RAMALLAH, July 22, 2010 (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas expected tough times coming, concerning the negotiations, “we cannot accept anything, as long as nothing is clear,” he said.
He repeated, in his speech pronounced in front of Fateh Movement’s Revolutionary Council, that if we made sure that settlement activities as clearly halted, and if there were a clear reference to the negotiations, and a clear specification of 1967 borders, we would, then, go to direct negotiations.
The President added: we must consult with our brethren. The Arab stand we heard about from Egypt and Jordan, is not different from ours. We shall go to the Arab League, if there were any positive development until the 28th. We will go on with proximity talks, as they are, until the four months period ends.
About the Palestinian reconciliation, the President said: “nothing is new, we are keen on reaching a state reconciliation, because if there were none, there will be no state, no unity.”
The President also spoke of his meeting with Jewish American Lobbies representatives during his last visit to Washington DC. He said, although he has always avoided talks with Jewish American lobbies, they are direct links between Netanyahu and President Obama. “We had no relation with them, whatsoever, we have always been warned that they could exploit one word you say, and poison the whole environment. For over a year, I have been determined to meet them, we will not lose anything, in my point of view.”
During my last visit to Washington, I met them. Before the meeting Netanyahu called them, and said: don’t go, he’ll lie to you. Dani Abraham however convinced them to go, and they came, 53 people from AIPAC and Council of Presidents, one from J-Street, one from Now Peace, and one Palestinian; George Salem.
I said the meeting was on the record. I was asked 27 questions and gave 27 truthful answers. The next day, they came to me saying: you have made a revolution; we are going to President Obama to tell him we have a Palestinian partner, is there an Israeli partner? We will also go to Netanyahu to tell him he has the choice between ending the coalition, acknowledging the two state solution or conduct a referendum. Netanyahu, still, when he was told that he said: didn’t I tell you he was a liar? He’s a liar don’t believe him.
