Palestinian premier won’t confront militants

Note of Likud of Holland: This article is illustrative of Palestinian doubletalk, the
kind of lies they also use a lot in their propaganda. The new Palestinian Prime
Minister says here (at the same time!) that he will adhere to the ‘Road Map’ and
that he will not implement its most basic Palestinian requirement.

The Associated Press, October 6, 2003.

ABU DIS, West Bank — Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said today he
hopes to negotiate a quick truce with Israel but will not use force against
Palestinian militants under any circumstances – despite U.S. demands for
a clampdown on armed groups.

In setting policy, “I will not listen to the Americans. I will listen to our national
rights,” Qureia told the Associated Press in an interview, just hours after being
installed as the head of an eight-member emergency Cabinet by Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat.

Qureia offered no formula for getting around the deadlock in implementing the
U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan, which requires Palestinian security
forces to disarm and dismantle militant groups that have killed hundreds
of Israelis in shootings and suicide bombings in the past three years of fighting.

While accepting the plan in principle, Palestinian leaders have said they cannot
confront the armed groups for fear of sparking internal fighting. Qureia stuck to
this position, saying he has not yet put together an action plan for his security
forces – but would in any case not use force against the militants.

“We will not confront, we will not go for a civil war,” he said. “It’s not in our
interest. It’s not in the interest of our people, and it’s not in the interest of the
peace process.”

Palestinian security forces will try to impose law and order, Qureia said, but
was evasive about how he would comply with the road map without
dismantling the armed groups.

He said he was “not a slave to words,” but would adhere to the
concepts of the peace plan.

In Washington, President Bush said the Palestinian Authority must do more to
fight terror and “must use whatever means is necessary.”

“All parties must assume responsibility. The Palestinian Authority must
defeat the terrorists who are trying to stop the establishment of a Palestinian
state, a peaceful state, in order for there to be peace,” Bush told reporters.

Qureia said his objective is the establishment of a Palestinian state in all of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital, by 2005 — the
deadline envisioned by the road map.

“We accepted the road map. We will implement it,” he said. “But I will not
receive instructions, ‘be tough or be flexible.’ This is my work. It’s my business.”