Israel Matzav

'Palestinian Authority' walking back dissolution talk

What a shock. The 'Palestinians' are walking back talk of dissolving the 'Palestinian Authority.'

Palestinian officials in Ramallah on Monday denied that the Palestinian Authority has been considering dissolving itself if the peace talks with Israel fail.

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Members of the Fatah Central Committee who met in Ramallah on Monday night to discuss the crisis in the peace talks did not have the issue of dissolving the PA on their agenda, according to a senior Fatah official.

Gen. Adnan Dmeiri, spokesman for the PA security establishment, dismissed the talk about dissolving the PA as an “Israeli invention.” Israel was trying to create frustration among Palestinians by spreading such reports, he claimed.

The PLO Central Council, which is expected to meet later this week, does not plan to discuss the dismantlement of the PA, said Wasel Abu Yusef, a top PLO official.

The council would discuss the situation in Jerusalem, the prisoner release and efforts to establish a Palestinian unity government headed by Abbas, Abu Yusef said.

“No one is talking about the option of dissolving the Palestinian Authority,” he said.

“Rather, we are talking about international recognition of a Palestinian state and our efforts to join international treaties and organizations.”

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However, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency quoted unnamed sources in the PA leadership as saying that the PA might be dissolved as a result of Israeli “intransigence.”

The sources said that the PLO’s Negotiating Department has begun studying ways of dissolving the PA and the repercussions of such a move.

The threat to solve the PA was not an “exercise,” the sources said. This option is on the table, they added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu pulled a George H.W. Bush tonight, telling the 'Palestinians' to call him when they're ready to discuss peace.

“Today, we saw the Palestinian Authority speak of dismantling itself and also talking about unity with Hamas,” the premier told revelers at a Mimuna celebration in Or Akiva. “They should decide – either dissolve, or enter into a union with Hamas. When they want peace, they should let us know. Because we want a genuine peace.”

With eight days left, it looks like the current round of 'talks' is over. What could go wrong?

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Middle East peace process, Palestinian Authority

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:15 AM