Something might be happening in Geneva tomorrow, but it is not quite clear what - if anything.
A gala event is scheduled to be held in the Swiss city tomorrow, to commemorate the signing of an unofficial agreement between Israel and PA officials. The document has been condemned by the Israeli government, and it now appears that the PA representation might not even show up. In a last-minute development, the Arabs now say they have to wait for an official decision by the Palestinian Authority.
The event is/was planned for 200 Israelis, 800 PA Arabs - and 400 reporters. Much of the affair, including the flight for reporters from Israel and the PA, is being paid for by the Swiss government.
Former MK Yossi Beilin, the prime mover of the Geneva "agreement" formulated by several left-wing MKs and others, says that tomorrow's event will not be a signing - as the document was already signed two months ago. All other reports speak of the "Geneva signing" tomorrow, however. The agreement grants all of Yesha [post-1967 Israel], or its equivalent (see next article), to the Palestinian Authority, in exchange for no particular demands regarding a halt to terrorism.
Syria has come out against the Geneva document, but a representative of the Saudi Arabian kingdom will be on hand tomorrow. Many PA organizations, such as the Al Aksa Brigades, are against the document, and shots were even fired over the weekend at the home of one of its supporters, Yasser Abed Rabbo. Two key Palestinian Authority officials who were instrumental in the formulation of the document - Kadoura Fares and Mohammed Horani - have canceled their participation in the ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported, raising still more doubts about the PA public's support for the document.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to address the gathering. Shas Party lawyer David Glass, a former left-wing MK of the National Religious Party, is among those going to Geneva. Asked this morning if he will sign the document, he said that he does not know.
A gala event is scheduled to be held in the Swiss city tomorrow, to commemorate the signing of an unofficial agreement between Israel and PA officials. The document has been condemned by the Israeli government, and it now appears that the PA representation might not even show up. In a last-minute development, the Arabs now say they have to wait for an official decision by the Palestinian Authority.
The event is/was planned for 200 Israelis, 800 PA Arabs - and 400 reporters. Much of the affair, including the flight for reporters from Israel and the PA, is being paid for by the Swiss government.
Former MK Yossi Beilin, the prime mover of the Geneva "agreement" formulated by several left-wing MKs and others, says that tomorrow's event will not be a signing - as the document was already signed two months ago. All other reports speak of the "Geneva signing" tomorrow, however. The agreement grants all of Yesha [post-1967 Israel], or its equivalent (see next article), to the Palestinian Authority, in exchange for no particular demands regarding a halt to terrorism.
Syria has come out against the Geneva document, but a representative of the Saudi Arabian kingdom will be on hand tomorrow. Many PA organizations, such as the Al Aksa Brigades, are against the document, and shots were even fired over the weekend at the home of one of its supporters, Yasser Abed Rabbo. Two key Palestinian Authority officials who were instrumental in the formulation of the document - Kadoura Fares and Mohammed Horani - have canceled their participation in the ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported, raising still more doubts about the PA public's support for the document.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to address the gathering. Shas Party lawyer David Glass, a former left-wing MK of the National Religious Party, is among those going to Geneva. Asked this morning if he will sign the document, he said that he does not know.