Baraka: Olmert wants public relations, not a peace process

Editorial Note: The following news reports may be summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology.

Tuesday June 26, 2007 22:03 by Amin Abuwardeh - IMEMC

Translated by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC

Arab member of Knesset, head of the Democratic Front parliamentarian block at the Knesset, Mohammad Baraka, stated on Tuesday that the statements of Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, during the Monday summit in Egypt, are only statements of public relations, and are not meant to push forward the peace process.

Baraka added that Olmert and his government do not want to resume the peace process, and that Olmert is still rejecting to improve the conditions of the Palestinian people by removing all roadblocks, and releasing all Palestinian tax revenue held by Israel since last year.

“Olmert rejects any talks for a final status solution, rejects any real solution”, Baraka stated, “Israel must release all tax revenue it withheld, this is not an act of generosity”.

Baraka also said that every time Olmert meets with Abbas, he makes promises that he does not keep, and the situation in the occupied territories does not improve, while the army continues to impose closures and continues to carry daily attacks.

“Checkpoints are all over the West Bank, they are barring the residents from leading a normal life”, Baraka stated, “The World Bank issued a report on the harm inflicted by these roadblocks, and their effect s on the Palestinian economy”.

Baraka also said that the audio tape which included the voice of the captured Israeli soldiers in Gaza, Gilad Shalit, should be considered as a motive to resume the talks for a prisoner swap deal, and added that Israel must release all Palestinian detainees, since withholding those detainees is a violation to the International Law, because they are imprisoned for resisting the occupation and resisting oppression.

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