Fatah commander Zakariya Zubeidi (left) carrying interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jenin refugee camp on Thursday.
Posted on 01/01/2005 12:28:00 AM PST by SmithL
Israeli and Palestinian officials have been meeting over the past few days to discuss the possibility of allowing Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to make an election campaign visit to East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount next week. The visit would come several days before the January 9 elections in the Palestinian Authority.
Senior Fatah sources in the Jerusalem area told Haaretz about the talks and confirmed that the two sides discussed a possible Abbas visit to the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif.
Israel Police officials met Thursday in a Jerusalem hotel with Palestinian figures in the lead-up to the elections.
Police sources refused Thursday to reveal what was discussed in the meeting but said the two sides were seeking to organize the permissibility of election campaigning in East Jerusalem and to determine security arrangements.
The decision to allow Abbas into Jerusalem is in the hands of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. If the election jaunt is authorized at the political level, this would be the first visit in Jerusalem of a Palestinian personality of Abbas' level.
Israel had in the past prevented Yasser Arafat from visiting Jerusalem. In one instance at the beginning of the intifada, however, Israel allowed his convoy to pass adjacent to the Old City while he was making his way to Jericho.
Police said Thursday that, "Jerusalem police will carry out every directive issued by the political level."
Abbas campaigned Thursday in Jenin. His convoy was escorted by hundreds of PA security officers and members of the Fatah's military wing in the city headed by Zakariya Zubeidi, who is wanted by Israeli security forces.
Zubeidi and Abbas met face to face and the militant even hoisted the Palestinian leader on his shoulders.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander Zubeidi told Channel 10 TV news that, "We are not talking about the end of the intifada, not about a cease-fire and not about an end to terror attacks."
Regarding the wanted militants, Abbas said that, "They are neither criminals nor murderers. Rather they are fighting for the honorable lives of their Palestinians brothers."
Fatah commander Zakariya Zubeidi (left) carrying interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jenin refugee camp on Thursday.
has anyone taken the time to check out this abbas guy? I have this jerusalem post book,It says he was worse that arafat!
Abbas is purposely going to the temple mount,in order to incite violence.
jeruselem postl.historic archives.
Not arguing that point, but he's the one Israel is going to have to deal with. If he goes to the Temple Mount and agitates, the blood of a lot of people will be on his hands. If he publically advocates or secretly supports violence against Israel, he'll end up as irrelevant as Arafat.
However, Israel is offering him a chance with a blank slate and a fresh start. If he takes the opportunity and tries to negogiate a peacefull settlement, who knows how much good can come from it?
I don't know if it's possible, but I certainly pray for peace.
He just said his goal was to end Israel.
Why pretend. Why the charade?
"Regarding the wanted militants, Abbas said that, "They are neither criminals nor murderers. Rather they are fighting for the honorable lives of their Palestinians brothers."
Phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!
Yeah, sure Abbas. While your at it, see if you can convince all of us that donkeys fly and fish walk on land!
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