a pro-Arafat Fatah cell Monday warned Palestinians against the Geneva document and threatened to harm those who sign it and support it.

Qureia was responding to questions from a delegation of American Friends of Peace Now currently in the country.

The Qureia statement, which was tape recorded, is a substantial shift in his position. Two years ago he worked on a proposal with Shimon Peres for a temporary Palestinian state, postponing to a later, unspecified date the negotiations over tough issues like Jerusalem and refugees. That initiative collapsed after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon demanded that the interim period last at least 15 years, but the concept of an interim state reappeared in the road map.

On Monday, Qureia spoke of the need to convene the international peace conference mentioned in the road map and then immediately begin final status negotiations, skipping the stage of the interim state.

He told the American peace camp supporters that "for every positive step Sharon takes, we will take two." He said he believed he could garner public support for the Geneva initiative - if the Israeli government responds adequately to his call for a cease-fire and enables him to demonstrate to his people some achievements like an end to the assassinations and arrests, checkpoints lifted and illegal outposts dismantled.

But while Qureia was telling the Americans of his support for the Geneva accords hammered out by former Israeli justice minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, a leaflet purporting to be from a Fatah cell considered close to Arafat charged the Geneva Accords are meant to subjugate the Palestinians. The people who signed it should have "their tongues, hands and heads cut off for giving up the principles of the people and playing with the assets and holy sites of the people," the leaflet said.

[yonif]

Ping.