July 22, 2005

PRINCE ABDULLAH REVIEWS THE SITUATION IN THE REGION WITH THE CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN AND AMRE MOUSSA. PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL STRESSES AT THE NEXT CENTURY FOUNDATION THAT PRINCE ABDULLAH'S INITIATIVE PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR THE ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT. THE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT WARNS FROM THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHALLENGING THE LAW. ISRAEL INTENSIFIES ITS ATTACKS AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS. THE US URGES THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS TO REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE AND OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard received a telephone call from Crown Prince of Bahrain and Commander-in-Chief of defense force Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. During the call, they discussed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the latest developments at the regional and international arenas. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, also received Amre Mousa, the Secretary General of the Arab League. The audience was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and a number of princes. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister met with the Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa. During the meeting, they discussed the issues of the Arab region topped by the Palestinian cause and the situation in Iraq within the framework of Arab Summit's resolutions. The meeting was attended by Dr. Nizar Ibn Obaid Madani, the Assistant Foreign Minister. Moussa left Riyadh after a brief visit to the Kingdom. The Secretary General's advisor Hisham Youssef had said that the AL secretary general will pay tomorrow a several hour visit to Saudi Arabia in order to hold talks with senior Saudi officials on latest developments in the Arab states especially revitalizing the Arab peace initiative. He added that Moussa's talks in Saudi Arabia "are of special importance especially due to the critical conditions the region is witnessing especially in Iraq and Palestine." In conclusion of his short visit to Saudi Arabia, Moussa will arrive tomorrow in Damascus "to hold talks with the Syrian officials on developments in the region in Palestine and Iraq and the continued threats and pressures on Syria at the meantime." Youssef continued "the AL secretary general will preside over the meetings of the higher coordination committee for common Arab action in Damascus." Saudi Arabia has called upon the world community to find a just, lasting and comprehensive Middle East peace settlement based on the principles of international legitimacy and responsibility as well as justice and even-handedness. Prince Turki Al-Faisal also reiterated Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the Palestinians. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, has renewed the stance of Saudi Arabia in support of the Palestinian people and their cause. In an address on Monday (18 July) in London at a conference organized by the 'Next Century Foundation' at the Houses of Parliament in London, the Ambassador affirmed that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries had sought a comprehensive and just peace. But he added that the inability of the international community to fulfil its obligations to the Palestinians had led to criticism about double-standards in the Middle East. Prince Turki affirmed that Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, was aware of the need to re-activate the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and that his personal initiative would provide a viable solution to the conflict. Prince Turki regretted the rejection of this initiative by Israel, which was described as a "bold move" in the American-Saudi statement issued last April. Alongside Prince Turki was Afif Safieh, the outgoing Palestinian General Delegate to the UK who is now Palestinian Ambassador designate to Washington, and Syrian Ambassador Sami Khiyami. The full text of the speech follows: The Arab Peace Initiative HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal's keynote speech to the Next Century Conference London, June 18th 2005 We have listened this morning and afternoon to comprehensive analyses and rich discussions on various aspects of the Arab Israeli conflict. I am privileged to have listened to such a group of well informed experts. I share the view that the ongoing Palestinian Israeli conflict is the most threatening to Middle East peace and stability. And there will be no peace or stability until a just and comprehensive solution is found, within which Palestinians have the right to self determination and have their own viable state, on their own land. Ladies and gentlemen Let me remind you here of the words of the Balfour Declaration. In November 1917 Arthur Balfour, the then British Foreign Secretary said, "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine". In 1946 King Abdulaziz wrote to American President Truman urging him to keep moral principles in mind and not to tolerate unjust policies aimed at accommodating Jewish claims at the expense of the rights, dignity and independence of the indigenous people of Palestine. In his reply President Truman told King Abdulaziz that the Palestinian problem was the most difficult problem facing the world. Here we are six decades later - and it is still the most difficult problem facing the world. The position of the Kingdom, which was first declared by King Abdulaziz, has continued throughout different phases of the conflict without change. It is firmly founded on principles of justice, international legitimacy and the rejection of aggression. After the establishment of the Israeli State and the occupation of Palestinian land in 1948, the Kingdom supported the rights of the Palestinian people for self determination, their rights to their own state on their own land, and their right to return to their homes, properties, and farms in Palestine. After the 1967 war and the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, alongside other Arab lands in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, the Kingdom with other Arab countries stood against the Israeli aggression and the occupation. As it has been seen, the Israeli occupation, and its consequences, have resulted in widespread instability in the region. Realizing the need for a comprehensive and just solution to the Arab Israeli conflict, King Fahd in 1982 presented his vision for a peaceful settlement for the Arab Israeli conflict mainly based on the following principles: 1.The withdrawal of Israel from all the Arab territories which were occupied in 1967, including Arab Jerusalem. 2. The guaranteeing of the freedom of worship and the performance of religious rites for all religions in the Holy Places. 3. The reaffirmation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the exercise of their inalienable and imprescriptible national rights, and the indemnification of those who do not desire to return. 4. The establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. Although Arab countries unanimously agreed for the first time on a plan for a peaceful settlement for the conflict including the recognition of Israel, the crisis has continued. Hopes were renewed at the Madrid conference in 1991 in the aftermath of the war to liberate Kuwait in an attempt by the international community to start a peace process through negotiations involving Israel and Arab countries including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians. Ladies and gentlemen, The United Nations has passed many resolutions, but the crisis continues. The continuation of this tragedy, the ever deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and the lack of action by the international community have led many in the Middle East to criticize the double standards in pursuing UN resolutions. Despite showing indifference to Israeli aggression and inhuman treatment towards the Palestinians, swift action has been taken when UN resolutions have been violated in other areas. The suffering of the Palestinian people has been highlighted by many independent observers including members of the British Parliament, the United Nations, and various NGOS. Lately, the wall has raised fears that its real objective is to create new de facto borders between Israel and an eventual Palestinian state. On 9 July 2004 , the International Court of Justice condemned the Israeli wall and pointed out the damage that the construction of the wall would inevitably do to any prospect for peace. Israel's response has been to remain obdurate. This stubborn intransigence is a political minefield that will cause irreparable damage to that much troubled road to peace. It could indeed be fatally damaging to any chance of reaching a just solution to the Palestinian issue and the Arab Israeli conflict. Barriers and walls will not bring peace and stability. Despite this we must continue to hope and continue to work towards the possibility of a peaceful settlement. We hope that the International Quartet Committee revives the peace process and urges Israel to live up to its commitments towards the Road Map and to its obligations in compliance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and in accordance with the principle of land for peace as endorsed at the Madrid conference. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab countries, has clearly expressed its interest in reaching a peaceful solution for the Palestinian tragedy based on international legitimacy and on the principle of peace for land. This desire for peace was clearly stated in Crown Prince Abdullah's Plan of 2002, which called for total Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands according to UN resolutions in return for total Arab recognition of Israel. In 2003 the Security Council adopted resolution 1397. This includes the vision of two states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side within secure and recognized borders. And yet the road towards achieving that vision remains uncertain. Ladies and gentlemen This is the most difficult problem facing the world. The British Prime Minister described the Palestinian problem at the conclusion of the London meeting in March 2005 on supporting the Palestinian Authority as ''the single most pressing political challenge" .. "this is the issue that causes as much misunderstanding, division, concern, worry as virtually any other in the whole of international community" ''much of the poison that we want to take out of the international relations has swirled around as a result of the failure to make progress on this issue.'' In my opinion and after listening to this morning's and afternoon's discussions, the basic ingredients for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace simply can be and should be based on the following principles: - Legality and international legitimacy - International responsibility - Justice and even-handedness Crown Prince Abdullah foresaw the need to break the stalemate in the Arab Israeli conflict and through his initiative all Arab countries are united in agreeing that peace is their strategic option. The Arab Peace Initiative is still on the table and provides for a comprehensive solution to this troubling conflict. While it has been rejected by Israeli, it was described in the joint statement by President Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah in April 2005, as a bold initiative - adopted unanimously by the Arab Summit in 2002- that seeks to encourage an Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace. And finally, I have heard from my distinguished colleagues and from others that the Arabs have not served this initiative enough. That we must do more to make it come to fruition. This begs me to put the following question to my colleagues: what have the powers that be done to bring to fruition the Rogers plan, the Kissinger step by step plan, the Reagan plans, the Madrid, Oslo initiatives, the Taba effort, and finally the Bush Roadmap? On the Palestinian arena President Mahmoud Abbas has warned Palestinians against violating law and order in the Palestinian territories. Abbas addressed a speech last night to the Palestinian people after the Gaza Strip witnesses armed confrontation in the last two days between Hamas fighters and Palestinian security and police forces. "We are not going to allow the terrorizing of residents and we will not deal lightly with those who try to challenge and violate the rule of law. We will prosecute all those who violated the law and attacked out property," said Abbas in a televised speech. Abbas called on all the Palestinian factions to respect the Palestinian Authority (PA), be committed to its rule as well as to the period of calmness that was declared and accepted last March in Cairo. Abbas in his speech was very critical of Hamas, accusing it of undermining the Palestinian national interests and preventing Israel from implementing its plan to withdraw from Gaza. "We are determined to end the status of anarchy, chaos and security deterioration, and we are carrying out measures and actions that would devote law and discipline," said Abbas in his speech. He slammed Palestinian groups, mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, for continuing bomb attacks and firing rockets at Israel and at Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip in violation of the truce. Abbas also described firing rockets as "absurdist actions that just bring our people disaster and severe harm". "We asserted that we would never be dragged into a civil war, where I explained this in Damascus to Hamas leaders as well as other factions and parties' leaders," Abbas said. He added that during his meetings with leaders of the Palestinian factions and parties in Damascus last week, "we reiterated the commitments of self-control and restraint and not to respond to the Israeli provocations." "But the surprising thing is that one faction is using a double policy: On one hand it says it is committed to the calmness and discipline and on the other practicing completely opposite actions that aim to weaken the Palestinian Authority and break its strength," said Abbas. Abbas held Israel completely responsible for the current escalation of violence. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei in a press conference warned that Israel's military escalation is "an attempt by Israel to meddle in our internal Palestinian life." Israel's second aim is to "destroy the Cairo understandings," he said, referring to the Cairo Declaration, which the PNA and 13 anti-occupation factions reached earlier this year and agreed upon a one-year truce with the IOF. The truce is a higher Palestinian national interest, he reconfirmed, appealing to all to preserve it. Qurei indicated a third reason for the Israeli military escalation. Israel "wants to isolate us" from its unilateral plan to "disengage" its soldiers and settlers from the Gaza Strip. "They (the Israelis) want to create a buffer zone" between the PNA and the disengagement process," he said, adding that the IOF are planning a military operation against the Gaza Strip, declaring that 40 IOF tanks are now amassing at the Strip's borders. Qurei said the Israeli disengagement plan has become an "international plan" and "we have no other alternative but to bypass the disengagement successfully." PNA premier Qurei rejected the Israeli military escalation at his press conference and condemned Israeli extra-judicial assassinations, declaring the victims as "our martyrs, our sons." The latest deaths raised the Palestinian death toll to more than 3,876 since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (uprising) against the 38-year old Israeli occupation on September 28, 2000. Amid an exchange of blame and accusations, Ahamd Qurei told reporters on Saturday in the West Bank city of Ramallah that he would not compromise on "reinforcing the rule of law and order and the PNA image as a national duty." "Without the PNA there is no place for the national agenda. The only alternative to the national agenda is the Israeli agenda," he said. Therefore he appealed for all Palestinian factions to protect the PNA if they want to defend the national agenda. However other Palestinian officials were less conciliatory. They accused Hamas of a "real conspiracy against the PNA and its leadership," according to presidential adviser Nabil Abu Rudeinah and of "undermining" the truce with Israel according to top security adviser Jibril al-Rajoub. PNA Cabinet minister Sakher Bseisso, who was involved in contacts with Hamas in the past, said the Islamic movement was leaving President Abbas little choice but to crack down. "Hamas is trying to impose its control on the ground," he said. The ruling Fatah movement separately held Hamas completely responsible for the bloodshed. What happened "is a premeditated plan aiming at undermining the PNA with its present leadership and to take it over by legitimate and illegitimate means," WAFA quoted a statement by Fatah as saying. Palestinian Interior Ministry similarly blamed Hamas for firing on the Palestinian police. Hamas demanded the sacking of Interior Minister Nassr Yousef, whom Qurei at his Saturday's press conference defended as enforcing a government policy and not a personal agenda. "We are asking for the dismissal of the interior minister because keeping him in his dangerous job will be very dangerous for Palestinian unity," Hamas said in a statement. "What is happening in Gaza is a dangerous crime against our people and was directly ordered by the interior minister... What is happening is part of Nasr Yussef's plan to destroy resistance," the statement added. Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri said that the clashes were not spontaneous but were a deliberate attempt by the PNA to prevent the resistance group from "defending the Palestinian people against Israel's aggression." He, however, affirmed that the resistance group remained committed to the truce, stressing "the truce must be respected by the both sides." Yousef put security forces and police on high alert to "prevent by force if necessary all firing of rockets and mortars" against Israeli targets. Yousef said that his forces will "not hesitate" to restore law and order, and ordered rocket attacks into Israel to be stopped by all means. Hamas activists hit a PNA armored personal carrier with a rocket-propelled grenade, and torched a police car. The confrontations began in northern Gaza Strip, when police said they tried to stop a Hamas squad from firing rockets at nearby Israeli towns. A fire fight erupted, and five Hamas activists were wounded. In response, dozens of Hamas gunmen attacked a Palestinian police post in a different area, firing machine guns, hurling grenades and setting the two police cruisers on fire. Meanwhile Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the IDF to prepare for a large-scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip but told commanders to wait for the diplomatic level to determine when the operation would get underway. Israel Air Force aircrafts launched a series of air attacks on several metal workshops in the Gaza Strip. Mofaz said Israel will take all necessary steps against terror organizations, but will also grant the Palestinian Authority an opportunity to take control over the groups on its own. In a meeting with senior defense establishment figures it was also decided to keep a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned in Gaza that "Americans told us that there is an Israeli intention to invade Gaza," cautioned that "if this happens, everything will be damaged," and pledged to stop "at all costs" Palestinian rocket attacks against Israeli targets. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and government have been citing the Palestinian rocket attacks as the pretext to mass their troops and tanks around the Gaza Strip, threatening an invasion. Israel Radio quoted an IOF spokesman as saying that six settlers in the Gaza Strip colony of Neveh Dekalim sustained light or moderate wounds and were taken to an Israeli hospital outside the Gaza Strip overnight. Talking to Palestinian reporters at his Gaza City office, Abbas said, "We are determined to stop the launching of the homemade rockets, whatever the price. We are going to do our utmost to stop these rockets." However he pleaded for more time, saying at a press conference: "I cannot promise how much time it will take me." The Palestinian leader, who has been in Gaza trying to rescue a seven-month-old informal truce, expressed determination to put a stop to the attacks. "We want to prevent Qassam rocket fire at all costs," he told journalists, referring to the makeshift devices used by the anti-occupation activists. The United States urged both Israel and the Palestinian authorities to refrain from violence and retaliation ahead of scheduled Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza and part of West Bank. "Both parties need to make a maximum effort to make this withdrawal successful. We also urge both parties to exercise restraint and to restore calm," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a news briefing. Noting the United States has seen the Palestinian Authority recently take some positive steps to act against violence and terror, McCormack said that more needs have to be done by the Palestinians. "They need to make every effort, as we talked about, that maximum effort now to stop violence and act to end terror," the spokesman said. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas warned Palestinian militants against violation of the rule of law and calmness that prevailed in the Palestinian territories since February. Abbas called on all the Palestinian factions to renew commitment to calmness or truce with Israel that was declared in March in Cairo. He slammed Palestinian militant groups, mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, for continuing suicide bombing and rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli towns and Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip despite of the truce. Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim warned to launch a large-scale offensive Sunday "within a few hours" unless a serious change within the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) towards quelling the recent violence is witnessed. Israel Radio quoted Boim as saying that Israeli infantry and armored units including tanks were already prepared for the offensive operation into the Gaza Strip, and were waiting for the order from the government. Israel has stepped up its operations against Palestinian militants after a suicide bombing attack by an Islamic Jihad member killed five Israeli and a rocket attack on an Israeli town killed a 22-year-old Israeli woman. Israel's air strikes last Friday killed four Palestinian militants in Gaza and another militant at a hideout in the West Bank, which signalled Israeli had resumed its policy of targeted killings against militants. Meanwhile President George W. Bush addressed the following Memorandum for the Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice: Presidential Determination No. 2005-29 SUBJECT: Waiver of Restrictions on Providing Funds to the Palestinian Authority Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including section 550(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005 (Div. D, Public Law 108-447)(the "Act"), I hereby certify that it is important to the national security interests of the United States to waive the provisions of section 550(a) of the Act, in order to provide funds appropriated to carry out chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to the Ministry of Finance of the Palestinian Authority in direct assistance for use on new projects in Gaza. You are authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 550(d) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register. GEORGE W. BUSH From his side Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon confronted Jewish settlers due to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip, pledging to keep his pullout plan on track despite ultranationalist protests that have rocked Israel. Attending a rare parliamentary roundtable, the ex-general appeared unruffled as settlers who once considered him their champion railed against the government's planning for their relocation as part of withdrawals set to begin in mid-August. "To anyone who thinks disengagement will not be carried out because of this or that manoeuvre or motion, I say for the thousandth time disengagement will be carried out fully, as planned," Sharon said in nationally televised remarks. "It is permissible to demonstrate and protest, but we won't agree to highways being blocked, to the scattering of nails and oil (on roads) and to security personnel being beaten," he said. "Whoever wants to make people suffer can try it," Sharon added while on a tour of Nitzan, a site north of the Israeli city of Ashkelon where temporary homes have been built to house evacuated settlers. But, said Sharon, he has issued an "unequivocal" order not to permit any disruption of Israeli life." The Israeli prime minister aims to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza, which is home to 1.3 million Palestinians, and four of 120 in the West Bank. U.S.-led mediators hope the disengagement will foster a "road map" peace process between Israel and Palestinians seeking statehood in occupied lands. Palestinians welcome any Israeli withdrawals from lands occupied in the 1967 Middle East war. However, they accuse Sharon of planning to leave Gaza mainly in order to cement Israel's hold on much larger settlements in the West Bank.