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'Jerusalem is closer than ever' PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia pledges to continue struggle until Jerusalem becomes capital of Palestinian state; promises to follow Arafat's path until Palestinian flags are placed above walls of Jerusalem By Ali Waked Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the Jenin area in the West Bank is the first step towards Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said Thursday in preparation for the PA’s official pullout celebrations. “They (Israelis) don’t have any other choice,” he said. “The direction we have are moving in together over the past few years brings us closer to Jerusalem and...

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia joined rival Palestinian groups in a call for unity Saturday, hoping they could work together to ensure calm and keep the Gaza Strip from plunging into chaos if Yasser Arafat dies. But in a sign of the challenges ahead, the Islamic militant group Hamas issued what it called an "urgent demand" for a formal role in Palestinian decision making in the post-Arafat era. "This time is very sensitive. It's a historic time. There is no space for any unilateral decisions," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, alluding to Fatah, Arafat's core organization. "Everyone now is...

King Abdullah slams PA Accuses its leadership of not carrying out real reform. Says it is responsible for situation in which 50% of territory offered today while 2 years ago 98% discussed.Marwan Athamna King Abdullah “The Palestinian Authority must carry out a real reform and tell the Arab world what it wants of it”, Abdullah King of Jordan told the Arab satellite network al-Arabiya on Tuesday. Abudllah harshly criticized the PA and said that because of the way it handled the situation, Israel today is offering it only 50% of territory that was conquered during the Six Day war, while...

EU says it would reconsider position on PA if Abu Ala resigns After meeting FM Shalom in Jerusalem, EU foreign affairs chief Solana says if Abu Ala ends up just as Abu Mazen, conclusions could be drawn. Gil Horev Solana (right) and Shalom today in Jerusalem (Foreign Ministry photo). If Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei (Abu Ala) resigns we would have to reconsider our position regarding the Palestinian Authority, European Union foreign affairs chief Javier Solana has stated. During a press conference he held with Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom after a joint meeting this (Thursday) afternoon in Jerusalem, Solana said,...

Last Update: 03/11/2003 23:14 Sharon: PA leadership that objects to terror will soon arise By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ahead of their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday. (AP) MOSCOW - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is on a visit to Russia, said Monday he believes that "very soon a Palestinian leadership that objects to the path of terror, violence and incitement of [PA Chairman] Yasser Arafat will arise, and will be prepared to act with us to honestly implement the road map. When that happens,...

Oct. 15, 2003 Israel angered by Swiss sponsorship of "Geneva Initiative" By ASSOCIATED PRESS Israel's government is angered by Swiss sponsorship of an unofficial peace plan worked out between former Israeli and Palestinian politicians and veteran peace negotiators, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday. The still-unreleased 50-page document, worked out primarily under the sponsorship of Switzerland, has no official standing, but outlines a solution to generations of conflict and includes a map of a future Palestinian state alongside Israel. On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said the government was peeved at the Swiss, who helped fund the...