Qureia says Israel is making a two-state solution impossible

Tuesday August 12, 2008 01:40 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qurei'a, stated that by continuing to reject the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, Israel is making a two-state solution an impossible aim.

Qurei'a stated that Israel should fully withdraw from the Palestinian territories captured in 1967, including East Jerusalem and allow an independent Palestinian state to be established within the 1967 boundaries. However, if Israel continues to reject these proposals and refuses to co-operate over areas such as the removal of illegal Israeli settlements within the West Bank, then Qurei'a argues that "we will call for the alternative solution for the Palestinian people and their leadership - that is a single binational state" .

Qurei'a released these statements following a closed-door meeting with Fat'h leaders in the West Bank.

Though US-mediated talks have been running for years, little visible progress has been made. The deadline for achieving a peace deal based on a two-state solution is next January when US President George Bush leaves office, though many think this is now unlikely.

Israel's refusal to negotiate over key issues, and the current domestic crisis faced by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over multiple corruption charges and his looming resignation all contribute to the stagnation of the peace talks.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.