Qureia: Talk or Fight

Ahmed Qureia, senior negotiator for the Palestinian Authority (PA), said on Tuesday that "resistance in all its forms is a legitimate right" and that violence could erupt if talks with Israel are stalled during the current transitional government.

The former PA prime minister declared that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who has been designated by President Shimon Peres to form the next government, had promised after the two leaders met Tuesday afternoon that talks would continue.

"Livni reassured me she would continue the peace process without accepting any conditions," he stated. However, he added that he doubts whether an agreement will be reached by the end of the year for establishing a new Arab state within Israel's current borders.

"The Palestinians will continue to negotiate," he said, regardless of what happens politically in Israel. "But if the talks reach a dead end, what do we do? Capitulate? Resistance in all its forms is a legitimate right," he said.

If the talks reach a dead end, what do we do? Capitulate? Resistance in all its forms is a legitimate right.

He later complained that his remarks were taken out of context and that he was referring to political and not violent resistance. 

Qureia has also opposed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's insistence on trying to bring about "a statement of principles" instead of a final pact for a new PA state within Israel's current borders.

Abbas Embattled in PA Politics

The PA negotiator also refused to join PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on his trip to the United States this week.

Abbas, who is meeting with American as well as foreign officials in Washington and New York, is facing his own troubles in the PA.

Although his term is due to end in January 2009, as with US President George W. Bush, he has stated that he intends to stay until 2010 to ensure a smooth and peaceful presidential and legislative election. The announcement was received with anger by the rival Hamas terrorist faction that rules Gaza, which was originally voted into majority rule of the governing Palestinian Legislative Council in January 2006.

Fatah meanwhile agreed on Tuesday to an Egyptian proposal to form a new "national government of consensus," announced senior Fatah spokesman Nabil Sha'ath after the delegation met with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.

"The proposal is for forming a new government with people accepted by all the organizations, and also by the Arabs and internationally," said Sha'ath.